Page 33 of The Searching Songbird

“Will do, Miss Lily.” There was a shout from the deck, and he looked back over his shoulder to where the ship was anchored. Dom stood at the top of the gangplank, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared down at the boy.

“Stop flirtin' with Miss Lily, already, and get yer ass back to work. These crates aren't gonna unload themselves.”

“Yessir!” Kenny shot Lily an apologetic look. “Guess this is goodbye, then. See ya 'round.”

“See you,” she replied, waving as he turned to run back up the gangplank. Dom reached out and ruffled his hair as he passed, a teasing grin on his face as he said something she couldn't quite hear. He turned her way, cupping his hands around his mouth as he called down.

“Welcome to Flores!”

Nervous excitement swirled around in her belly as she waved up at him, throwing him a kiss for good measure. The big man laughed, raising a hand in farewell before getting back to work himself.

This is it. I'm finally here.

She clutched her bag tightly as her gaze roamed over the large shipyard. It was just as she remembered from her dream, when the dragon reached out to her.

If there were any doubts that this was the right city, this certainly puts them to rest. Now it's just a matter of figuring out where in the city she's being held.

Lifting her chin in determination, she squared her shoulders and started walking uphill toward the main road. She hadn't gone more than a few feet when a small hackney came rattling down the road and pulled to a stop beside her. A moment later, Draven popped his head out the door, grinning down at her.

“Don't tell me you were planning to walk all the way to your friend's tavern? I know from experience it's at least three miles in, on the northern edge of the city.”

“Are you implying I can't walk a measly three miles?” she teased. “You forget that I was adopted into a family of Kalo. We walk everywhere we go.”

“Forgive me, I didn't mean to insult your stamina. I was going to offer you a ride, but if you're so determined, I'll just be on my way...” He started to duck his head back inside.

“Wait!”

He poked his head back out, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Yes? Was there something you needed?”

She shrugged as she moved toward the hackney. “Well, if you're going that way, anyway...”

He laughed, hopping out and offering her his hand. She accepted it and started to climb inside, but he held her back, pulling her hand to his lips and pressing a kiss against the back of her fingers. “Collecting your fare,” he teased, and she shot him her best withering glare. Which probably wasn't very effective given the heat that was currently flooding her cheeks. Curse her fair skin.

“Don't make me sic my phoenix on you. Suzu would tear that face of yours to shreds.” She climbed into the hackney, then turned to look down at him. “If she didn't get ensnared in that monstrous beard of yours first, that is. Seriously, Draven, haven't you ever heard of a razor?”

“Can't say as it rings a bell,” he joked, swinging up into the hackney and taking a seat across from her. He gave the roof a swift punch, and the tiny carriage lurched beneath them, heading up the road toward the city. “Besides,” he added. “If I shaved my beard, you probably wouldn't even recognize me anymore.”

“I doubt that. I bet I could pick you out of a crowd with or without it.”

“Oh? Is that a confession?” He leaned forward. “You must spend an awful lot of time studying me to be so sure.”

She looked out the window at the passing buildings. “I'd only have to find the person with the biggest head, and then I'd know for certain it was you.”

He chuckled, dropping back against the seat as he clutched at his heart.“You wound me.”

She smirked, a teasing remark ready on her lips when her breath caught, all other thoughts pushed aside at the sight of the city sprawling out before them.

Brightly colored buildings lined the streets, painted in a mix of blue, yellow, green, lavender and pink, each one with a contrasting door. Flower boxes hung from the windows, practically bursting with different colored flowers in a mass of thick greenery that hung down over the edges. Striped awnings covered the shop doors, with wrought iron tables and chairs set out in front of large windows that were filled with people eating and drinking or simply chatting.

The muffled sounds of music mixed with the noise of traffic and voices, and Lily hurried to push open the small window beside her as she listened to the lively strains of a violin being played by a young woman standing on the corner. As they rolled past, the woman looked up and grinned, catching Lily's eye. Lily grinned in return, the pull of this remarkable city filling her with excited energy.

No more than a few blocks down, they passed yet another street performer, only this one was accompanied by a tiny, dancing poodle. Lily found herself leaning further out the window, watching the funny pair in astonishment. The man, a tall, reed-like man with an oddly curved mustache decorating the top of his lip, was playing a large horn as the dog hopped around on its hind legs and did flips in time to the music.

“What on earth...”

Draven leaned forward, looking out the window to see what it was that had captured her attention. Those damnable butterflies took a lap around her belly as his hair fell over his forehead, brushing against her face. He chuckled and leaned back in his seat once again, seemingly oblivious to the havoc his nearness had on her nerves.

“You'll get used to it after a while. Flores has always been a bit on the dramatic side, with everyone and their mother fancying themselves artists of some sort.” He stretched his legs out as he clasped his hands behind his head, settling back into the seat. “Actually, now that I think of it, you'll probably fit right in.”