Page 73 of The Wild Moon
A quick glance at the sun told me why.
“How long was I out?” I asked, noting it had to be approaching noon already.
“All morning,” Aaron said with a smile. “You must have been tired yesterday. When you crawled into bed, you were out in seconds.”
He came into view as he spoke, keeping his back to the rest of his team. The look on his face implored me to go along with what he was saying.
“Yeah. I guess yesterday really tuckered me out,” I said awkwardly. “Sorry, guys, I’m sure you’re all bored out of your minds. Someone could have woken me.”
“I told them not to,” Aaron explained. “You’re paying the bills, so you set the pace.”
“Right,” I said slowly. “But I’m only paying the bills for a few more days, aren’t I?”
“Six, by my count,” Aaron said.
“Six. So, that’s another two days in and four for the way out, if my math checks out.”
I didn’t receive a response, which told me I was on the right track. Two days. Well, the Wild Moon was tonight, so if we didn’t find anything, I suspected I wasn’t going to care much past it.
“What happens if we find something?” I asked suddenly, curious. “If wedofind the ancient city my father was looking for?”
“That depends,” Aaron said cagily. “If we find anything worthwhile that can pay the bills, my team will stay.”
I frowned. “Your team? What about you?”
“I’m not as concerned about the money as they are,” he said.
“So, you’ll stay for free?” I asked, surprised.
Aaron laughed. “I’m not a charity worker. But if there are interesting things to be learned, then I’ll stay.”
“Got it,” I said, mulling that over.
Interesting. Aaron wasn’t there just for the money. I wondered then why his fee had been so high. To pay for his team and gear, I supposed. But he was just as interested in the knowledge, it seemed. Which was fair. After years working for my father, who was probably rather limited in what he told Aaron, he would know that whatever was out here, there was probably something of value to it. And he wanted in. That seemed fair.
“Now that you’re up, if you’re feeling good, maybe we should get moving?” Aaron suggested a moment later.
There was no mention of the night before. No mention of his men running off either. All of them had returned, I could see, none looking the worse for wear. So, either they hadn’t encountered anything, or the other team had been on the losing end.
“Yeah, let’s do that,” I said slowly, still trying to regain my mental footing.
We worked in silence to break camp, and then, at a pointed direction from me, we set out again, heading almost due north, guided by nothing more than the pull from a part of me I couldn’t identify.
I made sure to fall in step next to Aaron.
“First things first,” I hissed. “Did you strip me down last night?”
He shrugged. “You were overheating. It was necessary. I did what any person charged with keeping you alive and in good health would do. I didn’t peek if that’s what you’re worried about. Not that you aren’t attractive enough to want to, but I’m a professional.”
“You’re such a creep, even while being a nice person,” I muttered.
Aaron chuckled. “You’re welcome, by the way. For taking care of you after you went out.”
I winced. “Whatdidhappen to me?”
He was silent for a moment as we walked. “I’m not sure. You were angry and talking to me all at once, and then suddenly your eyes rolled up into your head, and you collapsed. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I needed to catch you, I’d have said you were swooning over me the way you fell and started moaning.”
“Moaning?” I groaned. “What? You’re joking, aren’t you?”
