Errant, Volume Two by L. K. Fleet

Author:L. K. Fleet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Etymon Press

A burly patron with short-trimmed hair who;d requested three songs without dropping a coin in the tip box offered to buy Charm a drink afterward. He introduced himself as Effort and he guided Charm toward the bar with a big hand on the small of her back.

He signaled for the innkeeper. “Deference is my boy. He was one of the ones dancing.”

The boy with blood on his face. Given the brown under Effort’s fingernails, Charm guessed Effort was the local butcher.

“Are you hungry as well?” Effort asked as he bought her a beer. “The meat pies are good. So is the lamb shank if you sang up an appetite.”

“I’m sensing a theme,” Charm said.

“You caught me.” He laughed and ordered two meat pies even though Charm hadn’t given him an answer. “I provide the tavern with their meat so I speak highly of it. Bravery here always sets aside the best cut for when I come in.” He winked at Bravery, the innkeeper, who raised her eyebrows and then turned away from them.

Effort was too comfortable in Charm’s personal space, but he was harmless enough. Charm tried to communicate this with Aspen using only a few looks and subtle hand gestures. They didn’t need a repeat of their first meeting when Aspen had almost started a tavern brawl.

Charm didn’t live the life she did and dress the way she did without knowing how to deflect unwanted attention. And if her preferred methods of persuasion failed, she did carry a small knife. She would have reassured Aspen with this information, except then Aspen would wake her up even earlier to practice knife-fighting exercises.

“Have you already rented a room?” Effort asked once they were finished eating. “You’re welcome to stay at my place.”

The meat pie had been good, but with that overt invitation, it was time to extract herself. “I do have a room.” She injected enough remorse into her voice to sound genuinely upset.

“I’m sure Bravery will refund you for it,” Effort said with what he no doubt believed to be an irresistible smile.

Bravery shook her head. “It was a room for two.” She pointed to the corner where Aspen was still holding vigil.

Aspen, naturally, had been watching them, and she responded to the attention by standing and making her way over. She was in soft brown trousers, a cream shirt with billowing sleeves, and her usual vest. Aspen’s clothes all fit her in the same comfortable, practical way. But she’d worn these clothes because Charm had asked her to. Would she also take them off at Charm’s request?

Being Aspen, no outfit was complete without at least two weapons. A knife and a short dagger hung from her belt, and she curled her fingers around the hilt of the dagger as she leaned against the bar.

“Did you need something?” Aspen asked.

A smart man would cut his losses and leave, but Effort tried his lopsided smile on Aspen. “The more the merrier, I always say.”

Aspen, bless her, seemed confused by the statement. “I’m sure Bravery would like to close up for the night.

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