The alcohol didn't help either. I was glad I didn't have any money then. I would've drowned my sorrows and caused a great commotion. The tavern was already spinning around me. I was concentrating on remaining seated. I fought to keep my balance. Had I drunk more, I would've probably gotten into a senseless fight.

Two armored men with black capes barged into the tavern as I sat, brooding. One of them had long black hair. The other had short, brown hair. Their square jaws, clean shaven faces, and bright smiles made me clench my fists.

They were in a jolly mood. Their laughter irritated me. How could people feel happy while I suffered there? I couldn't understand them, and I wanted to provoke them, wipe those snotty smiles off their faces. I wanted to get up but my body urged me to stay still.

They sat two tables across from me. One of them winced at the sight of my ugly face. The other mumbled something about dirty peasants. I wanted nothing more than shove my sword down their throats, but I remembered my state, and forced myself to stay still.

The door to the tavern opened once more, and a lovely girl in a light brown dress got in. The guards shot her amused glances. The girl did her best to ignore them, then walked behind the counter. I heard her exchange pleasantries with the owner.

"Oy!" the brown haired guard called out to the owner. "Where's our ale?"

"Don't forget the chicken wings!" the other yelled as well.

The girl in the light brown dress left the counter immediately after, carrying two large wooden tankards. She reached the guards and served them, smiling all the while.

"Where's the food?" the black haired one asked.

"Mr. Morrison is preparing them now," she said in a hushed tone. I noticed her hands shaking a little. "It won't take long."

"Why don't you keep us company while he's busy preparing them?" the brown haired one suggested.

The girl blushed. She gave them her brightest smile then said. "A lowly girl like me can't possibly hope to entertain you gentlemen. I'd better make myself useful. More of Lord Bodrick's men will come. They'll also need food."

Mr. Morrison, noticing the uncomfortable situation the girl was in, called for her. "Wanda! Get your a.s.s over here, food is ready!"

"Yeah," the brown haired one said, "get your a.s.s over there." He slapped her behind, quite fervently. Wanda's face blenched. She forced another smile then left.

"She's cute," the brown haired guard said after Wanda disappeared behind the counter.

"Don't mingle with peasants," the black haired one said. "Lord Bodrick will be arriving tomorrow. How do you think he'll react if he hears of you getting friendly with her?"

"Will you rat on me Franz?" the brown haired one asked.

Franz was about to answer when he caught me staring at them with the corner of his eyes. His thumb pointed at me. "He would," he said.

The brown haired guard turned. His eyes met mine and his face contorted into a condescending grimace. He cleared his throat, got up then walked toward me.

"What did you see?" he asked.

I tried to look up at the man, my eye darted upwards and the entire building moved with it. I felt dizzy. My head followed the movement and I found myself staring at the ceiling. My back hit the chair and I felt it heave off the floor and carry me down. My back hit the floor and everything started turning.

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To add to my humiliation, the door sprung open once more and more armored guards stormed in. Their busy chat and laughter died out as soon as they noticed me on the floor, their companion standing above me.

"Something's wrong Johann?" one of the newcomers asked.

"Nah," Johann answered. "This one's so drunk he can barely move. Look at him, his eye's rolling around its socket. What an ugly motherf.u.c.ker! Come take a look at this nasty scar he's got."

I heard the other's feet shuffling toward me. Eva was urging me to stand up. I was urging me to stand up, but the room was spinning so fast I didn't even know where to put my hands. The others stood around me, pointing and laughing at my poor attempts to get up. The black haired one brought their jeers to a stop when he spoke. I heard his deep voice drown theirs out.

"Get him out of here," he ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

I was hauled up then thrown out the door. I tasted dirt and a little bit of blood as my face slid heavily across the floor outside.

'Get up, you fool!' Eva scolded.

I couldn't get up even if I tried to. I just rolled to my back and lay there for a moment. The sun was past its zenith. It cast its blinding light at me. I closed my eyes and felt its warmth. It was a bad idea. I felt as though I was rapidly falling in an endless pit, going in circles. I instantly turned to the side and retched.

The tavern door opened for the umpteenth time that day. That girl with the brown dress hurried to my side and helped me up. "You have to get out of here," she whispered. "I'll help you out back. Mr. Morrison will come for you then."

She led me to a bench behind the tavern and settled me there. She disappeared through the backdoor, and I was left alone with my shame, once more…

Mr. Morrison came out a little while later. He was carrying a bowl of fresh water. He splashed some on my face. It felt surprisingly refres.h.i.+ng.

"I feel bad for doing this to you," he said.

"Y'didn' do nothin," I said. "I's drunk, tha's all,"

"You still are," he said. "Lie down here," he went on. "I'll tell your friends where to find you after they come back."

I didn't need to be asked twice. I lied down and instantly fell as sleep. The world spun around me as I lay, but at least I didn't feel the urge to vomit anymore.

When Zoey and Nag came back, the sun was setting. They both stared at me as I heaved myself up. My head throbbed, and my throat felt as though it would soon crumble into tiny particles. Nag handed me a gla.s.s of water. I felt I could kiss him right there and then.

"I heard you had quite the fun without us," Zoey said. That was definitely a tone of reproach.

"I shouldn't have drunk that much," I said.

"I'll make sure to remind of that in the future," she said.

"Did you find a place for us to spend the night?" I asked.

Zoey averted her eyes. She kept her hood off ever since she removed it in the tavern earlier. Nag was the only hooded one now. n.o.body would dare ask him to take it off anyway. He looked like a dangerous hulk. I was sure people avoided him as they walked the streets.

"Everything's full because of the festival," he said.

"It's either full or too expensive," Zoey added.

"And it's already getting dark," Nag said.

At that moment, Mr. Morrison came out the backdoor. He saw the crestfallen looks in our faces.

"Trouble finding a place to crash in?" he asked.

Zoey nodded.

"You can stay in my barn," he said, "if you don't mind the straw. It's mostly empty. My horse died a year ago."

Nag and I turned to Zoey. She met our eyes with offended frowns.

"Why do you look at me like that?" she asked. "I slept on dirty floors before, you know."

"The girl can stay with Wanda," Mr. Morrison said. "She was the one to convince me to lend you a hand anyway."

"What's in it for you?" I asked.

Zoey's lips pursed, her eyes narrowed to slits as she turned to me. "What the h.e.l.l are you saying?" she hissed. "This kind man's offering us a place to stay, and you find a way to p.i.s.s him off?"

"The young man's right though," Mr. Morrison cut in with a wide, warm smile. "I'd love it if you could work for me, until the end of the festival that is. I'll offer food and shelter."

"Can't!" I said. "We have to leave the village by first light tomorrow."

"I heard you're heading to Merinsk," Mr. Morrison went on. "It's even harder to find a place there. Food is more expensive. I'll pay you for your services on top of the shelter I'm offering. What do you say?"

"We'll do what we can," Zoey said.

d.a.m.n woman! Why would she speak for all of us?

"You'll only serve drinks," Mr. Morrison told Zoey. "The big guy can just keep troublesome customers away, except Lord Bord.i.c.k's men of course."

"I can't be seen in crowds," Nag said. He'd made his voice gruff, scary.

"You're one of those people with long fangs," Mr. Morrison said. "I know what they call you out here. People will fear you though. They won't try to provoke you. It will be good for business."

We looked at the tavern owner incredulously. He just chuckled at our surprised reaction.

"I know a Child of the Forest when I see one," he said. "People of Biarkh don't chase the foreign races away. You might even meet some of your kind in the woods, west of here. They trade with us from time to time. They're kind. I like them."

"What about the customers? Will they like him?" I asked.

"They won't speak. And Lord Bodrick's men won't stir trouble here. Their master is coming tomorrow. He's very strict when it comes to upholding his image of a benevolent lord."

"What will he do?" Zoey was looking at me.

"I'll find something for him to do," Mr. Morrison said. "Why don't you all get inside?" he asked. "It will get crowded very soon."