Moss Forest Orchid (Silver and Orchids Book 1)

by Shari L. Tapscott

  “I had hoped he’d tire of waiting and move onto his next unsuspecting victim.”

  “Sebastian!”

  “I don’t see what about him has you so infatuated.”

  I toss the rag aside and set my hands on my hips.

  “Oh, I don’t know. It couldn’t have something to do with the fact that he’s a captain of his own ship. Or that he’s handsome and charming.” I tap my fingers on my lips. “You’re right. I have no idea.”

  My friend looks a bit put out. “There’s something about him, Lucia. You shouldn’t trust him.”

  I only shake my head and walk into the back to thank the owners for letting me work.

  “Are you finished?” I ask Sebastian when I come back out. “Or shall I walk back to the ship by myself?”

  “Lucia, I know you don’t like it, but I would appreciate it if you’d trust my judgment for once. Please don’t see this man.”

  I cross my arms. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I’m not going to do that.”

  Sebastian scowls, looking like he wants to argue. Without another word, he offers his arm and escorts me back to the ship.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Those Aren’t Legal

  I don’t expect Avery to still be waiting when we return to The Sea Star, but I find him on the deck, chatting casually with one of the ship’s hands like it’s high noon and not two hours from dawn.

  “Captain Greybrow,” I say, remembering to use my manners for once. “Surely you haven’t waited all night?”

  The man stands and smiles, looking pleased to see me. He glances at Sebastian, and his expression dims. For once, Sebastian doesn’t seem to care about conversational etiquette. He walks right past Avery, practically depositing me in the captain’s arms.

  I know Sebastian’s mad—I know that I’ve hindered any progress we’ve made in the last few weeks, but he’s out of line. He’s not kin; he has no right to tell me who I can or cannot associate with.

  Avery watches Sebastian disappear below, and he looks amused. “Your chaperone doesn’t trust me.”

  Unsure how to answer, I shrug.

  The captain laughs and tucks my arm in his. He steers me toward the lift, and then he leans close. “I wouldn’t trust me either.”

  Normally, I’d laugh, but I’m still upset over the confrontation with Sebastian.

  “Where are you leading me?” I ask. “I’m too exhausted for another outing.”

  Somehow, he’s already managed to scoot me onto the lift.

  “Then sleep in my guest cabin,” he urges, and then he gives me a wicked smile. “I swear I’ll behave myself.”

  It’s too late to decline. The ship boys are already lowering us down, and one of Avery’s men waits in a small boat below.

  “I’ll come,” I finally agree. “But I’d like to be back before sunrise.”

  Before Sebastian realizes I’ve gone.

  “Your ship doesn’t leave until the afternoon.”

  “Yes, but…” I struggle to complete the thought. “It’s complicated.”

  He nods. “Very well, but if you won’t stay for the day, you must at least join me for an early breakfast.”

  I didn’t eat at the tavern, and at the mention of food, my stomach rumbles.

  “Yes,” I answer. “I can do that.”

  Avery’s men scurry about as soon as we reach his ship, and soon I find myself whisked into the captain’s quarters. I thought the guest cabin was ornate, but it’s nothing compared to this.

  Several lanterns light the room, illuminating the carved wood, gilded details, and other finery.

  “You’re a collector.” I wander about, studying things safely tucked away in cases and under glass. Avery has jewels and gems, books, enchanted armor and charms—both ancient and new, a variety of rare and impressive alchemy ingredients, and artifacts galore. I pause when I come to a case in the corner. I look at the captain over my shoulder and give him a wry smile. “These are illegal.”

  Avery’s expression turns sheepish. He steps next to me, studying the impressive collection of enchanted daggers. “You have a sharp eye. Most people wouldn’t notice.”

  “Why do you have them?”

  “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” He opens the case and runs his hand along a ruby-studded hilt. “All of them are hundreds of years old, and yet they still carry their enchantments. The craftsmanship is astounding. I’m afraid they are my weakness.”

  I turn toward him and set my hands on my hips. “You had me retrieve one of these from that dilapidated shoppe in Fermall, didn’t you? That’s what was in your box.”

  The captain grins, only looking a bit remorseful. “A well-respected captain shouldn’t be found transporting illegal goods through one of the provinces’ main ports, should he?”

  “There would be a scandal.” I rest my hip against one of the cases and smile.

  “So, you know one of my dark secrets, and yet I know nothing about you.”

  A knock sounds at the door. After Avery bids him entrance, a galley boy carries in a tray and sets it on the table by the windows. “Your breakfast, Captain.”

  Avery dismisses the boy, thanking him, and motions for me to choose a seat.

  “What would you like to know?” I ask as I peek under the cover of one of the silver platters.

  He pulls out my chair and then sits in his own, studying me. “How about you start at the beginning?”

  I shrug and help myself to a piece of toasted bread. “I grew up in a small village in Reginae. I’m the eldest of six children—two girls and four boys, and my family is in the prestigious chicken farming business.”

  “Chickens, hmmm?” He crosses his arms. “And yet I found you in Fermall, looking for a ship to take you to Grenalda, where you planned to search for orchids.”

  “I find chickens to be loathsome beasts, so I left the family business when I was nineteen and never looked back.”

  “They must miss you.”

  Avery’s too easy to talk to. After spending so much time with uptight Sebastian, it’s refreshing to speak with someone who isn’t overly concerned with social boundaries, someone who doesn’t shy away from personal questions.

  “And I miss them,” I continue. “But I’m not going back for anything longer than a visit.”

  “How do you know so much about illegally enchanted weapons?”

  The horizon is lightening, but I’m not ready to leave.

  “When I first left home, in my desire to make it on my own, I became a bit of a scavenger. I’d collect local alchemy items, loot dragon caves—that sort of thing.”

  The captain rests his elbows on the table and grins. “You were a thief.”

  “No,” I answer immediately. “The way I see it, dragons hoard things they’ve already stolen. I’m simply taking those things back.”

  “And returning them to their rightful owners?” His eyes are bright, and I find myself smiling with him.

  “We both know that would be impossible.”

  He tuts several times, shaking his head. Then he nods for me to continue. “All right, I’ll leave you be. Please, go on.”

  “Where was I?”

  “Fighting dragons, I believe.”

  I lean forward as if to tell him a secret. “I try not to fight them. I’m more of a sneak-into-their-cave-and-hope-they-don’t-notice-me sort of girl.”

  “You’ve never gotten into a scrape? Not one?”

  “I didn’t say that.” I laugh. “Anyway, one day I got lucky, found something extremely valuable, and it sort of took off from there. Now Sebastian and I finish collections for people, hunt down odd ingredients that no one can track. Or we used to, at least. We’ve had a bit of a falling out, but I’m trying to patch things up.”

  “You find things like Moss Forest orchids.”

  “Yes, exactly like Moss Forest orchids. Though this is the first time something I’m searching for has taken me out of Kalae.”

  It’s the first time I’ve left my home
kingdom, period.

  My companion is quiet for a moment, and I help myself to the food in front of me. It all tastes amazing after the bland fair we’ve been receiving on The Sea Star.

  “So, Sebastian is younger than you?”

  “Hmmm?” I sniff some kind of red jam and then smear it on another piece of toast. “No, he’s a day older.”

  “You said you’re the eldest.”

  “What?” I look up.

  Avery wears a knowing expression that makes me squirm. “You said you’re the eldest of your siblings, which would make you older than Sebastian…because Sebastian is your brother.”

  With nothing left to do, I laugh. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

  “He’s not your brother, is he?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Avery sits back and smiles. “Are you…involved?”

  “No,” I answer immediately.

  “But…you are in love with him?”

  “No,” I say, wishing he would stop with the questions. “We grew up together. He’s my business partner, nothing more.”

  “I’m not accustomed to dancing around things, so I’ll be blunt about this.” Avery leans forward again and fights a smile. “I’m asking if I have a chance with you, Lucia.”

  Several seconds go by. It’s one thing to have breakfast, flirt a bit to pass the time. It’s another to lead the man along. Part of me knows I’d be a fool to turn down this rich, successful captain. Another part whispers Sebastian’s warning.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know you well enough to give you an answer, Captain Greybrow.”

  “I have a feeling it’s a bad sign you’ve reverted back to ‘Captain Greybrow.’” Avery winces in an exaggerated way, and then he gives me an easy smile. “You know you are welcome to ask me anything you like.”

  It’s all too much, too soon, and I’ve had too little sleep. If I move forward with this now, my friendship with Sebastian may never recover. And when it comes down to it, I’ve known Sebastian all my life, but I’ve been acquainted with Avery for less than a month.

  I stand, place my cloth napkin on my plate, and walk around the table. Setting my hand on his shoulder, I say, “You’re very charming, but I don’t do relationships. Especially with handsome sea captains. You understand, don’t you?”

  He exhales and nods, but I can tell from the look on his face this isn’t over.

  I’m just about through the door when I stop and turn. “Oh, thank you for retrieving the dragon egg for me. It was very kind of you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “How did you know about it?”

  Avery motions to the case in the corner. “I know the location of every enchanted dagger I plan to obtain for my collection. When I want something—truly, desperately want something—I discover everything there is to know about it.” He raises an eyebrow. “Or her.”

  “I’m not going to lie,” I tease, “I’m a bit disturbed right now.”

  He grins, as I hoped he would. “Goodbye, Lucia.”

  “Goodbye, Captain.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A Truce and a Dragon

  “Here’s the way I see it,” I say as I plop into the seat directly across from Sebastian. “Our quarrel is completely your fault at this point.”

  Now that we’ve skirted the last of the islands, our ship heads north again, into cooler territory. The breeze is pleasant, no longer balmy but still warm. We are to reach Grenalda in less than a fortnight.

  Sebastian, who’s taken up residence at a small deck table, looks at me, incredulous.

  We’ve avoided each other since that night we quarreled at the tavern, and I don’t think I’ve spoken a full sentence to him in the last week. Enough is enough. It’s time for Sebastian to forgive me—whether he likes it or not.

  Before I continue, I set the egg on the table between us, tucking it into a little nest of fabric, so it won’t roll off the edge as the ship rocks.

  “I’ve apologized how many times, Sebastian? More than I can count. I am sick over the fact that I lost your share of our money, but more, I’m sick over losing your trust.”

  Sebastian begins to say something, but I cut him off. “I turned down Avery for you, simply because I know you don’t like him. I want to be partners again—no more of this temporary, on-again, off-again truce. I hate the animosity that’s grown between us. Yes, we bicker. We always have, but I can’t stand this gaping cavern. You’ve always been there—whether I wanted you there or not—and in the last few months…I’ve never felt so alone.”

  My chest tightens. I’m getting carried away, and I’m sharing more than I intend. What if he rejects me again?

  “So, you see,” I finish, trying to ignore the tiny voice of panic in my head. “It’s entirely up to you. Can you forgive me or not? Because, Sebastian—I am so deeply sorry.”

  I’ve said it all in a rush. Now that I’m done, I take a deep breath, waiting for him to respond.

  Sebastian watches me for several moments, and then he looks down at the deck of cards in his hand. Collected as usual, he begins shuffling them like I didn’t just pour my heart out. “Under no circumstances will you be allowed to make monetary decisions—and no more illegal transactions like the one I witnessed between you and that man in Fermall.”

  Without thinking, I reach across the table and squeeze his hand. “Thank you, Sebastian.”

  His fingers go still under mine. I draw my hand back, trying to be nonchalant about it.

  “I’m glad to hear you’ve severed ties with Captain Greybrow,” Sebastian says after a few tense moments. “I just don’t care for him.”

  I take the cards he automatically deals me and smirk as I sort my hand. “Yes, you’ve mentioned that. But you’re a horrible judge of character. You always have been.”

  His dark green eyes meet mine. “I am most certainly not.”

  “We both know you can’t stand me, and I’m perfectly delightful.” I discard a card and then motion for him to hand me another.

  “That’s absurd.”

  “Which part? That I’m delightful or that you can’t stand me?”

  “Both.”

  I’m about to answer when a very tiny, but very distinct, tapping sound interrupts. I glance about, wondering what it is.

  “Lucia,” Sebastian says, sounding weary.

  I look at him, and he points to the dragon egg.

  “No,” I whisper in disbelief. Excited, I place my ear next to the egg. Again, there is a tap, tap, tap. “It’s hatching!”

  “Oh, joyous occasion.”

  Because I’m distracted, Sebastian takes my cards. After he studies them, he discards one. He then shoves all the cards back at me and moves on to his own hand.

  After staring at the egg for a good half hour, I begin to grow impatient. The sun hangs low in the sky, and the sea air has grown cool. The clouds are pink and orange, and it’s only a matter of time before it will be too dark to remain on the deck.

  “Why is it taking so long?” I wonder out loud.

  Sebastian’s given up on me, and he now plays a game by himself. “Because it takes hours for dragons to hatch.”

  “How do you even know that?”

  He frowns at his cards. “Everyone knows that. Just as everyone knows that it’s a messy, disgusting process, and baby dragons look like tiny, slimy demons.”

  “If they’re so awful, why do all the noble-blooded girls carry them about?”

  “They don’t raise them from eggs, Lucia. They buy them when they’re several months old—when they’re cute and nimble.” He grimaces. “Well, as cute as a dragon can be.”

  I give him a disdainful look and turn back to the egg. “Maybe we can help it out a bit.”

  Sebastian looks up from his cards. “Your family raised chickens, Lucia. Surely you know you can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  He flashes me a look. “Did you help with the farm chores at all?”

  “That’s what my brot
hers were for.” I shrug. “You know I assisted Mother at the market every morning.”

  Tiny noises resume from the interior of the shell, and I watch it, impatient.

  With a sigh, Sebastian stacks his cards and sets them aside. “If you attempt to pull away the shell, you could cause the dragon to bleed to death. You must be patient.”

  It’s not one of my strong suits.

  After another hour, we venture down to the cabin.

  “Are you coming to dinner?” Sebastian asks, acting as if he’s about to leave.

  “You’re just going to go? Now?”

  He rubs his brow, looking vexed. “They’ll be serving soon.”

  I glance at the egg. I very much doubt the other guests will want it resting on a table.

  “It’s not going anywhere,” Sebastian says. “And you have to eat.”

  “But what if it hatches while I’m away?”

  “Then it hatches.”

  Frowning, I wave him off. “Just go.”

  Sebastian stands at the door for several moments, and then he mutters something under his breath and swings the door closed. “I told you this thing would be a nuisance.”

  Several hours later, the dragon has pecked its way around, and the scarlet shell begins to break away.

  “Look!” I cry, leaning forward as the top cracks open. A tiny claw flails, and the being inside stretches, attempting to free itself.

  Sebastian cringes. “It’s a drab green color, isn’t it?”

  “Shhh.” I wave at him to be quiet.

  The baby’s twisted in the shell, folded in on itself. As it stretches its gangly, reptilian body, the shell falls open. The dragon flops onto the table. It stretches its head up, taking us in with bright gold eyes.

  Unfortunately, Sebastian was right. Newly-hatched dragons are neither cute or cuddly. The tiny creature’s not slimy, not exactly, but it is damp. And maybe a bit…sticky. A patch of membrane clings to its wing, and the beast flaps the limb haphazardly, trying to remove it. Its muscles are too weak to be of much use, and its movements are slow and limp.

  “Congratulations,” Sebastian says dryly. “You have a dragon.”