Page 11 of A Warrior's Heart

“As much as I despise drunkards and whoremongering, it’s best if we not let them out of our sight,” I responded. “You’ve seen Eva when she drinks. She thinks herself a man and picks fights. And Nereus… well, I once saw him drink only half a mug of mead and strip out of his armor and dance on the table in the mess hall.”

Reif’s lips twitched. “Quite the company we’re keeping.”

I smiled. “Let them have their fun for now. It will be the last time for a long while.”

“When will you share the details of the mission?” Reif asked.

I hadn’t shared with them what we were searching for. Not yet. I planned to wait until we had the prince in our party before explaining it all. Speaking the words aloud once would be risky enough should they happen to fall upon enemy ears.

Reif and I entered the tavern behind our companions and followed them to a table in the corner of the room. Wenches in revealing corsets carried tankards of mead to boisterous men and shoved their cleavage in the men’s faces in the hopes of receiving extra coin in their pockets.

I had visited many towns in my lifetime. It mattered not if the town was home to murderers and thieves—like Stonebridge—or if it was more respectable like Emerald Cove, the taverns almost always mirrored each other. Brawls broke out, wenches pocketed tips, men arm wrestled over the wooden tables and knocked over their mead.

When liquor was involved, it made animals of us all.

“Hey, handsome,” a wench said, sidling up next to Nereus. “Fancy a drink?”

The young warrior blushed when her bulging breasts pressed to his arm. “N-No, thank you, ma’am.”

“Ma’am.” The woman threw her head back for a laugh. “Politeandhandsome. Just for that, the first drink’s on me.” She handed him a mug, the ale sloshing over the side. “Enjoy, darlin’.”

Nereus looked over at me with wide eyes, and I coughed to cover a laugh. He was so out of place here in the human world.

The strumming of a lute filled the air, silencing the voices of the men around us. And then a man began to sing. The lyrics told of spring mornings and love, comparing the heart to flowers springing from the green valley.

Fletcher.

The young bard with hair the color of fire stood out amongst the patrons. I had first met him after the battle at Black Hallows. He was married to a former pirate captain named Kellan. The two of them had had a grand adventure of their own in years past, searching for the cure to Kellan’s curse. All they’d had was a prophecy that held the key to breaking said curse.

I’d forgotten he worked in the tavern.

Fletcher continued his performance, singing as he played. He told a story after the song, strumming the lute as his words reached the ears of everyone in the tavern, captivating us all with his power of storytelling. He had a true gift.

Claps sounded as he stood on the wooden stage and took a bow. Some men tossed him coins, which he gathered in his small silk coin purse. He placed his lute on the stage and stepped off the platform before taking a mug from one of the wenches. The woman pinched his cheek, and he flashed a bashful smile. By the way most of the workers looked at him, I got the impression they all viewed him as a little brother. Someone to watch over.

“Fletcher!” Eva exclaimed, waving her arm in the air.

Eva and Fletcher had become friendly over the years when we’d come to visit the prince.

Fletcher walked over and greeted Eva with a hug before lifting his gaze to the rest of us. “Wow. What brings you all here? Lorcan and Alek?”

“Yes.” An idea struck as I looked at him. “Perhaps you, as well.”

“Me?” Fletcher’s eyes widened. “Why?”

He had knowledge of myths and legends. He might be of use to us. Walking into the tavern that day felt like fate.

“It’s a matter best discussed in private.” The patrons were involved in their own conversations and didn’t seem to be paying our table any mind, but I couldn’t be too careful. “When you’re finished working, will you meet us at Prince Lorcan and Alek’s home?”

Though confused—and highly curious—Fletcher nodded and didn’t press me for any more details.

“As for you,” I said to Nereus, grabbing the mug from him. “Drink dulls the senses.”

Eva then grabbed it from me and took a big gulp, wiping her mouth afterward. “My senses are just fine.”

Troy laughed before nudging me. “You look like you could kill something.”

“Don’t test me,” I muttered.