Page 56 of Bull Moon Rising

“Won’t do us any good if they’re all too tired to learn,” she tells Hawk. “And like you said, they’re not in great shape.”

She wins this battle, too, and I worry that Hawk’s going to be in a terrible mood by the time the day is over.

We ride out on the back of an empty vegetable wagon leaving the market now that its goods have been dropped off. It’s not the fastest ride, but it’s the right price, apparently. We all climb on and sway along as themules pull down the cobbled, twisting streets. The pack on my back feels cumbersome, but not as heavy as the ones Hawk has been making us carry. I sit next to Gwenna on one side, Mereden and Lark on the other side of the wagon. Kipp races back and forth, his house a large shield on his back, and doesn’t seem to want to conserve his energy at all. Maybe he doesn’t need to. He seems to have enough enthusiasm for all of us. Master Magpie rides with the driver, talking his ear off, and Hawk sits on the back of the wagon, his heavy legs hanging over the edge, almost as if he doesn’t want to be with us. It makes me a little worried. I glance over at him on the far end of the wagon but he’s not been very talkative today. Is it Magpie? Or is he regretting what we did last night?

As we leave the city behind, the rutted road curves past the “Dig for Artifacts” field, which makes Magpie point and laugh as people shovel away at holes in the midst of the loose dirt. “Look at those fools.”

“Are they fools for wanting to find something?” Mereden’s voice is wistful. We all watch the people in the field digging and sweating, using shovels and buckets to move mountains of dirt aside. “Most people can only dream of finding an artifact. I understand why they’d spend a few pennies for the chance.”

“No one ever finds anything,” Lark admits, shrugging. “It’s just people fleecing the tourists.”

I’m not as jaded as Magpie and Lark. Part of me still wants to go out there and try my own luck. I’d be one of the people out there with a spade and pail, happily digging away. I squint-watch the blobs of people with wistful admiration. They have a dream, and they’re going after it in the best way they can. Nothing wrong with that.

Gwenna nudges me. She’s seated next to me after making both Mereden and Kipp switch places with her. “Everything okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be okay?” My face immediately colors bright red, making a mockery of my casual tone.

If she notices my blush, she doesn’t say anything. “You’re normally not quiet about all this,” she whispers, gesturing at the wagon. “You’re usually nattering on about how they did things in Old Prell or how traditional guild members do things.”

I fuss with the hem of my sleeve, agitated. Keeping my voice low, I say, “Do you think Hawk is upset over Magpie being here today?”

“Why would he be? Isn’t she the one in charge?” She nudges me. “Or are you afraid your lover is going to be upset?”

I clap a hand over her mouth. “Shhh!”

Her eyes widen. She licks my palm, forcing me to release her, and I wipe my hand on my clothes, glaring. “What the fuck,” she whisper-mouths. “Are you—are you blushing?” Her gaze moves to Hawk and then back to me and she leans in closer. “Are you two fucking already? I thought you were waiting for this moon shit?”

My face feels as if it’s on fire. “We are. It’s just…he…I…” I shake my head, unable to continue.

“He…” she prompts, giving me an encouraging look. “Rearranged your organs? Gave you the dicking of your life? What?”

I twist my blouse in my hands. I don’t have anyone to share such things with. Never have. Even when I had my heartbreak over Barnabus, I couldn’t confess to anyone how hurt I was, how foolish I’d felt. Gwenna had been my servant and it would have been inappropriate of me. But now we’re both just guild fledglings. And I desperately want to talk tosomeoneabout it.

I lick my lips, and then lean in to whisper. “He licked me. Inappropriately.”

She blinks, and then a sly smile curves her mouth. “You do know it’s not inappropriate if you’re married, right?”

“Hush. I just…I was taken by surprise.”

“I am, too. He seems kinda like a stern type, but that’s a good sign. A man who isn’t afraid to make his lady come first is a good man in my book. He did make you come, right?”

That does it. My face is going to be permanently red. When they paint my portrait, I’ll look like a ball of fire from neck to hairline. I do hold up two fingers, though.

Gwenna nods slowly. “My esteem of him grows by the day.”

Mine does, too, so help me.

We arrive atour campsite near dusk. It’s a pretty area, with a lot of trees growing near a winding stream. On one side of the water are fieldsand pastures with cattle grazing. On the other side, things are a little more wild and unkempt. The trees cluster together tightly, not a single path to be seen, and the underbrush is so thick that I can’t imagine crossing it. Scrubby bushes mingle with weeds and lead to taller trees in the distance.

It’s in this rather unimpressive place that Magpie smiles and waves a hand in the air. “Here we are!”

“Where is ‘here’ exactly?” I ask, glancing around. I don’t see any sort of buildings nearby, or a tunnel into a cave. If we’re camping, surely there’s going to be a cave involved, right? Since we’re training to be familiar with caverns and ruins and such things?

“This is the perfect spot of land for terrain practice,” Magpie declares, rubbing her hands together.

“You always did love terrain practice,” Hawk says from nearby. I want to turn to look at him, but my face feels rather hot again, and instead I tug on my collar, trying to get air in my blouse. Sure is warm here.

“Terrain practice?” Mereden asks, glancing over at Lark, who shrugs.

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