“Do you disagree with the title?”
“I’m just not sure that it’s a great title.”
We were outside by this time, and the sweet scent of the night air tingled my nose. I was glad to inhale something more than food and dry dirt. Marc turned us right and took my hand, where he pulled me down the sidewalk.
“It’s this way.”
My face drooped. “What’s this way?”
“Trouble,” Ramaro mused as he scuttled along at my heels.
Marc jerked to a stop so quickly that I crashed into his back, and Ramaro crashed into me. The captain turned and looked down. “I’ve decided to take Rose for a walk. There’s a secluded spot where she can properly be cleaned.” He didn’t wait for a reply, but pulled me along.
Ramaro scurried in front of us and blocked our path. “Adrien told us she needed some rest.”
“Eldric would have my head if I brought her back looking as pale as a drowned man,” Marc countered as we strolled over Ramaro’s short blockade. “And I need to make my own amends to Rose for what happened.”
“That wouldn’t be any loss to you!” Ramaro insisted as he scurried along after us. “You haven’t been using your head since we arrived!”
Marc stopped us again and half-turned to our small friend. “Then I’ll use it now. Go back to the house and tell Eldric we’ll be late.”
The agama wrinkled his snout. “And why should I do that? Leaving you alone with her this night hasn’t done her any good.”
“Because your captain commands it.”
Ramaro’s face drooped. “That’s a dirty trick citing command like that.”
Marc narrowed his eye at our short friend. “Then you refuse?”
Ramaro’s nostrils flared, and he turned away from us and lifted his tail in our direction. “I’ll go, but mind you don’t let anything happen to her.”
A crooked, sly smile slipped onto Marc’s lips. “Are you ever going to tell me why you care so much about this woman?”
The lizard stomped a foot against the ground. “Just watch her!” And with that last command, he scuttled down the street and was soon out of sight.
“Why does he care so much?” I wondered as Marc turned his attention back to me.
He sighed. “I don’t know. He’s never shown anyone this much attention.”
I bit my lower lip and cast my eyes in the direction Ramaro had vanished. “Do you think we should go back?”
“The night is still young,” Marc pointed out as he offered me his arm. “And I do have an apology to give to you.”
My back itched a little from the dirt I’d lain in. “Does that apology happen to involve me getting undressed?”
“It could.”
He sounded way too eager. “I think I’d like to go back to the house.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you to be a pirate.”
“I’m glad to be counted among such company.”
“Which means we should go back to the house.”
“After I’ve shown you something. You won’t regret it.”
