Chapter 22 Faolan #2
Nova took hers and slipped it into the small drawstring pouch she kept at her waist. Zaria pulled something similar from the pocket in her leathers. But Calytrix… Oh, Calytrix, determined to be the ruin of me, reached between her full breasts and produced her coin purse.
I died.
Kol gave me a look which said, you’re so fucked, and I kicked him under the table.
That image would never be erased from my memory. But at least I’d have a little something to replay in my head over the years. After I’d taken myself far, far away.
Zaria cleared her throat. “We got two rooms for a couple of nights at least, so we have time to find transport heading back south.
I nodded, still spinning from Caly’s little taunt.
I knew it for what it was. Why else would she keep it there?
She had a side to her that I knew would be my undoing—I could see that now.
I was beginning to think she was two fae in one body rather than one fae in two as twins were thought to be.
There was Caly, Nova’s caring sister, and then there was Trix, this wily temptress she hid just beneath the surface.
Caly, I could handle. Trix was going to be my end.
Then my thoughts landed back at the table and that piece of news Zaria had so casually shared.
Two rooms…for seven fae. “How are we divvying up the rooms?” I asked, wary of how Nyx would divide the seven of us.
Because I knew it would be his call, and it was probably already decided.
This was what a couple of hours of freedom got me!
Nyx looked between all of us. “Zaria and I will guard the Daughters of Light. Faolan, you and Kol take the prince. We’ll alternate sleeping and keeping watch.
I’m not expecting anything, but we need to be prepared for the worst. Both rooms have windows we can leave out of if there is even a twitch.
Do not wait if something happens or come to check on the others.
Take the prince and go. Do you understand me?
If we are separated, just get back to the First in one piece at any cost.”
Kol and I exchanged a look, then nodded.
“Sure.” I was just grateful Nyx didn’t want me in the room with Caly and her sister. I’d do whatever he asked for that small blessing from the Goddess.
A waitress came by with a pot of the hot sweet tea that was popular with the River fae. I guessed it was still breakfast time and a little early for ale, but I wouldn’t have turned it down if it was offered.
After our breakfast of pastries and tea, we went back out to the market and split into two groups.
We wandered the stalls, picking up necessities and taking in the bustling town, just trying to assess the area and listen in to the port rumor mill.
This was where any news came into the kingdom, so it was where we would hear the most up to date information.
Fortunately, the cooler weather of fall allowed us to wear our hoods up without looking conspicuous, so we went largely unnoticed.
All we managed to ascertain was that the Light Kingdom had been attacked, presumably because they were targeting the prince, who had travelled to escort the two royal brides back to the First Kingdom.
There were no other sightings reported, and it was assumed that the prince and the brides were being guarded in the Light Palace for now.
And with the confirmation that we were as yet undiscovered, we made our way back to the inn to rest and discuss the plan for what came next.
We all got settled into the rooms. Ours was furnished with one double bed and a sorry-looking couch. Obviously, the bed was going to Alaric, that was not in question, so the couch was something Kol and I would have to flip for.
“There’s room for one of you to share with me,” Alaric said easily.
We both looked at him incredulously. I liked the male, but certain things could not be overlooked for the sake of friendship, and the fact that he was second in line to the throne of the entire realm was one of those things.
This was not a younglings camping trip where we all bunked down together. He was the fucking prince!
“Oh, come on both of you. I’m a twin, I’ve shared space my entire life. I’m not having one of you on the floor while there is room in this bed. Kol, you’re used to sharing, the same as me. We can share, and Faolan can have the couch. Problem solved.”
Kol shrugged in acceptance, so I didn’t object either. Then a knock at the door took our attention from sleeping arrangements.
Opening it, I was greeted with Nyx. “Would one of you guard the sisters while Zaria and I head out to try and find a captain who might take us. I figure they must have all unloaded by now. We have more chance of chatting our way in while it’s quiet and they have time.”
I open my mouth to agree. He was right, it was the perfect time to find a happy captain now that the work was done for the morning and unloading had lined their pockets nicely. But that meant going into the room next door and trapping myself with her.
“I’ll do it,” Kol agreed easily and squeezed past me. I needed to buy that dragon some good spirits. I could kiss him for saving me.
“We will be back soon. Don’t go anywhere.”
I heard Kol’s groan at being nagged as he headed down the hall to the next door and smirked at Nyx. He really was becoming group daddy, and he shook his head, unwittingly playing up to the role even more. I was chuckling as I shut the door.
“Do you know how bad I need a drink?” Alaric said, sitting up from his prone position on the bed. We’d had a hearty meal downstairs in the inn, and then Dragon Daddy Nyx had commanded us all to bed like errant younglings.
“I can go down and see if the innkeeper has any ale…” I trailed off when he gave me a look.
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
“You want to leave the inn?” I couldn’t actually blame him. I wouldn’t mind a drink or five.
And it was far too early for bed. But I was supposed to be the responsible one, though how I’d ended up the responsible fae in any situation was just laughable after all the years I’d spent defying authority.
“Don’t you?” I didn’t make eye contact because he would see my answer, and then who would stop us both, Kol?
“It’s a bad idea.” Which was so true, but having the idea of freedom planted in my head might have made it inescapable.
“But you want to, too, yeah?” Alaric gave me a rueful smile.
“Fuck off. We can’t.” I glanced out the window, my skin crawling for the freedom.
“It’s just a drink. No one recognized me this morning. How dangerous could it be? Everyone thinks we’re still in the Light Kingdom, locked down. That’s leagues away.”
“He’s got a point,” Kol added from the other side of the bed where he’d stretched out.
“We are still strangers here, which means we’ll draw a lot of attention to ourselves in taverns full of locals.” I couldn’t take any more delays with this trip, and getting caught would only make it harder to get back to the First Kingdom.
“This is a damn port city in the River Kingdom.” Kol sat up. “Who’s going to notice?”
“And? Locals keep an eye on strangers.” I asked, not knowing what he was getting at. I’d been in hundreds of them.
“The River Kingdom is the biggest trade center in the Twelve Kingdoms. There are fae in and out of this Kingdom every day,” Alaric said with confidence.
“Even at a smaller port, we won’t be looked at twice.
Why do you think there are so many inns?
How do you think a place like this is after a big ship docks?
I bet it’s all sailors and entertainment.
My brother used to love coming to the River Kingdom trade fairs after the harvest.” Alaric had my interest.
“You’re kidding? He’d expose himself that way?”
“He thinks he’s untouchable. It wasn’t until the war started up again in earnest that the King made us stay in the First Kingdom. He hates being cooped up there—that’s probably why he’s such an arse now.”
“Did you go with him?” I asked.
“Sometimes.” Alaric wouldn’t meet my eyes, and I was starting to realize I didn’t know much about the prince. We’d spent a lot of time together but never had an in-depth conversation.
“Oh?” I asked, looking between them, but Kol didn’t seem surprised by this revelation.
The prince shrugged with a coy grin. “I’m not an innocent just because I don’t have the same proclivities as my brother.” He finally lifted his eyes, and they shone black. Almost haunting.
“This is a bad idea,” I said, even as I tried the old window that looked like it had been painted shut, but shockingly, it came slowly up only after a few tugs.
I stuck my head out, finding it shouldn’t be too hard to sneak out.
“But I want to hear more about your proclivities, so we’re doing this. ”
“Whatever it takes.” Alaric came up behind me.
“Nyx will hear us,” I all but whispered. “He never switches off.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Alaric smirked, waving his arm to cast some magic.
Snoring started up, filling the room. Three different snores, in fact.
He waggled his eyebrows. “Sneaking out is kind of my specialty. It’s a little illusion I crafted.
He can’t hear us leaving either. The magic will block the sound.
You coming?” he said over his shoulder to Kol.
Kol shoved off the bed.
I blinked at the prince. I’d far underestimated him.
I slung one leg out of the window and turned to hold on to the sill so I could drop to the awning below.
My heart rate picked up, and I basked in it.
I loved a good adventure, especially if it was something I’d been forbidden from doing.
Was I possibly risking the life of the prince? Sure, but at least we’d have some fun.
The prince followed, landing in a half crouch beside me in the alleyway, and finally, Kol joined us. We waited a few moments to make sure we hadn’t roused the dragon before strolling out into the cool night.
The whole city was built over rivers, making the city a bit of a maze of stairs, bridges, and islands. It was built on levels and platforms, creating secret spaces only accessible by some staircases.
We found an out-of-the-way tavern that wasn’t overly crowded. It was well-lit by fae light and housed quite a bit of weird art. But nonetheless, the all-male servers were happy to give us a table and a drink menu delicately printed on the back of a leaf.
“How often do you think they need to redo these?” I asked, squinting at the fancy font. “Can anyone make this out?”
“I can read it to you if you can’t read.” One of the males sauntered over and plucked it out of my grasp.
“I can read,” I muttered. “Just not whatever this is.”
The prince clapped a hand over his mouth, holding back a laugh.
“It’s not that hard,” Kol mused.
“I guess my education was more practical than both of yours.” I huffed and turned to the male still holding my menu.
“If you want to read it to me, be my guest, handsome.” I couldn’t get over how two weeks ago I would have had him in the alley before the night was through, but now, I couldn’t bring myself to look twice at him.
I didn’t like how much I’d changed and I didn’t even know her.
“Ohhhhh.” Kol stared. “Are you allowed to flirt?”
“I flirt with everyone.” It was a mask as much as anything else, and it would draw less attention to us in a place like this than if I ignored the temptations so blatantly on offer. I flicked my gaze back to the male. “Please continue.”
Kol gave me a curious look but dropped it as the server read seductively.
“I want the cider,” I said when he finished and waited expectantly. “And we’ll take a bottle of the Aquatic Absinthe.”
The prince locked eyes with me as he ordered but waited to comment until the server left. “And you accused me of making bad decisions.”
“I’m not going to half arse this. Not when I know Nyx will be furious, and we will never get out again.”
“He’s got a point.” Kol took the bottle of absinthe when it was set down and filled the tiny glasses.
“Does anyone know how we’re going to get back?” Kol asked, a couple drinks in. “Because I’m pretty drunk, and there may or may not be a mini dragon sitting on my shoulder trying to give me advice.”
“Right, I didn’t think this through.” I nodded philosophically. “That might pose a problem.”
“At least it would be easy to escape a pursuit,” the prince added.
“You know, you’re right. We are safest when no one knows where we are, including ourselves!” I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.
“You’re hardly hard to find.” Nova sat down next to Kol.
I lurched back in shock, and Kol rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
I glanced over my shoulder, finding Calytrix, arms crossed, looking fierce and wonderful. May the Goddess save me. I’d trusted Nyx and Zaria to keep them inside. I never would have let my guard down, drinking like I had, if I thought we’d have any interaction tonight.
At least I seemed to be handling my drink better than the other two, but I never was good at resisting something I wanted—and less so when my inhibitions were at an all-time low.