Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Olwen
The bard had been easy to break.
Olwen had trusted Flyka to do her work, and she had pulled every scrap of information from the vallos trash.
The sod was not a spy.
He was a bigot who had been paid handsomely to make trouble.
While it was not optimal that the bard had been traveling along the border cities singing about the Loriian king, it was not against the law. The only problem was the information he possessed. No one knew about the poison ring except Neve’s inner circle.
And Dahlia.
Olwen leaned against a nearby building just outside the tavern. He had a hunch. One that could change everything.
The tavern had closed one hour prior.
Several giants loitered about, talking or inhaling sweet smoke.
The tavern door opened, and Lady Diaz ushered out the two halflings, Jaiix and Holly. “Straight home, both of you,” the giantess commanded. “It’s not safe being out.”
“Of course,” Jaiix called, batting her long lashes.
Olwen grinned at her antics. This one liked to stir the pot, it seemed, much like himself.
It was also why he had chosen her to test Neve’s attachment to Lia.
The halfling held enough of a human charm to entice his friend, but in the end, it had not worked.
Which told him what frame of mind the king was in. The idiot had bonded himself to his wife. A wife that had betrayed him and Loriia.
His lips thinned. It was a bloody disaster.
Olwen watched the shorter one nod, tugging on her hood, her face shadowed. He cursed underneath his breath. All he wanted was a better glimpse of her face. Tonight, when he had glanced up at the bar, he had caught her reflection staring at him from the copper wall.
For a moment, all he could see was Dahlia, but then he blinked, and a halfling was standing in her place.
It had bothered him all night, even as he watched the interrogation.
Perhaps it had been wishful thinking, but his berserker would not calm down.
It seemed to roll beneath his skin so much that Olwen took a walk to expel his excess energy.
He ended up outside the tavern, lurking in an alleyway.
The two halflings descended the porch and wandered onto the road, their boots crunching in the newly fallen snow.
Sturdy stone buildings lined the street, utterly utilitarian in their design.
The people along the border had suffered many attacks and their homes reflected that.
While it wasn’t a beautiful town by any means, the people were vibrant and he liked it.
A group of giants turned to face the women. The tallest waved a hand at them, and Jaiix quickly looped her arm with Holly’s and directed them toward the giants. Holly dragged her feet, obviously reluctant.
Why was that? Did she want to seek her bed? Or escape discovery?
He caught snippets of their discussion.
“Not safe . . . escort home . . . please.”
Holly and the largest giant broke off from the group and headed west down the lane. Olwen crept after them, making sure to stick to the shadows.
“How are you?” the vallos asked.
“Fine,” Holly replied.
“Your scent changed after the bard was removed.”
“Any acts of violence are unnerving, no?” Holly answered.
Olwen narrowed his eyes on their backs. Could it be Dahlia? Her voice was not the same. Darker, more frigid. Hollow.
“Yes, they are,” the giant said gently, pausing in the middle of the road. He cupped her cheek, and Olwen froze in place as the male leaned down to press a kiss to her opposite cheek. Rage flickered in his chest at the audacity of the vallos.
That better not be the queen. He could not imagine what Neve would be like if the king found out another male had his lips on his bonded.
Holly stepped away, and the male’s hand dropped, flexing at his side. “Did I do something wrong? I thought because you kissed me at the tavern . . .”
Olwen squeezed his eyes shut and prayed he was being a lunatic and this was all a big misunderstanding.
While he wanted Dahlia to pay for what she had done, he knew when feelings were involved, things got messy.
Neve thought he wanted his wife to suffer but giving them what they deserved when you loved them was something else altogether.
“That was not . . . I didn’t mean.” The valles sighed, rubbing her forehead beneath her hood. “I’m sorry, Felix.”
Felix. So, the giant had a name.
“I know humans are more reserved in their public affections than giants, so I assumed . . .” Felix bowed stiffly. “My apologies.”
“Nooooo,” Holly said, stepping close to take his hands in her own.
He eyed short black nails and soft blue skin. All proof that she was a halfling. And yet . . .
Olwen scowled at himself.
Just go back to camp.
But he did not. His qovving feet were rooted to the ground, watching the lovers’ quarrel like a voyeur. There was something seriously wrong with him.
Felix straightened from his bow. “What is it?”
Holly sighed. “I’m not looking for a companion right now.”
“I can be a patient male.”
If Olwen had human eyes, he would have rolled them. Overeager much?
“You misunderstand me. I am not at liberty to marry.”
Now, that was interesting. Why, little Holly, why? Because you’re the bloody queen?
Felix frowned at her. “I was told you were a widow?”
The halfling released his hands to curl them into her cloak and then stomped her feet to keep them warm. “I am, but my marriage broke me. I won’t . . . I can’t give someone power over me like that again. Ever.”
Her words punched Olwen in the gut. He could taste her pain and fear in the slight breeze. It wrapped around one of his old wounds and squeezed. He closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing as the berserker stirred again. As it always did when it sensed a threat—physical or emotional.
Felix nodded slowly. “I understand.”
“I hope you know that I did not consciously lead you on.”
The giant chuckled. “You did no such thing, valles. I’ve seen women play with men’s feelings over the years.
I know what it looks like. Any hope I harbored was because of my own feelings.
” He paused. “Would it be possible to be friends? This is not my home, and I find myself feeling out of sorts, but I sense a kindred spirit with you.”
“I would like that, Felix,” Holly said, a smile in her voice.
“Would you still like me to walk you home?” Felix asked softly.
“I’m close. I’ll be okay.”
“You’re sure?” he pressed gently.
Olwen had to give it to the vallos. He was honorable.
“The whole town is crawling with warriors. I’ll be safe.” Something in the tone of her voice was off. Like she didn’t quite believe her own words.
Interesting.
“Then I will leave you here.” Felix took Holly’s hand and gave it a chaste kiss. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Olwen watched as the halfling spun on her heel, her cloak swirling about her feet. Felix watched her go until she disappeared around the corner. Felix then turned to the right, his gaze pinned to Olwen’s hiding spot.
“Did you enjoy the show?” the vallos asked gruffly.
Apparently, he hadn’t been sneaky enough.
Olwen stepped away from the wall and eyed the large giant. He was huge. He would not be surprised if the male came from a berserker line himself. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Felix cocked his head. “The only reason I didn’t out you while we were speaking is that I didn’t want to scare Holly. The last month has been difficult for humans and halflings. She deserves to feel safe after what happened.”
There was a story there. “What happened?”
“She was almost killed during the initial attack. When I found her, she was concussed and on fire.”
He blinked. “On fire?”
“Yes. She barely escaped a burning alleyway. Luckily, she wore leggings beneath her dress, or her injuries would’ve been much worse.”
Leggings. It could be a coincidence, but he doubted it.
Olwen’s berserker stirred at the prospect of a hunt. He shook out his hands, trying to calm down.
The vallos arched a brow, a knowing glint in his eye. “Are you controlling it, or is it controlling you?”
The male was most definitely a berserker with a question like that. Not many knew the signs.
“Just out for an evening stroll. That is all. Making sure Mizar is safe.”
“As you say, Commander.” Felix glanced in the direction the halfling had walked. “You’ll make sure she gets home safely?”
“I will.” Unless she is the queen. “You know, we could use someone like you in the war. Berserkers are rare.”
Felix shook his head and backed away toward the village center. “I left that life behind and have no interest in it.”
“Pity.”
“Doubt it.” Felix swiveled around and left without another word.
This town just keeps getting more interesting.
He focused his attention and let the berserker rise toward the surface, his hearing sharpening until he could hear the valles’ footsteps. She was running.
How fun. A merry little chase.
What sort of prize would he claim at the end?
A queen or a pawn?