Page 155 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“I love you too.” Then she laughed and added, “And this time, neither one of us has been drinking, so there are no problems with consent, right?”
I lifted her hand to my face and kissed the inside of her palm. “That’s right. But I’ll be checking things as we go, just to make sure.”
CHAPTER 94
He Went Mostly Unmauled
Brownie
“Momo?” Slake Drakeford, Adventurer Extraordinaire, sat on the bar at Herman’s. “Of course I know him.”
After spending the entire afternoon at the inn, she and Rufus had ordered a bath, washed up, and gotten ready for her show. She would perform one more night at Herman’s, and then tomorrow she was contracted by Their Royal Highness to play in Juniper Square. She was scheduled for the lunch break, just before the last champion match between the military and the civilian finalists. When Rufus had ordered the bath, he’d also sent a messenger to the palace to ask Slake to join them for dinner. They’d not received word back, but when they’d walked across to the tavern, the grimalcat had been waiting for them.
The establishment let Slake lay on the bar as if he owned the place, and once or twice, the troll barkeep would walk by and pet the grimalcat.
He went mostly unmauled.
“Then we would like your opinion on something.” Rufus held Brownie’s hand and urged her to explain.
And she did.
Slake listened quietly, his tail flicking once or twice but otherwise intent on her story. When she was done, Brownie sat back and waited for the grimalcat’s verdict.
“I see …” Slake stretched then stood up, walking across the bar toward her. When he was directly facing Brownie, the grimalcat reached out a paw and poked her forehead. His eyes began to glow.
She held still, letting Slake do whatever a grimalcat did. He frowned, then shook his head sadly. “I don’t know what Momo will say, but your feelings ofguilt will summon him soon, I’m guessing. It’s hard to hide something like this from us.”
Brownie slumped. “What should I do?”
“I will speak for you,” Slake offered, “but I cannot promise he won’t be angry.”
The grimalcat from her memories was her savior, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. “Alright. Thank you, Slake.”
“You’re welcome.” The cat jumped down onto the seat beside hers and proceeded to lick his paw.
“What is Momo like?” Rufus asked them, arms crossed.
Brownie recalled, “He is fluffy, with feathered wings, and bright yellow eyes.”
“Heisvery fluffy.” Slake agreed.
“You ready for tonight, Minstrel Bronwynn?” The tigerkin Ol’ Malley came up to the group and stopped to politely acknowledge the grimalcat.
Brownie pushed her near empty plate away and finished her light pear cider in one gulp before gently slamming the cup on the bar. “You bet I am!”
Ol’ Malley nodded. “Got any new songs for us tonight? I’ll have Samson run around to let everyone know you’re playing. After yesterday, I don’t think we’ll have a problem filling tables.”
The previous evening had gone harder and longer than any she’d previously performed. “I’m afraid I sang everything I’ve ever written last night. I don’t think I’ll be able to top that.”
“You what?!” Rufus interrupted. “You sangeverything?”
“Nothing you haven’t heard before!” she assured him.
The only reason she’d been able to remember the lyrics to some of those songs with such alacrity was because she’d been singing them for him on their trip from Hearthcrest to Vitol.
Rufus deflated. “I can’t believe I missed that.”
“Serves you right!” Ross exclaimed, flying over and plopping himself down on the counter. “This is what they callkarmic justice.”
