Page 5 of A Suitable Brat
Sun’s gaze fell, possibly to Hely’s hand over Westin’s before Hely removed it to reach for his wine again.Then Sun was even more obnoxiously charming.
“And hello to you, handsome older stranger.You must be a friend of Westin’s.He has so many friends.”
“He’s friendly,” Hely agreed, smooth as cream.
Westin frowned between them, certain Hely didn’t need a wolf pup chewing on his shoes, but uncertain if that was the case, or if Sun’s flirting was genuine.It was hard to tell with Sun.The charming demeanor wasn’t a lie, exactly, but he did definitely choose to put it on.
Westin finally cleared his throat to introduce them.“This is Hely, Sun.He works here.And yes, he is a friend.”
For a moment, Sun looked at Westin as though Westin had just cheated at cards or stolen his horse.Then he was back to regarding Hely too warmly, too brightly.“I’m Sun.I would have saidIwas a friend until now.”
Westin had his head back to retort when he realized he was being provoked.That was Sun.Always biting.Always testing.Never charming, not with Westin.But Westin had seen Sun grow into his skills over the years.Maybe Sun knew Westin wouldn’t be fooled.Or maybe he just liked to bite certain people with a pup’s needle teeth.
“Brat,” Westin finally sighed, “you know you’re my friend.”
Evidently pleased with that despite being called a brat, Sun put his sword and his pack down, pulled a chair over to the table, and plopped down across from them.He raised his head to observe the room again as he removed his gloves and tucked them into his belt.“It really is a nice place,” he said, and seemed sincere.“It’s not the palace, but I’ve never thought of the palace as comfortable.”
“Solace is for everyone,” Hely remarked.Sun’s attention slid back to him.
Westin spent yet another moment wondering if he was going to have to watch Sun flirt with Hely, but then Hely smiled coolly and Sun slouched in his seat, abandoning charm in favor of looking disgruntled to the point of sulky.
“It’s still outside of my budget,” he commented.He must have asked the bartender the prices.
“Surely not for food and a bath?Tea?”Hely offered, genuinely concerned but also making money for the inn, as was his job.“A drink?Many come here just for those, although not tonight in this weather.”
Hely got another look from Sun.It wasn’t warm this time, though.“Is that why West comes here?”
“You could ask me,” Westin pointed out.He wasn’t even spared a glance.
Hely continued to smile.“Let me know what you’d like, if you decide.I’ll see what I can do for you.”
Sun was not one to be put off with a smile.“As a friend of West’s?”
“As a customer.”Hely took, or pretended to take, another sip of wine.When Sun pushed out a growly breath, Hely added, “And yes, as his friend.He matters to me.”He said that with weight.Westin would have said Hely was scolding but he didn’t act like it and Sun only waited for him to go on without spiking up with temper.“And I don’t think he’d want you to go without.”
Sun swallowed and looked away.When he looked back—still at Hely, not at Westin—he grinned, bright and toothy.“He’s generous.”
Hely inclined his head as if a serious issue were being discussed.“Toogenerous, would you say?”
“Hey.”Westin was hard to miss and yet they both seemed to have forgotten him.
Sun’s eyebrows rose, then fell, staying down in a decidedly displeased manner that boded ill for someone.“I know of two guards who owe him money and who should have paid him back years ago but haven’t.”
“It’s fine,” Westin insisted.“Truly.”
It got him a glance at least, scornful though it was.“They have the funds.You’re too nice, West.”
“Says the brat,” Westin returned, taking a drink of his tea which once again was beyond its most flavorful point.
Sun gave Westin a sly, almost smug look.But silence from Hely made Westin tear his gaze away from a preening brat to look at his friend.
Hely’s stare heldquestions.
Westin tried to think of why Hely should seem so startled, then realized he had just teased the brat… and called him a brat, for that matter.He suddenly felt the need to explain himself to Hely as if he were a new Solace House worker.
“The others sometimes call him that,” he offered.Westin was a quiet, careful outguard and a respectful guest in all inns.Hely must think he’d lost his mind or had been at the wine.“It’s meant fondly.”
“It was not and they do not any longer.”Sun punctuated that with another show of teeth disguised as a grin.“Only Westin calls me that now.”
