Page 24 of Unbetrothed

“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 whereyou’releading 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.

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