Page 42 of Unbound By Shadows
“The woods will be safe. I think.”
“Youthink?” Selene asked. “Oh. I was so looking forward to a real bath. In a tub. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Sam shrugged.
“Is it too expensive?” she asked. “I’m sorry I didn’t think about that.”
“I am not lacking for gold!” he thundered as a rowdy-looking group of Lycah men pushed past them to enter the tavern, followed by a Harpy with glossy emerald wings.
“Well, if you don’t think it’s safe, then let’s not stop.”
Sam stood silent for so long Selene feared he hadn’t heard her. But then he muttered, “Very well. We’ll stay the night.”
The Golden Gust was larger than it appeared from the outside, but the myriad of junk tacked to the walls made the space feel cramped. Corroded horseshoes, faded paintings, rusted utensils, and taxidermic creatures occupied every inch of vertical space. Even the wooden beams running across the ceiling had things tacked to them. Most patrons were hunched over their drinks at small wooden tables, but others played cards or talked with animated gestures.
Selene could tell from Sam’s concentrated expression that he was scanning the room for threats as they entered. He seemed to be sizing up every person in the tavern, but no one paid them any notice. When he placed his hand on her lower back to guide her toward a stool at the end of the bar, Selene slowed her steps to make the contact last.
The tavern was warm from the large fire crackling in the back. The green-winged Harpy they had seen outside stood in front of it, and began to sing.
Selene took in the small jarred candles burning at each table and the mostly elderly clientele. It was a cozy little place. Sam’s forehead was creased, but she didn’t see any reason for alarm.
“Do you want a drink?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Ale?”
“I’m not a huge fan of beer, or ale… whatever. Do they have wine? Preferably red?”
“We only have rose thorn wine, my lady,” a deep voice intoned from her right.
Selene turned to see a huge creature covered in brown fur emerging from a doorway behind the bar. He gave her a shy smile with big, crooked teeth and wiped his hands across a green apron.
Selene’s scalp tingled as she realized she was looking at Bigfoot. No, a Sasquatch. No… that wasn’t right. What were they called here? The Vowa! Her first sighting of a Vowa in the flesh! Most Aurelians looked vaguely humanlike to her, apart from the animalistic features indicative of their race. But this guy looked like he had come straight from a cryptozoology book, maybe with a bit less fur.
“Rose thorn wine sounds good,” she said, trying not to stare. Or let on that she had no idea what rose thorn wine tasted like.
“And I’ll have an ale,” Sam said. “Do you have any rooms?”
“We have two available.”
“With bathtubs?” Selene asked, hopefully.
“I’m sorry, no. They share a bathing chamber with the other rooms on the second floor.”
Sam’s face clouded into a scowl. “Unacceptable. The lady wants a private bath—”
“It’s fine,” Selene interrupted.
“If it’s a bath you want, then you shall have it.”
The bartender looked nervously at Sam. “The other rooms are occupied. We can bring a tub and buckets of hot water to the room if you like—”
“That would be perfect,” Selene said quickly. “Thank you so much.”
The bartender nodded, then tilted his big head toward Sambefore taking a step back. His voice quavered as he said, “I know who you are. You’re that demon—”
Sam slammed a fist down on the bar so hard a crack formed in the wood. “We’re still waiting on our drinks.”
