He watched as I took my first sip.It was a little frothy, the slight bubbles a pleasant surprise.It was cold and malty, and I enjoyed how refreshing it was after being in the blistering heat of the forge all day.He cheered at my pleased expression, and we downed a few more.
‘Ah, it’s nice to see our charming blacksmith here with a girl at his table,’ said the barmaid, who placed a full mug in front of me with a sway of her hips.
I pulled out some coins to pay her.
‘Nah, keep it, lass.’She waved my hand away.‘It’s nice to see him smiling and mooning over you.’
Cillian choked on his ale, his face turning red.
Taking pity on Cillian, I smiled at the barmaid.‘I’m a blacksmith.We work in the forge together.’
‘What a shame.Many pretty lasses have tried, but none have managed to turn his head.’The barmaid cocked her hip and rested her hand on it.‘Tell me, lass, what kind of woman would turn his head, do you think?’She winked at me.‘You can tell an old barmaid like me.I ain’t gonna try and steal him for myself.’Cillian put down his mug and raised his brow.
I stared thoughtfully into my mug while the barmaid and Cillian waited to hear what I would say.
‘The only woman I can think of who would turn Cillian’s head’ – the barmaid leaned in to hear me better – ‘would be a woman who knows how to care for a fine sword.’
The barmaid threw back her head and laughed loud enough to turn a few heads in our direction.
‘You have found yourself a fine lass to work in your forge, Blacksmith.’She patted Cillian on the shoulder before disappearing back into the crowd.
‘The finest of lasses.’Cillian’s eyes shone so bright that I hid my heated face in my mug.
It was getting late, so we left the noisy tavern and began the walk home together.The end of the street was empty of people, and the cool night air was a relief after the heat of the tavern.I wondered what my life would look like if I stayed in Murus, stayed with Cillian and continued to work in his forge.
I tripped over an uneven paver, and Cillian caught me before I fell.A little giggle escaped me, and I hiccupped.
Cillian chuckled.‘Lean against this wall until you catch your breath.’
As I did, he placed his palm on the wall near my head and peered into my eyes.I gazed back, noticing how warm his brown eyes were and how the width of his shoulders blocked out the street behind him.It didn’t make me feel uncomfortable – it somehow made me feel safe.Cillian’s other hand moved up to my face where a piece of hair had escaped my braid, and he tucked the strand behind my ear.
Delicate shivers ran over my heated skin.Cillian’s touch lingered in the smallest gestures – a hand on my shoulder, a squeeze of my arm – and I caught myself leaning in, craving his quiet warmth.Somewhere along the way, this man had slipped past walls I thought were impenetrable.I’d shared pieces of myself and my past I’d never dared show anyone else.The realisation hit me: I trusted him.
He leaned in and hovered his lips over mine, not touching, just waiting.
I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips firmly to his.He slid his gently across mine, then parted my lips with his and lightly sucked my bottom lip, causing my body to jolt in pleasure.Could he tell this was my first kiss?
He raised his head and grinned at me triumphantly.Cocky man.
A scream pierced the night like a sharp blade, and Cillian spun around.
‘Stay behind me.’He backed up until I was sandwiched between him and the wall.
The sound of someone crying reached us, and I peered around Cillian’s back to see what was happening.Several people had come onto the street and it took me a moment to work out who was crying.
Two large men were dragging a young woman between them.
‘She’s one of them!’yelled another man as he followed them towards the fortress.‘She’s one of the Cursed,’ he hissed to the people lining the street.I recognised him – he worked at the apothecary a few doors down from the forge.
I felt Cillian’s hand searching for mine, and I clutched it as I moved to stand beside him.
‘We need to get back to the forge.’Cillian’s voice shook as he tugged me up the street.
‘The boy’s leg was broken, I know it!Thenshevisited, and it was healed!’
A few people gasped.
‘She did something to the child.She’s Cursed!’ The man from the apothecary spat at the poor girl.
