Chapter 29
Caspian
The little inn stood visible from the tree line.
A trail of smoke rose invitingly from the chimney, promising a warm hearth within.
Caspian could have collapsed with relief at the sight.
They’d camped only briefly until sunrise, then they set down the path Keira had assured him was the fastest route to the nearest settlement.
It had been a long and tiresome trek, the toll of which he now felt throughout his entire body.
Fate’s teeth, what he wouldn’t give for a hot meal, a real bed.
Curse him if the thought of a steaming bath didn’t make his knees buckle.
It was becoming evident that he’d gotten spoiled these past couple of years in the keep.
He hadn’t thought himself so removed from long days of marching only to spend the night on hard packed ground.
Keira came to his side and sighed with a similar sentiment before they began the final descent down the snowy hill.
The Fox and Hare was a comfortable stone inn.
The massive fireplace heated the common room like an oven and eased the deep set chill in his bones.
Furs hung from the walls. A bear skin was laid out on the floor before the fire.
The inn was already populated with a few patrons sharing meals and conversation at the scattered tables.
An old woman with a wild mass of graying hair approached them as they stomped the winter from their boots. “It’s seven silvers for a room.”
Her eyes widened as Caspian lowered his hood. Her gaze flicked from his face down to the signet ring on his hand. “Of course there’ll be no charge for you, m’lord,” the woman quickly amended.
Caspian ignored her offer. “How much for two rooms, hot meals, and a bath?” He had more coin than any one man could possibly need. He’d certainly not be accepting favors for free.
“No charge at all, m’lord. I’ll see to it right away for you and your companion.”
She was about to turn, but stopped as Caspian reached for his purse. He took out two gold coins and held them out to the woman.
The conflict behind her eyes was clear as she looked them over, thinking to protest again. At last, she took them, and Caspian smiled.
“Bless your generosity, m’lord.” She shoved the coins into her pouch. “Take a seat by the fire and warm your bones. I’ll have your meals out soon as I’m able.”
“Thank you,” Caspian said.
She made a sort of awkward bowing motion before scurrying off toward the kitchens.
Caspian turned to Keira, who was eyeing him strangely.
Embarrassment flooded his cheeks. Even he wasn’t altogether used to the status of his new position, how people treated him so differently.
He couldn’t begin to imagine what she made of it.
Keira made a motion with her hands, and the moisture from her clothes wrung out into a dirty mote of water before her.
With a single flick, the filth went splashing out the door.
She raised a brow at him, and he nodded.
She drew the damp which had soaked into his boots and leggings and set it similarly out. The relief was instant and undeniable.
Afterward, he led the way through the common room to claim a table near the fire.
“I have money,” Keira said as they sat.
“I never said you didn’t,” Caspian said, rather blindsided.
“I can pay my own way.”
“Of course you can,” he agreed.
She still seemed unsatisfied.
“How about you go pay for a couple of ales?” Caspian said, nodding toward the bar with a smile.
Keira’s smirk grew slowly before she pushed up out of her chair and walked over to the bar.
Caspian’s eyes followed her, slipping down her form as she leaned over the counter.
Her leggings cupped her full backside in an unjusting tantalizing way.
It was impossible not to imagine his body pressing her against that bar, his hand trailing up her spine, around her perfect curves.
Eventually she turned, holding a mug in each hand.
Caspian readjusted himself as she set his mug on the table.
The ale was spiced pleasantly, and it was warm.
He took a long sip and then another, enjoying the heat spreading over his chest. When he lowered it, she was looking at him.
He smiled, and she did too. This was harder than he’d thought.
“So why a harpy?” Caspian asked.
“What? Oh,” she looked to where the tattoo was, on her stomach just above her hip, even though it was covered by several layers of clothing. “It’s for the Harpy’s Revenge, a tavern down in Stormhaven. The whole party got one after a job in Queen’s Crossing.”
“The whole what?”
Keira blushed slightly into her ale. “Well, for the past two years I’ve been with an adventuring party, the Blades of Fate.”
“You’ve been working as a mercenary?” Caspian tried to wrap his mind around the idea of her gallivanting about the realm with a bunch of mercenary adventurers and failed.
“It was honest jobs… for the most part,” Keira said defensively. “And I had to do something for money… I originally went to Stormhaven to find passage across the channel. I even took a few jobs on trading ships, but somehow I never made it that far.”
Caspian remembered their talk that last day together, of running away together across the channel. “But what about the Arcanum? You didn’t get your title?”
Keira sighed. “I didn’t have it in me to go back. And sometimes, I think I regret it, not finishing through and becoming a titled wizard. But then I remember how miserable I was there.”
“In your letters you told me how well you were doing.” Caspian’s brow furrowed. He had read and reread her letters from that year countless times. To think that they hadn’t been entirely true… “You were top of your class.”
She gave a small smile, taking another drink.
“I was top of my class, and I fought tooth and claw to get there. I had no friends, only competitors. For a while, I enjoyed the challenge. It was something to focus on at least. But when I thought you were gone, I just didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. ”
He nodded.
“Besides once I left, I realized I don’t really need some council’s approval to know that I am a capable wizard, even if not in name.” She raised her brow proudly, if not a touch sourly.
“Cheers to that,” Caspian laughed, raising his mug to her. He’d seen only brief glances of how far her magic had come, and there was no denying her mastery. “So, do you enjoy it? Being an adventurer for hire?”
Keira softened with a sigh. “It certainly isn’t all bad. At first, it was a trial by fire, having to learn to think on my feet, how to use my magic to defend myself. But it was nice too, the freedom. I made friends there… eventually. They’re good people.”
“I’d like to meet them,” Caspian said honestly. She’d agreed to step into his new life, but he wanted to experience hers as well. To see what she’d become when she had the freedom to chase what she wanted.
“Really?” She arched her brow.
“Well, yeah,” Caspian said. “I’m curious. I mean, when we were young, we never really met anyone. I guess I’m just interested in seeing who you made friends with once you had the chance.”
Keira looked down at her ale and snorted.
“Well, I was pretty determined not to have any for a long time. I moved around a lot during that first year, taking on odd jobs when I could. There’s always demand for magic.
” She took a drink. “Then I met Rhea. She’s our leader, I suppose.
The party needed help dispelling a pretty elaborate warding spell to…
well, to rob someone, but I swear they deserved it.
I suppose having a mage around was too nice to give up.
They offered me a permanent place, an equal share of bounties and loot, and I took it. ”
“Tell me more about them, your friends. What made you choose to stay?” Caspian asked, eager to hear more, to understand who she had become, and how.
Keira took a thoughtful sip. “Well, Rhea and Gareth served in the king’s army too, though they were stationed out east, on the frontiers.
When they left, they went in together as bounty hunters.
That’s how they met Lilith, and her brother Knox.
Mind you, this was all long before I met them.
Lilith is the best thief in Stormhaven, and Rhea was meant to bring her in, and well, long story short, that’s not how it went down.
They’re actually married now, funny enough, and perfect for each other.
Rhea’s fair and smart, and fearless. A born leader.
And Lilith, she’s a firework in human skin.
She lives for the thrill of everything. And she loves Rhea like there’s no tomorrow. ”
A look of sadness crossed her face, and Caspian found himself leaning in, trying to understand it.
“I was jealous of them sometimes,” Keira explained. “I tried not to be. I was happy for them too. But seeing them together, when I thought I’d lost my chance at that feeling…”
Caspian reached out his hand to touch hers against her mug.
Keira sniffed. “Then there’s Florian.” She smiled even as her eyes retained their sorrowful gleam.
Caspian slid his hand back across the table.
“He was my first friend- Could charm the coat off the king if he tried. And he made up his mind to be my friend, to make me feel welcome. Fate knows I fought him too. But his energy- It was impossible to hold off forever, I suppose. Everyone likes him.” Keira laughed again.
“Florian flirts with just about everyone. It’s just the way he is.
He’s always going off with someone new whenever we have a night to ourselves.
We only ever-” Her face drained of color as she stopped herself.