Plus, he needed more than a few moments alone with his little pet. There were questions that needed answering.
“Go back a hundred yards and set up camp for the evening. This is as good a place as any to sleep for the night.”
Nodding in tandem, and with little sighs of relief, the brothers did as told. But John stayed where he’d been. There was no sense asking what his friend wanted; eventually John would get around to it.
Spooning more water into his hands, Robin wiped the worst of the grime off his face and neck. The evening was humid. They were only about ten miles or so away from the pools, but at least they were now upwind of its stench. It might be hot, but it wouldn’t stink tonight.
Always had to look on the bright side of things.
“And the creature, what will you do with it?” John glanced at the bulge under his shirt.
“The genie,” Robin stressed and patted his chest, “is none of your concern, John. Understand this.” He turned the full weight of his stare upon his second in command.
John shuffled back just a bit. Probably not even a conscious decision on his part, but at least Robin knew that, friend or no, John understood his place in the pecking order.
“The lamp is mine. Do not try to take it out from under my nose. I trust you understand what I will do should you try.”
Jaw flexing, it took John half a minute before he could nod. “I see it, and it does tempt me. The power that can be wielded with it. But”—he stood and dropped his hands to his sides—“I also feel very strongly that to trust it is foolishness on our part.”
“Even so. The lamp. The genie, all of it—it is mine. But more than that, this is a secret only the four of us can share. We must speak of it to no one, for everything we’ve worked so hard for—it is now within reach. Remember that should the temptation become too great.”
“We can overcome Crispin without it, Robin, you know we can.”
“Yes, because we’ve done a fine job of it lately. All our planning, all our plots, they’ve been for naught and well you know it.” His fingers pressed hard against the metal. “Here lies our one chance to rectify this wrong. And whether you think we can trust her, I tell you we can.”
John looked as though he wanted to say more, but finally he just glanced off to the side. Not wanting to let this divide them, Robin clapped his friend’s shoulder. “You’ve never given me cause to doubt you, my old friend, do not start now. I need to know that you’re behind me on this. That even though you do not trust her, you trust me enough to lead you all.”
Dragging his fingers through the grass at his feet, John gave him a brief twitch of his lips. “I’m with you to the bitter end, I always have been, my friend.” Standing, he turned toward the bridge. “Now I’m going to go check on the men.”
Nodding, Robin held up a finger. “I’ll be sleeping on this side of the brook tonight.”
John frowned, casting his gaze toward the lamp once again.
“Aye,” Robin answered the unspoken question. “I wish to learn more of the genie. Alone. I think it’s safest.”
“Fine then.” John’s voice was a curt assent. Turning on his heel, he crossed the bridge and climbed the hill toward camp.
Only once Robin was sure there were no more eyes around him did he stand and brush his fingers across the lamp.
Blood rushed south when she stepped out. Her dark allure and lush curves tempted him in a way he’d not been tempted for a long, long time.
Instead of screaming or fainting this time, she merely looked at him with wide, doe-shaped eyes.
“What, not excited to see me this time, pet?” He couldn’t help teasing her; it wasn’t in his nature to tease, but it gave him a cheap thrill to get a rise out of her. She’d been magnificent earlier, her skin all flushed and rosy with indignation, and he wanted to see her like that again.
But rather than answer him, she crossed her arms before her, keeping them extended like they rested on a flat surface, and recited a litany of words that made him think it a practiced speech.
“I have been summoned, Master. Do you wish to use your wishes three?”
“What is that?” He flicked his fingers at her unusual posturing.
Her nostrils flared and a hint of a blush stole up her swan-like neck. He had to fight the urge to grin at the sight of it.
“What is your wish, sir?”
Robin might be mistaken, but he was fairly certain her “sir” had shivered with a thread of disgust. Tossing his head back, he laughed. “Goddess, you’re a sight.”
“What?” she finally snapped, dropping her arms, and glaring hotly at him.
“Finally, some vigor!” He snapped his fingers. “Being cold does not suit you, pet.”
Her jaw clenched. “If you call me pet one more time—”
“You and I both know you can do nothing to me, at least not while under my control.”