Page 15 of Shadows in Bloom

She reached up and smacked him right upside the head without a care in the world, as if he hadn’t just dislocated a man’s shoulder for sport mere moments ago. “Don’t get smart with me, Kaz. Every time you show up here, something or someone in my inn gets broken.”

“My deepest apologies, miss.” Kaz bowed his head. Louder, he shouted, addressing the inn’s patrons, “A round of drinks on me! Courtesy of Haakon the Brave’s humble challenge!” A cheer erupted from the onlookers as he scooped up his winnings from the table and handed them to the innkeeper.

“I’ll keep the extra coin for the hassle,” she mumbled, turning on her heel.

“By all means.” Kaz looked between Kallistra and Zorinna. “Why don’t we take a seat at the table back there? You two can introduce me to your friends.”

After everyone was comfortably seated, Zorinna began the introductions. “This one here,” she pointed to Alandris, “is the reason we are meeting this evening.

“Alandris.” He held out his hand in welcome. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaz.”

“The one and only.” He looked over at me, my hood up covering my face, a precaution Kallistra had insisted upon. “And you are?”

“That is Nairu,” Kallistra spoke up on my behalf. “We mostly keep to ourselves. I will watch over her, so you need not bother yourself with us too much.”

“Well, that won’t do.” Kaz shook his head, grinning. “If our task is to be as dangerous as you and Zorinna described to me this morning, then we need to have each other’s backs. I’ll not have anyone dying on my watch.” His tone was light and playful, but based on Kallistra’s frown, she clearly hadn’t taken it that way.

“I assure you that won’t be a concern.” She glared at the man.

“It never is until it happens.” His smile fell. “I’ve been through this plenty. That’s why you chose to approach me, is it not? We need to be able to trust each other. Lighten up.”

Kallistra released a deep sigh. “Very well.”

“Now then, drinks are on me!” He cheered as the innkeeper returned with their ales, placing a tankard in front of each of them. “There is no better way to learn about your companions than to share a night drinking before a big job.”

“We should make this an early night, Nairu,” Kallistra muttered lowly in my ear.

Not quietly enough. “Nonsense!” Kaz returned. “This is a tradition in the mercenary world.”

“You don’t listen well. If you were not so… capable, I’d begin to think we’d chosen poorly.”

“Kalli!” I gasped. “You’re being rude! I’m sure we can engage in pleasantries with our new companion for one night.” The strength of my own voice surprised everyone at the table, allheads turning toward me. Kallistra appeared most shocked of all, especially once I pulled back my hood, revealing the white of my hair and red of my eyes to Kaz. He made no comment about my features, but a satisfied grin appeared on his face.

Alandris chose that moment to interject. “Kallistra, how about we partake for just a couple of hours? We should all rest well. There are many supplies we need to procure for our trip, as well as more training for Nairu and I.”

Kallistra sucked her teeth. “A couple of hours.”

As Kaz began rowdily telling a tale of his last contract down in the Azog Bog, to kill a spider the supposed size of the inn, I tugged at Alandris’ sleeve.

He turned his head to the right, where I sat beside him. “Hmm? Bored by his story?”

“No, I find it fascinating.” I giggled to myself. “I wanted to say thank you. The way you intervened and calmed Kalli down…”

“Noticed, did you?” He quirked a brow.

“I did. It was impressive.”

“Then you may notice she stares daggers at me when we speak.”

I subtly moved to catch a glimpse of Kallistra, observing Alandris from the side of her vision, across the table. “I—”

“What is she to you that she behaves in such a manner? Family?”

I looked down at my lap. “My Keeper, which feels more like my captor these days.” I spoke in a near whisper, but Alandrishad heard my words, and the moment they left my mouth, my eyes widened and I looked up at him in horror. “I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t fluster; she is watching you,” he interrupted. Without missing a beat, he clinked our glasses together and looked back at Kaz, feigning his interest in the tale of his adventure. He kept his eyes focused on Kaz as he continued to speak to me. “I hope you know you can trust me, should you wish to speak further on that comment.”

The problem was, I actuallydidn’tknow if I could trust him.

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