Page 90 of Silverbow
He lifted his gaze to Colm’s. “You’re right, it doesn’t.”
The other man smiled into his cup.
“She’s only a bounty, Colm,” he growled.
“Mhm.”
Oryn scoffed. The gods had business with her, but there was nothing more to it.
Aiden and Bade eventually flitted down from their rooms, and Renna appeared late to her post behind the bar. Oryn sat sipping tea with his companions, watching raindrops race down the window panes. Enya still hadn’t appeared when the Goat started serving lunch. He asked Renna for a tray to take upstairs as a knot of sodden crimson clad soldiers stomped in from the weather.
When he let the door close behind him with a thud, Enya groaned. She squinted at him from between the folds of the blanket she’d pulled up over her eyes. The sight made him laugh.
“You’re lucky it rained.”
“What time is it?”
“Midday.” She groaned again, scrubbing a hand across her eyes. “I thought you didn’t like dancing.”
“I don’t like balls.”
“I should have realized it would becivilizeddancing you took issue with,“ Oryn mused. In truth, he didn’t find the stiff necks and prescribed steps of Estryian balls all that appealing either, but the girl seemed to dislike more than she liked. It was difficult to keep track. She finally stumbled out of bed. Oryn averted his gaze as she crossed to the table and sat, stirring a spoonful of honey into a cup of tea. She sipped, letting her eyes flutter closed in the steam.
“Stay out of sight today,” he warned.
Her eyebrows rose. “A new record I think. Not even a minute and a reminder I am your prisoner.”
She wasn’t his prisoner, he just wouldn’t allow her to take foolish risks. “I suppose if you want to be dandled over some soldier’s knee, that could be arranged.”
She stiffened. “There are soldiers here?”
“Nothing to be concerned about, as long as you stay out of sight. Up for a game?”
“Up for losing?”
“Only in your dreams,” he smiled as he set a stone for his opening.
She huffed. “My dreams are only nightmares.”
“Is that why you drank the Goat out of wine last night?”
She shrugged and set a stone on the board. Oryn had eaten his words by the time the candles were burning low, sending shadows dancing across her face. When a serving girl knocked with a dinner tray, they were dueling over a tie breaker game. He sniffed the tray to ensure Rosella hadn’t been vengeful before he handed Enya a plate.
She huffed a laugh. “What happened to just passing the time?”
“You remember that, do you?” He teased. He hadn’t expected her to remember anything that had been said last night. Spots of pink appeared in her cheeks as she held her plate aloft, not wanting to disturb the board on the cramped table. “Do you also remember being spun about like a top? I’m rather surprised you did not sick up.” Her brows climbed. “How about the farm boy I had to chase off?”
“Were you jealous?” She sniffed.
“Of the farm boy? Not a chance. After all, you ended up warming my bed anyway.” He wasn’t sure why he said it and he regretted it the moment the words tumbled from his lips. All night, he’d clung to his edge of the mattress, ensuring the line between them was clear even as she tossed like a fish out of water.
Still, she went a magnificent shade of scarlet. “I’m not sure one can warm stone.”
He nodded in concession over his wine cup. Colm had sent a bottle up with their dinner. Oryn was uncertain whether the gesture was an apology for being locked away or to instigate, but much to his dismay, Enya’s game only seemed to improve with each drink, or perhaps it was her lingering fury at his needling that had sharpened her wit as she ruthlessly captured his stones.
“What’s a Treesinger?” She asked suddenly.
“One of the rarer godsung gifts. Where they spread their songs, things come to life.”
