Page 19 of Howling Eve

The silence that had filled the tavern broke just as quickly as it had settled, and suddenly she was aware of the hushed conversations filling the air and the scrape of chairs as some of the customers stood and began to either make their way out the door or lumber up the stairs to the rooms above. A soft chuckle drifted over to her, and her eyes snapped back up to the elf who was knowingly leaning over the counter as he curiously regarded her.

“Pay Daig no mind. Ogres are a superstitious lot, but then they come from the deepest parts of the Eternal Forest so who knows if that’s true? Apparently crows also have three feet and six eyes among the dark woods from which he comes. Isn’t that right, Daig?”

The ogre nodded vehemently, his beady eyes shifting quickly as if searching anxiously for something. “They are vicious. Violent. Their double wings never rest so that they can fly far, their eyes peering all around. They’ve followed the people from the woods, but they do not come to Riverside,” he mumbled, though with a note of uncertainty to his voice.

“Is that true?” she asked.

The elf shrugged. “Probably. The Eternal Forest is hard enough to constrain but the Wild Wood and its denizens even more so once it’s of the mind to expand.”

MaryAnne shivered, drawing her coat tighter around her despite the warmth of the tavern. “You make it sound as if the forest is alive—as if it were capable of thinking.”

His lips pursed as he wiped a mug and set it before her. Picking up a jug, he filled the mug with amber liquid and slid it toward her. “It is and it isn’t. It is conscious in the way a hive is conscious perhaps, with all the little parts making the whole of it. Anyway, drink up. First one is on the house.”

She gave the mug a skeptical look. “What is it?”

“Cider of a sorts,” he chuckled. “Don’t worry. Nothing harmful. A favorite of elves and humans in these parts. Less so when it comes to the larger breeds who prefer something stronger.”

Daig grunted, giving the mug a disgusted look. “Shlavack piss,” he muttered as he turned away, and the elf shrugged and grinned at MaryAnne, revealing his inhumanly sharp teeth.

She wasn’t quite prepared for it, but she managed to hide her surprise as she focused on her cup and brought it up to her nose. The sweet scent of apples and a hint of cherries hit her nose. An interesting combination. She took a tentative sip and smiled. It had a subtle bite to it, but it was good.

“There, I knew you would like it,” the male chuckled. “Now what is a pretty little human doing in these woods so late at night? From the looks of you, I imagine you’ve just arrived at the outpost.”

“I’m looking for someone,” she began, and then blinked in surprise. What was she saying? She was looking for the carnival only. Nothim.

“Someone?” The elf’s grin widened as Daig snorted.

“Gossip,” the ogre muttered and turned away with a chuckle as the elf swatted at him with a playful familiarity, his eyes never leaving MaryAnne once, rapt with curiosity.

“Who are you looking for, precious?”

Heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. “No one. I misspoke.”

A bark of laughter like that of a fox left the elf, and he shook his head. “That I very much doubt. With the stain of cherries upon your cheeks, I’m betting that it is a male.” Bracing his elbows on the counter, he tapped a delicately clawed finger on his lips, his nostrils twitching. “Interesting. You have a scent mark on you. A troll, from the smell of it.”

MaryAnne swallowed nervously. “What does a troll look like?”

The elf gave her a sympathetic look, though his red eyes danced with merry mischief. “You poor thing. I don’t think you are quite ready for what’s in store for you if you’re asking that.” He chuckled quietly to himself, his eyes crinkling. “A troll is one of the brute species… like Daig here. Trolls vary in height depending on the species. Mountain trolls are a bit larger and thicker than an ogre. A forest troll can vary in height from a little shorter to a little taller. Our good overseer is a troll,” he added, tipping his head to the far end of the tavern where a massive green male with a horned brow and long inky tail sat at a table with a petite blonde who was all curves and laughter.

“That would be about right,” she whispered. She watched them for a long moment and then glanced away before they noticed she was staring in their direction.

“Hmm, figured as much. There was another troll here just yesterday. He came in with the carnival that lurked about in the field just outside the gates. Brought a bit of merriment for some of the people here. Except us. There is too much to keep me and Daig busy here at the tavern. But we do remember seeing the troll since it’s rare that we see them pass through this way, but he has been gone since early this morning.”

Her lips pinched. She had only just missed the carnival that same day. If only she had driven a few more hours. Maybe she would have reached the outpost on time before they’d left.

“What about children?”

The elf gave her a curious glance. “There were some rumors of strange sounds, like an eerie sound of children laughing and talking whom no one could see.” He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “I would recommend you remain at the outpost until morning. The dangers of the woods in these parts aside, you may be able to speak to some of those who heard them. I serve a breakfast that much of the outpost has come to appreciate and so there will be plenty of people here available to ask.”

MaryAnne nodded in agreement. She had planned to stay anyway, remaining a little longer to speak some more to the locals only made sense.

“Do you have a room?” she asked wearily.

“Do you have coin or something to trade?” he countered, his eyes lighting up with interest.

She dug out two of the larger coins and set them on the bar, and his eyes fastened upon them with delight. Snatching them up between his long fingers, he quickly pocketed them and inclined his head.

“A pleasure doing business with you. And because I’m the honest sort—” his voice broke off as he cut a sharp glare over at the ogre as Daig snorted in amusement behind him, “I’m happy to tell you that this is enough for supper, a hot bath, and breakfast in the morning.”

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