“I saw you come out of the doorway. Who did you meet? Did you wheedle out any secrets like you did from me?”
“You make me sound like a spy.”
“I told you more in one conversation than I’ve told anyone in years.”
“I can say the same about you,” she said. “I work hard to keep my involvement with Reena a secret, but I told you.”
“And you showed me that you’re as strong as a yoke of oxen.”
“That’s not a nice thing to say about a princess!” She was smiling.
“So tell me all. Who or what was behind that curtain that you tried to keep us from seeing?”
She laughed. “I am exposed! I met Cappie.” As they walked, she told him about the meeting.
“Friends with Qip, is he?” Tam said thoughtfully.
They’d left the town behind and were now on the outskirts. Tall trees surrounded them.
“I think we should stop and wait,” Tam said.
“For what?”
“For Qip to find us. My guess is that your man Cappie will reward you for helping him by sending Qip.”
“And here I was hoping for a fire-breathing dragon to kiss Aradella.”
Tam groaned. “Youmuststand up to her. And do not tell me of your promise. Aradella thinks you’re stupid.”
“And useless.” Her eyes widened. “Isn’t that pretty?”
In front of them was a crystal-clear blue lake. Behind it was a sloping hillside with a flower-covered meadow. There were no people. “Reena would love this place. She’d want a sample of every plant.”
Tam was pulling his shirt off over his head. “I’m going for a swim, then afterward, I’ll pick them for you. We’ll put them in Papá’s magic bag that I’m sure he wheedled someone into selling to him. For a good price, of course.”
Smiling, Bree tried to be polite and not look, but the sight of Tam’s nearly naked body was too good to resist. As a woman with strength, she did love muscles. “Did he pay for items by telling fortunes?”
Tam looked surprised, then smiled. “I think Aradella should be afraid of how clever you are.” He was down to a small garment about his hips. He stepped toward the water, then turned to look at her. “Join me?”
“I don’t think—” She stopped speaking. That phrase that got so many women in trouble came to her:Why not?She was out of her clothes and down to her two pieces of underwear in seconds.
Tam was in the water and he wasn’t shy in appraising her body. “I can see it now.”
She knew what he meant. Clothed, she looked like her sister. Unclothed, they were different. Bree was sleek, with defined muscles. At the sight of her unclad sister, Shay would sneer and say, “You look like a boy.”
“Can you swim?” he asked.
“Bet I can go faster than you,” she said.
“You’re on!”
They raced and Tam won four out of the five races.
“Sure you’re not Order of Swans?” she asked as they got out of the water.
“Order of Sight, second class. I can’t foresee anything.”
“You could take your wife’s order.”
