Page 24 of The Night Prince

“This thing stinks to high heaven!”Lily’s cheeks were flushed from trying to lift the keg that almost weighed as much as she did.

“I’ll handle it,” he said as he lightly picked up the keg and hefted it onto his right shoulder. “I’ll dump it out in the back sink real quick.”

But Lily was shaking her head.“Don’t you remember what happened last time we did that?The curse will spread to the rest of the liquor.”

“That only happened the once and–”

“Helgrom will already be upset that he’s lost some of his best brew for Aquilan’s arrival.We can’t risk losing anymore!There’s no more alcohol to be had for love or money in the province!”Lily reminded him.

Declan knew that, too.In addition to all the other high fantasy creatures, the Sun Elves took every opportunity they could to have a party.They were partial to the minerally-tasting, icy white wines that were produced in what had been California.With King Aquilan’s decision to move into the Eryas Palace in Tyrael now that the war against the Leviathan was won, the celebrations would stretch out weeks if not a month or more to mark the occasion.So all the alcohol fit to drink was likely already long sold and gone.

The Sun Elves reminded Declan of the ancient Romans in their attitudes.They lusted after fine food and wine, adored dancing and singing, and were said to make love at the drop of a hat. Declan had served them enough food and drink–not to mention finding many of them intertwined between the beer barrels in back–to know all of that was true.

Their battle to free Earth from the Leviathan menace had been unusual for them.Though brilliant magic users and skilled with the sword and bow, the taking of life–even foul life like that of the Leviathan–was not their natural state.They were elves of peace not war. But the Leviathan’s emergence on Earth had changed many things for many people.

“Right.Gotta take it outside,” he said, his voice strangely dead-sounding.Except it wasn’t strange because outside was where the Sun was.And the last thing he wanted was to feel those rays on his skin again.“Dump it in the sewer down the block? Would that work?”

She nodded vigorously once more.“I’d take it myself, but it’s a–ah,weebit heavy for me.”

“Don’t worry about this, Lily.I’ll take care of it,” Declan said, still sounding off to his own ears.

She reached up and pinched his cheek.“You’re the best, Declan!You take all the tips tonight for covering for me earlier and doing this now.”

“No worries.It’s no big deal.Just a quick walk down the block,” he said, trying to convince himself as much as convince her.

“I’ll hold the fort down while you’re gone,” Lily assured him.“And don’t you worry!I’ll make it clear to Helgrom that you had to sacrifice the honey brew.”

“Thanks, Lily.”

He reached back and twitched the deep hood of his black, loose-fitting jacket up over his head so that it completely shaded his face.It was already four in the afternoon so the Sun would be lower on the horizon than it had been when he’d come here.There would be plenty of shadows he could take shelter in if he needed them.Yet the Sun was staying up higher later as spring was turning to summer.It would still be terriblybright.

But he was human.

And humans weren’t afraid of the light.

It was fine.

Everything was fine.

Lily was already rocketing down to the other end of the bar to serve another halfling some rich, red wine. He turned quickly and started towards the side door that would lead him more swiftly to the storm sewer.His eyes darted to Finley.His best friend’s head was down as he was writing furiously in his game notebook.

Do I want him to notice I’m going outside or do I hope he doesn’t?

If Finley noticed him leaving, his best friend might come with him just to make sure he was all right.And if the Sun was too much for him and hewasn’tall right then… No.He couldn’t think like that.It was a block walk in the late afternoon.He wasn’t a child.This wasn’t dangerous…

It wasn’t.

Everything would befine.

He fished into the inner pocket of his jacket and took out his sunglasses.He flipped them open and stuck them on.Even in the dim, golden light of the Dawn, he saw perfectly behind the darkest pair of sunglasses he’d been able to find in the ruins of old Lightwell.He braced himself, taking in a deep breath, as he pushed open the wooden side door and went outside.

He immediately felt the Sun’s scorching rays through the top of his heavy hood.His eyes squinted and watered painfully the moment he was free of the shadow of the inn.He swallowed and forced himself to keep walking even as everything in him begged him to return to the safety of the inn with its small, stained glass windows and dim interior.

But humans were not afraid of the light.

He was human.

So he would befine.

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