CHAPTER FOUR #2
A face rose unbidden in her mind as she said it – Morven’s face.
Out of everyone in her training days, the warlock had been the only one she’d ever truly considered a friend.
They’d spent countless evenings discussing spells and studying late into the night, and he’d been the only person she’d told about how she’d left things with her grandma, and about her absent mother, who’d left her under the care of a nanny most of the time and handed her off to her grandma permanently when Nyssa was just fourteen.
But that had been before. Before he’d gained more power than any warlock ought to have access to.
Before he’d betrayed her, and she had betrayed him in return.
‘Yeah, you’re right.’ Liora’s voice snapped Nyssa out of her musings, but she couldn’t help but notice that, even though Liora’s smile had returned, it was a little tighter than it had been before.
‘Anyway, I’d still feel better if you wore the earbuds tonight.
I wouldn’t feel right influencing you, even in a small way. ’
A strange lump formed in Nyssa’s throat as she took the case from Liora.
It was such a simple gesture, but the kindness behind it …
That was something Nyssa hadn’t experienced in a long time.
The other mages in the coven were pleasant, yes, and they’d cared about her in a professional sort of way.
Nyssa hadn’t truly realized how different that kind of care was to the kind Liora was showing her now.
And now that she’d experienced it again, she wasn’t sure how she’d gone so long without it.
Nighthaven’s one and only tavern was nothing like the dimly lit, overly loud establishments Nyssa had pointedly avoided in London.
If anything, The Pixie’s Grove was what Nyssa would describe as cosy.
Made of a mixture of stone and wooden beams, the large space was lit with chandeliers and various candles that gave off a soft, orange glow.
There was a large hearth on the north wall, the fire inside bright and crackling, and there was a crest in the shape of a twisting hawthorn tree hanging just above it.
A wooden staircase sat to the right of the fireplace, next to which was a small bar surrounded by a crowd of patrons.
A number of candlelit tables were spread out in the centre of the tavern, each one occupied with people Nyssa recognized from either her childhood or Liora’s recent tour.
The place was packed, the air filled with the kind of easy laughter and conversation that only came from people who knew one another well, and a strange, warm weight settled in Nyssa’s chest as the townsfolk smiled and waved at her and Liora as they made their way to the bar.
Nyssa leaned in to whisper into Liora’s ear. ‘You said there would just be a few people here,’ she mock-scolded.
Liora smiled innocently. ‘I don’t know why it’s so busy! It isn’t usually like this …’
Nyssa raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, really? So if I asked around …’
‘All right, all right! I told a tiny white lie to get you here. I just hate the thought of you all alone in that big house, and everyone here really wants to get to know you better!’
The look on Liora’s face was so sincere Nyssa softened instantly. ‘Fine,’ she sighed, ‘but you owe me a drink for lying.’
‘Deal! But I want to introduce you to someone first. Elowen!’
At the sound of Liora’s voice, a tall, slender elf appeared in the doorway behind the bar, her soft pink lips curled into a smile so beautiful that for a second Nyssa forgot to breathe.
Her auburn hair was cut to skim the sharp lines of her jaw, and her eyes – ancestors, she had such beautiful, green eyes – crinkled at the corners in a way that made Nyssa’s heart skip a beat.
‘Good evening, Liora. What can I get for you?’
‘Nothing for me, I’ve got a show to play! But I want you to meet Nyssa! Nyssa, this is Elowen Meyrick! Elowen, this is Lisabeth’s granddaughter, Nyssa!’
Elowen turned those beautiful eyes Nyssa’s way, her expression so neutral that if she had any opinions on who Nyssa’s grandmother had been, Nyssa couldn’t tell. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nyssa. What would you like?’
It took Nyssa a moment to compose herself beneath the intense stare of who might have been the most beautiful creature Nyssa had ever seen, and when she did, she prayed that the elf thought the flush to her cheeks was due to the heat of the hearth.
‘Oh, um …’ Nyssa’s eyes scanned the board above the bar. ‘I’ll take a Spicy Gnome, please.’
‘Ohhh, great choice – that’s El’s favourite!
’ Nyssa’s cheeks flamed hotter, and she was glad when Elowen turned away to start making her drink.
‘I’ve gotta go prepare for the show, but I’ll see you after – don’t forget to wear the earplugs!
’ The words came out in one long rush, and before Nyssa could reply, Liora had bounced off towards a small space beside the fire.
‘One Spicy Gnome.’
Elowen placed the tall, brass-coloured sparkling drink in front of Nyssa with long, slender fingers that, when Nyssa reached for the glass, retreated just a fraction too slowly. Skin brushed against skin for the briefest of seconds, and Nyssa’s cheeks flamed anew in response.
‘Get it together, Hawthorne!’
It had been so long since she’d felt that spark of attraction to someone, and in that time, she’d apparently completely forgotten how to play it cool. She offered what she hoped was a coy smile to Elowen when she paid for her drink, but was met with only a polite, professional nod in return.
Trying not to appear too deflated, Nyssa instead asked, ‘So … have you been working here long?’
She cringed as soon as the question came out. Really? That’s the best you can come up with?
‘Just a few years,’ Elowen replied. Her voice was soft but assured, the tone lyrical in the way of many of the old Elven tribes, and Nyssa found herself wanting to hear her speak more.
Unfortunately, that seemed to be all the elf was willing to offer.
With a polite ‘excuse me’, she moved on to serve the next customer, leaving Nyssa sitting awkwardly alone with her drink.
Taking a sip of the delightfully spiced-ginger-and-whisky concoction, Nyssa allowed herself to take in the comforting sounds of the tavern: the crackling of the fire, the joyous laughter of Nighthaven’s citizens, and then, finally, Liora announcing herself to a round of hearty applause.
Nyssa hurriedly slipped in the earbuds Liora had gifted to her just as the first crisp note of the bard’s lyre echoed through the tavern.
Even with the earbuds in, Nyssa could feel the faint brush of the lyre’s magic like a warm, summer breeze against her skin, soothing her instantly.
It smelled faintly of ocean air, salty and crisp.
If this is what her magic does with earbuds, I wonder how relaxed I’d feel without them …
A part of Nyssa was tempted to take the earbuds out just to see. All around her, various patrons were swaying to the music, their eyes glassy and their expressions serene, as Liora began to sing. Although not enchanted (to Nyssa’s knowledge), her voice was just as beautiful as her lyre.
Time seemed to fade as Liora performed, and before Nyssa knew it, the bard was bowing to a fierce round of applause and being swept into a hug by a square-jawed, elderly gentleman in a long green tunic who Nyssa hadn’t seen before.
When Liora caught her staring, she waved her over with a huge, bright smile that Nyssa couldn’t deny.
‘So, what did you think?’ Liora asked as soon as Nyssa had reached the small performance area by the hearth. The young bard’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright and sparkling, and Nyssa wasn’t sure she’d ever seen anyone as content as Liora looked in that moment.
When was the last time I felt that way?
The thought rose before Nyssa could stop it. Swallowing hard, she did her best to smile as brightly as her friend. ‘It was incredible, Liora. You’ve truly got a gift.’
‘That she does.’ The man beside her smiled fondly before turning his attention to Nyssa. ‘I’m Alaric, by the way.’
‘Nyssa.’
Alaric’s dark brown eyes crinkled at the sides. ‘Ah, yes, Lisabeth’s granddaughter!’