Chapter 16 Alfrie
Chapter sixteen
Alfrie
The courtier party in the woods is out of control.
I’ve been standing near the blaze of the fire watching a group of tree nymphs slam down bottle after bottle of brown liquor for the last half an hour.
Leer and Zara disappeared a while ago and Emlyn is sitting on a log next to the flames talking to some high Fae male who is undoubtedly hoping he can escort her home.
She’s laughing and casually rests her hand on the male’s forearm, a flush brightening her umber skin.
Maybe I should leave.
Or maybe I should try to act my age and have a drink.
I should go and fetch our two royal charges before they do something foolish that I’ll inevitably take the rap for.
I should definitely not want to lock myself away in the healing wing of Masseda and bury my nose in the ancient texts I found a couple of days before.
This is a party, after all.
The tree nymphs laugh obnoxiously in my ear.
Another bottle is opened and one of them bumps into me, clearly drunk.
They stammer and apologize then hand me the bottle as a way to make amends.
I glance at Emlyn who is now talking to another handsome courtier and Leer still hasn’t returned from his “walk” with the princess.
He and Zara have been gone for far too long.
I bite at my nail, impatient and irritated.
What the hell.
I take the liquor from the nymph and toss it back, the liquid burning as it travels down my throat.
I take another swig and wipe my lips with the back of my hand.
It’s been a long time since I tasted alcohol, and it doesn’t take long to feel it’s effects.
I’m a bit unsteady and my foot taps along to the sound of music coming from someone’s guitar.
The nymphs are talking to me about something, and I just nod, not really listening.
Instead, I take three or four more pulls from the jug, settling into the alcohol's euphoric buzz.
After the bottle is emptied, I pat one of the nymphs on the back and they hand me an unopened jug of whiskey which I happily accept. My vision blurs and I sway slightly as I go sit next to Emlyn by the fire. She’s since dismissed her suitors and stares into the flames, resting her chin in her hand.
“Is this log taken?” I don’t wait for her to respond and plant myself down beside her.
I offer her the bottle, and she takes a tiny sip, making a face as she swallows.
We take turns drinking in silence for a bit.
“Seems you have a couple of males at your feet.” I think my comment comes out clearly, but the way her nose wrinkles as she giggles makes me wonder how badly I’m slurring my words together.
“Are you drunk, Alfrie?”
I hold the half-empty bottle out in front of me and shrug. “I’m not a big drinker.”
“I can see that.” She laughs and gets up from the log, helping me up after her. “Good thing we didn’t need you to help cover for Zara and Leer tonight. Come on, they’re back.”
I swivel to follow her and Emlyn grips onto my forearm, keeping me from falling on my face.
Zara and Leer are walking toward us. Leer beams triumphantly, and Zara’s moon-kissed blonde hair is mussed.
Their cloaks hang over their arms even though it’s getting colder by the minute.
Nausea rolls through my stomach and I’m not sure if it’s from the alcohol or the way her cheeks are flushed like one who has just been in the throes of passion.
Either way, I feel like shit.
I shake away the thought. I’m drunk. Any female would probably appeal to me in my current situation.
I take another gulp of liquid courage and follow Emlyn’s lead toward the Royals.
She grips onto my arm but the moment she releases me, I stumble forward nearly knocking right into Zara.
I brace myself on her shoulders. “I—I’m so sorry. ”
She reels back, fanning her face. “Wow. You’re drunk.”
I get my balance. “Very.” I narrow my eyes at her. Gods she’s beautiful. I blink. “And you look like you’ve been a naughty princess again. With no Alix to cover for you tonight. Whatever will you do?” I wag my finger in her face and click my tongue.
Her pale skin turns a deep shade of pink, and she glances at her feet before peeking up at me from under her thick lashes.
I can’t breathe for a moment. I’ve embarrassed her, that’s all.
But what I wouldn’t give to make her flush for a very different reason.
I open my mouth to say something—I’m not sure what, but she simply rolls her eyes and turns away, clearly disgusted with my state.
And with me.
Emlyn takes my hand and drags me away from the group. “Okay, let’s go.”
Leer eyes me and frowns. “We should get back to court before someone notices the four of us are missing.” He wraps his overcoat around Zara’s shoulders, covering her snow-white skin, then layers her cloak over it.
He pulls his own cloak over his head and shoulders and leads her down the path away from the bonfire.
I cling to Emlyn, carefully stepping over rocks and debris along the trail as we go, but my foot catches on a root and I go tumbling forward into the dirt. The bottle I was clutching rolls a few feet away from me on the path.
“Are you okay?” Emlyn crouches down next to me and Leer and Zara rush over.
I feel sick. I’m going to vomit. I wait for it to come up and brace my hands on the ground against the spinning woods around me.
I start laughing. At myself. At the fall.
At being drunk in front of folk I hardly know.
Emlyn and Zara flank me, their hands on my shoulders trying to steady me or help me off of the ground.
I’m not entirely sure. I continue to cackle at nothing.
“What are you laughing at?” Leer stares down at me, his frown deepening, clearly annoyed at the state I’m in.
I simply shrug, “I’m the one who’s drunk for a change!” I’m on my hands and knees like an animal in the dirt. “Look, I’m a tiger!” I claw at the air, but the movement makes me heave and tumble forward.
“That’s enough.” Leer lifts me back to standing with one swift yank of my arm. “I think it’s time to get you to bed.” His voice holds all of the disapproval of a parent, and he shakes his head to Zara and Emlyn. “I’m so sorry about this.”
“Sorry about what?” I stutter over the words and pick up the bottle from the ground. I uncork it and lift it to my lips. Leer snatches it from my hand and passes it to Zara.
“Come on, then.” Leer drapes one of my arms over his shoulder and we all head back to Masseda in reticence.
The trees creak and moan in the darkness as we near the palace borders, but before we can cross the tree line to safety, I slide my arm off Leer’s shoulder. I drop to my knees and retch up at least three bottles worth of booze.
“Gods, Alfrie,” Leer says, scrunching up his face and covering his nose with the back of his hand.
The females turn away, and I’m thankful they aren’t witnessing this. I feel like utter garbage. I think I’m done bringing up most of the day’s nutrients, but stay crouched near the brush for another minute to be sure.
A rustling comes from deep in the woods and a shiver rushes through me. I stand up slowly, fighting the spinning sensation in my head. “Did you hear that?”
“You’re drunk. It’s your imagination.” Leer buttons his shirt cuff and doesn’t look up. “I don’t know how you hear anything out of those human ears anyhow.”
More rustling. Something's out there. “That. I’m not imagining things.” Zara and Emlyn’s ears perk and I know they hear it too. I point toward the noise. “Over there.”
Leer stares daggers at me and grits his teeth. “It. Is. Nothing. Now, let’s go.” He holds both of his arms out for the ladies, and they head out of the forest, leaving me standing alone in the path.
I glance in the direction of the sound and a figure shrouded in the shadows of night stills as it watches me before disappearing into the darkness of the forest.