An Endless Escape by Kaven Hirning

Author:Kaven Hirning [Hirning, Kaven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Six

Braizen

A crowd is gathered around a platform in the center of the square. I scan for Nuri, but seeing anyone of such short stature between the bodies is impossible. Theodore races towards me, her face alight with a tipsy smile as she clutches my arm and pulls me close. “What are you doing? I promise you don’t want to miss this,” she whirls sloppily and laughs. How many more glasses of wine did she consume while I was gone? My eyes roam the crowd, then move to the houses nestled in the trees. Where in the hell did Nuri go? Theodore yanks my arm. “Braizen, trust me. You’re going to love this!”

“I need to find Nuri,” I say. “Something is in The Wood, outside the orbs’ perimeter. It could be a threat.”

Her grip loosens. “What? What did you see?!”

“I didn’t see anything. I… I felt it,” I say. “We need to leave.”

Theodore’s pealing laugh breaks my focus, and I look down and frown. She slaps my chest, her eyes full of mirth.

“Good gods, Braizen! I’d expect you to lie better than that; you’re a bandit, after all!”

When I don’t answer, she makes a silly face and giggles. “I know you want me to leave, but you’ll have to come up with something a bit more detailed.”

“Theodore, I’m not–”

“Shh, it’s starting!” She reaches up to cover my mouth and points to the stage with her free hand.

Oh, gods.

Holding his lute high, Stig jumps onto the platform. He grins like a general returning victorious from battle. Unfortunately, the crowd cheers wildly for him.

“Good afternoon, Idizina!” As he bellows his greeting, Stig skips to the front of the platform. He blows kisses to the women and winks at some of the men. Truly, his cheek knows no bounds. “Good people of Idizina, a pleasure! I’m Ranstig Belton, the Euph–The Unremovable. Best friend to the Prince of Baelliles and paramour of the Princess of Aeradian. I’d like to sing the stupendous tale of our adventure finding this place!” The crowd cheers louder, and Theodore snorts.

“Paramour?!” She waves a hand abstractedly in front of her. “What an absolute dolt! I’m not married!” She roars with laughter and leans heavily against me. “Nor would I ever lay with him, if that much wasn’t obvious.” I hate that I can’t enjoy or join in on Theodore being drunk. But the feeling of imminent danger still hanging in the air reminds me that one of us must remain sober. I continue to look for Nuri.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and all those in between, let me offer you the tale of terrors never seen!” Stig shouts.

I push past people, Theodore wrapped in my arm, and try not to wince as Stig begins to sing. Plucking his lute strings, he releases a horrendous sound. Some of the Idizinians begin to murmur as Stig continues. Each note he sings is so completely out of tune that I doubt anyone can understand his lyrics. He attempts a higher note and sounds like an angry cat.

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