Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
ASHLYN
Morning came too quickly. At least the rain had stopped.
We rode for most of the day before we reached the village of Sygil. I watched the fae as they passed each other. Familiarity echoed in every conversation. I longed for that kind of comfort amongst my own kind.
Laughter roared behind us as cart wheels clanked on the stony ground. Ore had been packed tightly within. It shone on the backs of the wooden carts that pulled it.
“What are you trading for it?” I asked when we had reached the inn.
“Coin and crops,” he said as he handed our horses off to a fae girl who tended to the stables next to the inn.
“You pay for it?”
“We certainly don’t steal it.” His laughter was cut short as a group of fae walked past.
No one seemed rattled by the noise. Maybe they had all learned to tune out the clatter. A heavy metallic scent hung in the air—too bitter to breathe.
The sun slowly slipped closer to the horizon. “What will we do for the rest of the night?” I asked.
“The Ever Tell has my favorite tavern inside,” he said. “Their meat pie is incredible. Hopefully you’ll like it better than last night’s meal.”
“You’re taking me into the tavern?” Every inn had been above one, but we never stepped inside. I had never even seen one before this journey. It seemed like I wasn’t allowed to enter them.
His voice became a whisper. “Yes, Your Highness. I hope you can find it in yourself to sit among us commoners.”
“You’re not exactly a commoner, Lord Chancellor.” My voice lowered to match his.
Tiny blooms clung to vines that trailed the stone walls of the inn. They reminded me of the ones my sister grew. Deep ember-colored paint thickly coated the door with streaky globs.
The slender doorframe made Fyn appear taller as he stepped inside. “I know this one well. It is safe enough for you.”
Stiffness settled into my back. I arched it slightly. No matter what I did, it hadn’t eased.
The entrance gave way to a room beside it. Pictures lined the walls. Most of them were of food—a few were painted to look like the forest.
A few fae looked up as we entered. It wasn’t long before they settled back into their conversations.
Fyn gestured to a round barrel that held a slender slab of wood on top in the corner of the room. Mismatched chairs were tucked beneath the slab. I slid into one carved from a light wood, grateful for a seat that wasn’t moving.
His jade eyes glimmer as he pressed his palms into the table. “So the meat pie is phenomenal. I definitely recommend it. Want one?”
He had also recommended the stew.
I was hesitant to say yes, but still I nodded. “I’m truly thirsty.” I eyed the amber bottles that lined the high shelves. No one had offered me anything beyond water and tea in the Heart. I was grateful they didn’t serve just tea here.
“I’ll get you water.”
“We’re in a tavern. Surely there’s something stronger.” I needed it.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he leaned closer to me across the edge of the table. “I don’t suppose you drink ale?”
“I prefer wine.” I was craving it.
“There will be no wine for you.” He was far too serious the moment he said it. “Just water.”
“Fyn. I can handle a glass of wine. I promise.” I was unlikely to be altered after one glass.
“You can drink human wine, sure, but this isn’t that. It’s fae wine. It’s too strong for you.” He shook his head until his waves tumbled onto his forehead.
I rolled my eyes at him, too exhausted to fight back.
How the fae determined anything was too much for humans, I didn’t know. Other than the newly established trade route and the wars between realms, the fae and the humans had interacted little in decades.
“Think of it as an experiment. If I can drink it, then I disprove your theory.” I enjoyed taunting him. “And if I’m wrong, there are beds upstairs. Hopefully more than one this time.”
“As fun as that sounds for absolutely no one, I will not be responsible for getting you drunk. You are enough to handle sober.”
“Fine.” I exaggerated the end of the word, emphasizing my disappointment. I was truly looking forward to trying it. “You are absolutely no fun.”
“There are plenty of people that think I’m very fun, thank you.”
“Fyn rarely brings company with him.” A low voice sang behind me. I turned to see a fae male dressed in a pressed tunic. “Seems he’s not here for work this time.”
“No. I’m taking a break from my usual work right now, and whatever problem you’re coming to me with… I want nothing to do with it.” Fyn leaned back in his chair.
I peered up into the stranger’s flickering blue eyes.
“Luckily for you, today was a day off for me. I’m here for purely social reasons. You’ll have to excuse the Lord Chancellor. He’s completely remiss in his manners. The name is Jayln. And yours?” Jayln swung his midnight braid over his shoulder as he sat beside me.
“She’s not falling for your charm,” Fyn said.
“Surely, you can let the lady speak for herself.” Jayln looked to me.
As my lips pursed, I suddenly didn’t want to say my name. For the night I wanted to be someone else entirely. “Ash.”
Fyn nodded, his head tilting toward me in approval.
“An unusual name for such a beautiful lady.” He gripped the handle of his mug. “He hasn’t mentioned you.”
“I wouldn’t assume he would.” It would have been more surprising if he said Fyn had.
“That’s quite enough. You can go delight yourself in far too much alcohol. She isn’t interested in getting to know you, Jayln.” Fyn gripped the edge of the table.
Jayln slapped his arm across his chest. “Oh, because—”
“No, not because.” Fyn’s eye started to twitch.
“Does Kylana know?” Jayln asked.
“I haven’t seen Kylana lately.” He leaned back into his chair, but his shoulders tightened. He said her name as if she was someone to him.
“Sure, you haven’t. You’re here often enough.” Jayln studied me as he spoke.
“How often is he here?” My curiosity swelled.
Jayln started to rise. “Oh no, I’m not getting in the middle of whatever this is—”
“Whatever what is?” A melodic voice lifted above the chatter around us. “Fyn.”
His eyes widened when she looked at him.
“You haven’t been by in a while.” She sat down beside Fyn, twisting the ends of her red hair. It was even bolder than Cora’s.
Fyn clenched his jaw.
“Who is this?” She asked as she looked across the table at me, tugging up at neckline that hung too low on her gown.
“This is Fyn’s… remind me what you are to him?” Jayln sat back down in his seat.
I was absolutely not playing his game. “My name is Ash.”
Her smile flashed so quickly I could have missed it. “I thought you said you weren’t coming back to the trade route soon.”
“Plans changed. We’re here on business,” Fyn said.
“A lady who trades… how interesting.” She studied me.
“I guess you could say that.” I was trading myself.
“Whatever brought you back to Sygil, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed seeing you.” She slid her hand on top of his before she pulled it back. “I have to talk to Ellie, but come find me later.”
Pressure built in my chest as she walked off.
“Oh, you always know how to make things entertaining,” Jayln said.
“It’s about time you go order yourself a drink, Jayln, then go drink it over there.” Fyn gestured to the bar.
“If you wanted a moment alone together, you could have just asked for it.” Jayln’s laughter hissed in my ears as he shook his head and rose from the table.
“Can we please order something?” I asked. “I’m suddenly more tired than I was. Or maybe I could just skip dinner and go to bed.”
“You need something in your stomach. I’ll be right back,” Fyn said. “I hope he didn’t bother you too much. He’s a lot sometimes.”
“I am not bothered.” The words escaped me too quickly.
“Great. I’ll go order then.” He walked off toward the counter.
The sound of Kylana’s laughter rose from near where he stood. It took too long for me to notice that I was staring. My gaze caught Fyn’s as he turned back toward me.
When Fyn returned, he placed a glass of water in front of me.
I drank it too quickly until I started choking on it.
Fyn’s brows arched. “And you wonder why I challenged your drink choice. Water is your drink, starshine.”
“Don’t call me that.” I patted my chest as another cough broke free.
When the meat pies were placed in front of us, I drove my fork in and quickly scooped the food into my mouth.
“Good, isn’t it?” He settled back into his chair, gripping his wooden mug. “They use bacon.”
“Bacon?” I uttered the word as I let the salt settle on my tongue.
“No. Don’t tell me you’ve never had bacon before. Coffee… but no bacon?” He stared at me as if I had said something utterly stupid.
“We didn’t have bacon in Bailoc.” At least I was never served it. I shoveled another bite of food onto my tongue, savoring it before I fished out the next salty piece.
“You’re finally eating something like you enjoy it.”
Kylana’s laughter rang louder. Maybe he should call her starshine.
“She seems nice.” I should have said they seemed nice.
“She is,” he said. “Is something wrong?”
I shook my head and chugged the water again. “Why would you ask that?”
Fyn watched every bite I took. “You seem to be deep in thought.”
A heavy exhale dragged longer than it should have. “It’s been a long day.”
He nodded, scanning the room, before he got up again. “I’ll go secure our room for the night. Don’t go anywhere until I come back.”
“I’m fully capable of sitting at a table and eating.” I shoved another bite into my mouth as I watched Kylana speaking with someone else.
Fyn’s gaze sharpened on her for a moment longer before he looked back at me.
The tavern’s hum rose as more and more fae took their places around the mismatching tables.
It was entrancing to see so much conversation—so much joy in one space.
“You came on the right night,” Jayln said as he sat back beside me. “They’ll play the most enchanting music soon.” He pointed to two fae females who pulled stringed instruments out of their cases.
“Kylana and Fyn, are they?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking, but as soon as I did, I wish I hadn’t.
“That’s a curious question. I thought maybe he brought you here because…”
A forced laugh escaped my lips. “We can barely stand each other most of the time.” The hot food burned as it sank deeper.
“Who knows what those two are. She does seem to intrigue him,” he said. “Do you want to get a drink with me?”
“That sounds perfect.” I forced myself to look at Jayln when I realized I had been staring at her again. I needed something stronger than water. He would probably get it for me. “I’d love a glass of wine. A full one.”
“It’s not every night you get to buy a beautiful lady a drink. I’d love to.” He grinned before he turned away from me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t know what I had just implied by accepting his offer, but suddenly I didn’t care.
Fyn had a whole life here.
He had people who knew him.
He had Kylana.