Page 123 of I Ran Away to Evil
Nobody stopped us as we went in for a hug, though Sithli tensed. I had to be careful of the lyre slung over her shoulder, and she had to be careful to not smother me.
I loved her hugs.
After a strong squeeze, she held me at arm’s length to look me over.
“You don’t look tortured,” the bard stated. She eyed Keith behind me. “And you don’t look like a sadistic freak bent on destroying our lands.”
“What makes you say that?” Keith’s grin was vicious and intimidating.
“Your guards politely escorted me here and served me tea and scones.”
Sithli looked affronted. “What else would we do? You hadn’t done anything yet.”
Presumably, Brownie hadn’t set off any of the golems, so she was only there for questioning because of her clothing.
“Did you like the scones?” I cut in. Panlith had used my recipe, so even though I hadn’t made them myself today, I still wanted to know Brownie’s opinion.
“They were delicious,” she grinned at me. “Now, am I to be hauled off and thrown in the dungeon, or are we going to grab some more tea and have a visit?”
“I think you would like the dungeon,” I said, poking the woman in the arm. “It has plants and a daybed where you can faint dramatically.”
Brownie laughed, full bodied. “I do love being dramatic.”
I peeked at Keith. “Is it alright if I show Brownie around?”
“That’s fine.” He gave me a soft smile, so delicate and endearing I almost needed a daybed myself. “I trust you’ll have a lot to catch up on. I’ll see you at dinner?” He hesitated a fraction of a second then said, “Your friend is welcome to join us, of course.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, this is Bronwynn Lyriel. She’s a bard, and my best friend.” I blushed a bit, embarrassed that my excitement had overcome my manners. “Brownie, this is King Keith Monfort of Nilheim.”
“Actually”—Brownie put her hands on her hips and drew back her shoulders magnificently—“You are looking at Minstrel Bronwynn now.”
“You leveled up?!” I couldn’t help myself and made a very undignified squealing sound.
“Congratulations, Minstrel Bronwynn.” Keith walked over and slowly reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. “You may call me King Keith. I hope you enjoy your stay at our castle.” He leaned in close and spoke softly in my ear, “I’ll be in the office if you need me. We can talk about our …interestslater. I won’t keep you.” He took a breath and continued, “but I do feel like putting off important conversations won’t get us anywhere.”
“Alright.” Holding hands was heart-wrenching enough, but this was on a whole new level! I felt my ears heat up, and I resisted the urge to hide my face in my hands. “If it’s alright, I can introduce Brownie around and then show her to her room. She does have a room, right?”
“There is a spare room attached to your suite … or I could find her one on the main floor?” Keith offered.
“If it’s all the same to you,” Brownie cut in. “I’d rather stay with Henrietta.”
“Oooooh, a sleepover!” I thought about fitting in time to chat with Keith and settle in Bronwynn. I turned to the minstrel and asked, “Why don’t I have the maids give you a full body bath and massage treatment? I could step out then?”
“Or”—Brownie eyed the two of us—“I could wait right here while you two go talk about whatever it is I’m interrupting? We can do all of that together when you’re done. You know I don’t care about etiquette. It won’t kill me to finish mytea with Sithli. We were talking about that one time I played in Oakley while the stage was on fire.”
I put my hand on Keith’s and asked Brownie, “Are you sure?”
“Of course I am!” My friend plopped herself back down in her seat and slapped the table. “No sense in putting off for tomorrow what you could talk about today … Honestly, I forget half the things I put off for tomorrow. Better to just get it sorted out now.” Brownie shooed me and the king of the Dark Enchanted Forest toward the door, then turned to the lizard guard and said, “Now, where was I, Sithli? Ah yes! So this young wizard was eating his lunch at the tavern I was performing at, and he’d never heard the story of Drendil’s song ‘The Tragedy of Magicians.’ Can you imagine? Anyway, there I was …”
I loved Brownie; she was a riot, but also one of the most understanding and supportive friends anyone could have.
Keith’s hand fell away from my shoulder. He opened the door for us, and we slipped out of the room just as Brownie regaled Sithli with the angry wizard’s misplaced [Fireball] hitting the little table she had brought onstage to hold her mug.
CHAPTER 74
Assassin Is a Perfectly Respectable Class Choice
Keith
