“He’s always going on about his hungry stomach.” Maddox nodded.
“I could go for a burger right about now,” I said. “Or a nice big turkey sandwich with juicy tomatoes and crispy bacon. French fries too.”
When the two of them exchanged a look, one that almost seemed friendly, I blinked a few times just to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. They had gone from rivals who’d nearly brawled in the clinic to civil acquaintances with a shared goal—that goal clearly being who could make me blush the deepest.
“I know a place we can take him,” Maddox said.
After leaving the blacksmith’s shop, they retook their positions on each side of me, closer now than before. The sky had darkened, though a bit of sunlight could still be seen along the horizon, as though the day wasn’t yet ready to end. I felt the same.
I didn’t want it to end either.
Maddox took us away from the main square and toward a building. A few men stood outside smoking cigars—or what looked like cigars. Others exited through the front door, stumbling a bit. A sign hung out front with an illustration of a crown and the name The King’s Smoker above it.
“A tavern?” I asked. I’d always wanted to go to one. Just like the ones from all the medieval fantasy books I’d inhaled like oxygen.
“You seem awfully excited,” Briar said. “Especially for someone who doesn’t handle liquor well.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Maddox’s eyes, a dark cobalt blue in the surrounding dusk, shone with amusement—all at my expense, damn him. “Clumsyanda lightweight.”
I faltered in step as we reached the door, having misjudged the slight elevation from the ground to the entrance. Such poor timing. It proved him right. Both men grinned but didn’t say a word.
Maddox entered first and waited for us to trickle in behind him before retaking his place at my side.
The tavern could’ve been taken from the set of any fantasy movie. Tables were scattered throughout, some only big enough to seat four men, while the ones in the center of the room were larger, seating up to seven or more.
The group of adventurers from earlier sat at one table, celebrating with huge tankards of ale. Women were there too, some patrons. Others fluttered about, refilling tankards and dishing out heaping plates of food.
“Over here.” Maddox guided us over to a round table in the corner and sat in the chair with the wall at his back. Probably so he could have a view of the room. Always on his guard.
I sat beside him, and Briar sat across from me. On a wooden stage, a man strummed a lute and sang in a language I didn’t know.
“Evenin’,” a woman said after reaching our table. She was plump with strawberry blonde hair braided to one side. The creases around her brown eyes told me she laughed a lot. “What will ya be havin’ to drink?”
“Water for me, please,” I said. Briar quietly coughed, and I cut my eyes at him. “Unless you want me stripping out of my clothes and dancing naked on the table.”
Briar pushed his glasses farther up his nose. “Best we avoid that, so water it is.”
Maddox shrugged, one brow lifting, as if to suggest he wouldn’t be opposed to me doing it. More than likely so he could add it to his arsenal of things to tease me about. The jerk.
The two of them ordered the house ale, along with three plates of food. I didn’t know what kind of food, but I didn’t care. I was so hungry I’d even eat that salty-as-hell popcorn from the festival.
The festival. Kind of fitting that attending one had led me to Lupin’s shop, resulting in me being sent to Bremloc. And now, with the Festival of Lights approaching, one could possibly send me home.
What the hell am I going to do?My mind spun like the wheel in a game of roulette. Clack, clack, clack. Thoughts moving so fast.
The woman returned with our drinks and said our food would be out shortly before she left again. I wished I would’ve gotten something stronger than water. Alcohol didn’t exactly give a person a clear head, but it would’ve been nice to block out my muddled thoughts for a while.
“Something on your mind?” Briar asked me as he grabbed his mug. “You’re frowning.”
He was so perceptive. I looked between the two of them. Maddox was carefully watching me. “Sorry. Just been a long day, I guess. Thank you both for showing me around. It’s been fun.”
“You’ve only seen the market. There is much more in Bremloc.” Maddox took a drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Next time, I can take you to the sea. But you’ll have to hold my hand so you don’t fall in.”
I snorted. “I’m not that clumsy.”
Briar pressed his lips together.
The bard strummed his lute one final time, letting the last syllable of the song bleed into the noise of the tavern. Silence hung over our table as we sipped our drinks.
