Keepers of the Flames (In the Eye of the Dragon Book 3) by N. M. Zoltack

Author:N. M. Zoltack [Zoltack, N. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

30

Rase Ainsley

The Mean Bear, surprisingly, was one of the cleanest taverns Rase had ever set foot in. The air was filled with the scent of food and not unwashed bodies nor smoke. Granted, he had to walk past a cloud of filth in order to walk inside as those villagers who smoked were gathered out the doors. Still, that kept the air inside clean as all the windows were shut.

Rase glanced all around and smiled. The persons inside this tavern seemed to have a great deal of coins. Their clothes were not made from linen and cotton, as the peasants always wore. No, he spiked silk and velvet, and the dyed colors were so very bright and vibrant, not at all faded or worn. The longer one's clothes could sit in the dye, the longer and brighter the color became. Rase had learned about that from wandering the marketplace years ago. For the anniversary of Leanne's naming day, a young Rase had attempted to re-dye one of her favorite dresses that had faded from its original blue. Unfortunately, the berries he had chosen to smash and crate the dye from merely stained the dress in weird blotches. Thankfully, he had been able to wash the stains out in a pond, but that only made the dress even more faded. To this day, he did not think Leanne suspected what he had tried.

The Mean Bear was closer toward the richer section of Atlan, much farther out than Rase normally ventured. His feet ached from walking all day, and instead of meandering about the tavern as he typically would do to spy whom his first target might be, he chose a spot at one of the few relatively empty tables and sat.

A serving girl stood by a few moments later. “Do you have coins?” she asked. “I don’t mean to ‘sinuate you don’t, but my master—”

“I do. I just… I’m not hungry or thirsty at the moment. It’s been a long day.”

She smiled. Maybe fifteen or so, her belly was growing, perhaps a little rounder than Maxine’s back at his shack of a home. “I know all about long days and being too tired to eat or even sleep. The mind doesn’t always want to stop, does it? So many worries and wonders about the future.” The serving girl rubbed her belly. “My husband is so happy, though, that he got me with child already. His first wife, they were married for three years, and she never once gave him a son or daughter. She died a year ago from a sickness. Not sure what kind, but…” She sighed and then laughed. “I’m sorry. I don’t normally prattle on like this. How about some ale?”

“I—”

“On me for listening. Now, I might come ‘round and talk to you some more,” she warned. “My husband won’t be home until late tonight, and I like to talk, and there’s not much chance when I—I’ll be right there with your ale, Viggo! Excuse me.”

The serving girl bustled off, returning far quicker than Rase would have thought.

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