Page 2 of Forsaken Secrets

No one cared about that, though. They were scary, so they deserved to die. I rolled my eyes.

Footsteps approached, and my throat tightened. I needed to get away before they looked down.

Only a few more feet and I'd be safe.

"Well, Lynk can hunt my monster anytime he'd like, if you get my drift," said the woman, cackling.

Gods. That was a terrible joke. I shook my head and crept along the wall as silently as I could, ignoring the rest of their conversation.

Why the women were so obsessed with that monster hunter, I'd never been able to understand. Granted, I'd never actually seen him … but he couldn't be that attractive.

I leaped to solid ground and dashed behind the cover of some leafy trees, then sent one last look at the fort seated precariously atop the crumbling bluff.

Nothing. They'd been too distracted with their conversation to notice me sneaking beneath their noses.

I let out a deep breath, then rolled my shoulders and forced myself to relax. I'd made it. It was all going to be okay.

Tightening my pack, I set off through the forest for the cove.

* * *

The sky was finishing its shift to the bright blue of early morning when I broke onto the bluff above the cove. Sunlight glinted off of the water below. About twenty paces from the edge of the bluff, a worn statue of a drake protruded from the murky water, its shadow casting shade on the small, rocky beach beyond.

The very empty beach. The pile of poppy-coated metal I left there yesterday was gone!

Had my plan actually worked for once?

Cautiously excited, I dropped to my belly and crawled to the edge of the cliff. There was still no movement below.

I picked up a large stone and tossed it down into the water.

Within moments, two little gremlyns stumbled out of the cave; their tufted ears shifting towards the source of the sound. One step. Two steps. One wobbled, and then the other.

Both fell flat on their pointed noses.

I winced, but shook it off.

Those creatures might look sweet and cuddly, but they could be vicious! Especially if you came between them and their food.

I traced the little scar above my eyebrow and shuddered.

Never again.

It had taken a month of experimenting with different metal combinations, but it seemed the newest mix was delicious enough for them to eat despite the sour poppy root coating.

Excitement twisting in my stomach, I slipped all my supplies out, traded my skirts for trousers, and prepared the climbing gear.

If those snobbish Ridge ladies saw me now, their rich noses would lift so high …

No. I wouldn't even think about it. Aunt Grace and I were disgraced by our "merchant endeavors" anyway, so what did it matter?

I double-checked my gear, then took a deep breath and looked over the cliff, lowering a small bag of ripe fish until it hung just above the ground.

It was a long shot of a back-up plan, but hopefully it would be enough in a pinch.

Slipping the rope around my waist, I crawled over the edge and rappelled as quickly as I could to the sand below. I probably should have just free-climbed it, but this would make leaving faster — and safer.

I smiled at the sight of the two little gremlyns sound asleep in the sand. Ahh — lovely poppy root. Who knew it could be so useful?

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