9 #2
“We saw spear and bolt blanks. Long and thin,” Arch replied.
“We think they are crafting blades and the ammunition for very large crossbows, among other things,” Keera confirmed.
Kurt’s jaw tightened. “And they don’t look like locals?”
“No. They speak strangely from the little we heard. They are very organized and secretive,” Arch replied. “They’re hiding something, not building a trade.”
Malea felt a chill deeper than the morning air. “This is important. Something is going on there.”
Kurt nodded grimly. “It’s a place to start, at least.”
There was a long silence, broken only by the faint sounds of the camp beginning to stir. Finally, Kurt looked at Malea.
“I need to go up there and take a look around,” he said, determination filling his gaze.
She met his gaze steadily. “We should both go. I was always good at the stealth lessons Isolde and her General taught us. I can sneak into places a lot easier than a big man like you.”
He didn’t argue, though he looked like he wanted to.
“We will fly ahead and distract if needed,” Keera offered.
“You need to be careful,” Arch added. “There are protections around the forge. Magic wards. Possibly traps.”
“We’ll be careful,” Malea promised.
“And fast,” Kurt added. “In and out, with the least chance of being discovered. Pack light. We can leave after the midday meal without anyone noticing. If all goes well, we can scout in the dark and be back to the caravan before morning, without anyone the wiser.”
“The Rasims will notice if I’m not in the wagon,” Malea objected, trying to think up an excuse.
“You could enlist the help of the eldest daughter,” Kurt suggested. “Tell her you want to spend time with me and ask her to cover for you. She could pull the curtain on your bed cubby and claim you’d gone to sleep. Hopefully, nobody will realize you’re not there.”
He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed by the proposed ruse, but Malea felt strange just thinking about it.
She was a grown woman, but she’d had little time in her life for romantic entanglements.
Little interest too, if she was being honest. She hadn’t been swept off her feet by any of the young men she worked with or met through her vocation as a gem cutter, or even as a spy.
Except Kurt. He’d turned her head in a major way, and the idea of even hinting at the agreed-upon pretend courtship made her insides flutter and her cheeks heat.
She had to get a hold of herself. She’d agreed to the fake relationship as a way to further their mission.
Now she had to put her money where her mouth was, so to speak.
“All right. I think Zhara will help. And I will try not to die of embarrassment when talking to her.” Malea rolled her eyes and tried to make light of her very real feelings.
Kurt stepped a little closer to her. “Are you really embarrassed to have people think that I might be courting you?”
His voice was deep and low. Intimate. A little thrill went down her spine as she looked up into his sparkling eyes. The camp was coming alive around them, but she barely noticed. Kurt was the center of her universe for this moment out of time.
“I—” She cleared her dry throat and tried again. “I’m not very experienced in such matters.”
Kurt’s hand rose to cup her cheek, and she nearly melted at his tenderness.
He touched her as if she was made out of the most delicate crystal.
As if he treasured her. No man had ever touched her like that before, and she wasn’t sure she could handle the sensations stirring in her blood at the simple gesture.
“I understand, but for the sake of our work, we’re going to have to put on a show from time to time,” he murmured, stepped even closer, until she felt the brush of his tall, hard body against her much softer one.
“I understand,” she whispered. “I can do it.”
“I don’t doubt you, Mally,” he said, using her nickname. She loved the way it sounded coming from his lips.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than his lips were on hers, kissing lightly. The quick, delicate salute sent a thrill through her body that almost made her drop the mug she was still holding in one hand.
Kurt stepped back, and she became aware of movement around them.
Zhara had come down from the wagon and was building up the fire that had burned down to embers in the night.
Malea met her gaze and felt her heart jump when Zhara smiled and winked at her as Kurt moved farther away.
The two virkin flew off as Malea regained her composure as best she could.
Kurt leaned in for a quick word in her ear, and her head spun again.
“I think she’ll believe you now if you ask for her help hiding your absence tonight.”
Then, he straightened, gave her a teasing grin and took himself off toward where the lead wagon in the caravan was parked.
Malea finished her tea as she tried to shore up her nerves.
Had that all been an act for Zhara’s benefit?
Malea wasn’t sure. She’d been facing away from the wagon, so she hadn’t seen exactly when Zhara had appeared. Darnit.
Still, Kurt had a point. He’d just exposed their supposed secret relationship to Zhara, clearing the way for Malea to ask the other girl for help.
Malea did so before the rest of the family had made an appearance, and all was arranged.
Zhara would cover for Malea if she didn’t return to the wagon that night.
Zhara teased Malea a bit, and there was a lot of stammering and blushing involved on Malea’s part, but she survived it.
She packed light, and as unobtrusively as possible, and was ready to go by the midday meal, as Kurt had instructed.
She met him by the picket line, where his horses were kept, and was glad of the riding lessons all of Mistress Isolde’s orphans were given as she mounted Kurt’s spare horse and they set out on their mission.
Nobody saw them leave. Kurt had prepared the way, picketing his horses at the farthest end of the line earlier that morning.
He’d also made sure that if anybody saw them leaving, they’d just assume the two of them were heading off into the woods for some privacy.
The fake courtship was proving to be a useful ruse.