Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

locals,
chiazz
. The square—little, as the name indicates—is the social center and tourist haunt. Cafes, bars, and, fanning out from it, the narrow streets, the shops—”
    â€œShopping?” Annika interrupted Riley’s explanation. “We can shop?”
    â€œWe’ll need to eventually. Supplies, ammo. You’ll get trinkets,” Riley assured her. “Up here, that’s the Marina Grande.”
    â€œGot it.” Sawyer penciled the name in.
    â€œWe’ll pick up the boat—another RIB—our equipment there in the morning. We have a van on tap if we need it, but I don’t recommend driving here—van or bike—unless we have to. Public transpo’s good, plus we have Sawyer if we need to get somewhere fast. The funicular goes from Capri town to the marina if we need that. It’s just getting there. Bus is probably the best way to get to the marina from the house.”
    â€œJust how do we get weapons on a bus?” Doyle demanded.
    â€œI’ll come up with something,” Bran assured him.
    Since the pizza came out then, hot and bubbly, it blocked an immediate argument. But sensing one coming, Sawyer took a stab.
    â€œWe could hike it. Public transpo when and if, legs otherwise.”
    â€œA reasonable compromise,” Bran declared. “We can see how it goes. I’ll deal with the weapons either way, and we can consider the hike to the marina part of our morning calisthenics.”
    â€œI like calisthenics,” Annika said. “I like pizza, and this wine is very nice. I can hike to shop.” She gave Sawyer an under-the-lashes smile. “You could go with me.”
    â€œAh—”
    â€œWe should walk off lunch,” Doyle put in, “and get in an hour’s weapons training. I bet there are shops around the marina, Gorgeous. You’ll get your chance.”
    â€œI like my weapons.” She studied her bracelets, smiled at Bran and Sasha. “They’re pretty. It’s nice to have a day together. To practice, yes, to train and to plan. But just to walk in the sun with all the flowers and trees. To eat pizza. To just . . .”
    â€œJust be?” Bran suggested, and plucked a starry little flower out of the air.
    With a laugh, Annika tucked the flower behind her ear. “Yes. To just be together. Here, where Sasha said to come. Where Sawyer brought us. Where here”—she laid a hand on her heart—“I know we are meant to be.”
    â€œSeventh daughter of seventh daughter knowing?” Riley asked.
    â€œYes, it may be. But I know. And I feel, I feel so strong that we’ll find the Water Star, that whatever weapon is forged against us, it will never be enough. The dark cannot win, so the light must.”
    â€œYou’re a light, Anni,” Sawyer told her, and made her heart swell.
    â€œOne of six. It’s good to be one of six. Can I have more pizza?”
    Sawyer took a slice, slid it onto her plate. “All you want.”

    T hey hiked back for weapons training. Annika liked using her magic bracelets, and liked even more practicing with them in the lemon grove. The floating balls Bran conjured for her could slide and bob behind trees, try to hide, so she had to be quick and clever to deflect.
    And careful not to destroy so he didn’t have to stop his own training to make her more.
    She didn’t mind sharing the grove—it smelled so nice!—while the others practiced with bows. But when the time came for the guns, she couldn’t pretend not to hear that awful sound.
    Bran said he blocked it so it couldn’t reach outside the grove, but inside, the sharp, brutal sound boomed and echoed until she slipped away.
    She would practice more, alone, but she wanted to be away from that sound, from the stink the guns made.
    Because they excused her from using guns, she’d make up for it, be useful somewhere else.
    She missed the dog, and the