by Eliza Tilton
Chapter Nineteen
Lucino
The plan was working better than I had expected. I would need to concoct a purpose for my visit in Luna Harbor, and a thorough background before dinner. Jeslyn may be naive, but her grandfather most likely wouldn’t be.
Walking back into the inn, I bumped into the innkeeper’s daughter, Rika, an attractive girl with wide eyes and pouty lips.
“Good morning, miss.” I bowed my head.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Edward,” I corrected. “No need to be formal.”
She smiled, and it was not a pretty one. One of her front teeth had gone crooked.
“Very well, Edward. Do you need anything?” She folded the linens in her hand and slung them over her arm.
“Actually,” I said, moving closer. “I need some information.”
“What kind?”
With her gaze now focused on me, I activated my spell. “There’s a shop across the street. A girl named Jeslyn lives there. Do you know her?”
Rika nodded. “She’s very kind.”
“Yes, what do you know of her grandfather?”
“He’s a jewel trader. People come from all over for his work.”
“Does he voyage a lot?”
“Sometimes.”
I placed a hand on hers. “It’s very important I know when he intends to go. See what your little bird ears can hear about his next departure.”
She nodded, her eyes glassy.
“Thank you, Rika. Enjoy your day.” I brushed past her and walked up the dingy stairs to my room.
“Now, where did I put that communicator . . . ?”
I patted my inside right pocket, looking for the device. I pulled out the metal band and placed it on my head.
Romulus, I thought, sending a telepathic signal. The communicators used the power of our minds to transmit to one another.
No answer.
I instructed Romulus to always wear his communicator, but that blasted fool was probably busy with another dissection; and The Council thought I had an obsession.
Humans had a strange custom of bringing a gift to dinner, one I had observed often during my days in Daath. Behind the inn, where the grass led to an open field, azure and violet wildflowers blanketed the landscape.
I felt foolish picking a plant to give to a girl, but I did it anyway.
If I won Jeslyn’s heart, convincing her to return to Daath would be easy. I had thought of attempting my captivation spell once more, but the memory of its failure in Daath caused me to hesitate. If the spell didn’t work and she noticed the change in my eyes, she would discover my identity.
Candlelight filled the windows along the quiet street. Everyone seemed to eat at the same time, leaving the port a den of silence. Holding the bunch of flowers, I knocked on the shop’s door, feeling utterly ridiculous.
Jeslyn’s grandfather opened it.
“You must be Edward. Jeslyn said she’d invited you to supper. Come in, name’s Harold.”
I nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
The front of the shop was dark but a light from the back guided us forward. “You came.” Jeslyn smiled and walked over to me. “This is Ms. Gen, and you already met Grandfather.”
A plump woman, who I remembered seeing selling bread, placed a basket on the small table.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Gen. I’m Edward.” I turned to Jeslyn and extended the flowers to her. “These are for you.”
Her smile grew as her soft pale cheeks flushed ever so softly. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
We stood staring at each other until I looked away. Would she recognize me?
“You two sit,” Ms. Gen said as she pulled out a chair of her own. “Supper’s ready.”
Jeslyn nodded, sitting before I could properly pull out her chair.
I sat across from her.
“Jeslyn says you’re here on business.” Harold didn’t waste time barraging me with questions, but I was prepared to answer them all.
“Yes, sir. My family is looking to open another shop here. I came to see a property.”
“What kind of business they in?” he asked.
“Map making.”
Harold froze. “Maps?”
“Yes. Mainly for navigation. We have a few boats that sail around the coasts mapping out depths and landmarks.”
“That’s so interesting,” Jeslyn said. “You and Grandfather will have lots to discuss!” She smiled at the both of us.
And discuss we did, a boring conversation. Harold seemed thoroughly intrigued with my map making business, which made asking him questions about his own travels come easily. “When do you plan on voyaging next?”
Harold and Jeslyn exchanged a glance before he spoke further. “I’ll do one more run before the leaves have fallen.”
A few more weeks, then I’d have Jeslyn all to myself.
At the end of the meal, Jeslyn walked with me to the front of the shop.
I opened the door. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“That would be nice. The harbor is beautiful at night.” I held the door for her and we stepped outside.
Clouds blocked the moon, and the candlelight from the nearby houses didn’t provide adequate light for a stroll.
Jeslyn frowned as she gazed around. “It’s usually beautiful.”
“Any night beside a lady like you is beautiful.”
She glanced at her feet, smiled, then looked back at me before speaking. “How long will you be staying here?”
“For a while longer.”
Her grandfather peeked through the window at us. “I think your grandfather wants you back inside.”
She looked at the shop just in time to see her grandfather’s face dip out of view. “He’s very protective.”
“As he should be.”
We moved back to the shop door and I opened it for her. “I’d like to visit you again.”
“Would you like to pick shells with me? I need a few more for a necklace I’m working on.”
I nodded.
She smiled again. “Tomorrow then.”
“Tomorrow, my lady.” I bowed my head.
A few seconds of heavy silence passed before she said goodnight and closed the door.
Tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty
Jeslyn
My lady.
I kept replaying those words from last night all morning. Few men had referred to me as such, but none had ever said it quite like Lucino, soft and gentle.
Until now.
The reminder opened the ache and I pushed it aside, not wanting to relive the absence that pained me for so long.
Lucino was not human.
Lucino tried to kill my brother.
Lucino was gone.
I wished I could forget him. I thought coming to live with Grandfather would take away the confusion and sadness, but it hadn’t—nothing did. I would never know how Lucino truly felt about me. Did he love me? Had it all been lies? Was he truly a monster?
An image of his strong face on the day of our wedding kept convincing me he did care.
And his words. They rang true.
“I never thought I could feel the way I did when you first walked in.”
Those words played repeatedly in my mind, haunting me, reminding me of what could never be. I hated myself for even thinking of him.
My lady . . . such a common phrase. Why did it remind me of Lucino?
The boy had deep blue eyes like Lucino—brilliant and hypnotic—that must have been why I thought of Lucino now.
There was still much of the day left and with the sky staying bright and clear, I desperately wanted to go to the harbor.
Grandfather walked in from the back studying a document, his glasses resting on the
brim of his nose.
“What’s that?” I stood on my tiptoes, attempting to peek.
His brows scrunched and he frowned. “The latest shipment from Jehoia. They’re charging me triple what I normally pay!” The document shook in his hand as he rattled his fist. “After all these years, they have the gall to ask me for more.”
Prices for jewels from the caverns had begun increasing over the past year. Everything from the western lands had doubled in price, and no one knew why, though there were rumors of tension between Nomad’s Land and Jehoia where the crystals were mined.
The bell above the door rang as Edward walked in, holding his hat in his hands. When he saw the looks on our faces, he smiled sheepishly and waved, stepping back outside of the door.
“Grandfather.”
He peeked at me over the rim of his glasses.
“May I take my break now? I wanted to show Edward the beach.”
“Be back before supper.”
“Thank you.” I grabbed a small bucket from behind the counter and darted outside to where Edward waited.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning? Half the day is gone.”
He smiled, and scratched the back of his head. “I only woke up a little while ago. I don’t sleep too well.” He slid the hat back on his head and little tuffs of dark hair stuck out.
“It must be difficult being away from your family.” I thought of Calli and Mother, and pictured them tending the garden. I missed them.
“You always live with your grandpa?” Edward placed his hand on my back, guiding me past a barrel with its contents spilling on the ground.
“This way.” I pointed to the small hill and the gray willow trees decorating it. I didn’t want to talk about my family. It would bring too many questions. “I’ve been staying with Grandfather over the summer. I’ll return home soon.”
The wind brought the salty air from the harbor to my nose. With each day I spent here, I appreciated the beauty of the sea more. It provided food and wares from other lands, and brought new people to our shores. And while I did want to see my family, Luna harbor was slowly working into my heart. Could it be my new home?
We strolled to the beach, a little ways away from the busy port. Tall grass surrounded the worn path leading down the hill to the beige sand. When I reached the shore, I discarded my shoes, turned to see if Edward would follow, then hiked my skirt off the sand.
Seashells of every shape and size scattered the ground where the water lapped onto the shore. I walked around, bucket in one hand, gathered dress in the other, searching for those perfect shells, the ones that swirled with pale blue and a hue of soft pink. When Grandfather had showed me a lupa shell for the first time, I’d begged him to show me where he found them. After that, he left the hunting to me.
“Is this where you find those shells?” Edward kept his boots on and carefully stepped across the sand.
Not many of the villagers ventured into this area of the beach. There wasn’t much here except shells, and the shoreline was small. I liked the quiet. It gave me time to think and enjoy the view. “Yes. Would you like to help me choose some?”
“I don’t know anything about picking shells.”
Shells surrounded my feet. Little white crabs, resembling spiders, crawled out onto the sand, the sea pushing them closer to my toes. I stepped back, trying not to squish any, and spotted the perfect shell. It had a spiral of pale blue with dots of fuchsia, darker than the normal pink shells I found.
I picked it up and laid it across my palm. “This is a lupa shell.”
Edward leaned over and plucked the shell out of my hand. “Interesting colors. I can see why you chose it.” He placed the shell back in my hand, his fingers grazing my palm. “I’ll see what shells I can find for you, my lady.”
Why was my heart pattering at his touch, and why did his crooked smile and mesmerizing blue eyes fill me with flutters? The last boy to make me feel this way hurt my family and me. Could I ever trust my feelings again?
“Everything all right?” Edward stepped closer. The wind pushed his scent to me and reminded me of winter when the firewood left its mark on the air.
And Lucino.
I pulled my hand away and dropped the shell into the bucket. “Yes. I’m going to look on this side. How about you search over there?” I pointed to my right.
“Very well. Maybe we’ll get lucky today.”
Maybe.
I looked past the waves to where the suns disappeared into the sea. I wondered how far the sea went and if it ever had an end. I stood admiring the quiet waters and glanced over at Edward, who squatted on the sand picking up shells and making a disgusted face when he discovered a snail still inside.
Grandfather had a special technique to take the lupa shells and turn them into jewelry. He coated them with a resin and used a small metal tool to drill a hole where a thick thread could be weaved through. Looking at the different shells scattered about, I imagined the perfect necklace with this perfect shell as the centerpiece.
The suns dipped lower in the bright sky. I should go.
Edward glanced at me with his crooked smile.
“It’s getting late,” I said. “I should head back before Grandfather starts to worry.”
“I’ll walk you.”
I went back to my shoes and slipped them on. Instead of heading back on the path, we walked the shore to the harbor. At this time of day, the fishing boats were coming into port. I loved seeing all the different fish the sailors had caught.
We waded through the people, trying not to get in anyone’s way, and walked the street back to the shop. Grandfather’s shop sat at the far end of town, away from all the hustle and bustle of the market. Luna Harbor had a quaint beauty. Gray stone cobbled the main street, and the houses sat close together, charming structures with white stained wood and different colored stones. My favorite part of Luna Harbor was the tree responsible for the town’s name.
“This is the luna tree.” I pointed to the tree with giant weeping branches that dipped low, heavy with white circular flowers resembling the moon. “These trees only grow on the southern shores. It’s where Luna Harbor got its name.”
Edward picked up one of the fallen flowers and twirled it in between his fingers. “My mother would like these.”
Luna flowers had a scent similar to freshly washed clothes drying in the sun. It reminded me of sunshine and home.
“Do you think your family will want to move here?” I asked.
He brought the flower to his nose, the waning sunlight sparkled his blue eyes. “I’m not sure, but I think I’m ready to convince them.”
The suns gleamed glorious and bright, a perfect day for apple picking. Grandfather was a good friend of the orchard owner and he never minded when I strolled the grounds, though I tried very hard not to fill myself on the yellow apples.
Edward was meeting me by the road leading to the orchards. I wanted to show him the wildflowers that grew near the trees. After the flowers he had picked for me a few nights before, I thought he would appreciate the view.
A wooded sign with arrows pointing to the harbor and to the Great River marked the road, a giant luna tree beside it. I stood, holding the basket, waiting. Giddiness bubbled in my chest. Edward was a handsome boy, and I couldn’t help but be excited to spend the day with him.
We had spent the past few days picking shells and exploring the beaches. I even showed him how to clean the shells. I didn’t have any friends in Luna Harbor—not that I didn’t want any—but with the shop and jewelry making, I didn’t have much free time.
I laughed at the memory of Grandfather trying to explain what proper and improper behavior was for a boy and girl of our age. He turned bright as a cherry before deciding it was a talk best left for women.
“Good morning.” Edward arrived dressed in the same
dusty trousers from the day before, looking every bit the village boy, but walking with a strong stance. I wondered if he could fight with a sword well.
“Good morning.” I curtsied and tried to hide the nervous flutters in my chest. “Ready?”
He nodded and we strolled the long dirt path. The air had the perfect mixture of warmth and wind. Walking beside Edward reminded me of carefree days, and the ache of Lucino’s absence dimmed. I had hoped Luna harbor would be a place of healing, but I never expected to find a cute boy, and especially not one as polite and sweet as Edward.
Lucino was polite. I shook away the thought and focused on the beautiful day.
“Sorry about last night. Grandfather can be a bit nosy.”
“It’s all right. He doesn’t know me.”
“Still . . . I think it’s rude.”
Grandfather had been especially nosy at supper, asking Edward all sorts of personal questions. I think all the time we spent together made him uncomfortable, but we were only friends.
Edward looked my way and smiled. His face was kind with round features and bright brilliant eyes. Whenever he smiled, sunlight kissed his eyes, igniting the vibrant blue.
Ahead, the tops of the yellow apple trees peeked over the hill.
“Won’t the farmer be angry with us for walking around?” Edward took the basket from me and slung his arm through the handle.
“No. He’s a friend of my grandfather’s.”
I would normally run the rest of the way, but running in front of a boy seemed a little foolish. Walking faster, I smiled and waved him to follow. Trees lined in perfect rows, went back and swept over the hill, the apples hidden in between the bushy branches.
“He picks these all himself?”
I laughed. “That would take a very long time. He hires workers for the harvest.”
We stopped at the first row of trees. The apples were round, yellow, and perfectly ripe. I ripped one off the tree and handed it to Edward. “Here. They’re delicious.”
He took the apple and mouthed a thank you before biting into the juicy fruit. I searched the tree for another perfect shape and grabbed one for myself.
