Page 38 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Seventeen

AIDEN’S HEART FELTlike it had been burnt to ashes and the embers of his grief seared at the bottom of his chest. As he climbed up the mountain path, tears fell like biting icicles down his cheeks and neck. Valkanon didn’t only lose his life to that creature, but he sacrificed his life to save Aiden from falling with him. The man who stood by his side through his banishment to the Woodlands and even helped raise him after his father passed—was dead.

Why did I agree for him to come with me? he questioned repeatedly as he reached the top of the mountain. He tortured himself with every trudge through the snow. Every bite of the cold against his skin punished him for believing revenge against the man who threatened his sister was more important than the lives he risked. All that death just to follow through with his vengeance.

Beyond the trail, smoke rose from a wooden cottage—the first sign of life he had seen since they left the central city near the palace. He loosened the gritty reins from the saddle and kicked his heels against Nalla’s sides to move forward.

Not knowing what to expect, Aiden kept his eyes on the land around him, surveying the old and barren town being awoken by the sun rising above the trees. A wooden tavern at the end of the road caught his eye. A few carriages were lined across the storefront—the tavern lights brightly lit with torches encased in glass.

It is never too early for a drink, he thought. Anything to drown out the pain and guilt that clutched so hard at his chest that he could barely breathe.

Tired, hungry, and frozen from the bitter cold, Aiden had to get inside to warm up and rest. He rubbed his hands together vigorously, feeling the temporary heat touch his skin. Checking his sword one last time at the sheath, he reminded himself to be ready to defend his life if the people in that town didn’t welcome strangers.

After tying off Nalla to a tree, he glanced around once more. “Hang in there, beauty. I’ll be back out shortly,” he whispered to her ear.

Once he opened the tavern doors, he immediately felt the warmth of the fire and the scent of roasted coffee beans hung in the air. He cast a glance at the patrons drinking at their tables, then over to the bar.

A few men looked over their shoulders as Aiden, being massively tall and strapped with weapons, maneuvered in and out of the tables until he reached the counter.

The barmaid turned her eyes up from below the counter and greeted him with a warm smile.

“Hmm,” she said, sizing Aiden up. “You don’t see many elves coming through these parts.” She pulled out a mug and placed it in front of her. “What would you like, handsome? Coffee, tea.” Her smile grew wide. “A beer?”

The woman is incredibly beautiful, he thought. Light, tiny freckles sprinkled under her eyes like specks of sand and across her pointed nose. Her hair was a dark shade of auburn, her lips red like fine wine, and her bright emerald-colored irises were almost painful to look away from. Her braided hair fell over her shoulder, the lock so thick it covered one of her breasts. His eyes dropped to her slender frame that curved like an hourglass against her thin shirt, exposing her tiny waist.

Aiden’s lip turned up, finally finding his voice to speak. “A water would be fine,” he said, watching her raise a brow. “And a coffee with a splash of bourbon.”

She flattened her smile and looked over her shoulder. “Water and booze, coming up.”

The woman reached for the mug, scooping it back up before ladling out some water from one of the barrels under the countertop, then turned to the kettle.

“Is that enough?” Aiden asked, tossing ten brass coins on the counter.

She turned back and glanced down, sifting her fingers through the coins. “It’s more than enough, stranger,” she said. “This might even cover for one of the tavern ladies to show you upstairs and help you relax.” The barmaid winked at him. “You look like you could use it. So, so serious.”

The red-haired woman leaned forward, placed the drinks on the counter, and smirked. “They’re all staring at you,” she said, then folded her arms against her chest, flashing another smile, but it was barely noticeable that time.

Her eyes went wide as she looked over his shoulder. “You might want to unsheathe that sword of yours, elf.”

“What?” he asked, turning around to face three slovenly dressed men, all holding weapons in their hands and a matching grimace on their faces.

He casually brought his water to his lips, then placed it next to him. All three had hair the color of tar, bright blue beady eyes, and darkly tanned skin. Triplets, it seemed. All three stood with their mouths agape; their breath smelt of hard liquor.

Great, he thought. Three drunken brothers looking to fight at seven in the morning.

Aiden growled under his breath and inhaled sharply. “Men, I don’t want any trouble—”

One of the men—the slightly taller one—threw out his fist, but Aiden caught it quickly in his large palm, pulling his elbow down to twist the drunk man’s wrist, holding it there as he watched him wince from the pain.

“I would think carefully about what you little boys plan to do next,” Aiden warned, squeezing ever tighter until he felt the satisfying crack of his attacker’s bones. The man yelped, stumbling back until he hit the chair behind him, then stumbling over it. His head cracked against the floor; his screeching moans echoed against the walls. The second one, with a well-shaped jaw, pulled a sword from his hip, and then the third brother, a small pistol.

The one with the pistol barreled toward Aiden, but he lifted his leg to his chest, slamming his heel against the man’s collar bone. The blow sent him flying back against another table, knocking over one of the patrons. Aiden wielded his sword over his head, slicing against the other man’s chest as a warning the moment he leapt forward—not deep enough to hit his skin.

Aiden didn’t want to kill them—they were sloshed and acting like fools. It was clear that the townspeople didn’t welcome strangers, or perhaps it was because he was an elf.

“That’s enough!” the barmaid said with an edge to her voice that caused the men to stagger back, glancing at each other as if the brawl had never happened. She turned to Aiden and smiled. “Well, that was exciting, and quite embarrassing for those men too.” Her shoulders sagged as her smile faded. “You look like you’ve not eaten in days, elf. Do you need a place to stay tonight?”

What in the—Aiden’s thoughts stopped themselves as he watched the three men patch up the wounds he inflicted, the first one rubbing his wrist. Not an ounce of concern read across her face as she gathered empty bottles on the counter and placed them in the basin.

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