Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
THORNE
I was being punished, though the woman riding beside me would never admit it. The early hour and the miserable horse beneath me were proof enough. Somehow, while I was deep into my second bottle of Ambrosia last night, Serafina and Alaric had formulated this half-baked scheme without me.
Apparently, the two had reconciled after the pool incident, spending the evening together.
Possibly the whole evening. My flame sparked at the thought, a low growl rattling my throat.
Not that I cared. Alaric could confide in his little pet all he wanted.
Tell Sera all about our royal heritage and our lost kingdom.
It came as no surprise that he’d want her to know he was once a king. Women swooned over that kind of thing.
Naturally, he skipped right over anything that would have cast him in a bad light, informing me he’d shared all she needed to know. Always polishing his proverbial scales. That was fine. I’d tried to forget the past, anyway.
I massaged my aching temples against the rising sun. “Tell me again why we are traveling to Ironwood Market?”
“Because that is where my mentor said she would be when she left Rottbarry. It’s my hope she’ll have a magical stone to cure Alaric of this poison. She is also a skilled seer who might know a thing or two about curses and missing children.”
“He’s spoken with many seers. All claimed to have the answer for the right price. None of them had a clue. I don’t see how this one will be any different.”
Serafina’s pert little nose jutted higher. “Because she is Yaga.”
“Yaga, did you say?”
“You’ve heard of her?”
“Heard of her, yes. Met her, no.” Damn powerful though if she was the same hag who aided Carcerem’s new rulers. Maybe she could help after all.
“I hear we are shopping as well?” And yet Alaric claimed this was no punishment.
“I’m out of the herbs. Ironwood Market will have what I need. And with any luck, I’ll find survivors from Nefarr there, too. Surely, they’ll know something about Speck.”
“Strange, how you sound almost eager to help my brother. What happened between you in the wee hours of the morning?” A low rumble entered my voice, and I coughed to cover the sound.
“Nothing. Why shouldn’t I help him? He isn’t the dragon who bit me.”
“Figured that out, did you? In my defense, you did fling a pile of dung at me.” I tensed at the memory, the horse beneath me tossing her head in response.
And still no apology. Not that I expected one.
“You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“What, that you shifted in sight of the village, disobeying a direct order from your king?”
“My king,” I grunted. “Nobody has called the dragon that in a long time. King of what? A pile of rubble and rotting bones?”
“There’s no need to disparage him after all he’s been through.”
“Wow. He’s really got you wrapped around his clawed finger, huh?” I tightened my grip on the reins, the leather groaning under my hands. No way his beastly charm was actually working on her.
“What? Did he show you his hoard?”
At Serafina’s clenched jaw, I laughed. “He did, didn’t he? Let me guess. He told you he’d never taken anyone there before. That you were the first. That you were special.”
“Shut up.”
“Did he give you a token of his affection? Gold? Jewels? A ruffled ball gown?”
“Books, if you must know.”
“Books?” I scrunched my nose. “Why the hell would you choose books? Can you even read?”
Serafina hauled back on her horse’s reins, glancing about at the road below.
“What are you doing?”
“Searching for a pile of dung.”
I snatched her reins, urging her horse forward. “Oh, come now. I was only playing.” Mostly.
Serafina sighed. “Then play elsewhere. I can make the journey without you.”
“You know, there are many women who find me charming,” I said with a rakish grin known to set hearts aflutter.
“I’ll bet.” Strangely, Sera was unmoved. Her tension-riddled body failed to soften.
“Ah. That’s right. You’re more of a scales, wings, and claws kind of girl.”
“You’re insane.”
“Be honest. The dragon does it for you. Doesn’t he?”
An evil glint entered her eyes. “Now that you mention it, he does have a powerful form. And his wings.” She shivered. “I imagine his wingspan is the largest in the land.”
I stiffened. What was this now? “I wouldn’t say his is the largest.”
“And those emerald-kissed scales. They’re truly beautiful, shining beneath the solar crystals.”
“Green like mold,” I scoffed. “It’s a very ordinary color.”
“The way he used his flame to warm me at the pool.” She trailed slim fingers below her jaw, down the front of her chest. “His hot breath pulsing over my flesh.”
I swallowed, fascinated by the path her hand took. The way those wanton fingers traced the shape of her full breast. That simple display had me shifting in my saddle. The moment I adjusted my pants, she flashed me a victorious glance from under her taunting brow.
My teeth clicked together. She’d caught me in my own trap. Well played.
I fought a grin, growling, “Shrew.”
“Bastard,” she sang.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, save for the plodding of our horses. We arrived at Ironwood as the sun was setting.
Stone buildings crowded the cobbled street. Colorful awnings drooped over shuttered stalls. The air stank of mold and refuse. The apartments above were dimly lit, as if the inhabitants feared discovery.
Ironwood’s market was famed for trade and revelry. Tonight, it was a graveyard.
“Do they usually close this early?” Serafina asked, eyes wide.
“Word must’ve spread about Nefarr. With creatures crawling at night, the town is spooked.”
Just a short distance down the street, lights blazed from the windows of a tavern. That single building was a shining star in the darkness. As we drew closer, the soft strum of a lute seeped through the door.
“At least there’s some life around here. Come on. We’ll grab a couple of rooms for the night and leave at first light.”
After securing our horses at a local stable, we stepped inside The Hairy Hog. With one hand on Serafina’s arm, I led her to a small table in the back. Curious eyes followed us as we claimed our seats. I noted Serafina stared in return, her head on a swivel.
“You’re going to draw a lot of unwanted attention if you keep staring down the locals like that.”
Sera settled beside me, disappointment in the harsh line of her mouth. “I don’t recognize anyone from Nefarr.”
“I’m sure there are a few around. That is, if any of them survived.”
She cast me a disgruntled glare. “Thanks for the support.”
“Anytime.” I smirked.
A harried server hustled to our table. Ragged wisps of greasy hair eluded her bun. Stains marred her apron.
“Busy night?”
Her eyes narrowed with annoyance. “Since the attacks, the other pubs are too cowardly to stay open, so we’re twice as busy. Lucky for you, we have the best grub around.”
“And how are your rooms?” I asked. “We’ll be needing two for the night.”
“Two, you say?” The woman offered Serafina a disdainful grimace. “I’ve got one you can have. Rest are full. You won’t find anything else in town either.”
“We’ll take it.” I shoved another coin at the woman while Serafina coughed and spluttered beside me. “Along with two of your specials and your best ale.”
“We are not sharing a bed,” Serafina bit out after the server left.
“And I am not sleeping on the floor.”
Cough. Splutter. “You, sir, are no gentleman.”
I clutched my chest. “Oh. You wound me.”
“If only,” she scoffed
Once our waitress delivered our pints, I leaned back in my chair and propped my boots on the table, casting my dinner companion a heavy-lidded look known to drop the bloomers off the most frigid biddies.
“Tell me, you come here often?” For the first time in weeks, I was out from under my surly brother’s claws, and damn if I wouldn’t take advantage of the moment.
Immune to my charms, Serafina cast a glance around the room as though I’d asked her a genuine question. “I’ve never been to a tavern before. My duties to the royal family didn’t allow time for leisure. Nor was I permitted to leave the manor grounds.”
“Ouch,” I said with a sympathetic wince. “That sounds rather dull.”
“It was.”
“Well then, let me say how happy I am to be your first.”
At her arched eyebrow, my smile widened. “You never did tell me how you came to be in that ball gown the night Alaric found you.”
She pursed her lips. “Since our coloring and size were similar, Lady Richwell ordered me to wear her daughter’s gown so I could lure the monsters away, allowing the royal family to escape.”
“You mean they sacrificed you to save themselves?” The mug I held froze halfway to my mouth. “And the knife wounds?” Metal groaned in my tightening grip, the handle twisting.
Serafina’s lips parted, an answer guaranteed to enrage me, taking shape on her tongue. Two steaming plates clunked onto the table in front of us, both mounded with piles of meat and roasted vegetables.
“Eat up. More where that came from,” our server said before sauntering away.
Rather than respond to my question, Serafina tucked into her meal. After several mouthfuls, she leaned closer, eyes gleaming. “I saw the high ruler’s wagon. You know where.”
“Did you now?” I polished off my ale, ignoring the food.
“Yes, tell me. Did the high ruler cry like a babe when you flew over?”
I too leaned in, my manner conspiring. “More like a squealing hog being castrated.”
Serafina smacked the table, her head falling back as she burst out laughing. “I knew it.”
For a moment I stared, transfixed by the way her face lit up, her eyes sparkling. Something inside me wanted to see more, to have her look at me with pleasure instead of hate.
I proceeded to share the story of my impressive feat in explicit detail, enjoying the spark in her gaze. While she hung on my every word, it didn’t occur to me to also share Alaric’s tales of daring. Not when I had her full attention, and dare I say, a sliver of her admiration.