Viper's Kiss - Lisa Smedman [28]
"Please," Karrell continued. "Won't you accept this? It is all I have left-it cost me everything else I had to get this far. But if this will help me to reach my mother before it is too late, I will gladly give it to you."
"Keep it," the captain said gruffly." You'll need it." He turned to Arvin and held out a hand. "You, on the other hand, can pay for your passage. Twenty plumes."
It was more than twice the amount normally charged, but Arvin handed over the coins without complaint.
The captain shouted down to his crew. "Make ready. We're making for Ormpetarr."
When the riverboat was underway, Arvin walked with Karrell to the stern, where they seated themselves on a raised hatch. "Nicely done," he said, nodding in the direction of the captain. "You're handy with a charm spell."
Karrell tilted her head. "As are you. But I would advise you not to cast one on me a second time."
"What make,,, you think I charmed you?" Arvin asked, feigning innocence.
Karrell just stared at him.
Arvin shrugged. "Well, you charmed me first, so that makes us even."
Karrell tossed her head. "I never-"
Arvin raised a finger. "Yes, you did. I wouldn't have… made such a fool of myself, otherwise."
"All men are fools," she said. Then, as Arvin drew himself up to protest, she smiled. "And so are some women, at times."
Arvin nodded. To a woman as beautiful as Karrell, the men constantly gaping at her must indeed seem fools. Drawn by the eagle, the riverboat traveled swiftly. The wind of its passage swept through Karrell's hair, drawing it back and revealing her jade earring and the smooth curve of her neck. Even without the charm spell, Arvin felt a rush of longing for her.
She leaned toward him. "When we get to Ormpetarr-"
"I know," Arvin said. "You want me to introduce you to Ambassador Extaminos." He folded his arms across his chest. "Tell me why you want to meet him so badly. The real reason. Is it connected with whatever it is you're looking for?"
Karrell was silent for several moments. The only sounds were the steady whup-whup of the eagle's wings and the creak of the hull timbers.
"Yes," she answered at last. "Dmetrio Extaminos may know where it is. I simply want to ask him a few questions."
"That's all?" Arvin asked.
Karrell met his eye. "That is all. I do not intend harm to the ambassador."
"I see." Arvin wanted to believe Karrell, but everything pointed to her being a rogue, out to steal something of Dmetrio's. A rogue armed with clerical magic, as well as natural beauty-but even so, she needed someone to help her earn Dmetrio's trust, to get her inside. Arvin sighed, wondering if he would ever be free of rogues and their schemes.
"You're going to charm Dmetrio," he said. It was an easy enough guess-that was the tactic Arvin had planned to use. "And get him to give you… whatever it is you're looking for."
Karrell's silence was answer enough.
Arvin pictured her luring the ambassador into her bed-once there, any man would gladly give her whatever it was she wanted. The image of the ambassador's scaly body coiled around hers repulsed Arvin.
"How about this," he offered. "I'll be meeting with the ambassador in his residence. Just tell me what it is you're looking for, and I'll try to find out where it is. I'm… pretty good at spotting things."
Karrell tilted her head. "You are asking me to trust you."
"Yes."
Her eyes narrowed. "What is it you are looking for? Or rather… who?"
"I can't tell you that."
Karrell stared at him, waiting.
Arvin sighed. "Point taken."
Karrell shifted her gaze to the captain. "I am helping you to reach Ormpetarr-and to avoid the woman you so fear. Without my assistance…"
"Fine," Arvin sputtered. "I'll introduce you to the ambassador. But not until after my business in Ormpetarr is concluded."
He was hedging, of course. The last thing he needed was a member of House Extaminos's royal family linking him with a theft. One yuan-ti wanting him dead was trouble enough. But Karrell seemed to accept his offer; after giving him a long,