Page 79 of Akarnae

ON THE HOUSE

The finest brewing establishment in 763.8 miles

It wasn’t the sign that clued Alex in to what Jordan and Bear had been talking about—it was the establishment itself. Everything was on the roof of the house. There were tables and chairs, many of which were populated with cheerful patrons, if the laughter and chatter reaching her was any indication. They were literallyon the house.

Alex couldn’t do anything but laugh at the absurd sight, and her friends smiled at her reaction.

“It’s something, hey?” Bear said.

“It sure is,” she agreed.

“Just wait until we’re up there,” said Jordan. “No one makes better drinks than Benny and Sal.”

He led the way around to the back of the house where there was a narrow staircase leading up to the roof. Alex was amused by the ‘Please watch your step!’ sign, and she wondered at the practicality of a staircase leading to a rooftop pub. That was just asking for trouble.

At the top of the stairs, Alex paused to take in the view. There were more customers than she would have expected considering the time of day. But itwasalmost Kaldoras, and On The House looked like the kind of place where friends and family would meet to spend time together.

“What happens when it rains? Or snows? And what about at night? How do people see? And don’t they freeze?” Alex fired out question after question.

Someone chuckled from behind her. “We’ve a newcomer, it seems.”

She turned quickly to see an older man who had snuck up on them.

“Always a pleasure to meet a beautiful girl,” the man said, taking her hand and pressing it to his lips.

“Ease up, Benny,” Bear said, grinning. “You’re outdoing evenmycharm.”

The old man guffawed. “You learned everything you know from me, squirt. It’s good for you to have a refresher course sometimes.”

Alex bit her cheek to keep from laughing. Benny’s rough-and-tumble appearance made him seem more likely to throw a patron off his roof than attempt to woo them with his words. She couldn’t imagine him teaching Bear how to be charming—in the real sense of the word, not just using his gift.

“Good to see you, old man,” Jordan said, slapping Benny’s shoulder in greeting.

“Jordan Sparker,” the man replied, shaking his head. “We just can’t get rid of you, eh?”

“You know you missed me,” Jordan said with a cocky grin. “No one else laughs at your jokes.”

“Benny, this is Alex,” Bear interjected. “She’s staying with us for the holidays.”

“As I said before, little lady, it’s an absolute pleasure,” Benny repeated. “I only hope these two monkeys don’t give you a bad impression of the rest of us here in Woodhaven. We’re not all scallywags.”

“Scallywags?” Bear spluttered at the same time as Jordan cried, “Monkeys?”

“You see?” Benny said. “They even interrupt old men in conversation with beautiful young women. So discourteous.”

“Father, you’re not bothering our guests again, are you?”

Alex turned at the sound of the new voice and found a girl in her early twenties walking over to them.

“Look who’s come home for the holidays, Sal!” Benny said.

“Well, if it isn’t two of my favourite customers.” The girl beamed at Jordan and Bear. “It’s about time you came back from that school of yours.”

“What are you talking about, Sal?” Jordan asked, sounding playful. “We all know you only have one favourite—and that’s me.”

Sal laughed before motioning to Alex. “Who’s your friend?”

“I’m Alex,” she answered for herself. “I’m staying with Bear’s family for the holidays.”

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