“It could have fooled anyone!”
“That just happened to be your favorite?”
“A lot of people like flies instead of raisins!”
My stomach lurched at the idea, but I kept my, um, wait a second. I clutched my stomach and winced.
The motion didn’t go unnoticed by Torvus, even with having only one eye. “What’s wrong?”
I sheepishly smiled at him. “I haven’t had anything to eat in a while.”
He grinned at me. “Just what I was hoping.” My face scrunched up with confusion, but he only quickened our pace. “Let’s go see Baba.”
Chapter 20
To say I was nervous about meeting a witch Torvus had angered was an understatement. I was terrified. Still, I didn’t have any other choice but to be carried along for this strange adventure. After all, where would I go? I was in a strange port on a strange island, and my previous adventures had shown me there were a lot of strange and deadly dangers. I wasn’t even sure if the whole world wasn’t unknown to me.
We meandered our way through the winding streets, where I enjoyed the ever-changing view of the buildings. Just as I had seen from the ship, there were no two houses built the same. Some were older, others newer. Some were made from weathered clapboard. Others looked like their walls had been salvaged from ships. Many of the craggy trees that grew in random places were tall and thick-limbed, their leaves shading the dusty streets. There were a few empty lots here and there, but those were occupied by chickens, carts, or dozens of broken fish traps.
Torvus stopped us in front of a small piece of property with an herb garden out front. A quaint cottage stood behind the beds, and a huge old oak tree shaded the house. The pane windows were clean, and a puff of clear smoke flowed out of the stone chimney. A few chickens pecked here and there along the road, with more than one eyeing the garden.
Ramaro twitched his snout at the house before he cast an eye at Torvus. “You know she’s not going to like us just strolling in there like last time, right?”
Torvus’ wickedly bright eye fell on me. “Which is why we’re not.”
My face drooped as enlightenment dawned on me, and my voice came out an octave higher than usual. “You want me to go in there?”
“Merely as a diplomat.”
“More like an offering. . .” Romaro darkly muttered.
Suddenly, I still wish I were looking at the city from the ship. “I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
I tried to retreat, but Torvus had a strong grip on my arm. “There’s nothing to worry about. She’s kindly toward everyone.”
Ramaro sputtered on his spit. “Have you gone insane? She-ow!”
Torvus had given the lizard a more than light tap with the tip of his boot. “She wouldn’t touch a beautiful woman like Rose.”
I blushed at the compliment and his use of my first name. Still, I had my doubts, and I dug in my heels. “I really don’t think I’m up for this job.”
It was at that moment that one of the chickens dared stroll up the stone path between the herb gardens. It stuck its beak into one of the beds and rummaged through the leafy greens.
A shadow rose out of the darkness at the base of the plants and loomed over the bird. We three stood there gawking as the formless thing wrapped itself around the chicken’s waistline. The hen let out a terrible squawk that sent its brethren running. The shadow lifted the chicken and threw the bird at the street. The shrieking hen flapped past us and landed on the other side of the road, where it quickly scrambled to its feet and took off running. The shadow slipped back into the herb garden, and all was quiet once more.
“Nope!” I shouted as I tried to spin on my heels. “It’s not going to work!”
“We won’t know until you try,” the captain insisted as he pulled me up the path.
“But that chicken just tried!” I yelped as I stumbled over every stone.
“But you’re not a chicken.”
“Maybe I want to be!”
A sharp, shrill female voice came from inside the house. She sounded like she was as old as dirt. “What’s all this commotion?”
The captain gave me a hard push and sent me stumbling several yards ahead of him. “Good luck!”
