Page 73 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"Stay close to me, Ani."
Anna was so cold, she rubbed and kneaded her hands together and shifted from one foot to the other. "Sure, but only if you go in already."
He chuckled softly as they entered the bar one after the other. It was quite crowded and clouds of steam wafted toward them. The mood was exuberant and quite loud. With no waiter, steaming mugs were handed out by the pot-bellied host behind the long counter who was cheerfully pouring beer and mulled wine.
Chris pointed to two empty stools. "Come on, let's sit at the counter. Food and a hot drink will do us good."
"That sounds wonderful."
It was hot, so Anna loosened the corners of the fur coat so that it was open in the front. Should she take it off? But, considering someone might recognize her as a fairy in her dress, she thought it better to leave it on. After all, they wanted to remain inconspicuous and a fairy in the Kingdom of Winter, especially when the fairies had all but disappeared, wouldn't exactly be inconspicuous. Chris also left his coat on — he probably was thinking the same thing.
"What can I get you?" came the innkeeper's husky voice. He would certainly have stormed the charts as a singer.
Anna indicated to Chris that he should order for her. He had a better sense of what was available. If she listed what she was hungry for and what she knew from the non-magic world, the innkeeper would certainly become suspicious.
"Hot grape juice and a salad for the lady — no dressing, her stomach is upset."
No dressing? She was about to speak up when the thought of vinegar made her violently nauseous. How had she ever eaten something so sour?
"I would like a strong beer and a ladleful from the pot over there that smells so good," Chris continued.
"Right away." The innkeeper immediately started filling the orders while Chris turned to Anna and winked discreetly at her. They observed the numerous guests, who didn't look like theywere short on money or enduring hardships. The plates were lavishly filled and people were in clothes that were well cared-for. Even the relaxed atmosphere suggested that they had all drunk more than was good for them.
With a loud clatter, the innkeeper placed the plates and drinks on the counter in front of them.
"Thank you, sir. Tell me, is there a celebration taking place? Or why is the mood so exuberant?"
The innkeeper's expression turned skeptical. "You're not from here, are you?"
Chris began to eat the stew to make it difficult for the innkeeper to see his face. "No, we're on our honeymoon."
On our honeymoon? Anna found it difficult to suppress her laughter. The captain, however, seemed to have said the right thing because the innkeeper grabbed a beer glass and polished it without giving her a second glance.
"Then the first round is on me."
"Thank you." Anna smiled at him before timidly digging into the salad. She was still full from dinner on the Fortuna and wondered if she could even eat a bite. Luckily, there was no vinegar on the lettuce leaves. How well Chris knew her to have thought of that when ordering.
"I grated the carrots extra finely so that your upset stomach won't give you any more trouble." The innkeeper winked at her and turned back to the beer glasses. "Where are you originally from?"
Chris barely glanced up from his goulash. "Linnenberg."
"Linnenberg? No wonder, you don't enjoy that kind of atmosphere anymore. The economy must have gone downhill badly in the last few years."
"Unfortunately. But as long as I can afford the trip my love has longed for, I can't complain."
The innkeeper grumbled. "Where are you spending the night?"
"We actually wanted to make it to King's Snow…" The captain deliberately left the sentence unfinished and the innkeeper shook his head vehemently.
"That's too far. You'll freeze to death before you get there, especially your delicate bride." Did she really look so fragile to him? "One of my two guest rooms upstairs is vacant. You can stay here if you'd like."
"That is generous of you, sir. What do you say, love?"
A night under the innkeeper's roof? In a room? She knew what was about to happen and her heart immediately began to beat excitedly. When she felt Chris's dark gaze on her, heat surged through her body. Criminy, her emotions were going crazy in his presence. Before he noticed, she lowered her eyelids and gave him a suggestive look. "That sounds wonderful, love."
His eyes widened and their gazes locked. She felt the fire burning within him and goosebumps crawled up the back of her neck. Before he pounced on her right there in the inn, she broke eye contact and turned to the innkeeper. They shouldn't forget why they'd come. "In the Kingdom of Winter, the economy seems to have recently blossomed. We're truly happy for you."
"I am also extremely grateful. In the past, I could hardly pay the winemaker's bill with the few guests who could afford to frequent my pub. In the last few years, however, there have been more and more of them. All of us benefit from the boom in commodities."
