Chapter 17 #3
“That is the stupidest fucking slang I have ever heard. Is that some strange Earth thing?” he replied, his eyebrows arching in feigned boredom, though the grin on his face suggested he was anything but disinterested.
He loved our bickering, and I could see the glint of mischief in his eyes, eager for the next round.
A storm brewed in my gut, itching for another verbal spar with the prince. However, just as I prepared to fire back, he deftly took my hand and led me through the bustling space toward a booth tucked away in the corner.
Glade gestured for me to take a seat on one side, and I complied.
He raised a finger, signalling me to wait just a moment before bounding over to the bar.
I couldn’t make out their conversation over the lively music and animated chatter, but Janint laughed at whatever he said.
After a brief exchange, the old woman grabbed two hefty metal pint cups from the counter and filled them with a frothy, brown concoction.
He tossed her a couple of gold coins, nodding in gratitude as he lifted the glasses high above his head, signalling his appreciation.
Glade approached our booth with an easy confidence, placing one of the enormous drinks in front of me, creating a few splashes. He slid into the seat opposite me, reclining against the bench with one arm draped casually over it. With a grin, he lifted his drink, offering it to me in a toast.
I eyed the frothy liquid suspiciously. “What is it?”
“It’s ale,” he answered casually.
“Beer?” I repeated, understanding a little more clearly.
But Glade’s eyes squinted, and his nose crinkled.
“Never mind.” I sighed and clinked my mug against his, a reluctant “cheers” escaping my lips.
Glade lifted his cup to his lips, taking a hearty gulp of the ale before nearly slamming it down on the table with a satisfied thud.
I took a more measured approach, savouring each sip as the cold bubbles sizzled on my tongue, their sharpness tingling as they made their way down my throat.
The flavour was strikingly similar to the beer from Earth, a comforting familiarity that oddly soothed me in this unfamiliar place.
Unlike Glade, I set my pint down gently on the coaster and rested my palms on the bench beside me, leaning forward in my seat.
“So,” I began, catching Glade’s attention as he watched the dancing from afar, “what exactly are we doing here?”
Glade turned his gaze back to me. “I figured you could use some fun,” he declared, nodding along to the music’s rhythm.
“Things around the castle have been pretty…intense since you arrived on Ornath. I thought you might like to spend some time with a friend. You know, drink a little, laugh a little, dance a little.”
I chuckled, raising an eyebrow at the word “friend”. “So…you brought me to a bar?” When his expression twisted, I clarified, “I mean, a tavern?”
His face lit up. “Ah, yeah. I came here a lot growing up when things got tough back home. Janint always treated me kindly, and the other patrons were always here for a good laugh or a shoulder to cry on. I don’t know…
I just thought you might’ve needed to unwind a little and ya know, meet the people of Ornath—meet the people they expect you to save. ”
I couldn’t help but gape at the man before me, feeling a profound sense of adoration. Though, instead of admitting it, I took a sip of my beer and genuinely said, “Thank you, Glade. That’s really kind of you.”
In moments like these, I could envision the little boy who once clung to his mother’s dress or poked his fingers under bathroom doors just to be near her.
I remembered how tender he was with Mir and how empathetic he had been when comforting me after the Tenebrae attack.
This man before me had a good heart, hidden beneath a rough exterior that he needed to be rid of like a snake shedding its skin.
I found myself pondering what I might have believed about Glade if I hadn’t heard his mother’s account or Kaiyah’s retelling of his upbringing.
It was beginning to dawn on me that his tough exterior was merely a defence mechanism, shielding a wounded but deeply loving boy who had always cared for those around him.
A drop of liquid accidentally trickled down my lips after another sip of my cold and spicy drink and stung my bottom lip. I tried to catch it before it slid down my chin, glancing up at Glade only to find him staring intently at my lips, his mouth slightly agape.
He grunted uncomfortably, shifting in his seat as I reached for a napkin from the holder at the end of the booth. As I dabbed my chin, I added casually, “I spoke to your mother this morning. Over tea.”
Glade flinched back a few inches, clearly unsettled. “About what?” he asked, his words slow and unsettled.
“Well, we started talking about Jion, but then the conversation took a turn, and we ended up discussing you,” I admitted, my fingertip tracing the rim of my pint.
Glade’s face shifted from unamused to intrigued, and he leaned in, impatience creeping into his voice. “What could you two possibly have discussed about me?”
“How you were a big mama’s boy,” I teased, crinkling my nose and giving a menacing grin.
Satisfaction swelled in my core as I watched him squirm at my words.
Glade fought to maintain his composure, settling back into a relaxed position on the bench.
“I love my mother. She’s a wonderful woman.
Never bothers me…unlike another woman I know.
” He flashed a mischievous smirk, then turned his attention back to the patrons dancing.
“She says you used to stick your fingers under the door when she was trying to pee,” I stated matter-of-factly.
Glade spat out his drink, his previously composed demeanour shattering as he turned to me with wide eyes. “I’m sorry, what? Tell me again why you and my mother were discussing me?”
I wasn’t sure why I felt so drawn to uncovering Glade’s childhood, but the urge was irresistible.
Jion was straightforward; what you saw was what you got.
But Glade was different—he was complex. Each layer I peeled back revealed another, a new truth or lesson waiting to be discovered.
With him, the depths seemed endless, and I was both intrigued and captivated by the mystery of who he truly was.
Though, a suitable explanation to his question escaped me, and I came up empty-handed. “I…” I stuttered, struggling to find the words.
“Shouldn’t you be learning about Jion’s embarrassing tendencies as a child?
” he interrupted. “He’s the one you’re marrying and saving the universe with.
Surely, you have better things to occupy your time than discussing my childhood security issues.
” His eyebrows knitted together in mock seriousness, but there was a spark in his eyes that suggested he was more amused than offended.
My cheeks flushed for the millionth time, and I took a giant gulp of my beer to steady myself. There was a question lingering on my lips that both terrified and intrigued me. Finally, I gathered the courage to ask.
“D-Do you think we can do it?” I stammered as I focused on my fingers in my lap, picking at my cuticles as if they held the answer.
“Do what?” Glade asked, taking a hearty gulp of his beer while his gaze wandered back to the lively dancers.
“Defeat the Tenebrae,” I muttered, though doubt and uncertainty plagued my mind.
Glade’s playful demeanour shifted as his eyes dimmed, turning to face me fully.
“Honestly? I do not know, Jane. The Tenebrae have been wreaking havoc on this universe for a long time. But what I can tell you is that I will continue to train you with all my experience, with all my knowledge so you will at least be able to defend and protect yourself.”
In that moment, I felt a swell of gratitude wash over me, knowing he would stand by my side through this tumultuous journey, ensuring I would never have to face it alone.
“And what I do know is that Amantius believes in you. She chose you. There must be a reason for that. I trust in the Goddess. I believe in you,” he said earnestly, his gaze steady as he took another swig of his ale.
I swallowed the saliva that had lingered in my mouth a bit too long and found myself lost in Glade’s ocean-blue eyes, which sparkled with the warm glow of the lantern on the wall beside us.
Flecks of gold danced in his aqua irises, and I felt as if I were being hypnotized, drawn deeper into his gaze.
The ale had already started to blur the edges of my thoughts, making my judgment feel clouded.
I needed to regain my composure and slow things down before I lost myself in this moment completely.
Fortunately, our moment was swiftly interrupted by the bearded man on stage, who bellowed over the crowd, “Oi! Is that Glade Everkain I see? Glade, ya bastard! Get yer ass up here and play us a song!”
His call resonated throughout the tavern, drawing cheers from the other patrons.
Glade simply shook his head in refusal, raising his beer high above his head in a friendly defiance.
The bearded man on stage, undeterred, shouted, “Chug that fuckin’ ale and get the fuck up ‘ere! We want a pretty lil’ tune!”
Hoots and hollers erupted from every corner, a rhythmic chant of Glade’s name echoing through. The patrons clapped and stomped their feet.
Completely bewildered, I mouthed, “What’s going on?”
Before I could get an answer, Glade was already on his feet. He downed his drink in one motion, slamming the empty mug onto the table with a loud clank before sprinting toward the stage. The crowd erupted into applause as they rallied behind him.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I climbed over the bench to get a better view.
Glade grabbed a string instrument, reminiscent of a small guitar, from the man who had called him over, swinging the leather strap over his shoulders with cocky flair.