Page 73 of Black Wing and Shadows
“You two causing trouble already?” Zane asked them with a smirk.
“Not yet,” Oliver replied. “But the day’s young.”
Sadie, a step ahead with Lili, glanced back at the sound of our laughter. “If you three start brawling in the tavern, I’m not covering for you,” she called.
“I’d never.” I tilted my head and let the words drip sweet, my grin sharp enough to betray me.
The dirt road stretched ahead, shimmering in the heat. My boots crunched over gravel, and I found myself walking inches from Zane so thatour arms brushed now and then. His presence, as always, felt like a shield and a challenge all at once.
“Chalahana also has a decent market," Eli offered, glancing at me. “If you’re into that sort of thing.”
“I’m into food,” I admitted. “And maybe something strong to drink after the walk.”
“That we can manage,” Oliver said, grinning.
By the time the rooftops of Chalahana came into view, the conversation shifted to training stories—half boasting, half teasing. The kind of banter that made the walk seem shorter. But underneath it all, there was a quiet awareness between me and Zane, each glance and touch tinged with last night’s memory.
The first stop was the outdoor market that sprawled across Chalahana’s central square. Bright awnings flapped in the breeze, their shade spilling over stalls filled with everything from shiny fruit to brass trinkets and hand-dyed scarves. Sadie headed straight for a jewelry table, holding up a pair of silver ear cuffs to the light. Lili browsed with such confidence that vendors straightened up, sensing a big spender. I lingered at a leather goods stand, running my fingers over a row of well-made belts.
“This would suit you,” Zane murmured behind me, and when I turned, he held a narrow leather braid tipped in silver. “For your dagger.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Planning to buy me gifts now?”
“Maybe I am,” he said, with his devious little grin.
Eli and Oliver went to the food stalls and returned a few minutes later with paper cones filled with spiced nuts. “Fuel for the shopping warriors,” Oliver said, offering me one.
After an hour, the smell of roasting meat drew us toward a cafe tucked away off the square. Inside, the cool shade provided a welcome break from the sun. We settled into a corner table by the window, where the breeze carried faint hints of pine trees.
Lunch was substantial—plates of roast chicken, fresh bread still warm from the oven, and pitchers of chilled cider. Conversation flowed freelyaround the table, but occasionally, Zane’s knee brushed mine beneath the table. Each gentle touch brought back memories of last night, where we spent hours alone in our world. I caught his gaze once while he was eating, and his look made my heart race. He didn’t need to speak for me to understand what he thought.
After exploring the town and visiting several stores, we headed into the famous local tavern for drinks—one of those spots with a crooked sign and music spilling through the open door. Inside, the air was cooler, shadows gathering in the corners where locals sipped their mugs. A trio in the back played a soft, rolling tune on fiddle, drum, and flute. We took a table near the center, big enough for everyone to gather but small enough that knees bumped underneath. Zane slid into the seat beside me, his arm brushing mine in a way that might’ve looked accidental if I didn’t know better.
“You’re getting the first round,” he said, passing me a couple of coins with a grin. “Show me you can order like a local.”
I raised an eyebrow but headed to the bar anyway. The bartender was a broad female with an easy smile who poured generously. I brought back tankards of deep amber ale, setting them down with a dramatic flourish.
Eli tapped his mug to mine. “Not bad.”
Sadie was already halfway through hers by the time we all took a sip, and Lili was scanning the room as if she were deciding whether to find a dance partner.
Zane leaned in close, his voice quiet enough for only me to hear. “You keep looking at the door.”
“Old habit,” I murmured, taking another drink.
His lips curved in that way that told me he knew exactly what I meant. “Mine too.”
The music picked up, and a few people started dancing in the open space between tables. Eli and Oliver shared a story about a training mishap that made Zane laugh, but every so often, I felt his gaze on me—steady, deliberate, like a promise.
It all began with the music—speeding up now, the fiddler leaning into a wild tune that made the floorboards vibrate. Lili was on her feet in seconds, pulling Thora along before anyone else could react.
“Come on, you can’t sit through this!” she called, spinning Thora toward the open space near the fire.
They moved with a reckless joy that made people smile, both of them struggling to find their rhythm but then syncing perfectly and moving flawlessly together. Lili’s grin was so wide it could be seen from every table. A few locals clapped along, and one or two joined them, boots pounding on the wood. I leaned back in my chair, tankard in hand, letting the laughter and warmth of the tavern wash over me. For a moment, it felt like nothing bad could reach us here. That was when the shadow cast itself across the table.
“You’re too pretty to sit alone,” a voice said, and before I could reply, a rough hand landed on my shoulder.
I froze, my smile slipping away. “Not alone.” My voice stayed even as I tilted my head toward Zane, the movement sharp, deliberate.
