Fire and Feathers_Novelette Prequel to Moss Forest Orchid by Shari L. Tapscott

Author:Shari L. Tapscott [Tapscott, Shari L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-02-09T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Let's Be Adventurers

Since we’re nearly broke, and I would like to eat sometime in the next week, we agree to sell the feather to a fine goods shoppe in Teirn instead of taking it to Sebastian’s grandfather. It’s too bad. I would have liked to have seen the sour look on the old man’s face when he was forced to admit I did something worthwhile. He hasn’t been kind about my scavenging ways.

Teirn’s a pretty city, one of the prettiest in all the provinces of Kalae. A lot of the elderly nobles reside here, some only during the winter months when the southern city is most pleasant, but others year-round.

Along with the older crowd, people our age mill about, browsing shoppes, talking, coming in and out of fancy restaurants that smell like paradise. The young men wear clothing very much like Sebastian’s—long dark jackets in black or gray or brown and doublets in equally subtle colors. The girls are in velvets, silks, and swaths and swaths of a gossamer fabric I have no name for. In the heat of the day, most of them wear their shoulders and necks bare. Here in the southern provinces, even the nobles spend their afternoons in the constant sunshine. The fairest girls are golden.

I feel shabby and poor. I know I’m not bad to look at, on a good day I’d consider myself pretty…but not after traipsing through Eromoore’s mucky forest for days. Sebastian glances at me and frowns, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing.

One of the girls spots Sebastian as we continue down the flowerbed-lined walkway that’s off the street, out of the way of the carriages and farmer carts that roll through the city. She nudges her friend, and the two giggle to themselves. The first girl whispers something to one of the young men she’s with. His eyes land on us, and he nods.

My stomach knots, and I attempt to look at anything but them.

The man walks toward us, his gait easy and loose. With a smile that’s half apologetic, he stops in front of Sebastian. “Are you new to Teirn?”

Sebastian mimics the young man’s manner. Lightly, he says, “We are, yes.”

“I’m Gerard, of the family Render.” He says it like it should mean something to us, but I have no idea who he is.

“I am Sebastian Thane, and this is Lucia.”

“Of the Reginae Thanes?”

“That’s right.”

The man doesn’t even spare me a glance to acknowledge my existence. “Please excuse the intrusion, but my sister is hoping you’ll join us. We’re about to go to the sea. The first of the white whales are back for the season, and we’re going to charter a ship to see if we can spot one.”

“I’m afraid we are on an errand, but thank you for the offer. Perhaps another time.”

Undeterred, Gerard grins and nods toward the group. Several eager pairs of feminine eyes stare back. Finally, he glances at me before looking at Sebastian. “Send your maid on your errand and come with us.

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