Page 165 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Rufus got up to hug his sister goodbye. Brownie stood as well.
“Nice to meet you, Jess.” She stuck out her hand at the beastwoman.
Jess moved right past the hand and gave Brownie a big hug. “You take care of my brother, alright?”
“Of course.” Brownie squeezed the beastwoman’s shoulders a bit and then they released.
Jess gave them both a big smile and a mock salute. “When next we meet!”
Then she and Rufus were standing alone. As alone as you could be in a slowly filling tavern.
“Are you two done?” Princess Penelope came up behind them, a bright smile on her face. “Must you run? I’ll clear the plate if so. But please decide, and say you tried, my stew before you go?”
Rufus stared down at the full bowl of soup, then over at Bronwynn’s remaining magical drink. He visibly hesitated, his eyes glancing at the stairs and back to Brownie … He drew a deep breath. “We’ll stay a bit longer to finish.”
There were so many things going on with the beastman that Brownie would have gone with him anywhere. Magical drink abandoned or not.
Though honestly, if he’d dragged her off to bed upstairs without eating his dinner, she would have stored it and brought it out for him later.
They sat back down, but Penelope lingered at their table.
“Excellent, a wonderful choice. I’m happy you’re staying downstairs.” The princess winked at Brownie. “Any chance for a song that we can both voice, or some music to that you’d care you share?”
Princess Penelope was so enthusiastically excited, clasping her hands in front of her clean apron, but it was Brownie’s turn to hesitate. Her eyes flickered to Rufus and back.
“I don’t know …”
Her beastman reached out and squeezed the hand she had clenched on her thigh. “I’m sure everyone would love to hear a song, myself included.”
She nodded, summoning Danielle to her lap. Before she checked if her strings were on key—which as a magical lyre harp from a dragon’s hoard, Danielle wasalwayson key—Brownie double-checked with her partner. “You’re sure?”
“Actually”—Rufus picked up his spoon and smiled reassuringly—“it’ll be less awkward than if you just sit there staring at me while I eat.”
Brownie couldn’t resist laughing out loud at that.
“Wonderful. I’ll fix your bowl, with a very simple [Reheat],” Penelope used a perk, then she waved her hand at Brownie. “Something lively would do well, with a catchy tune, and a beat?”
“Alright.” Brownie plucked a chord, and ittwangedinstead oftwinged. She and Penelope both flinched.
Brownie couldn’t resist glaring at the magical storm raining magical rain through the small window. The Damp Gizzard had an overhanging roof, and the two-story building was covered in vines and ivy that draped down to provide much appreciated shielding from the wind.
“One second.” The minstrel pulled out her tuning peg and carefully tightened each string by half a note.
Penelope motioned to her husband, letting him know he would be in charge of the kitchen for the next little while. Olen finished taking the orders of a beastman wolf and a beastman goat, before heading to the back. The squirrel hopped down from the bar with some ale for the pair.
Don’t ask how he carried the mugs when each was as big as he was, but that squirrel delivered.
Brownie played the opening chord to her chosen song, “The Dragon’s Wife.”
You say that you have heard the tales,
And rightly so you may.
But I have one that I would love
To sing for you, today.
CHAPTER 101
