Page 9 of Tattered Huntress
‘I’m sure.’
She thought for a moment or two. ‘I suppose I could give it a try,’ she said finally.
‘Definitely.’ I started to back up inch by inch.
‘There would be a lot more space.’
‘There would indeed.’
‘And it’s an elf castle. There will be lots of them to annoy.’
‘It’ll be great fun,’ I assured her.
‘I could get some fairy lights,’ she mumbled. ‘Brighten the place up a bit if it needs it.’
‘It won’t be like living next to a damp cave,’ I agreed. There was now considerable space between us. I raised my hand. ‘I’ll see you around, Duchess.’
She muttered distractedly – then her head jerked up. ‘Oi!’ she called. I froze. ‘Next time, make sure you deliver my parcels there instead of here.’
I grinned. ‘Absolutely.’
‘Pemberville Castle,’ Duchess whispered to herself. ‘Yes. It’s about time I moved up in the world.’
My grin grew. I couldn’t agree more.
Chapter
Four
Aloud cheer rippled through the Hanging Bat when I walked through its doors. Unsurprisingly, it was Billy who grabbed me first, hauled me into a bear hug and made a show of sniffing me. ‘No troll snot!’ he declared. ‘How did you do it?’
‘I won her over with my delightful personality,’ I told him.
Billy snorted. ‘Yeah, right.’
I winked at him. ‘SDS. We deliver when it counts.’
He rolled his eyes then we ambled over to our usual table. Kat had already got in the drinks and she handed me a gin and tonic before I even sat down. ‘Chin-chin,’ she said.
I took a sip of the cool drink and smacked my lips. ‘Thanks, Kat.’
‘You’re very welcome, darling.’
I settled on the chair next to her and we clinked glasses. ‘To better times ahead.’
She grinned. ‘I’ll drink to that.’
Billy plonked himself next to me and pointed at the television screen behind the bar. ‘Look who’s on.’
I followed his finger and stiffened when Isaw Hugo Pemberville’s face. Kat leaned towards me. ‘I heard that you didn’t only persuade Duchess to move but that you also methim. What’s he like in real life?’ Her eyes danced. ‘Did you get an autograph?’
‘I did when he signed for his parcel,’ I said, unwilling to re-hash what had happened.
Billy scowled. ‘I don’t understand what the big deal is.’
‘Well,’ Kat said, ‘he’s a high elf and that means serious power. And he’s smooth, suave and sophisticated.’
I tried not to choke on my drink.
