AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not interested,” Nava said in between ragged breaths and felt for the pommel of the dagger Arkimedes had strapped around her thigh earlier. Hopefully, the shifter wouldn’t chase after her.
The noise in the busy area in front of the tavern swallowed his distant growl. Devon had been right, as much as she hated to admit it. She was completely inexperienced in dealing with shifters. It had been silly of her to fall asleep earlier today when she should have left earlier.
People dressed in their work clothing were strolling along beneath the streetlights, but most of them looked too drunk to pay attention to her. The women wore bright-colored dresses, their skirts wide with wire petticoats underneath them, and tight corsets. Fashion from another kingdom, for the fae’s fashion was much simpler. Yet the dress Nava wore was similar in many respects, except not as bright.
Were all of them shifters? They must be. They moved in a sinuous, smooth way, unlike any human she had ever seen.
She shivered and nearly ran the rest of the way. The ground changed from thick wooden planks to cobblestones, and she was now close enough to the building she could make out every detail.
Outside it, carriages with enormous horses and orrus were waiting. The few footmen lounging about in this weather sat on a bench, smoking and laughing at the poor soul whose task it was to clean up the beasts’ droppings.
A wooden sign hung above the worn double doors, reading, in black letters, The Flying Boar.
There wasn’t any reason to be this nervous. Not when she’d fought in magical wars, defeated demons, and escaped the king. She could do this.
Nava took a deep breath and went in.
Ale, roast pork, and odors she’d rather not identify greeted her as she entered the establishment. Circumstances stacked the odds against her favor, as she had rarely attended places like this, even before joining the world of magic.
She studied the wide space with dozens of small wooden tables, where customers gathered, eating, drinking, and playing games.
Across the room, a long counter stretched, tended by a woman with black clothing and thick rings of kohl around her eyes. Nava cleared her throat and forced her heavy feet to move forward. One step, two steps, and she rounded the first table.
“Look at this gorgeous creature that’s just joined us,” a male voice said, and a strong arm snaked around Nava’s waist, gripping her so tightly she lost her balance. The man pulled her onto his lap a split second later.
His large group of friends howled loudly, banging their fists against the rickety table, almost like a song. Nava met his brown eyes, glazed by alcohol. Her stomach twisted, and she pushed off his chest and stumbled back onto her feet.
“Touch me again and you will lose your hand,” she snarled and pulled out her dagger so quickly her mother would be proud.
“I meant no disrespect, magic-wielder.” The man shrunk so far into his chair that it creaked under his considerable weight. The laughter around them died away. His eyes were wide, although he wasn’t looking at the tip of her blade, which was so close to his throat. Instead, he stared at her glowing skin.
Nava could feel Arkimedes’s anger brewing through their bond, blending with her own. He wasn’t far and was likely watching and getting ready to intervene. Dammit all, she’d almost ruined this entire quest by not properly avoiding these drunken fools.
It was too dark and busy to find either Ark or Devon amongst the patrons. If she closed her eyes for long enough, she might be able to pinpoint exactly where Arkimedes was, but this wasn’t the time to hold back and allow another of these men to touch her again if it risked blowing their cover. She straightened her clothes and headed toward the bar without another glance.
“Ya aren’t from around here,” the barkeeper observed. She was wiping a tall clay mug with a brown towel that had been clean once upon a time. Then she stacked it into the neat row of similar mugs behind the counter.
Liquor and ale jugs lined the wall all the way up to the high ceilings. Like most establishments in this city, they were evidently set up to accommodate the winged citizens.
The bartender turned to Nava with a steady gaze. “This not a place for a dame like yarself to come alone.”
“I’ll survive for one night.” Nava sheathed her dagger in its strap. Good thing her dress had a side slit or she wouldn’t be able to access her weapon so easily. “Can I have a glass of something other than fae wine, please?”
The woman raised a thin brow and tilted her head forward. Pointed ears peeked through the waves of her ebony hair. She had peculiar wings coming through the suede vest she wore, transparent and glass-like, like those of Nava’s bees.
“Yar afraid of the fae wine?” She smiled knowingly and pushed a short cup over the smooth counter, filled to the brim with amber liquid.
“I’d rather keep my head on my shoulders tonight.” Nava nodded and took a tentative sip of her drink. Smooth and bittersweet, with a smoky aftertaste. It burned down her throat and warmed her gut, right before it sent a cough rattling past her lips. The alcohol threatened to come back up.
“What on earth is this?” Nava pressed a hand to her lips, attempting to drown out her wheezing. This was not the way to blend in with a drunken crowd! She glanced around, hoping no one watched her almost spit up her drink.
“Not used to amber whiskey?” The fae continued drying mugs with the same towel, peering at the other patrons sitting at the bar. “It’s two gold coins.”
For one drink? Nava craved something to wash away the grit on her tongue, but this was not it. She studied her mostly full glass with a frown. Even though she was inexperienced with this general lifestyle, she knew this was very little liquid for such a price.
Still, her body had warmed significantly, and with one sip, she instantly felt less tense. This was no wine—nor any whiskey she’d had before. “Is this going to make me lose my mind like the fae wine?”
“Nah. It’s what we serve the humans when they don’t want ale.”
