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“It cannot work in the city, or you might bash your head against the next building,” Bleddyn explained once I’d caught up with him.
“Yeah,” was all I managed to mutter, staggering next to him like a drunkard.
My companion glanced over. “There is a tavern up ahead that will allow us to rest for the night. In the morning, we will discuss how to proceed.”
We? I wanted to protest, but I just didn’t care anymore. On cue, my stomach rumbled. I hoped Bleddyn’s tavern served food, or I might not be responsible for my actions.
Very soon, Bleddyn turned into a larger street, and two houses up, there was a sign hanging above head-height with the inscription, “The Merry Maid”.
“Here we are.”
He held the door open for me, and I entered the warm, damp atmosphere created by a room full of people. They didn’t stop talking when they saw us, but there were far too many eyes pointed our way to my liking.
Growing up in the human world, my mother had placed a glamor on me, hiding my silver eyes and pointy ears. Since I’d traveled through the portal, the glamor had lifted. Yet my clothes were modern human, and my short hair was a vibrant shade of red, making me stand out as different.
Bleddyn ignored the attention we were drawing and marched to an empty table in the far corner. I followed him, avoiding eye contact with anybody who might recognize me as a fugitive from the Fae jail. Bleddyn pulled me into a chair so that his body was blocking people’s gazes.
A young woman sauntered over, her eyes firmly on Bleddyn. She was dressed like an old-fashioned bar wench, complete with boobs threatening to fall out of her tight bodice.
“Good evening, handsome. What can I get you and your pet human?”
Bleddyn squeezed my fingers in warning, and I decided bristling was too much effort. Food first, then sleep, then deal with whatever this was.
“Bring us two bowls of stew and mead. I also wish to rent two rooms for the night.”
The woman tutted. “I am sorry, my lord. There is only one room available. But I am sure you will find the bed comfortable and big enough for both of you.”
Chapter four
Itoremyfingersout of Bleddyn’s grip. Really? The there’s-only-one-bed routine? How stupid did this guy think I was?
When the bar wench had walked away, I hissed, “Did you plan this? There’s no way in hell I’m sharing a bed with you.”
Bleddyn glared at me as if I’d lost my senses. “I did notplanto meet you today. I did notplanto bring you here. And I did notplanto spend the night in a second-rate establishment in Emlyn, paying for it out of my own pocket.”
I dropped my head and groaned. Yes, he was right. He couldn’t have known I’d change my mind and stay behind when all my friends returned to the human world.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I’m being ungrateful and whiny.”
Just then, the woman placed two bowls full of steaming stew in front of us. There was some kind of flatbread perching on the side of the earthenware dish. It wasn’t sophisticated fare, but the herbs and spices smelled so good that my mouth watered.
Bleddyn picked up his spoon, but I didn’t wait for him before taking my first bite. The moment the food hit my tongue, I groaned with abandon. “Oh. My. God. This is the best meal ever.”
My companion rose his eyebrow—a gesture I was becoming familiar with. “You are likely used to much better fare. I apologize for only being able to provide this meager offering.”
My spoon stopped halfway to my mouth as I stared at him. “I’m sorry, what? Meager offering? Dude, this is delicious. Sure, it’s simple, but it tastes great.”
Bleddyn still didn’t look like he believed me. “Since you are new to this wor—”
He checked himself, glancing to the side, before continuing. “Let me explain. This inn is run by honest people, but it is not of the highest quality. If you tried proper Fae food from before the separation, you would not deign to eat what is in front of you.”
“The separashon?” I asked around the next spoonful. Then I swallowed and grimaced. “I mean, what’s the separation?”
Again, Bleddyn made sure nobody could overhear us before bringing his head closer. “I will tell you another time. Eat up. We are drawing attention.”
I sat up straighter, glancing over his shoulder. There were several enormous Fae in leather uniforms with silver decorations. They occupied a table close to us, and the way they kept looking over made me think Bleddyn had a point.
Mopping up the rest of the stew with a piece of bread, I finished the meal as quickly as I could. I’d barely placed the spoon down when Bleddyn took my hand again. “We must avoid any confrontation. If they believe you are here with me as mycariad, they will keep their distance.”
