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"But," he said, "I'd love to order a meal. Can I get a pint of ale and a plate of the beef with an extra slice of bread?"
"Yes, sir," she agreed, dipping her head and bobbing at the knees.
He reached into his pocket and dropped a gold coin on the table, then pushed it toward her. "The change is for you. Courtesy of my father."
"Thank you, sir," she breathed.
I looked at my pile of coins, then at him. "I'm pretty sure that's a generous tip."
"Means you don't need to worry about it," he explained. "Now put that away before those boys decide to swipe a few silvers from your purse."
Using the side of my hand, I pushed the pile together, then off the edge into my other palm. The trick was getting the fistful into my pouch. After being tied for so long, the top didn't want to open easily, and pouring them into the tiny opening took a little work. Talin pretended not to notice until I'd hidden my purse away again.
Then he picked up the conversation like it hadn't been interrupted. "So to answer yourrealquestion, yes, I'm from around here. Always wanted to travel, but never got the chance, and tomorrow I start a new job. Well, an old one, but I'm going back to it after taking leave for a family thing. What made you decide to come here?"
I laughed once. "In truth, it seemed like a good idea. I guess I just wanted to know what else is out there."
"Not something I hear from a lot of women. Last hurrah before an impending marriage or something?"
"Something like that," I told him, because marriage was as good of a way to describe the Choosing as anything else. "I'm not running away, if that's what you think. I just want to experience the world on my terms."
"And which terms are those?" he asked, pausing when the serving girl returned with his food.
She all but tossed his plate before him, setting a second tankard between us, then huffed. Where she'd smiled at me so nicely, Talin earned a scowl from her, but he ignored it with grace.
Yet the moment she was away, he pressed his fist to his lips. The leather of his gloves looked so soft and thin that it was little more than a second skin. Mine seemed coarse by comparison, but I knew better. These had been Amerlee's riding gloves, passed down when my hands grew into them.
But his eyes were sparkling with amusement when he leaned closer. "I do believe our waitress has decided that I'm in her way."
"What? Why?"
He tipped his head toward me. "A beautiful young woman? I'm sure she's a lonely one. Considering that most husbands don't have a problem with their wives - or daughters - entertaining themselves with another woman, I would think it's obvious. She's cute. I promise I will not be offended if you leave me after our meal to take advantage of that."
I grinned at him. "But I was enjoying our conversation so much, Talin. Bored of me already?"
"Not atall," he promised. "In fact, I could stare into your lovely amber eyes all night."
Inside my gloves, my fingers were tingling. I had no idea if that was my marks or nothing more than excitement. Talin had said that so casually, but his eyes hung on mine with promises. The kind that made my pulse quicken and my stomach flip.
This guy was almost as beautiful as Eladehl, but dark to his light. There was also an air of power around him, the kind that often went hand in hand with danger. I had a feeling that his manners were refined, but they did not control him, and the smile teasing his lips proved it.
"No blushing? Tell me, Nari, how can you look so sweet and innocent but not get flustered by the compliments I've given you? Used to hearing it? Or are you simply unaware of how tempting you are?"
I reached for my sherry and took a delicate sip. "Or maybe I'm not as innocent as you seem to believe?"
He smiled. "I have a feeling you're just trusting that dagger in your boot to keep you safe."
My eyes narrowed. "I don't have a dagger - "
His smirk cut me off. "Never tell a man that, darling. I know you don't. You know you don't, but the threat of it could be the only thing that keeps someone's hands off your body."
I just leaned over the table. "I find it amusing how you assume that I can't take care of myself. Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe I don't need a dagger?"
"And now," he told me, "I'mveryinterested to know more."
Chapter 32
Nariana
