Page 112 of The King's Man
When I met her eyes, her gaze was flat and unimpressed, but her posture didn’t change, and sure enough, the bustle and conversation around us returned to the bright cacophony that we’d been greeted by when we entered.
And it was a good thing, because the music was the only thing keeping me sane as we sat there forhourswithout luck.
No street rats. No thieves. Not a single sly eye so much as turned my way.
By the wee hours of the morning, I was frowning at the bar where the owner slumped on one elbow, listening to the music while the drunks swayed and sang at their tables.
News of my presence should have at least inspired curiosity. Even if the secret keepers weren’t brave enough to approach yet, they should have been watching. But I’d seen no new movement—except to leave—since we arrived, and caught no covert eyes.
I considered approaching the bar for food to see if I could stir up something interesting, when a small, warm hand appeared on my inner thigh, sliding up to cup me without warning so that I jerked and my knee clunked on the underside of the tabletop that was a little too short for me.
Diadre caught her wobbling wine-goblet and buried her smile in it as I grabbed for my ale glass and glared at her from the side.
‘You think you’re clever? I’m supposed to look imposing and nefarious so they’ll tell their friends and someone will come to find out why I’m here.’
An image flashed in my head—a picture of me… pouting?
‘If you want to look imposing you should consider telling your face so. Right now you more resemble a disappointed child.’
I turned my head to scowl at Diadre. Surely she was exaggerating to get a response from me? But she shrank under my gaze.
“Look me in the eye,” I growled, reaching for her chin, intending to make her face me and admit her tease—but at that moment, a shadow appeared on my other side and a male voice rasped.
“Are you well, my girl? They’re all brutes, but God gave them more muscle than brains so they aren’t quite so much of a threat on their own.”
I whipped my head around to snarl at the man who’d had the presumption to speak to my mate, only to find an older human male, narrow shoulders hunched, back withered, and his face hidden in the shadow of a broad-brimmed hat.
“Move along, old man,” I growled. “She’s in no danger from me.”
“But you said the alcohol was needed to grease my wheels otherwise you’d cleave me in half…” Diadre murmured.
My eyes widened and I turned back to her, sending urgently.‘Are youtryingto get us noticed?’
‘I have good instincts. He’s come to us for a reason. Play along.’And to my surprise she didn’t look back at me—she smiled at the old man.
Frustrated, I looked at him once more and that hat brim tipped up enough to reveal a bright, clear gaze meeting mine over a knowing smile.
I frowned, but he didn’t drop the hat brim again until I spoke. “Perhaps you’d like to join us and be reassured that I won’tactuallythrottle her with my bare hands?” I said gruffly.
The man coughed, a raw, hacking sound, but nodded his head and shuffled to the seat to my right. “Thank you, Sir,” he croaked. “Though in truth, it’s likely no one would blame you if you did.”
Diadre stiffened and then I had to hidemysmile in my half-full cup of ale.
“You two know each other?” I asked as soon as I could without grinning.
‘No, I don’t know him!’
“No, we haven’t met. You can call me Keenen. But I know a woman who’s trouble the moment I see one…” the man said hoarsely.
Diadre’s leg stiffened next to mine under the table. “Shall we drink to old friends and new friends, then?” I murmured with a glance at her, but she had returned her eyes to the tabletop and was hunching again.
“I don’t drink anymore.” The man, Keenen, cleared his throat, hocked, then spat on the floor, wiping his face with his sleeve before turning to me and tipping that hat brim up again. “I only came to tell you, come the noon meal, you will be recognized here. Unless that is part of your plan, I’d suggest you leave as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know who you think I am—”
But the man interrupted me. “I know precisely who you are,Jannus the Halfling,”he muttered below the level of the music. The hair on my arms stood up. “I would never have interrupted you, only you bring with you awoman.I know what that means for her. So,I’m putting aside my dislike for your kind and warning you for her sake: Those whomade youare here. They have fingers in every pocket and their hands up the asses of every man of wealth or power in this city. News of your presence is probably already on its way to them. But if not, even if you eluded them so far, your luck will not continue. By the noon meal you will be recognized and your presence… alerted.” Then he reached up and tipped the hat back, revealing his face to me, but hiding it from the rest of the tavern with the hat.
He was young—Diadre’s age, and his eyes flickered to meet hers, a worried question in them.
