Deadly by Craig Halloran

Author:Craig Halloran [Halloran, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two-Ten Book Press, Inc.
Published: 2018-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 39

The next morning, on the inn’s terrace, Nath met up with Darkken and Maefon. Calypsa and Homer accompanied him. The group sat at the table having breakfast. With a long face, Nath said, “Hacksaw rode home, and now Homer is leaving us too.”

“Nath, do you have to make me feel so guilty? I feel bad enough as it is. I’m very grateful for you and Darkken giving me my freedom,” Homer replied. He’d been eating steadily and looked fuller in the face since last night. He even wore a new set of clothing he’d bought with tips he was given after his performance. “I’m not an adventurer. I’m just a musician.”

“You’re more than just a musician,” Nath replied. “But I know you are not fit to travel the way that we do.”

“So, that was your golden voice that I heard through the walls yesterday while I napped.” Darkken nibbled on a strip of crisp bacon. “I swear, you made my limbs limp. I didn’t want to move, I just wanted to listen. You clearly have an extraordinary talent. And being a musician, I am certain, is much more rewarding that being a manhunter. Women lose their senses over a talented instrumentalist. Why, you’ll wake up to a new loving face every morning.”

Maefon elbowed Darkken. “Shame on you.”

Darkken chuckled. “Well, it’s true.”

“Maybe in the world of men but not elves.” Maefon shook her head. She wasn’t eating, either.

Homer wiped his mouth. “I really don’t want to go through a long goodbye, so,” he stood up, “goodbye.”

“What?” Nath said. “You can’t just leave, Homer. Not like this.”

“Don’t get up. I don’t want to get sappy and have my eyes filled with water. I’m free, and I’m moving on.” Making his way around the table, Homer shook Darkken’s hand. “Thank you.” He kissed Maefon on the cheek. “Thank you.” He hugged Calypsa. “Thank you.” And he patted Nath on the shoulders. “I’ll never forget you. Be careful, Nath. If I thought I could help you, I would.”

At a loss for words, Nath watched Homer walk away, hook his arms around two waiting ladies, and head down the steps, the women giggling gleefully.

“That’s gratitude for you,” Darkken said with his own mirthful chuckle. “One never knows for sure where the bird will fly once it’s let out of its cage.”

Shaking his head, Nath said, “You can say that again.” Nath had spent two years in prison with Homer, and of all his friends, he knew that man best, at least so he thought. Seeing the man casually walk away poked at his heart. And with Hacksaw gone, everything seemed even worse. Hacksaw was the person Nath trusted most, aside from Maefon. “I guess what is meant to be is meant to be.”

“A great outlook, Nath,” Darkken said. “We can’t control the hearts and thoughts of men. They must come willingly, but you have to admit, Homer was quite ill-equipped, considering what we are doing.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I’m sorry, Nath,” Maefon added. “But given who and what you are, it’s probably best not to get too attached to people.

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