Page 22 of The Demon's Delight
“Safe journey to you,” the innkeeper said reflexively. I could tell by his face there was no actual care for our well-being behind his words. Seir turned from the bar, and I followed, right on his heels.
He kept right on walking once we were outside, headed down the street towards where we’d find Ms. Welling’s brothel.
“What happened back there?” I asked, the madness replaying in my head.
“He disrespected you.” Seir’s powerful jaw clenched, and he swiped at his chest again. “They both did.”
“You could have ignored him. Now everyone in there knows what we look like, that we like to cause trouble.”
Seir shook his head. “Who will they tell? Besides, these people won’t remember tonight for long. And if they do, descriptions both of us and of what happened will be mightily embellished, especially if it’s the innkeeper or Kalob sharing the tale.” Seir rolled his shoulders back, intentionally forcing some of the residual tension out. “He’s lucky I didn’t end his miserable life right there at the bar. Would have been simple enough.”
The words came so easy, like such an act was no big deal. And I knew he meant it, every word. I huffed irritably, and Seir stopped mid-stride.
“Are you upset?”
“Yes, a little. We need to be more cautious. That inn had only men for patrons, and I know you noticed that as easily as I did. By calling the innkeeper out, by making Kalob apologize instead of just going along with things, you forced us into the center of attention, and we were already obviously outsiders. We need to be inconspicuous, don’t we? What if it wasn’t Ignus who arranged everything? What if we’re being watched? Someone took me before, they could just as easily take me again.” My tone had gone high and panicky. That was it, I realized. That was what I was afraid of more than anything.
“No, they couldn’t.” Seir looked me square in the eye, his hand rising to my shoulder. He moved slowly, so I could see what he was doing.
“Couldn’t what?”
“Take you again. Nobody will take you anywhere you don’t want to go ever again.” His eyes glowed, and those sharp teeth ground together just enough for me to forget how to breathe.
Seir inhaled, forcing the muscles in his shoulders and fist to relax a fraction, though this upset was still palpable. The hand he’d put on my shoulder rose further, palm resting along my jaw. It was intimate and kept my focus completely on him. “I’m sorry to have put you in a position you didn’t want to be in, but I will not apologize for what I did. Nobody should treat you like that, Hailon. It doesn’t matter if it’s some drunk in a shitty village inn.” Another inhale, and his body finally unclenched. “But I suppose you’re right, we should be more careful. And I’m happy to have all the fun on my own, but should I not be around or you’d prefer a turn, simply use your clever little blades, yes? Or perhaps borrow mine, it served you very well before. I’m sure you can do as much damage as I can and probably in less time. It would have a much larger impact coming from you, as well.” He smiled at me, his eyes no longer red but back to their gold with a green ring, and all frustration was gone from his body language.
I didn’t know what else to say. His mercurial mood should have been scary, but I understood it. And I was strangely honored by the gestures he’d displayed at the bar, even if it made me anxious. It had been so effortless, the way he handled things there, the same way he’d taken care of Ignus and his friends.
Nobody had ever stood up for me like that before. And now he’d done it twice.
“I will. Remember my knives, that is. Someday.” I’d have to practice though, because I’d simply been too stunned by what was happening to consider doing anything myself. “Thank you.”
A smile spread across his face. “You’re welcome.”
The sun had set completely while we were inside the inn. Most of the windows along Main Street were well lit by lamp or candle, and the moon provided a cool, white glow to the road.
As we approached what was clearly Ms. Welling’s, given the red scarves tied to the posts on the porch and the rowdy laughtercoming from inside, a woman leaned against the second-floor balcony rail.
“You folks the reason Kalob Brown ran out of the Scythe like his hair was on fire?”
Seir looked up at her, unable to hide his smile. “Perhaps. Though he didn’t exactly introduce himself properly. He was having a bit of trouble breathing while we were getting acquainted.”
She laughed, her voice rich and gravelly. “Good, he’s needed someone to set him straight for a while now. We appreciate your service, stranger.” She leaned over the rail, ample cleavage on display, though she could hardly help it given the gown she had on. She looked between us, analyzing the way his body was positioned in front of mine, just slightly off to one side. Her posture changed, her face set in a kind smile. “If you’re needing a place for the night, Widow Callahan might be able to help you. She makes the best peach cobbler around and has a soft spot for young couples on their way through to visit family, like you all.” Her eyebrow raised suggestively, and I nodded that I understood what she’d said. “Just head out of town on this main road. She’s got the little homestead past the stone well with a green fence and chickens in the yard.” The woman gave a wink and went back inside, leaving us staring after her, then at one another.
Seir turned to me, his eyes full of mischief. “Shall we go see if the widow is up for some company?”
Chapter 10
Hailon
“Ibreak my fast early, so don’t worry about making noise if you’re up and about. I’m usually awake before the roosters, much to my dismay. There’s a special kind of joy to be had with a late morning lie-in, but I just can’t seem to make my bones or my bladder understand that.” The kind woman led us to a sizable barn at the back of her property with a lantern in her hand. “You’re welcome to come up to the house for some biscuits and gravy whenever you’re ready. It’s an awfully long way to Ravenglen, I’m sure you’ll be wanting to get an early start.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” I smiled at her, weariness tugging at my bones. “And thank you for sharing your supper with us, that was quite possibly the best cobbler I’ve ever eaten.” There was no lie there, either. She truly had a gift. The woman at the brothel hadn’t exaggerated.
“It’s my pleasure, really. I’m so happy you enjoyed it!” Her gait had a bit of a limp to it as we crossed the uneven ground of the yard. “We get enough visitors passing through with the Scythe only having those four little rooms to offer that I went ahead and installed some facilities out here too.” She winked atme, a grin on her face as she pulled open an oversize door on the side of the closed-up barn. “Was a kindness to myself as well, with this aging body of mine, truth be told. Feel free to use what you need. Water’s straight from the pump, so it cold, but it’s clean.” She gestured to a small bathroom right inside the main door.
“This is perfect, thank you very much for your hospitality.” Seir did one of his fancy bows, his hair brushing the floor. When he stood back up, there were several pieces of straw tangled in the curled ends.
“Well, aren’t you something?” She chuckled, lighting a lantern for us from the one she carried. “There’re blankets and whatnot up in the loft. I leave the animals out in the pasture to mind themselves until it gets a little colder, so you won’t have to worry about waking up snuggled with a goat or chicken.”
