Page 42 of Unbetrothed

“Hey, beautiful!” Zichri cooked his skewered fish on the other side of Milo. “Come sit with me. Tonight, we’ll feast and get some rest.”

“Iamsitting next to you.”

“No. Milo is sitting next to me.”

Milo partially rolled his eyes and migrated to the other side of the campfire. I scooted closer to Zichri and flipped my sore palm up. The sting stretched my skin into a tight red color.

“Let me see that.” Zichri cradled my hand. “Jaime, did you find anything to help with the swelling?”

Blas stood. “Jaime knows aboutallsorts of plants. Did you find any to season the fish?” There might have been a hint of envy to his voice, but I couldn’t say for sure.

Jaime blushed and pointed to the mix of leaves he had left next to me. “No. Those are for Cypress. Can you heat up some water to make a poultice?”

Blas snatched the leaves and grunted. “I didn’t need your stinky herbs anyway.”

Another warm gust of wind brought a louder howl.Turn back.

Had anyone else heard the eerie words? Zichri stilled, and Laude sank into Jaime’s embrace. But no one mentioned the strange voice.

The fire crackled, casting light over our small group as the sun’s glow disappeared.

“Let me sing you the best tune you’ve ever heard.” Blas stood closer to the fire.

Milo slapped Blas’s back. “It’s all right, brother. You don’t have to prove yourself now. I’ll take this one. I think we’ve had enough of your … exhibitions.”

Laude and I met gazes, and she curved her lips in conspicuous surprise. I snorted, nearly spitting the tea I just drank. My hand shot to my mouth. If only they would have known how Laude won so easily.

Laude dropped her chin to her chest while the others watched my outburst.

Zichri nudged my elbow and leaned closer. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Now we have secrets?”

“Look who’s talking, Mister Zichri of Himzo.” I pinned him down with a long, narrowed stare.

“I’m bound to secrecy. My king could hang me.”

I gulped, feeling the weight of his words. Papá executed treasonous soldiers, not that it happened often. A memory flashed through my mind of dangling feet. I sat with my family, overlooking the gallows on a perfect sunny day in the main square. No amount of sea breeze could blow away the stifling air or stop my lungs from becoming iron in my chest. Papá explained that this one man’s mischief stole many fathers from their families. Even with the explanation, it didn’t change the morose and sickening feeling of watching another person die.

“Laude has,” I glanced to be sure Blas wasn’t close enough to hear, “the gift of starting fires.”

Zichri guffawed.

“But don’t tell Blas. Promise?”

He lifted a hand in the air and another on his heart in the Himzo fashion. It took him a good while to subdue his laughter. “Promise. Though you shouldknow, Blas will practice using the flint and steel every spare moment he gets.”

I placed my hand on his. “Good.”

One by one, we set up our hammocks in nearby trees. Laude, Jaime, Zichri, and I were the last to part ways. I wished to stretch this small thread of time as long as possible, but Laude needed her rest.

Laude and I climbed into the hammock Gonzalo lent us. Not exactly like my bed back home or even the beds at the inn. She jabbed my stomach with her elbow, and I turned to my side, facing Laude’s profile. The netting wrapped tighter around us. Laude’s wild curls tickled my nose.

I had to ask. “Are you going to tell me what Jaime said to change your mood?”

Laude sighed in awe. “Miss, he apologized and assured me I impressed him with my ability to stand up for myself at the inn.”

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