Page 147 of I Ran Away to Evil
But what happened one fateful night I never will live down,
Tammy must o seen through us, she spiked our final round!
Ol’ Roger the Rogue was out on the table, and Jack asleep at the bar.
The moaning and groaning, the stomachs unloadin’, and Tammy just laughed from afar.
But Jill, oh Jill, with her ink quill, was a rowdy magical lass,
She danced in the aisle, she danced on the table, she danced on spilled beer and glass.
And when she fell down
In a heap on the ground,
She hated the grime and the smell,
So she whipped out her book,
That was all that it took,
To activate skill and a spell.
The fireball took to the beer and the wood,
And the clothing of some sorry few,
The cry and the clatter were stopped as the crowd,
Rushed to exit the inn two by two.
Some carried the fallen by head or by tail,
Some carried them over their back.
But none tried to save the old inn or the maid,
As it all burned down in a stack.
The crowd was singing along. For a song about magical arson, it was very popular in taverns around Valaria. It was always amazing to watch Brownie work. Her voice was lyrical but very emphatic, and she could sing like a nightingale or a gritty old sailor at the drop of a hat.
“I still can’t believethat”—Keith pointed to where a particularly enthusiastic fan was trying to contain himself—“is my Commander General.”
Rufus was vibrating with excitement as he sang along with the songs. He knew all the lyrics to every song Brownie sang, including “Minstrel Fine,” “Dragon’s Wife,” and “Ander’s Widow.” He sang a beautiful harmony to “The Traveler’s Tale,” and just watching him was as entertaining as watching Brownie.
Though I’d never tell her that.
For some reason, he was trying to hold it in, and besides singing along, he stayed seated. It looked like his claws were gouging holes into the bar with his grip, though his tail gave away his happiness. The proprietor, a male selkie named Vincent, had chastised the general, but everyone knew he would repair the damage.
“Woooooooooooo!” Rufus howled along with everyone else as another song ended.
“I’d like to see him let loose at one of the concerts. I’m more surprised Brownie doesn’t recognize him; he’s clearly been to her previous shows, and he’s very … well, big and noticeable?”
Keith let out a soft, “Heh, heh, heh. I just had a thought.”
“Yes?”
“What if,” Keith surmised, “she’s never seen him in his human form?”
