Page 63 of Null & Void

We’re due to arrive in Erdu Castle City in a few days, but we come across a small tavern along the road after bypassing Lyngby. There is no inn, but designated camping areas are available, with metal drums provided for fires. A few groups are already camped, and we claim one furthest away from everyone, appreciating the flat ground and rush of the nearby river in the gorge below.

For a small tavern in the middle of nowhere, it’s bustling with activity. This might be the most diverse gathering of people I’ve seen, including the most Patrons I’ve seen in one place since Osraed. Laughter and hollering, music and singing, the clashing of dishes and glasses—the sound is overwhelming. I can’t help myself as I stride straight toward the musicians, ignoring my hunger for now.

Beans creeps up behind me and offers his hand to dance with a slight bow. I laugh and take it. We dance, and it’s less chaotic than it was with Riley in Jundamara, and certainly less…angsty. The result is the both of us laughing, the crinkle in his eyes the obvious reason for the slight wrinkles he’s developing.

After a dance, we join the table where Bitty and Riley are arguing over the merits of washing your hair when you’re cold. I can’t follow either of their logic, but both are very passionate about their stance. Beans and I vehemently decline to pick a side, and we order food instead.

The tavern is old and worn. The tables and chairs are creaky and rickety from use. Every window has been covered in curtains, every lantern flickering. No fire heats the hearth as it’s much too warm already.

I’m leaning against the bar after dinner, people-watching while I wait for service, when a Sadoriborn man catches my eye. His yellow eyes of the sand are a stark and beautiful contrast to the burnt umber of his skin and black hair braided into locs and falling almost to his waist. He smiles in my direction, causing the pale wood piercings that stick out of his nose to jiggle. I frown in confusion and look behind me and spot an equally gorgeous Sadoriborn woman approaching behind me, smiling back at the man. They share a short embrace and move to a table.

Next to where the Sadoriborn man had been seated is a rather short-looking Erduborn man covered in beautiful jewelry. His eyes are closer to red than they are brown, and he has a wide smile that I’m sure is aimed at me this time. He registers my attention on him and raises a glass in offer.

I look at my travel companions, who are all engrossed in conversation. Why not? It’s a drink with an attractive man who doesn’t know who I am. I nod with a shrug, and he moves down the bar to me.

When he reaches me, the man leans in. “How much?” he asks, close to my ear.

I hear a snicker from behind him as I take in his two companions, trying to contain their laughter.

“Excuse me?” I say with deadly calm, stepping back to assess the situation better.

The first Erduborn man, failing to contain himself, repeats the question which sends his friends howling. It’s a dare or something. Ask some unsuspecting woman how much she’s worth for the night. Insinuating that, one, I am a lady of the evening for hire, and two, there’s something offensive about the profession.

I’m about to say he couldn’t afford me when his eyes widen, as do his companions behind him. All three track their eyes up behind me. The swirling flutter inside my ribs and the heat skipping across my skin tell me who is behind me.

“Why is it that you look scared of me?” Riley’s deep voice rumbles dangerously.

His giant hands rest on my shoulders as the rest of him steps close behind me, and I make note of every part of him that touches me.

“It’s my girl here that would have you three pissing into your boots as you cried for your mothers. I just came for a beer.” Riley leans forward, takes the man’s glass, and downs it in one, slamming it back down with a loud thud.

The three of them stand abruptly and mutter their apologies, still confused. But I watch as their eyes slowly take stock of all the weapons visible on my person. Their faces pale before they trip over themselves getting away.

Riley’s hands continue to rest heavily on my shoulders, his heat searing my skin through my clothes and even my leathers. I make no move to pull away, and neither does he.

“Your girl?” I ask, during a lull in the chaos of sound around us.

“Thought it was better than ‘my assassin,’ but it’s a work in progress.”

I laugh despite myself because he’s not wrong. I am his assassin. He’s the Prince Ofnemoris, and the crown owns me. My laughter catches in my throat as his hands slide in from shoulders to around my throat, his forefingers lifting my chin so I look back and up toward him. His intense gaze looks down at me.

His chest is rising and falling in short succession as if he’s trying to calm himself. “I know you don’t need my protection, Firecat, but I’ll be Divine-damned if I allow anyone to treat you as anything less than the fucking glorious woman you are. As much as it might have turned me on to see you annihilate those cockheads,” he finishes huskily, a curl to the side of his lip.

His eyes flick to my mouth and I think, or dread, or hope, he might kiss me. He strokes my throat and lets me go gently, walking back to the table. I wait there, alone, catching my breath. Correcting the equilibrium in my brain, and the white-hot heat inside me that’s warring with the searing cold absence of Riley’s touch.

Later, in my bedroll, I am yet to calm down. My logical brain is relieved we’re not at an inn and instead camping out in the open. But my slutty brain, located between my legs, is yelling her disappointment as I struggle to fall asleep. I can’t even let my hands wander for relief. I fall into a frustrated sleep at some point, waking just as frustrated the next morning.

The rest of our journey to Erdu Castle City, while difficult with our lack of supplies and dwindling water, was almost enjoyable. Fortunately (or unfortunately, I change my mind daily, hourly even), Riley and I share no more close interactions, and no further heated looks or touches. It’s like old times, pre-kidnap. Except for the gaping hole where Tovi should be.

King Oferdu will have spies all through Castle City, and it will be reported immediately if any of us are spotted. This means we’re unable to go to any of the nicer inns located closer to the castle.

We sell the horses off at a stable and I swallow a teary goodbye. I knew we wouldn’t be able to keep them, but it still sucks. I give the stable hands a lot of my coins to ensure they’re well looked after, and then we head into the city center.

A dilapidated looking nighthouse is bustling not too far from the castle. Unsurprisingly, gold pays for discretion, and we’re able to rent a single room with twin double beds and its own washroom for us to share. Ladies and men of the night attend to their clientele in private rooms, and luckily it seems to be soundproof so far.

I can’t keep my eyes to myself as the professionals parade around the halls and common areas with barely any clothing on. My three companions don’t seem fazed in the slightest. Though scantily clad, the workers freely move around, chatting to everyone. Bitter jealousy coats the back of my tongue at their ability to make people feel welcomed instead of uncomfortable. They’re all so friendly—even though we are surely disturbing them—and I make a mental note, adding nighthouses to my list of pleasant places to stay in the future.

Only Bitty and I can explore the city discreetly. Beans and Riley are far too memorable, being giant Nemorisborn, one of them not a Patron. Both have already been reported in the city.

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