Page 103 of A Kiss From Death
“I promise, you will love it,” Hade reassures me. “She may not be the prettiest tavern in Lunaria, but she provides the liveliest company and best tasting ale.” Pausing, Hade scratches the side of his head while wrinkling his nose. “Scratch that last part. The ale tastes like piss, but for some reason, we always come back for more…so that has to count for something.”
Laughing, I nod and usher him to take the lead. “Well then, let’s go drink somepale!” He looks at me confused, and I can’t help the small giggle that escapes at how adorable he looks like this, relaxed andliving. “Piss ale…pale,” I repeat, shrugging.
His confused face morphs into amusement, and his shoulders start the hike up in a deep, warm chuckle. “I can’t wait to tell the others, especiallyHarry!”
“Harry?”
“You’ll see.” He throws me a wink and strides towards the door, stopping briefly to drag his palm across the top of a tall, deep blue crystalized rock plopped next to the door. The top looks worn down where his hand touches compared to the shiny lower half.
“Why did you do that?” He looks over his shoulder, and I point to the oddly placed rock to his right.
“It’s tradition to touch it before entering the tavern,” he says casually. “I honestly didn’t even realize I did it; it’s just second nature now. The rock was here before they built. They tried to move it, but it seems to be spelled in place. There’s an old wise tale that it brings good luck if you touch it. That’s why the top is rubbed away. It seems everyone is in need of some good luck these days.”
Hade throws open the door, and I quickly rush behind him, throwing my hand out to drag across the so-called “good luck rock”, which sends a tingle over my hand before I step in after him.
Cheers assault my ears as I follow directly behind Hade, weaving through the giant mass of citizens filling every inch of the tavern. My shoe squelches when I try to take a step from sticky ale holding it hostage. A bead of sweat forms on my forehead from the heat enveloping me. If I could assign one word to this tavern, it would bealive.
An older man bumps into me from the side, making me lose sight of Hade for a moment before a hand reaches back through a group of people, gripping my arm and pulling me through untilmy chest crashes into his. He smirks before pulling me along behind him to the bar counter nestled in the back.
An older lady stands behind the counter, filling five mugs full of ale until foam sloshes over the edges. Without looking, she floats all five down the length of the bar with her magic to a group of men sitting at the end, who salute her in thanks.
Hade whistles, getting her attention, and throws up two fingers to her. She rolls her dark blue eyes but grabs two mugs with her leathery tan hands, filling them up extra full and slamming them down in front of us.
“There you go, asshole,” she grumbles under her breath, making her short white hair swoosh across the tops of her shoulders. It’s then I notice her shirt, “Pour Decisions Only” stitched into it.
“Thanks, old bitch,” he responds.
I suck in a breath, looking back and forth between the two, ready for a fist fight. They scowl at each other like it’s some competition, and right as I’m about to leap in between them, they double over laughing the way old friends would.
“Haven’t seen you around here in a while, old fart.”
“I got tired of looking at your crusty face,” he banters back with a smirk.
Reaching over the bar, she tugs the neck of Hade’s shirt, dragging his face down while digging her knuckles into his hair as if he’s a child she’s scolding. He could easily pull out of her grasp, but he lets her have her fun, laughing the entire time.
It’s mesmerizing seeing him like this, relaxed and in his element. He has a whole life outside of being the Cardinal. Out here, he gets to beHade.
Smiling to myself, I grab one of the mugs and take a big swig of ale. As soon as it hits my tongue, without thought, I spray it out of my mouth all over the countertop and quickly cover my mouth with my hands in shock.
“Holy shit, that tastes worse than piss!”
Hade looks utterly amused beside me, picking up his mug and downing half of it in one swig. He winces slightly as it glides down his throat, and then he throws the barmaid a thumbs up.
“The tavern should be named pale, not The Hammered Nail.” I wheeze, trying to scrape the remaining sour taste of ale from my tongue with my teeth.
“Pale?” the barmaid questions.
Nodding, I shrug. “Pale, short for piss ale.” Hade winces beside me, and I grow concerned.
“Why are you making that face? I’m Nyxi, by the way.” Reaching over the counter, I shake the barmaid’s hand.
“Harry,” she responds with a wicked smile. “Short for Harriet,” she adds with a wink.
My smile immediately drops.
This is why you have no friends, Nyxi.
“Harry owns this tavern and even brews the ale herself!” Hade says excitedly. I want to crumble into myself and disappear from Lunaria forever.
