Bitter as a Captain by Kendra Moreno

Author:Kendra Moreno
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kendra Moreno

The bar is just as packed as always. It doesn’t surprise me when we walk inside the tavern and everyone pauses.

The Bartender is still cleaning a glass, as if that’s all he ever does. He grins when we appear, his eyes sparkling. “You survived.”

“You didn’t say it was a bone fairy,” Rumple growls, his face twisting savagely.

“You wouldn’t have gone if I did,” The Bartender shrugs. “She’s a nasty creature, isn’t she? Her and her tooth fairies have caused havoc in this forest for centuries from what I hear. We can’t even have cemeteries anymore before the bones get dug up by her tooth fairies.”

“We have a deal.”

I don’t tell Rumple it’s silly to remind The Bartender of the deal we made. He knows what was struck, can see we came back in mostly one piece.

The Bartender sets down his glass and leans on the counter. “Did you get it?”

Reaching into my pocket where I’d been keeping it safe, I pull the small locket from it and hold it up to the light. The Bartender’s eyes catch on it and cling.

“Ah, you did,” he breathes. “I’ve been trying for years to get it.” He comes around the counter and it’s only then that I notice he’s missing a leg, the other limb replaced with a chunk of wood. “I’m not as light on my feet as I used to be.”

“The information?” I say, holding the locket tightly in my hand.

His eyes meet mine before he looks around at the others in the tavern and clears his throat. As one, they all stand and funnel out, leaving only the four of us. Not a single one questions the command. Once it’s empty, he speaks.

“You’ll want to find the temple in the land to the North. The merge has stabilized, and you won’t find yourself trapped there. Once you reach the edge where the trees turn from ours to thicker, greener ones, turn Northeast and walk until you run into it. The temple holds the answers you seek.”

I glance at Rumple. “That’s it?” I ask, confused. “Just find the temple.”

“You wanted to know who could help you. I told you where you can find that help.” He holds out his hand. “Now, the locket if you please.”

When Rumple nods that he’s happy with the information, I reach out and drop the locket into his waiting hand. He sighs when it touches his skin and gently flips open the locket. Inside is a picture of a woman and two children. He smiles gently even as I can see the sadness in his eyes.

“The tooth fairies took the locket from my nightstand because it’s made of bone,” he murmurs. “A family heirloom.” He holds the picture up for me to see. “My wife and children.”

My heart aches in my chest at the realization. We weren’t there to steal something of real value. It was nothing magical or worth weight in gold. It was something that means more to The Bartender than anything else.

“Where are they?” I ask gently.

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