Flecks of Gold (31 page)

“I won’t stop you anymore.” Breeohan turned and walked in the opposite direction as Rafan herded me belowdeck.

“You there, get a hot bath ready immediately,” Rafan yelled at one of the sailors.

“No, don’t bother,” I counter-ordered. “I’m tired of being wet.” I performed the cleaning lacing, ignoring any response it might create. I didn’t really care what the sailors thought anymore. I felt drained and stupid, and with a shock I remembered that my backpack was still on Captain Hior’s ship. A wrench gripped my stomach. I had lost the last link to my former life. I hadn’t known how much I’d been relying on it for comfort. Even my sneakers were in my backpack. Nothing—I had nothing left. I had to find Mom soon, or I might begin to doubt her existence.

Rafan led me to a room below where a narrow bunk was nailed to the wall. I noted the bags and gathered that this must be Rafan’s and Breeohan’s room. I regarded the beds thoughtfully and wondered whose bed was whose.

“I’ll leave you now and let you get some rest. You look exhausted, but let me know the moment you need anything.” Rafan’s eyes looked at me earnestly.

I felt uncomfortable as I remembered his sudden declaration at the ball. “I will, thanks,” I mumbled. He hesitated, as if waiting for something else, but then slipped out of the cramped room, closing the door. Slumping to the bottom bunk, I squirmed around uncomfortably until I switched to the top bunk. It felt softer and cleaner, and I soon drifted into a deeper sleep than I’d been able to have in days.

That didn’t stop me from waking when the door opened several hours later.

“It’s just me,” said Rafan. “I brought you some food. You missed the midday meal.”

I swung my legs over the side and jumped down. Sharp pins jabbed my feet and legs as I landed. Rafan handed me a plate of grubby-looking soup. I stared suspiciously at some of the floating chunks.
I guess it’s back to terrible travel food.
I sighed inwardly. Several forced bites later, as the rocking of the boat began to feel like ocean swells and Rafan’s eyes stayed glued to me, I put my spoon down, unable to eat any more.

“Are you full already? You hardly ate anything.” Rafan set the bowl aside carelessly. Some of the soup spilled, but he didn’t notice because he was grabbing my now-empty hands and hunting my evasive eyes with single-minded purpose.

“Rafan, I . . .”

His finger lifted to my lips with catlike quickness. “Wait. I know it is too soon to expect an answer. I just wanted to ask if you would allow me to go with you on your search for your mother. I can be of help to you.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice.”

“There is always a choice.”

My hands started to feel sweaty. I didn’t really want to promise not to ditch Rafan, just in case I had to for some reason. I was looking around for a distraction when Breeohan came through the door, saw my hands in Rafan’s and froze, his hand still on the door. I quickly tugged my fingers out of Rafan’s but realized that probably made it look worse. Rafan’s smug smile didn’t help either.

“Am I interrupting something?” Breeohan said in a neutral tone.

“Yes,” Rafan said at the same instant I said, “No.”

“No,” I said again more firmly, shooting a dagger glare at Rafan. The curl of his lips lifted even more. I turned back to Breeohan. “Rafan was just trying to convince me to take him with me to where I know my mother is.” A glance back showed that Rafan was no longer smiling.

“Rafan and I were already planning to take you to the king. You can travel on from there with the whole company if King Verone permits you.” Breeohan sounded doubtful. The idea of meeting up with the king sounded bad for my chances.

“Are they on a boat too?” I asked.

“No. Boats cut time from the journey, but the king has too many people with him, and they will need quite a few horses for when the path splits from the river. Horses in the numbers they will need are hard to find at the river’s turn-off, so they’re traveling by horse from the palace. They’re probably two or three days behind us,” Breeohan said.

“So what will we do? Wait for them at the next port?” I asked as nonchalantly as I could, even though I chafed at the thought of turning around or waiting for so long, especially since the king might again decide to leave me behind. Maybe I could convince Breeohan and Rafan to continue ahead with me. If not, I could always try sneaking off again. That thought didn’t sit well with me, though. I’d rather talk Breeohan into going on with me. I wouldn’t feel so childish, like a spoiled kid who runs away every time she doesn’t get her way.

“That’s what we’ll have to do since the captain has insisted that he cannot turn around.” Breeohan scowled, jarring me from my thoughts.

I had to think for a second to remember what my question had been. “You can’t blame him for wanting to keep his appointments,” I said, trying to look innocent. Breeohan glanced at me suspiciously. It was time to change the subject. “You wouldn’t know if there is any way of getting my backpack from the ship I was on when we get there, would you? They aren’t that far ahead. I bet they’ll still be in the next port when we arrive. The thing is, I don’t think I should be the one to get it.”

Breeohan sighed wearily. He sat and invited me to do the same. Rafan looked intrigued as he too sunk to a chair. “I would love to hear what transpired to leave you floating on ice in the middle of the Kazik,” Rafan said, the edge of his mouth curling.

“So would I,” Breeohan said. He didn’t look as amused.

“I left the palace, got on the first boat out, was accused of being a dark mage, and got thrown overboard. Not much to it really,” I said quickly, realizing I had chosen the wrong subject with which to distract Breeohan and Rafan.

“There is certainly much more to your story than you said.” Rafan grinned.

“Don’t think you’re getting away with telling only that,” Breeohan said. “I know how you slipped past the guard at your door. Sentai told me. But how did you get past the wall?”

“She told you? Just like that?” I felt betrayed. I guess she didn’t think of me as a friend after all.

“It wasn’t hard to make her see how perilous things could be for you on your own in Iberloah. She was worried for you,” Breeohan said. I kept my eyes down, sad but not angry. Sentai had done what she felt was right.

“So, the wall? How did you get through it?” Breeohan repeated.

“You know, this and that,” I said.
Yeah right, like I’m gonna tell him.
He’d probably just narc on me to the king so they could keep a better lock on me the next time they decided to protect me for “my own good.” Breeohan glared, and I glared back.

“What happened on the boat?” Rafan asked to get my attention. He cocked his head impishly.

I leapt to answer the new question gratefully. “Captain Hior didn’t want passengers, so I got on as ship’s cook, only I found out there were stipulations to the job that I wasn’t willing to pay.” I scowled at the memory of Captain Hior’s greasy, smelly body close to mine.

Breeohan’s body tensed, and Rafan’s smile had disappeared. “Did he ruin you?” Rafan asked in a rough growl.

“Ruin me?” I suppressed a surge of annoyance. “Uh . . . if that means what I
think
you mean, then no, but he did try. I made the mistake of thinking that a warning was enough, but I guess his pride couldn’t take my refusal. He told the crew I was an evil magician planning to poison them, so they threw me overboard.” I shrugged.

“That scoundrel. He won’t get away with this,” Rafan said.

I looked at him quizzically. Something about his words seemed fake, like he was pretending to be affronted rather than really caring. Breeohan said nothing, but looking at his face, I felt suddenly afraid. I could tell he was angry at the captain not me, but it was unnerving to see his eyes dark with rage. It was a different kind of anger than when we had argued, deeper and definitely scarier.

“I’m fine, Breeohan. Nothing happened. He couldn’t touch me. See?” I held out my arms. “He couldn’t even bruise me.” The flame in his eyes dimmed, but his jaw was still clenched tight. Rafan looked offended that I’d addressed Breeohan when Breeohan hadn’t even been the one to say anything. I sighed in frustration.

Breeohan caught the sigh and the look on Rafan’s face. His lips curved up, and his jaw relaxed slowly. We shared a look like a private joke. It felt good, and I realized I didn’t like having Breeohan angry at me. Why did he have to act so funny lately, all tight and reproving?

I looked away from him, sad. “So do you think you two could get my stuff back?” I asked the table. Glancing up I saw a slight frown on Breeohan’s face. Rafan looked confused.

“I’m sure something could be arranged,” Breeohan said quietly.

“Of course it can,” Rafan said loudly, with a renewed coquettish smile. I wasn’t sure if guys were really allowed to be classified as coquettish, but that was certainly the word Rafan made me think of at times.

“Thank you.” I smiled equally on all. After all, I was grateful. Breeohan looked up and smiled back, wearily.

“So, where am I going to be sleeping for the night?” I asked.

“I asked the captain, but there are no more cabins. You can take my bunk,” Breeohan jerked his head up indicating the top bed. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“You don’t have to do that. I slept on the wooden floor of the galley for the past two nights anyway. I’m used to it,” I said.

Breeohan’s jaw tightened again. “Indulge me.”

I noticed Rafan didn’t offer to sleep on the floor. I guessed he was hesitant to give up his creature comforts. “Okay,” I agreed. Then, feeling the desire to confuse Breeohan, I gave him a cocky grin. “You don’t have to twist my arm too hard.”

Breeohan looked puzzled. “I fail to see how twisting your arm will be more convincing to you, but if that is what you want.” He shrugged, but there was an impish twinkle in his eye as his hand shot to my elbow and tugged hard. My bottom slid off the chair, but I managed to save myself from falling by grabbing the seat at the last second.

“Unfair!” I laughed as I clung to the chair. “I can’t even retaliate.” Breeohan dropped my elbow, and I scooted back to the seat.

Breeohan looked quite boyish as he laughed with me. “Are you convinced yet?” he asked, the devil still in his eyes. I tried to scoot the chair back but it was bolted to the floor. Breeohan made as if to catch my elbow again, but I jumped up out of the way, his hand brushing my thigh as I twisted away.

“Ha,” I trumpeted, gloating in my successful evasion. Breeohan looked ready to pounce after me.

“Breeohan, I am surprised at your obscene behavior toward Mary.” Rafan’s caustic tones wiped the smile from both our faces. Rafan looked angry enough to tear through iron. “If you weren’t the heir, I would challenge you to a duel for such mistreatment,” he continued.

I suppressed a surge of irritation.

“Is that all that’s stopping you, Rafan?” Breeohan said in a voice devoid of humor. “Because if it is, you needn’t concern yourself on that point. Or perhaps it’s something else that keeps you from engaging in anything more threatening than words. Or rather, a lack of something.” Rafan’s and Breeohan’s eyes locked tensely.

“Hold up. Nobody’s fighting anyone. You two are not going to brawl over a stupid joke. Rafan, I’m sure Breeohan didn’t intend for his actions to seem obscene. He was just taking an expression from my country a little too literally.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “Breeohan, goading Rafan certainly doesn’t help solve anything. What is wrong with you two, anyway? I thought you came after me to help me, not snarl at each other like, like . . . I don’t even know. It doesn’t make sense. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going for some fresh air.”

I turned my back on them and slammed the door behind me. On deck the crew was moving about in a leisurely manner. The sun was low on the horizon, and the breeze was almost cool on my face. The water slid by, reflecting the light like a murky mirror. I shivered when I saw a crocodile slide into the water from the far shore. I would never look at crocodiles quite the same way after today.

Turning my eyes slightly, I saw a purple smudge of distant mountain peaks jutting close to the horizon. They seemed such a long way away, and the king was so far behind, traveling at a much slower rate. I remembered from my map that I could stick to boats for quite a while before the path diverged. How much more time would it add to the journey to go by horse the whole way? Would it make a difference to Mom’s life? It had been so long already. It might not make much difference. My heart squeezed painfully at the thought. More time might not logically make much difference, but I couldn’t stop the feeling that I needed to get to her as fast as possible.

It would be easy to get Rafan to go ahead with me, but Breeohan? How was I going to convince him to leave without the approval of King Verone? The sun sank as my thoughts churned on what to do. There was no way I was going ahead with only Rafan. I couldn’t figure the guy out, and the thought of traveling alone with him gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I mean, who proposes so soon after meeting someone, especially someone he knows nothing about?

Rafan couldn’t actually be in love with me. He was either deluding himself or up to something. I didn’t have any riches, and he knew I wasn’t a princess. Maybe he hoped the truth of my humble origins would never be discovered, giving him the chance to rise in the ranks of Iberloahan society. As if I was going to stick around!

That thought jolted me as I remembered there might be no way to get back to Earth, even after I found Mom. More startling was the confusion that ensued when I thought of leaving. I felt a strange mixture of reluctance to go, juxtaposed by the desire to retreat back to my sometimes boring, but definitely safer and more comfortable existence. My stay in Iberloah certainly hadn’t been a cookies-and-milk experience, but the desert had wrapped around me as the cool green forest and cloudy skies of Oregon never had. Though the sun was often blistering hot, it was also comforting in its cheerful consistency. I could get sun in Arizona, but this desert was different. I had discovered and been taught the wonders of magic here. There was still so much potential to uncover.