“I do believe we understand your meaning,” Zaric interrupted.
“Regardless,” Elyria said pointedly, “I am of the opinion that they require a bit more time to consider the consequences of their actions. They attacked me, unprovoked. Destroyed the tavern. Ruined my favorite pair of breeches.” She motioned to her barely covered legs and several of the guards’ eyes shot to the ceiling, their faces red. One of the female guards standing next to the captain looked personally offended. “I remain unconvinced they’ve learned their lesson.”
Artie huffed in agreement.
“A likely story.” The female guard stepped forward, blowing a lock of short copper hair out of her eyes with a huff. Elyria wondered if she knew her. “Just how much have you had to drink tonight?”
“Taryn,” Captain Zaric cautioned.
“For this would hardly be the first time we were called to break up a tavern brawl—called to this very tavern—only to find you attempting to hide all manner of sins,” Taryn sneered, undeterred by the captain’s warning.
Elyria’s gaze turned cold as she assessed the guard. “Do I know you?”
Taryn’s jaw flexed but she barreled on, ignoring the question. “And even were you being truthful, preposterous as the concept may be, the punishment of these men is not up to you. It is to be decided upon byLord Corlyn.”
“Enough, Taryn.” Zaric shot her a silencing glare and she stepped back into line with her fellow guards.
“The girl speaks the truth,” Artie offered. Elyria’s eyebrows shot up at his unexpected assistance. It seemed to shock the dwarf as well, as he was quick to add, “For once.”
Zaric sighed. “Release them, Lightbreaker. I won’t ask again.”
Elyria glowered at the captain as she curled her fingers in, drawing her hands into fists. The vines retracted, and all four men dropped to the ground with a satisfyingthud.
“Get them on their feet. We’ll haul the lot of them to the jail, question them there,” Zaric commanded his guards.
Raefe’s voice filled the air, hoarse and labored. Elyria kept her fists clenched tightly at her sides for fear she’d claw his lips clean off. “C-Captain, I th-thank you f-for interce-ce-ceding,” he started, though those were the only words he could get out before dissolving into a coughing fit. Doubled over, his hands on his knees, Raefe hacked and retched so animatedly that even his own flunkeys stepped away.
“The others aren’t acting like that. What’s wrong with him?” asked Taryn, her gaze pinned on Elyria.
“No idea,” Elyria said with a shrug, though she grinned inwardly. “Are we done here? I have quite some sewing to do.”
“Sorry, Lightbreaker,” said Zaric. “You’ll need to come with us as well.”
“Surely that’s not ne—” Artie began to object, but Elyria held up a silencing hand.
“It’s fine. No need to shove it down my throat,” she said, throwing a wink in Raefe’s direction. He paled several shades and began retching anew. “I’ll go, assuming you have some spare breeches for me at the jailhouse.”
“I imagine we will be able to find you something,” said Zaric as Taryn muttered something under her breath.
Elyria whipped around to face the guard. “What was that?”
“Taryn.” Zaric’s voice was deep with reprimand.
“No. If she has something to say, I want to hear it.” Elyria drew up to her full height as she turned to face Taryn. The two were evenlymatched in terms of stature, though Elyria was not nearly as muscled. Still, she was the Revenant. Furthermore, she’d done nothing that she knew of to warrant Taryn’s ire. If nothing else, surely her reputation warranted a modicum of respect from the guard.
Taryn did not agree.
“I said,” she spat, her grass-green eyes shooting daggers into Elyria’s emerald ones, “perhaps if you spent more time singing your ditties and less time spreading your legs for every man, woman, and nocterrian in Coralith, you’d have enough gold to buy your own stars-damned breeches.”
The air in the tavern was suddenly impossibly thick.
“Well, shit,” muttered Artie, shuffling surreptitiously until he was safely behind the bar again.
“Four hells, Taryn, this is not behavior befitting of the city guard,” Zaric reprimanded.
Elyria barely heard him. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. “Is that what this is about?” Her eyes narrowed on the smug expression on Taryn’s face. “Did I snub your advances? No...something tells me I’m not quite your flavor. Perhaps I stole a prospect from you? Spent my evening with someone who had been of particular interest?”
Taryn’s pompous grin melted into an ugly sneer. It bolstered Elyria, who could feel that inner darkness stirring in her chest once more.
