Page 13 of Across the Sapphire Sea
Aella drank the ale and set the mug down with more force than strictly necessary. “I can beat you just as well drunk as sober. Watch me.”
Grinning, Laurence threw the two of acorns. “My money’s on Aella no matter how much ale she drinks.” His gaze flitted to Remy fondly. “You never told me you’re terrible at cards.”
“I’ll make it up to you later.” Remy tossed the three of acorns, assuring they’d lose this trick too. He shrugged. “Maybe sooner than later.”
Acorns. A - K- O - R - N - S, acorns.Elias wondered if he’d spelled the word correctly. He’d have to ask Remy sometime when the vampire-witch wasn’t jovially losing at cards.
Aella collected the trick with glee, sharing a conspiratorial smile with Ash. They seemed to read each other well. She called acorns again, and he led with six, betting Remy and Laurence couldn’t beat it.
They couldn’t. And Aella and Ash’s winning streak continued.
Valeri leaned into Elias’s side. “Looks like we’ll be playing Aella and Ash.”
Ash. How would you spell Ash? A—
“Are you any good at cards?” asked Valeri, interrupting Elias’s thought.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had a set to play with before, though this game seems simple enough.”
Aella sent him a sly grin and raised her cup in his direction. “Happy to wipe the floor with you next.”
Elias didn’t care who won. He was just glad to see everyone getting along. They’d have to spend at least another week together on this ship, then who knew how long trekking through Lappland to Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle. The trip would be better without the endless bickering Valeri provoked.
“Where did you learn to play?” Remy asked Aella.
“My parents taught my sisters and me when we were children. We used to bet ginger candies.” She smiled at the memory. “I once won so many of them I got sick from eating that much sugar before my mother could tell me to share.”
“I’ve never had ginger candy,” said Ash. “What’s it like?”
Elias had never had it either. He just remembered one type of candy, peppermint, and the thought brought longing. He’d only ever gotten a couple pieces as a child and only at the winter solstice. A shame peppermints would make him sick now that he had the means to buy them. Or, well…Valeri had the means to buy them.
“Oh, it’s excellent. Sweet and spicy. As a child I had hard candies, but at Bran Vigny the cook makes them chewy. I don’t know how. Must be magic to taste so good.”
Elias leaned into Valeri. “Did you ever have candy? Before you were a vampire?” Elias knew Valeri had been wealthy as a youth. Nobility. Second son of a lord. Surely they had enough coin for treats.
Laurence’s gaze flitted to Valeri, a curious expression on his face.
Valeri didn’t notice it, thankfully. He put his arm around Elias’s shoulders and sighed. “I remember…a candied sauce of milk and sugar. The mixture was brought to a boil, allowed to thicken, then spread thin upon a tray. As it cooled, the sauce would harden and you could snap off pieces to eat.”
Elias imagined a youthful version of Valeri, waiting for the candy to harden. “Sounds delicious.”
His dark eyes glistened at the memory. “It was.”
“You’re all making me hungry,” said Aella, taking another drink instead.
Ash laughed. “You started this.”
“I did, didn’t I? Well, it’s good we aren’t betting. We’d have taken Remy and Laurence for all they’re worth.”
Laurence stood from the table, his eyes on Remy. “That’s the truth. Good thing we’re not betting men.”
“Speak for yourself.” Remy also stood. He took Laurence by the hand and tugged. “You mentioned going down on me, and I plan to collect the debt.”
“Going downwithyou, like a sinking ship, not—”
Remy arched his brows. “Are you saying no?”
Laurence grinned and shuffled him from the room. “No, I am absolutely not saying no.”
