Page 44 of The Sorcerer's Thief
I wondered at his story then. I wonder where he is now. And while I’m wondering things, has Julian ever visited a brothel? He’s quite a bit older than me. With as many stories as he makes up, he’s bound to have lived some real ones.
But Julian is far more comfortable with stories than the truth. I can hardly blame him for that when the truth has taken so much from him.
Two streets past the brothel is a row of eateries, each with outdoor seating lining the cobbled road between them. The scents of roasted meat, savory sauces, and freshly baked herb bread wafting on the wind make my mouth water and my stomach growl.
“Hungry, are you?” Julian arches his brows.
“Always.” When you have gone starving in the past, and a true feast is available at your fingertips, it’s impossible not to crave it. “What shall we have?”
He scans the options. Little tables with yellow tablecloths host several couples eating dishes of noodles, bowls of steaming soups, and plates of the herb bread.
Julian points. “There.”
I’m in full agreement. We catch the eye of a worker who smiles and gestures to open seats. “Sit anywhere you like. I’ll be with you in a pinch.”
We hunker down at a corner table with a good view of the street. I’m feeling our travels. I’m dirtier than I like, my clothes are rumpled, and my boots are covered in dried mud. Both my body and everything on it are in dire need of a good soak and wash.
Hopefully, our attendant doesn’t notice. Or worse. Doesn’t smell us.
“Wine?” she asks as she swoops past, hands full of glasses destined for another table. She sets them down, speaks with those folks, then returns to us. “We have honey grape, sour cherry, and our house special, lilac and lemon. Or ale if you’re boring.”
We both ask for the special because even worse than being dirty and smelly would be being boring.
While we wait, an incubus arrives, all alone, and the attendant stops in her tracks. Though she fails to hide the surprise in her voice, she recovers quickly enough and offers himthe same invitation she gave to us. “Sit anywhere you like. Be with you in a pinch.”
I stare because of course I do.
Incubi are said to be innately alluring, and this man makes a fine example. His lovely peaches-and-cream complexion sparkles like a fae’s but is even bolder for the amount of it on display. He wears the sultry silks of his trade, silver pants slit up the side so more leg is revealed than not. His naked chest, waist, neck, ears, and horns are decorated with flashy gold jewelry and purple stones.
He sits between us and another dining couple, who promptly get up and move, not bothering to hide the distaste on their faces.
The incubi’s shoulders roll inward. If he’s as uncomfortable as he looks, why is he here at all?
Julian rises, clearing his throat, and approaches the lone man. He extends his wrist and introduces himself. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“And you.” The incubus clasps Julian’s arm firmly. “I’m Percival.”
“Come and sit with us. We’d love company.” Though we’re at a table meant for two, Julian grabs a third chair and adds it. “This is my friend Cricket.”
The incubus offers a careful smile and a polite bow of his horned head. “Greetings, Cricket.”
“And to you, Percival. Welcome.” My senses are alight. Not only am I meeting my first-ever incubus, but we’re going to share a meal, and Julian called me his friend.
Friend.
Knowing he doesn’t have any makes the endearment even more special. I may or may not be grinning like a loon.
Okay, I definitely am.
“What’s good to eat here?” asks Julian. “We’re just passing through and don’t know the city very well.”
Percival frowns. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know. Though I’ve lived in Willowood all my life, we’ve never been allowed to frequent the same establishments where the fae usually dine.”
My grin melts like ice. Blasted fae. Blasted royalty and riches. But I won’t let them stand in the way of a nice lunch. “Then we'll discover what’s good together, won’t we?”
“I’d like that,” says Percival, his voice as rich as honey from the comb.
Our attendant returns with our drinks, light purple liquid with slices of lemon on the rim. The sweet scent of lilac drifts to my nose and lingers. Delicious.
