Part 22 (1/2)
”You'll see me at the compet.i.tion!”
”What are you trying to hide from me?”
Shea-Ann stood, grasped Sparrow's arm, and tugged her to the door. ”Will you let us get on with this? I have remedies to mix.”
Reluctantly, Sparrow left the barn, muttering all the way back to the house where she sat by the fire, hemming the silk.
”This would make such a beautiful dress.” She touched soft fabric, the same pale blue as Lock's eyes.
Why wouldn't he allow her to watch? How bad could it be, to watch a man dance with daggers? The Daggers of Desire...
A couple of hours pa.s.sed, and Sparrow, her fingers aching from the needle, placed the material aside. They had several weeks before the compet.i.tion, and she could work on the rest of the silk as well as the leather loincloth over the next few days. She stirred the stew in the pot over the fire and prepared the table for dinner.
Shea-Ann burst into the house, fanning her flushed face with her hand. ”That boy has a certain charm, Sparrow, much as I hate to admit it.”
”So how did he look? What was the dance like?”
”It was...He is...Unless the Empress is dead, he's sure to win.”
Sparrow's belly churned with curiosity. ”Then he performs well?”
”Dear, if he's anything in bed like he is doing that dance, I'm surprised you can even get up in the morning.”
”Shea-Ann!”
”Forgive me, but it's true. The yak has talent.”
”Where is he now?”
”Went for a swim. He should be back soon.”
Sparrow stirred the pot again, and when she turned back from the fire, noticed Shea-Ann lifting her skirt above her ankles and dancing across the room with a hip motion that was nothing short of scandalous.
”Shea-Ann!”
The old woman stopped, blus.h.i.+ng. ”Sorry. That dance is compelling. Not that I can do it like the yak, but when I was young...”
”You probably could have out-danced half the wh.o.r.es of the Archipelago.” Lock stepped into the room and winked at Shea-Ann. Barefoot, he wore only his trousers, the slashed muslin and daggers in one hand. His hair hung in wet ringlets down his back, and river water streaked his face and torso. Sparrow's gaze swept him. She wished it was already after dinner and they were cuddled in bed.
”Shea-Ann said you should win.”
”I intend to win, and when I do, I'm going to give you the one thing you want most in the world.”
”Modest, aren't you?” Sparrow smiled at him. ”Sit down. It's time to eat.”
Sparrow filled their bowls while Lock divided a loaf of bread among them. Over dinner, they discussed the farm, the problems Shea-Ann had faced healing that day, and the preparation for Lock's compet.i.tion.
”I can't believe it's this late.” Shea-Ann yawned. ”All that time I spent in the barn watching this man with his wiles when I should have been tending my herbs. Now I have all those mixtures, powders, and teas to prepare.”
”Teach me what to do, and I'll help,” Lock offered.
Shea-Ann lifted an eyebrow. ”Something's wrong between us, yak. Why are we getting on so well?”
”You're att.i.tude's improving.” Lock popped a slice of apple into his mouth and winked.
”My att.i.tude? You're the one with-”
”Do you want to show me how to mix those witch brews of yours?”
”As I've told you before, healing is a respected art.”
”I respect it enough. You saved my life, and I do know a bit about it, you know. Mostly emergency skills learned in the field.”
”That's all the well and good, but a true healer knows more than simple st.i.tching and bone-setting.”
”There's not many healers to learn from in the Archipelago. A few, most of them who know little more than I do.”
”It takes time and dedication, but I think you could learn.”
”Don't think it's for me.” Lock shook a tendril of hair from his eyes. ”I'm more of a fighter than a healer.”
”You can be both. Look at the Knights of the Ruby Order.”
Lock snorted with laughter. ”They're like holy men. I couldn't be any Knight.”
”I have to agree with you there,” Shea-Ann admitted, but stroked her chin as she glanced at him. ”You'd look good in the uniform, though.”
”Or out of it.” Sparrow tossed Lock a coquettish look.
”Enough of that!” Shea-Ann waved her hand. ”Either he's going to help me or make love with you.”
”Help her.” Sparrow began clearing the table. ”We can play later.”
Lock stood and dragged her roughly to his chest, his beard tickling her face as he kissed her. ”I'll hold you to it.”
”How long have you been a healer?” Lock asked Shea-Ann as he packaged dried herbs while she prepared mixtures.
”I've trained since I was a girl. My grandmother taught me.”
”You must miss her.”
Shea-Ann glanced at him. ”Surprised you'd consider such a thing. Yes, I've missed her since I left my village years ago. Now that she's gone, I think of her often. Family is good to have.”
”I wouldn't know.”
”You've got Sparrow.”