Page 13

CHAPTER 12

O F COURSE, WITH L AUDE walking so slow, the Himzo merchants caught up to us easily. A steady clomp of their horse’s hooves banged in my ears. The shaded portions of the path weren’t long enough. How many inclines could there be on a downward slope? I tilted my waterskin, but only a drop fell onto my tongue. Zichri walked by my side. I sensed his perusal, but he looked away each time I glared daggers in his direction.

Gonzalo passed Laude a skin of water. She mouthed, “Thank you,” and quickly glanced in my direction.

All my etiquette lessons had taught me to keep a rein on my tongue. How my tutors failed. I opened my mouth, ready to whip out words at Laude. “You have to be — ”

Zichri pulled my arm, bringing me toward him.

“Excuse me!” I yanked myself free.

He gestured toward the road, and a pothole gaped right where I had been walking. I’m sure he expected a thank you. However, if the Himzos hadn’t been there, I would have been focused on the road and not on them. I peeked at Laude, who turned her back toward me, trying to hide her mischief. She gulped from the Himzos’ waterskin so loud everyone must have heard it.

My muscles begged for a rest. Even my tongue had gone limp. It was too much effort to reprimand her the way she deserved. We turned a curve, and another steep descent welcomed us. Our feet plodded on the packed dirt.

Beads of sweat dripped down my forehead. The strap of the sack dug into my shoulder. Why didn’t I give Laude the bag earlier? My shoulders hunched to the side, sending forth a shooting pain. “Laude, could you take a turn with the bag?”

“Yes, Miss Cypress.” Laude unhooked the bag from around my head and looped it over her own. “Whoa, miss! I think we need to take a break and eat some food.”

“That’s not a bad idea. We’ll stop at that tall tree ahead.” I limped down the last portion of the decline, straining toward the promise of relief. It took everything in me not to collapse on the ground. Instead, I sat against a tree, catching my breath. Laude plucked two pears from the bag.

“Would you like a snack?” Laude tossed Gonzalo a pear and dug for another one. The other men stopped along with us and adjusted their packs.

“What are you doing? They are not invited to our break and our food.” I pushed off the ground to stand. The edges of my vision were spotty. Pain rippled through my skull. Seething, I wiped away more sweat than any girl should ever show in public.

Zichri held out a skin of water. “Please, drink.” He dipped his head like a servant.

“I want nothing from you. I will not drink from your supply.”

“Need you be so stubborn?” He raised his narrowed stare to mine. “You’re going to pass out while giving me a tongue-lashing. Look at how you sway.” He drew near, blocking my view of the others. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Please, don’t put yourself in danger because you find us disagreeable.”

I yanked the skin from his hand and drank deeply. The water refreshed more than I wanted to admit. I stopped to breathe and drank again. Water trickled down my chin, and I swiped at it.

Zichri pretended to look away, though he snuck glimpses of me while feigning interest in the leaves above. “We’ll refill at the river below. You can ride on Carmel.”

“I will—”

Zichri lifted me by the waist and placed me onto the horse. Anger circulated through my weak body while objections lingered in my throat. Is this another form of capture? Laude trotted along next to Gonzalo, happy to join the men. Gonzalo carried the not-so-full satchel, and we all continued on our trek. So much for getting away. Ashamed of my relief for the walking break, I lowered my head.

The moment I regain a semblance of strength, they’ll see what I can do. I swayed on the horse’s back, too tired to think anymore.

At the end of the curvy descending trail, an emerald river welcomed us. A rocky ledge extended from each side of the river, followed by a green pasture. The pasture gave us space between the water and the forest. Old campfires sprinkled the riverside. Could those ashes be from the foul servants who left us? I shook my head. It was best not to wonder.

Zichri stopped Carmel in the pasture, and I jumped off. Gonzalo collected branches and piled them together, and Laude watched him scrape his steel knife against flint. She could have offered to start the fire with the touch of her finger, but that would end her time flirting much too soon. Poor Laude didn’t understand his grumbling meant he preferred to be alone.

Behind them, Carmel gobbled greenery in a field. Jaime emerged from the forest with an armful of dried branches. I breathed in the faint scent of grass, wood, and flowers while swatting at some gnats buzzing in my face. Trees stretched around us, linking arms, while the waning sunlight glistened off the river.

The river water slurped as it moved around Zichri’s, Milo’s, and Blas’s legs. They sharpened branches with which to spear fish. Zichri peeled off his tunic and threw it at my feet. Sculpted muscles covered his torso and rippled down his stomach. I averted my eyes to Milo and Blas, who fished alongside him. Though Blas’s shirt was off, his skinny form was no distraction. Zichri thrust his spear into the water and pulled up a fish. A proud smile illuminated his face. My breath caught, and my knees weakened as he waded out of the water toward me.

“Are you ready to eat?” Zichri drew closer. Sweat trickled along his chest, so I focused my attention on his bare feet and rolled-up pants.

“I’ve never seen anyone catch fish like that.” I gulped, unsure what to say next. Smoke drifted toward us. Either Laude helped or Gonzalo finally got the fire to start.

“I can teach you how to catch your own fish.” Zichri pointed behind him and squinted, sunlight gleaming off his bronze skin.

“My other dresses were taken with the wagon. It might be more prudent to be a spectator.”

“Nonsense. Blas has extra clothes you can borrow.”

Blas shouted from his spot in the river, “I heard that! Why don’t you lend her some of your extra clothes? You packed enough for three trips.”

“She’d be swimming in mine. Your tunic and pants are closer to her size.”

Blas kissed his biceps. “Don’t underestimate the power of these weapons.”

I shook my head. “It wouldn’t be appropriate. I’ll help Laude at the campfire.”

Zichri chuckled. “Are you sure you want to intervene?” His dark eyes shifted toward the campfire then back to me.

Laude and Gonzalo sat together on a log. She’d edged up to Gonzalo, pressing her shoulder to his. Gonzalo dug in his pack with his lips pressed in a firm line. She talked on and on, waving her hands in the air, caught up in whatever she was saying. Pity swelled in my chest for her. It was one thing for me to get annoyed at her jabbering, but another thing for a man she found attractive to let her know she talked too much.

“Laude and I can help Jaime get more wood for the fire.” I stomped toward Laude and grabbed her elbow. “Come with me. Jaime needs our help.”

She fluttered her eyelashes at Gonzalo. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. We’re going to need lots of dry branches.” Gonzalo motioned with his hands to show a pile large enough to fill two firepits.

Under the forest canopy, Laude snatched a few sticks. “So, we’re letting them escort us to the valley?” She slowed her pace and leaned an ear in my direction.

My feet ached from the day’s walk. A raw blister rubbed against my boot. The smart thing to do would be to stay with the Himzo merchants tonight. Laude didn’t want to tell me what to do out of habit, and she wouldn’t argue with me if I said no, so I thought. I patted down my skirt and folded my hands. “Yes, we’ll stay with them until morning.”

She lifted the end of her skirt and thrust her sticks into it. She humphed and grunted, which confused me. Isn’t that what she wanted to hear? Bending over to collect more sticks, she peered up with narrowed eyes. I stepped back, the tension thickening between us. I’d never seen her like this before—wordless with an air of defiance.

I crossed my arms. “We don’t even know who these men are. Doesn’t it seem odd to you that Himzo men travel in Giddel’s outer provinces?”

She barked, “They’re merchants. And that’s not your main concern.” She squared up to me, still holding the edges of her overskirt, now full of dried branches. “They saved our lives. That is all I need to know.”

“We might live to regret not prodding further. For all we know, they’re leading us straight into harm’s way.”

“Isn’t that where you’re leading us?” She shook the sticks in her skirt as if trying to emphasize her words.

“It’s different.”

She scrunched her nose. “Valle de los Fantasmas isn’t known for its kind welcomes.” She released a slow breath. “I’m sorry, miss. It is not my place to speak to you so. Do you forgive me?” Laude dropped her head to her chest in her normal submissive posture.

“Let’s get back to the others. I’m sure we’ve gathered enough wood to keep the campfire going all night.”

We walked in silence out of the forest and through the field. Though Laude scolded me, there was something refreshing about seeing her less than perky. I wanted to tell her my thoughts, but my throat felt raspy. Instead, the only conversation between us was brushing grass and padding feet.

Laude stopped before reaching the riverbanks. Her freckles looked darker than they had this morning. “Miss, I’m glad to be here to witness you receiving your gift.” Her twinkling eyes assured me of her sincerity. She had had this same spark as a child every time she found a conch to place atop the sandcastles we’d create. I followed a step behind, feeling a sweet release of something that had weighed me down.

The joy floating in my heart popped once I looked back at the seating arrangement around the bonfire. I breathed deep. I’m stuck with them all night. Laude had taken the spot next to Gonzalo. Blas, Jaime, and Milo shared a fallen trunk. I could sit on the rocky ground or sit next to Zichri on another smaller trunk. The ground suited me best, but it might be odd to sit so low with all the others perched up higher. Dread flooded within me. Nothing good would come out of his clear interest in me or … his dashing looks.

“I promise not to bite,” Zichri said.

“That is yet to be tested.” I settled on the end of the trunk as far away from him as possible. I stared at Laude, willing her to suggest switching seats with me, but she was too busy batting her lashes at Gonzalo. Tonight will be torture.