Page 10 of Blood & Claw

Of late though, they grew faster than ever.

She looked over at Rabbie once more, her lips thinning when she caught his sneer.

You weren’t smirking the last time I saw you, shitweasel.

“Ailsa!” Turning, she found a tall, lean woman, with straw-colored hair knotted at the crown of her head, approaching. Lilias wore an apron over her sleeveless, ankle-length tunic, and a collection of silver and bronze arm rings decorated her pale arms. “It’s been too long!”

Favoring the ale-hall keeper with a smile, Ailsa slipped the bag that contained her clay bottle off her shoulder and handed it over. “Can you fill this with strong wine for Kayla, please?”

Lilias’s lips quirked. “For Kayla? Anything.”

Ailsa huffed a laugh and handed her the bag. The two women had a ‘casual’ relationship of sorts. They were lovers when it suited them, but moons would come and go sometimes before they’d have time for each other. She supposed both their jobs made it difficult.

Following Lilias toward the high bench where various oak casks sat side-by-side, Ailsa waited while she filled the bottle. As she did so, she took care not to look at Rabbie behind her. She could feel his gaze drilling into her back. Instead, she dug into the coin purse upon her belt for two coppers.

Lilias passed back the stoppered bottle then, waving her away when she tried to hand over payment. “It’s a gift,” she murmured, her blue eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. She then stepped close. “How is Kayla?”

“Good … just busy.” Ailsa deliberately didn’t say anything about their nocturnal visitors or the illegal work that went on behind closed doors. She trusted Lilias, yet she couldn’t risk rumors spreading through the fort. King Niall had been a thorn in everyone’s arse over the past years, drafting lads as young as twelve into his army, but his paranoia about druids made him dangerous to Kayla. And to Ailsa by association.

“She hasn’t been by since spring.”

“We’ve had more folk than ever wanting tattoos. We even have a waiting list now.”

Lilias’s expression sobered. “She works too hard.”

“And you don’t?” Ailsa replied with a snort.

Lilias cast her an assessing look. “You must be close to finishing your apprenticeship?”

Ailsa shrugged, pretending she hadn’t given it much thought, as if she wasn’t smothered by Kayla’s overprotective ways.

Her reaction made Lilias raise her eyebrows. “Don’t you wish to spread your wings a little?”

“Oh, I do,” Ailsa replied honestly. Indeed, she thought of little else these days.

“You could start up your own shop, you know?” Lilias winked at her then. “Kayla could do with some healthy competition.”

Ailsa pulled a face. In truth, she wasn’t interested in opening her own workshop; she had no wish to shackle herself to this way of life the way Kayla had.

“And what about starting a family of your own?” Lilias went on. “Surely, a lad … or a lass … has caught your eye by now?”

Ailsa stiffened. This was the last thing she wished to discuss, especially with Rabbie sitting behind her. His ears were likely flapping. “No,” she replied, cutting her gaze away.

An awkward pause followed.

“Aye, well … there’s time for all of that, I suppose,” the ale-hall owner said finally.

“Aye.” Ailsa stepped back. She then flashed her a regretful smile. “Kayla’s waiting … I’d better go.”

Lilias smiled back. “Tell her that I’ll be closing at the witching hour tonight … if she wants to come by.”

Relieved that the interrogation had ceased, Ailsa took the cloth bag, slung it over her shoulder, and nodded. “I will.”

Outdoors, a high-pitched wind had gotten up. The Whistle’s shrill cry echoed off stone. Shivering, Ailsa drew her cloak close and hurried back the way she’d come. Angry voices—a bickering couple—filtered through a wattle door, and somewhere nearby, a dog barked.

The Reek was never quiet, even in the dead of night. Someone, somewhere, was always awake.

Ailsa retraced her steps through the tangle of dark wynds, grateful for the friendly light of her lantern to show the way.