Page 6 of Badmouths & Bards

Did Amer forget his key? No, we’ve traveled together too long. I’ve taught him to check before he leaves so—

“Just a moment,” Casimine called as he approached the door.

Perhaps it wasn’t Amer at all. Maybe Seira had arrived early to usher them back onto the ship. Honestly, a single night in the Chroma Coast wasn’t nearly enough time to acclimate before they would be back on the sea—

Casimine froze.

Standing on the other side of the door wasn’t Amer or Seira as he expected, but a large eyed elven woman. She was dressed in simple housekeeping clothes, a white apron tied around her tiny waist. Brown hair tied back in a single ponytail, her pale face as shocked as his.

“I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt anything—” The woman shut her eyes tightly, a blush coloring her face a cherry red. “Not that I assumed you were doing anything! This is an inn after all—the inn—just about the best that anyone could expect and—”

Stammering?

Check.

Red face?

Check.

Wild gesticulating?

Check.

Casimine raised an arm, pressing it into the doorway as his face morphed into a soft expression. If his robe opened a little, well, that was part of the act at this point.

“You’re no trouble at all,” he said, voice gentle and overly familiar. “I was just… seeing to my own devices, that’s all. Can I help you with something?”

The sound that escaped her mouth was definitely a cross between an ‘eep’ and a ‘ack’, though Casimine wasn’t sure which was more distinct. Dare he say the woman was practically shaking from her own nerves. Cute, but not ideal in terms of Casimine’s choice of bedfellows. If she was reacting like this to a sliver of his chest, he had no doubt she would lose her mind if Ameriden had also been there.

“I—I was sent to deliver a message!” she squeaked. “Someone named Seira said there was a slight delay with the port schedule and there could be a few more hours before she arrives.”

Curious that one of the best inns on the water couldn’t afford to utilize a messenger arcanist, but it was probably more affordable to just send someone. Strange, though, that Seira hadn’t simply just come up to his room instead.

Unless she met up with Amer, but what could they be up to that they wouldn’t invite me?

Despite what fans thought, Casimine and Amer weren’t joined at the hip. Yes, occasionally they would fall into bed together, but that was normal. Especially after drinking several bottles of wine. And while they enjoyed each others company, Casimine did appreciate the few hours he was afforded to be properly alone.

“That’s it,” the woman said after an awkward pause. “There’s no more message.”

“Appreciated. Thank you for relaying it to me,” Casimine smiled, all boyish and charming.

Right on cue, the woman’s face went back to the brighter shade of cherry red. Casimine wasn’t a flirt by nature—at least, that’s what he told himself. It was difficult to distinguish Casimine the man and Casimine the famous bard. Casimine the bard was known for his flirtation, for his charisma, and singing. Casimine the man on the other hand…

He’s a bit lost to me…

“Okay,” she meekly said. “Good day.”

“Good day,” Casimine said, moving to shut the door.

He was unprepared for when a hand pushed through the small gap to clutch at the door frame. In fact, he jerked back, nearly stumbling on the end of his open robe as the woman pushed her body into the door frame.

“You’re Casimine, aren’t you? Casimine from Cashmere Fantasy, right? Tell me I’m not looking at an illusion!” the woman blurted, fingers curling against the wood in a manner that unnerved him.

Quick, quick, quick!

“I…” Casimine let out a laugh. “You got me, it’s an illusion.”

The woman’s eyes lost a bit of the glassy look, as if someone had removed all the light in the room. She practically wilted in the door, a disappointed frown appearing on her face.