Epilogue #2
Avie shot Callum a mean look—which on her wasn’t that mean—before turning her attention back to Tala.
“There was a train robbery. They got my father. Guess all that armor means nothing when you’re in a tin can.
And when they held me up with a knife, I agreed to be The Dead Mother’s warlock in exchange for my life.
I didn’t fuck off or run away or leave you.
I just didn’t have any choice. The paladins chased me down, they were trying to kill me.
And I guess, something changed in GloomsDale. ”
“A lot changed in that swamp,” Callum murmured to himself, before he let out a grunt as Avie’s elbow connected with his ribs.
“Life really came running after you with a fucking hammer, huh?” Tala clicked her tongue, then proceeded to down a good portion of her ale as Avie laughed. When she set the drink down, she caught Avie’s eye. “All this bullshit aside, you’re okay though, right? You’re safe…”
Tala wasn’t subtle as she aimed her own mean look toward Callum. One good shot with her baton, and Tala was positive she could break his fangs.
“Yes, I’m safe. Callum’s an ass,” Avie sent a returning glare when Callum narrowed his eyes at her. “But he’s my ass.”
“On your—”
“I will gut you.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Callum leaned over and placed a messy kiss on Avie’s cheek. “I’m gonna grab an ale for myself. Seems we’re gonna be here a minute.”
“I mean it, Tala.” Avie tore her eyes away from the man. “I’m safe. I can take care of myself now. And I’m in love with that bastard. For better or for worse.”
“That’s good…I’m glad,” Tala frowned down at her drink. Maybe it was the ale, or maybe it was her time with the boys, but for whatever reason the thought that had been haunting her mind came to the surface. “I…am not a good friend.”
“You’re my best friend,” Avie corrected.
“I’m serious.” Tala caught her eye. “I’ve been thinking a lot while you were gone.
I’m…quick to anger, I don’t trust anyone, and I realized that I wasn’t being a good friend with you.
At least, not as much as I thought I was.
Fuck, what I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry.
I’m sorry for thinking when you left, that you didn’t care because I cared too much.
So much that I put this wall between us that I didn’t even realize it was there.
You’ve always been completely honest and yourself with me and…
I realized I wasn’t giving that back to you. So…I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to tell my father no before.
” Avie squeezed her hand. When Tala tried to argue, her friend stopped her, draining the rest of Tala’s drink in one gulp.
“I was a push-over. I was a weak little crybaby who would shrivel up at the smallest flinch. I never stood up for myself. You had to do all the fighting. And I should have told him no, that I wasn’t going back with him to the stronghold.
I shouldn’t have left you here with no answers but…
and correct me if I’m wrong. I think, despite what occurred, we’re both maybe better? Having made it out the other side?”
“You were never a crybaby. Not to me, anyway,” Tala said, before mentally cursing herself for keeping her eyes off her charges for so long.
Tala’s eyes darted toward the stage, scanning for any potential threats.
When she found none, her eyes rested on Casimine and Ameriden.
They were in the thick of it, Ameriden’s fingers playing masterfully along the strings of his lute while Casimine swayed, completely lost in the moment of his song.
Tala blushed as other thoughts came to mind the more she watched them.
A sudden slap to her bicep drew Tala’s attention back.
“No, are you…do you know them?”
Tala met her friend’s eye, a smug expression on her face. “Maybe.”
“Shut. Up!” Avie bounced in her seat. “Who are they? Why do you know them? How well do you know them?”
“Famous bard duo. Valiant Circle shit. And I know them very well. Buy me a drink and maybe I’ll tell you more.”
“Where’s Callum?!”
Avie didn’t see the way Tala’s expression briefly hardened as her friend tore out of the booth toward the bar.
She had been so preoccupied with mustering up the courage to apologize to Avie, that she hadn’t quite wrestled with the revelation of exactly who Avie had hitched her wagon to.
The outlaw thing Tala could get past. She wasn’t as cut and dry as some of the members of the Valiant Circle could be, but that name Avie had whispered to her ear…
Cottonmouth. That was the supposed name belonging to the leader of the man who poisoned her, of the one she killed.
If Avie had known Callum had sent one of his lackeys after her, Tala had a feeling she would have already apologized up front for it. Tala didn’t like the idea of him keeping secrets from Avie either, but was now really the best time to bring it up?
What am I supposed to say? Hey, now that you mention it, your new boyfriend sent a guy to try and kill me with poison, what the fuck is up with that?
No, Tala had to be clever about it. Leading with hot anger wasn’t going to get them any where that evening. That meant Tala needed to keep a close eye on Avie…
But how?
The answer came when Avie dropped mug of ale in front of Tala, plopped back into the booth, and asked in a hurry rush of breath. “What will it cost to get you to go on a road trip with me?”
That works.
“Um, depends on where and when. I kinda got locked into a two month deal with those two on stage. Normally, I’d ditch, but there was this whole thing with King Oryin’vel at the castle with his daughter and now I’m under contract to go on the road to Dreadflats and back with Cashmere Fantasy.”
“That’s actually perfect. You see…cause I’m not just fucking an outlaw. I’m… a fucking outlaw. So, maybe we hitch a ride with you. Or just follow along. And we can both catch up on what is clearly, two very big, very long stories to be shared over a lot of ale?”
“I mean, they are grossly well off. I’ll have to get them to convince their manager, but probably doable,” Tala turned her gaze from the stage back toward the bar, then glared. “Does Hissermouth over there have to come with? He looks like a buzzkill.”
Avie threw her head back in a burst of laughter. “I love you. I love you so fucking much. And yes, Callum goes everywhere with me. Don’t worry. You’ll enjoy beating him up. Promise.”
Her friend winked, giving Tala’s hand another comforting squeeze as the song came to a close.
Tala could hear Ameriden announcing that they needed to hydrate, but would come back on stage if the room showed them some love.
The crowd cheered and morphed into wolf whistles when—in classic Cashmere Fantasy fashion—the boys fell into their personas as they exited the stage.
Casimine blowing princely kisses while Ameriden winked, stroking his hand over his abs in a possessive manner.
Fucking peacocks, Tala thought as they dropped off the stage and promptly fell into the booth across from Avie.
“Tala, my princess, are you going to make introductions?” Casimine purred as he rested his forearms on the table.
“Yeah, sunshine, don’t keep us anticipating,” Ameriden egged on with a suggestive turn of his brows.
“Fuck. You.” Tala said slowly, intent with knocking their heads together when she got the chance. She nudged Avie with her shoulder, “Avie, this is Casimine and Ameriden. Boys, this is my best friend, be nice or I’ll kick your teeth in.”
“It’s so nice to meet you!” Avie giggled, throwing a hand over the table in greeting.
Casimine took her hand, bending to press a polite kiss to her knuckles. “Avie, what a pleasure.”
“We heard so much about you,” Ameriden grinned.
Because you’re both a pair of jealous dogs, Tala thought, though not maliciously. They might have been bitches who followed her to the tavern, but they were her bitches.
“And I can’t wait to hear more about you both,” Avie said, grinning as she cupped her mug. “I hope you don’t mind, but my friend and I are going to join your bandwagon…so to speak.”
“Well, we would have to discuss it first,” Casimine said and Tala fully intended to.
Ameriden nodded. “Yeah, right now we’re kind of enjoying this throuple thing—”
“Not like that, you fucking arrogant dickhead!” Tala exclaimed.
She was in the process of slapping Ameriden’s hand as Callum joined their booth.
“To enjoying the fruits of our labor,” Avie said, raising her mug, completely unbothered by the annoyed expression on Tala’s face.
“To fruits,” Tala said, smacking the bottom of her mug against Avie’s.
Lost within the warmth of the Tipsy Top Inn, drinks were had, songs were sang, and stories were shared.
Tala did her best not to bite as Callum’s possessive hand touched Avie, and she didn’t even blush when Ameriden and Casimine leaned over the table to take turns kissing her.
Okay, maybe she blushed a little bit when Avie squealed.
There was still so much to discuss, plans to be made and unmade, but as the evening pressed on, it was hard to worry about any of those things.
Not with her best friend at her side, and the two loves of her life on the other.
Fuck this Callum guy though, Tala thought.
She might have grown as a person, but some things never changed.