Moss Forest Orchid by Shari L. Tapscott

Author:Shari L. Tapscott [Tapscott, Shari L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-31T05:00:00+00:00

***

Sebastian and I stand side-by-side, scouring Mesilca’s announcements. There are a few other people milling about, all browsing the sales and listings from the local shoppes. A particularly stubborn old woman keeps pushing me out of her way, muttering apologies that she doesn’t mean.

She elbows me in the side—again, but this time I’m at the end of my patience. Seeing I’m about to cause a scene, Sebastian sets a soothing hand on my shoulder. I turn to him, giving him a silent look of irritation. He almost laughs, but then he winces.

His jaw looks horrifying this morning, all black and blue and yellow. But somehow, he’s still catching the local ladies’ attention. One fawned over him while we were on the way here, asking if he was a dragon slayer, back from some daring expedition. To which he replied that he was not, but it was too early to tell where the day might lead him. I think he said it just for my benefit.

I roll my eyes as I think about it, and I glare at the white head bobbing about in front of me. She emits an herbal smell that reminds me of all elderly people. And death.

I’m just debating poking Flink in the belly, seeing if I can coax him to belch out a flame to give her a harmless, but effective, little singe, when Sebastian reaches over my head and claims a piece of parchment.

“What about this one, Lucia?”

The woman whips around, beady eyes sharp, making sure Sebastian didn’t snatch something that she may want herself. Then she sees him and his dashing battle wound, and her thin lips tip in a besotted smile. “Oh, my. What kind of trouble did you find yourself in?”

Sebastian shoots me an amused look, and then he turns back to the woman, laying on the charm. “I was defending a maiden’s honor, madam.”

She clasps her wrinkled, spotted hands and holds them to her bosom. “What a chivalrous young man you are.”

“I try.”

I examine my nails as she continues to coddle Sebastian as if he’s a prize egg. She finally curtsies, pretending she’s but a young slip of a girl, and excuses herself. She giggles as she goes.

“What’s the job?” I ask, still examining my hands, refusing to acknowledge the absurd exchange.

Sebastian laughs under his breath, enjoying my revulsion. “Apparently, a man by the name of Frederick Hornburrow has snakes in his basement.”

I look up. “Do I look like an exterminator?”

“We’re not in the position to be choosy.”

The money I made last night was enough for a few more days at the inn, but my chosen establishment was far too small to make a great deal in tips. I’ll have to find a different tavern this evening.

“What else is there?” I demand, looking through the announcements again. They’re all ads. After several minutes, I wrinkle my nose and give up. “Fine. Snakes it is. But tomorrow we’re hiking to the nearest peak and finding a dragon cave to loot.”

Sebastian falls into step beside me, leading the way.

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