Page 23 of Unbetrothed

“Does this dream man have a face?” I skirted around a giant hole in the dirt.

Laude looked up, smiling brightly. “Oh miss! He’s tall and portly, but it’s all strength he carries over his torso. His crooked smile melted my heart, even if he’s clean-shaven on the top of his head.”

“Gonzalo? Really?” I couldn’t help but scrunch my face at the idea of Laude and Gonzalo.

She paused mid-step. “Truth be told. Blas also has a very nice laugh. He’s on the thin side, which means I’d have to give him an extra portion of food. His eyes make up for any of his other flaws. They’re almost as bright as Lux’s.”

I snickered against my own sensibilities. The idea of Blas being compared to Lux? Nonsense. But the joy in her voice peeled away my irritation. “And what of the other two men?”

“You mean Milo and Jaime?” Laude released a sigh. “They were even more lovely. If they had talked, Gonzalo would be in danger of losing my affection.”

Oh my!Now, I knew we must lose these men, for Laude’s sake. It’s unhealthy to have unrealistic dreams waved in front of a person. My misery should be enough to warn Laude about such things.

I stopped listening to Laude and let my mind drift. Each step forward meant my dreams could come true. And Lux would break off his engagement when he saw I had the gift.

A horse’s hooves clomped somewhere behind us. I straightened my back and pursed my lips. Was it the Himzos’ or another band of thugs? Apprehension pinched my stomach.

Laude squinted to make out who approached us. She giggled and clapped her hands in delight. “Miss, they’re coming. Do you think they’ll follow us?”

“No worries, Laude. We’ll outsmart them.”

“Oh.” She hung her head, slowing her pace to the speed of an injured turtle.

CHAPTER 12

OF COURSE, WITHLAUDEwalking 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.”

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