Dragon Tear by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

12

Zenia couldn’t keep from glancing back down the dark river frequently as she rested her hands on the captain’s shoulders and feigned interest in dancing. He kept leaning his head against her chest. She barely noticed. She kept glancing down the river and worrying about Jev and the others.

Earlier, she had sensed it when they swam across to the closest riverbank, but when the other boat had neared their position, she’d made herself pull back. As hard as it was, she resisted the urge to ask the dragon tear to show her their progress, for she feared the enemy magic user would sense her.

The song ended, and Zenia, seeing that Rhi and Hydal hadn’t yet gone below to the captain’s cabin, excused herself to get something to drink and check on them.

“There are actually numerous uses for a paddlewheel besides propelling a boat upriver,” came Hydal’s voice as he and Rhi strolled hand-in-hand along the railing. “At my grandmother’s farm, we occasionally have to pump in water to flood the field, since that’s what the semiaquatic rice that she grows prefers.”

Zenia expected Rhi to roll her eyes or offer a sarcastic, “Fascinating,” in response. “Does that mean you grew up as a rice farmer?” she asked.

“I grew up in the city with my parents, who were both teachers—King Targyon and I have that in common—but I spent the summers out at the farm. My grandfather passed away, but my grandmother continues to work the land with the help of only a couple of hands. We aren’t—” he glanced a little warily at her, “—that wealthy compared to other zyndar families.”

“You have rice. What more could you need?” Rhi noticed Zenia walking up and lifted a hand.

“Rice is a commodity and an inexpensive one at that,” Hydal said. “Unfortunately, the farm is in the lowlands and isn’t suitable for farming much else. But I did help improve it during the summers. I read books to learn how to build a rice mill—you used to have to mill the grain by hand with wooden paddles, and then winnow it with grass baskets. I also built the pump that I mentioned.”

“Are you trying to impress me with your handiness, Hydal?” Rhi squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re smart and sweet, but you know I get most excited when you run around sweaty and shirtless and wrestle in the gymnasium, right?”

Judging by the way Hydal’s lower lip descended a couple of centimeters, he hadn’t known that.

“I thought it was his tongue that you liked,” Zenia said, unable to resist teasing them. They had stopped to let her listen in on their conversation, so it seemed appropriate.

“That too.” Rhi’s grin was wicked.

It was hard to tell by the lanterns mounted to the ship’s railing, but Zenia thought Hydal’s cheeks turned red.

To spare him, she switched topics. “As you can see, the dancing has begun.” She could feel the dwarf captain gazing at her back, waiting for her return. “You’re free to go to the cabin to enjoy your private meal and, uhm, whatever else you have planned.

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