The Merchant of Dreams by Anne Lyle - Sample Chapters

dared. The flames had died down, but the damp wood still popped and spat occasionally. She wriggled her toes, frowning at the hole in one stocking.

“I suppose you two have had a lot to catch up on,” she said as Mal passed the bowl back.

They shrugged in unison. Mal grinned, but on catching Sandy’s eye he sagged, expression grave again. Coby bent her head over the soup bowl. Well, that went really well. She racked her brains for a subject that might provoke more than a shrug.

“Perhaps you can help me with something, in the morning,” she said to Sandy.

Both men looked at her quizzically.

“Master Catlyn has been teaching me to fire a pistol,” she went on, “but I can barely hit a target once in five shots. I thought that if I could understand how the bullet moves, I might be able to improve my aim.”

Sandy sighed. “Alas, I can no longer read half the books I brought from England, and I forget much of what I read before. Kiiren’s healing has… changed me.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He smiled. “There may be other ways I can help you. Some adjustment of the gunpowder mix–” “No!” Mal put a hand on her arm. “It’s all right. There’s no need to change anything. You just need more practice with the pistols.”

He took the bowl from her unresisting hands and she wrapped her arms about her knees. Learning to