“I just think it’s disrespectful to the rest of us.”
“I completely agree, Doctor Thornheart,” said Aaric.
“Thank you, Aaric.”
Emberly leaned in and whispered in my ear, “He’s just brown-nosing so he can get on one of your research teams when we return.”
“Well, whatever the reason, I still admire his enthusiasm.” Straightening the pencils in my breast pocket, I continued, “Leave it to the other beastologist to be so unaware of the importance of a schedule.”
Emberly opened her mouth, about to reply, when the sound of a carriage turned my attention to the dirt road.
“Finally.” I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms, and waited.
The door burst open and a tall man with white hair and bright emerald eyes framed by wire-rimmed glasses stumbled out. He reached into the carriage, swung a backpack over his shoulder and strode to the group.
“Oh great,” I whispered to Emberly. “Liam Pendragon?”
I’d never met Dr. Pendragon, but had heard plenty about him and his unprofessionalism; he was intelligent, but a complete mess. A phenomenal teacher, but couldn’t meet a deadline to save his life. Full of jokes and sarcasm, never seeming to take his career seriously, he was also said to be a brazen flirt.
The type of person I usually avoided.
After having said hello to the rest of the group, Liam waltzed right up to Emberly and me and gave us a wide smile.
“Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t decide which boots to pack.” He held out his hand and I reluctantly shook it. “Liam Pendragon.”
“Cerise Thornheart.” I gave him a curt nod. “Maybe if you hadn’t waited until the last minute to pack, you could have spared us from your tardiness.”
“Ah, but then I would have missed the pleasure of being chastised by the famous Doctor Thornheart.” His smile grew and he winked at me before turning toward Dr. Rosenshield. “So which horse will I be riding?”
I ignored him, turning on my heel, and marched to my own steed, a palomino mare named Honey. Slipping my foot into the stirrup, I swung my leg over and gripped the pommel, settling myself into the saddle.
Emberly approached on her own horse, an all-black stallion. “You’re in a hurry, aren’t you?”
“Well, we would have been on the road half an hour ago if it wasn’t for Doctor Pendragon.” I drew his name out.
Emberly shrugged. “What’s half an hour? We’ll still get to our first stop before dark. Besides, at least you’ll have something pretty to look at. Your previous partner was a grumpy old man. It’s a good thing he got sick…this will be much more fun.”
I shook my head with disapproval. “That old man was one of the most brilliant minds in our field. This replacement will be a challenge.”
“All right, team!” Dr. Rosenshield announced from atop his gray horse, interrupting our conversation. Our leader was a short, gray-haired portly man. Odd, but a renowned botanist and well-respected in his field. “Now that our last member has arrived, it’s time we get going. It will take most of the day to get to our first camp, then we’ll be traveling all day tomorrow before we reach the main research site.”
I gripped the reins, waiting for him to finish.
“I suggest you take this time to get to know each other if you don’t already. This is the team you’ll be spending the next two months with in the bowels of the jungle. Let’s be off! Chop chop!” He squeezed his horse with his heels and led the team out of the stables and onto a dirt road out of town.
Dr. Rosenshield rode at the front of the party, next to our guide. Ivan was a wide imposing man with a pale complexion, black hair and blue eyes. The two supply horses were attached behind him with lead ropes.
Next in our party were the two graduate students. Aaric, from my own university, and Sylvie, a mousy young woman from Dr. Pendragon’s school who was full of nerves and tended to over explain everything.
Emberly and I followed behind them, and that left…
“Hello, ladies,” Liam crooned as he rode up on the other side ofEmberly.
“Doctor Pendragon.” I tipped my head while Emberly gave him a friendly smile.
“Liam,” he insisted. I didn’t respond. “Are you still angry with me for arriving late?”
Emberly clicked her tongue at her horse and joined the graduate students, leaving us alone. I glared at my best friend’s back before turning back to Dr. Pendragon who was now right next to me.
