“Why?”
“Because I’m a girl,” she snapped. “Did you forget that?” She started toward the bathroom.
“I did.” He yawned. “I suppose I should look for someone who isn’t weak and afraid. Perhaps Bear Boy can help me explore the garden I found.”
That word make her halt. “A what?”
He looked uninterested. “Nothing. It’s just a tall stone wall with some plants inside. I’m sure they’re ordinary ones. Although, some of the birds were chirping quite loudly. There seems to be something, uh, special about the garden. I have no idea what it is.” He stood up straighter. “I’ll go by myself to see it, then I’ll come back and tell you all about it.” He gave her a look up and down. “You probably couldn’t get over the wall anyway.”
Aradella gave him a look meant to singe his hair. “Try me.”
He gave a false look of surprise. “But you need to...” He waved his hand up and down, meaning to reclothe herself.
“Stay! Wait,” she ordered, then ran to the privacy of the bathroom. She took no bath, didn’t change her clothes; just a toiletrun, then a quick tightening to her padding. She ran out, but he was already about ten steps down the path. She hurried after him.
He gave a smile of welcome. “I think it may be a secret garden that probably belongs to—” He cut off as they heard a giggle coming from the other side of a tall hedge. It was Kaley. It was followed by a crash of what sounded to be branches hitting the ground, then something heavy fell. An entire tree? “I think they’re up.” Mekos looked at Aradella with wide eyes.
She couldn’t help laughing at his double entendre.
With sparkling eyes, he began running down the path, Aradella close behind him.
They skirted the village, then hid behind a shed as they waited for two women to pass.
“It’s nearly the Day of the Moon,” they heard a woman say.
When they were gone, Mekos said, “Is that a holiday?”
“I have no idea. We should ask the Reaver.”
He gave a laugh, then led them down a narrow trail. Twice, they went over fences.
“How did you find this place?” she asked.
“A flock of green birds, a kind I’ve never seen before, woke me and wanted me to follow them.”
“I bet your father could have asked them where they were going. I believe there’s a special language he knows.”
Mekos stopped and looked at her, then he leaned forward, his lips close to her ear. He said something in an incomprehensible language that was liquid cream, soft as a cloud, and oh so very enticing.
Aradella felt her knees weaken. She felt like saying,I am yours.
Mekos stepped back, his expression smug. “Thatlanguage?”
Aradella wasnotgoing to show him how she was affected. “I assume it is, but with Tanek’s deep voice it would be much more—”
Mekos made a groan mixed with laughter. “I cannot win! Come on, we’re almost there.”
When he turned away, Aradella wiped the sweat off her brow. “Where did you sleep? How did I get in my bed?”
“Eagles carried you. It took six of them,” he said.
“Tanek could have—”
He turned and gave her a look to stop it.
Aradella smiled sweetly, then closed her mouth.
Minutes later, Mekos pushed tall branches aside to show a stone wall. “It goes down quite a way. I didn’t go all the way around but I think it’s attached to Valona’s big house and it encloses a garden. See the leaves?” He pointed upward to some large, spiked leaves hanging over the stone. “Know what plant that is?”
