Page 79 of The King's Sword
She stepped into a boisterous tavern. Musicians played in a corner, a long bar took up one wall, dozens of tables were to the left side of the room, and on the right side people were dancing.
Evander poked her side.
“What?” she said, unable to hear him over the people talking and music playing.
He smiled and shook his head, taking her hand and pulling her toward the bar.
About halfway there, a man stepped in front of Evander, clasping him on his shoulders. They exchanged a few friendly words—none of which Sabine could hear in this loud place.
Evander leaned in close to her ear. “Some friends are here. We’re going to sit with them. This here is Gareth.” He looked at her, as if asking permission.
“Tonight, I’m at your mercy,” she reminded him.
His eyes darkened. “I truly wish that were the case,” he murmured.
Gareth ushered them over to a table where three men were sitting. They all greeted Evander like they were old friends.
“Who’s the pretty lady?” Gareth asked as he took a seat. He had black hair with dark eyes.
Evander sat on the last empty chair. Since there weren’t any other ones available, he pulled Sabine onto his lap. She was about to protest when she remembered their deal—she was to go along with him this evening.
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “This is my special friend,” he said with a sly smile.
Sabine rolled her eyes. She had no intention of letting him have the upper hand all night.
The men at the table all laughed.
“I’m Gareth, this is Ian, Mek, and Jeb.” All four men had a similar build to Evander, though none of them had red hair. “And you are?”
While Gareth had a friendly smile on his face, it appeared forced. There was something about the way his brown eyes narrowed slightly that made Sabine feel as if she needed to tread carefully. These may be Evander’s friends, but they weren’t hers.
Since she wasn’t sure if she should give her true name, she said, “Lina.” Her sister’s nickname.
“What are you doing wasting your time with this loser?” Ian asked, pointing his chin at Evander. Ian had blond hair and blue eyes.
She leaned closer to him, as if about to share a secret, and replied, “That is a question I ask myself frequently.”
They all burst out laughing.
Sabine wondered how Evander knew these men. None of them treated him like a prince, which she found interesting. Given that they all had a similar build with toned arms and sharp eyes that seemed to always be scanning the room, she assumed they were fellow assassins. Maybe they were from Evander’s guild. None of them exposed their wrists, so she couldn’t see if they bore the mark of the Crimson Cloaks.
“I like you, Lina,” Mek said as he raised his arm, getting a server’s attention. “Our friend Ev here needs someone who can put him in his place.”
Sabine looked at Evander. “Ev?”
He shook his head, as if he didn’t understand it himself.
A man with an apron approached carrying a stack of cups. He set them on their table along with a jug.
Mek filled each cup with whatever was in the jug before passing them out.
“I don’t need one,” Jeb said as he stood. “That pretty little woman over there keeps smiling at me. I’m gonna go dance with her.” He made his way over to her.
“He shouldn’t embarrass himself like that,” Mek said, shaking his head. “Jeb can’t dance.”
Evander chuckled. “I don’t think he really intends on dancing.” His hand slid around Sabine’s waist.
Since there was an empty chair, she peeled his arm back and moved to the seat, glad to no longer be on his lap. She didn’t think she could take the heat from his body any longer. It was making her imagine things she shouldn’t be thinking about. “How do you all know one another?” she asked no one in particular. Taking a sip from one of the cups, she found the liquid warm, surprising her.
