Page 20 of Kill the Queens
“Do you have money?” the driver interrupted.
“No.”
“What do I get out of it?” The man grunted as the horse flicked its tail sending a fly buzzing around his face. He didn’t lift a hand to bat it away.
“Company?” Shelby practically squeaked.
Ace hung her head. Gods, Shelby was terrible at thinking on his feet and lying. Stepping forward, Ace slowly lifted her face to the man’s. He looked in his fifties, his hairline long since receding, leaving only a sprinkle of blond hair everywhere except the top of his scalp. He was a bulky man who looked like he stopped for treats at every town he visited, keeping his figure nice and plump. When he jerked away from Ace’s gaze the wagon shifted with his weight.
“Good gods. What is wrong with your eyes?”
“Birth defect.” She gave him a sly smile.More like a re-birth defect.“I didn’t mean to startle you. If you could just get us a couple towns over it would be greatly appreciated! We are on our way to visit my aunt and she is wealthy enough to reward you greatly for your assistance.”
Shelby dug his teeth into his bottom lip as he watched the exchange. After a moment of silence, one Ace was sure the gods were filling with encouraging thoughts, the driver shrugged andscooted to the edge of the bench he sat on. “Fine.”
“Thank you, sir!” Ace smiled widely even though the man gave her a disapproving look. It was Ace’s appearance; she was often unsettling to look at. She took Shelby’s hand and hurriedly pushed him up into the wagon, following him in one quick movement.
“My name is Petu,” he stated before he clicked his tongue and gave the reins a little tug. “You’re a mighty big fella.” Petu clicked his tongue at Shelby who didn’t respond. He’d probably heard it a million times. Before they had even left the town, Petu was already whistling.
It wasn’t long before the small town of Padoka became a little dot in the distance. Ace turned to look back at it for quite some time before the silence of the trip began to bother her. She bounced her knee, her heel tapping against the board under their feet.
Shelby’s hand gripped the top of her leg as he forced her to still. “Quit fidgeting you’re driving me nuts.”
The whistling stopped as the driver eyed them. “So, are the two of you together? Or possibly related? Hopefully not both.” He shivered as if he’d already seen the two combined in ways he’d wished he never had before.
“Neither.” Shelby’s hand was still on Ace’s knee when he answered Petu. The muscles in his arm were tight and tense giving Ace an admirable view. She tried to remind herself that Shelby wasn’t interested in her, that Shelby merely tolerated her. Still, her fingers itched to run up his arm just to feel him.
“You both have the same defect,” Petu pointed out.
“Oh.” Shelby let go of Ace’s leg now, the hand coming up to rub against his jaw. “Coincidence.”
“We’re starting a club for people like us,” Ace interjected. She’d only meant for the idea to be a thought that came and went from her head but the words blurted out of her. Shelby’s browsshot upward and Petu inclined his head. She cleared her throat trying to make sense out of her impulsive thoughts. “We are meeting someone else with the defects at myaunt’shouse.”
It was partially the truth. Obviously not the bit about her imaginary aunt but the meeting someone else like them. That had been the plan. Ace’s leg started bouncing again. Thetap, tap, tapof her heel making Shelby cringe away.
“Where are you headed?” Ace made the attempt to change the subject.
“Queen Farah’s castle.” Petu twisted in his seat and grabbed the blanket that covered the goods behind him. Sunlight glinted off a trove of weapons, no doubt sharpened to split hairs. “She’s ordered more weapons, kept our blacksmiths busy.” He dropped the blanket back over the swords, and daggers, and other things Ace couldn’t really identify. “Looks like they’re gearing up for something.”
Shelby settled back into the seat letting Ace and Petu talk around him. He turned his face up to the sun and closed his eyes. Maybe he’d fall asleep.
“Oh?” Ace whispered, she shoved her hands under her thighs and leaned forward.
“This many weapons. Yeah.”
“It is a lot…” She thought out loud.
“Rumor has it that Queen Sienna has sought refuge with Queen Farah. Her castle crumbled to bits in the middle of the night.”
“That’s terrible!” Ace gasped, causing Shelby to crack open the eye to look down at her. A good actress never stepped out of her role to acknowledge her audience. “What happened?”
Petu shrugged. “People are saying it had something to do with the quick construction of the castle itself, but I have my doubts about that.” He bobbed his head as he spoke.
“Well, the castle had been built with such speed! Iimagine a few mistakes could have been made in the rush.”
“The warlocks pretty well made it themselves!” He sounded offended that Ace might be agreeing with the rumors. “Unless they specifically sabotaged the very castle they knew they’d be living in, I can’t see how it couldn’t be perfect.”
“You’re a fan of warlocks?” Ace was curious now since Petu seemed to speak so highly of them.