Page 58 of A Lick of Flame

He chuckles. “Yes, me. I’m not getting any younger.” He holds out his hand to Maya, who accepts it. Hamlin hoists her to her feet. “I might just change for the right woman.” His gaze is locked with Maya’s.

She giggles in a way that is not like her at all. “Shall we go?”

“Of course, little lady. It’s dark out, so I might suggest that we go straight to my tent.”

Of course, an uncouth bastard like him would suggest that.

Prick!

“Don’t go with him,” I try again.

Maya puts her arm through his. “That sounds good,” she tells him, looking up at him with adoration shining in her eyes. At least, it would seem that way to someone who doesn’t know her. I can see that her smile is a little tight. That her shoulders are stiff.

God’s bones!

“Bard!” I shout. “You might want to see—” Hamlin kicks at me. I duck, and his boot glances off my shoulder instead of hitting me square in the jaw.

“Can someone gag this fae?” Hamlin looks over at the new guard, who nods.

“Do you think this is wise?” Charles asks Hamlin.

“It isn’t,” I say. “It’s idiotic!”

“Gag him now!” Hamlin growls. “I am in charge while Bard takes his rest. I will be with the lady in my tent. If you hear anything untoward, leave us be.” He chuckles to himself as if it is the best joke he’s heard all day.

“No, don’t—” I have a dirty rag shoved in my mouth. All I can do is moan around it as I watch Hamlin and Maya walk away. I only hope she knows what she is doing.

22

Maya

My heart just about beats out of my chest as I follow Hamlin. We pick our way through the campsite, which seems to be winding down for the night.

“I see that a few of the tents are different,” I say, trying to make small talk.

“Yes, it’s a new fabric from the east. It’s lightweight but strong…and keeps the rain out, which is a major win.”

“Oh, how interesting.”

Several men are already in their tents. Hamlin grabs one of the lanterns off a nearby wooden stand, casting an eerie glow around us.

“What are you planning?” one of the men asks Hamlin. He’s older and doesn’t look impressed.

“We’re just talking,” Hamlin says.

He gives us the side-eye. “Put her back in shackles where she belongs.”

“Get back to work. I have a handle on it,” Hamlin tells the man, who walks away, grumbling to himself. One or two of the others give us a look of uncertainty, but no one else says anything as we walk to Hamlin’s tent. “Feel the fabric,” he tells me.

I do as he says. “Soft and very thin.”

“Hide is good, but it’s heavy and doesn’t work as well. After you,” he says in a low voice, opening up the flap. “So, Maya, tell me about yourself,” he adds as he ducks into his tent. I can understand why he told the guards not to come if they heard anything. The structure isn’t very far from where Orion is tied. I suspect it was deliberately set up this way to keep an eye on us. A plan starts to form in my head. It will be tricky with so much room for something to go wrong. I have to try. I can’t just sit by and let all of this happen to us. I need to be strong. Then I remember that he asked me a question.

“Um…I…um…” My nerves are suddenly in overdrive. The once crisp, cool air feels stifling, and my mouth is dry as I struggle to form words. I can feel sweat forming under my arms despite the chill in the air.

What if this fails?

What if—?

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