Page 27 of Of Blooming Embers
I giggled, and she pursed her full lips. “Enough of him. Come with me.” She linked our elbows and tugged me past the men. The bridge swayed precariously as we rushed across.
“Seryn?” Gavrel called after us.
“We’ll meet you later,” I replied, holding my free hand up and shrugging helplessly.
“In the square this afternoon,” Breena yelled in a sing-song voice as we rushed away from them.
We roamed through the city. Its citizens were friendly, and Breenaknew a few here and there. I supposed she and Rhaegar visited often through the turns as part of the Korax.
We passed through the square Breena had arranged to meet in later. It was near the epicenter of the city, its massive platform filled with various huts and shop counters. People bustling, trading, and bartering.
We came to a textile merchant’s stand, and I ran my fingers over a dress made of dark fabric. Metallic rainbow threads were woven through its gauzy layers in an intricate pattern.
“Gorgeous, right?” Breena said, poking her finger into the dress. “This thread is only found in the Bogs. Muckworm silk. Nasty little buggers, and difficult to find despite them being as big as my arm.
“But the muckers make good coin, swamp diving and hunting them down. And then those little, slimy assholes have a whole play area set up in a small Bogs town west of here where they live out their days in wormy luxury.” Breena’s hands were so animated I thought she might fly away. “I mean, would you rather live in the mud, or a cushy kingdom where you get to eat all day, relax, and shite rainbows?”
My laughter bubbled over, and I bent over, clutching my stomach.
Breena crinkled her nose as if I had gone crazy, then she started laughing hard as well.
By the time we settled, my belly was sore. I wiped the wetness from my cheeks as we left the square. “I missed you, Bree. I know you can’t say the same, but I’m happy you’re here.”
She wiped her cheeks and slung an arm around me. “Welp, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m positive I’ve missed you. I just don’t know it yet.”
My pulse fluttered. “Breena, I … I have something that could bring back your memories.”
Her eyebrows crushed together, and her wide mouth pinched in confusion.
“We found a Mirage Orchid during the trials, and my chambermaid, Derya, made a tonic from it. It’s how I regained my memories.Would you … would you want to use it?” I shuffled my feet, chin dipping slightly.
“Oh, damn right I do.” She beamed.
I smirked. “Only works during the full moon.”
“It’s a date, then. Can’t wait to remember all the shite probably best left forgotten.” Chuckling, Breena slowed as we came to a quiet bridge and looked over the side. “Ready?”
“Ready for wha?—”
Before I could finish, she swung under the rope railing and over the edge.
A surprised squeak flew from me, and I lunged forward, gripping the rope.
Breena was chuckling as she climbed down a swaying ladder and dropped into a small boat tethered below. She looked up, mirth dancing in her rich brown eyes. “Get in, we’re going hummock jumping.”
I shook my head and made my way down. Breena whistled. “No wonder Gavrel wants a piece. Just look at that arse.”
I chuffed a laugh as I plopped into the boat clumsily. “He does not. You’ve only just met us—what was it—slack-wits? So, I doubt you’ve picked up on that so soon.”
“Listen,slack-tit, if I know anything about the male species, and I do”—she wiggled her eyebrows—“that muscled hunk of meat wants in your breeches something fierce.”
An awkward giggle reverberated in my chest as I grabbed one oar from her and jabbed it into the hazy water.
I pushed thoughts of Gavrel aside, like I had been for days. But I knew she was right.
That didn’t meanitwas right.
I needed to focus on finding Kaden. On destroying the Elders. Not pine after Gavrel like some bloody fledgling.
