Restart Again: Volume 5 by Adam Ladner Scott

Author:Adam Ladner Scott [Scott, Adam Ladner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

15. IN HER ARMS

“Ale—strongest stuff you’ve got.”

“I’ll also have an ale, please.”

“Water’s fine, thanks!”

Our server hurried away after a small bow, deftly weaving her way through the crowded tables of one of Yoria’s many taverns. Though the gusting winds had calmed during our time in the keep’s throne room, the lingering storm continued to bury the capital in an ever-deepening blanket of heavy snow, driving all foot traffic indoors in search of warmth and refreshment. Luckily, the winter weather provided an excellent excuse for our deep-hooded cloaks, and the three of us seemed no more out of place than any other patrons in the cramped, lamplit room.

“It’s still weird to hear you talk like that,” I told Val, momentarily off-put by the bubbly affectation of her voice.

“Despite our permission to stay in Yoria, I still believe it would be best to avoid unnecessary recognition—for myself, in particular,” she murmured in her usual parlance. “Unfortunately, my manner of speaking is well-known among the locals.”

“It’s fine, Val,” Lia reassured her. “Nobody’s looking for you. We’re the ones who need to be careful—we walked by at least a half-dozen posters with our faces on them on the way here. Like you said, the less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.”

I grumbled in begrudging agreement. “I still don’t think I needed to leave my sword at the house.”

She rolled her eyes at my childish whining. “Normal people don’t walk around the city armed for battle, Lux, and they definitely aren’t armed with weapons like ours. Do you really think people wouldn’t notice the missing King’s Primes being carried around the city?”

“That’s different—my sword’s not an icon.” The petty argument was as useless as it was redundant; I had levied the same complaints when we first arrived to the Strategist’s former home in the nobles’ district, but my defiance was outnumbered and overruled before we embarked on our journey to find food and drink for the night. Fortunately, the argument had won me the concession of keeping my dagger on my hip, and even though the black blade was empty of any traces of void energy, I still found a comforting warmth in its presence; it was as if the prayers I had spoken over it at Amaya’s command in the moment of its creation held real power, returning in my moment of need to offer a tangible relief from the disquiet brewing at the back of my mind.

“I don’t know why you’re the one complaining. Val and I are the ones who are actually unarmed here,” she argued back. “If you need your sword for some reason—which you won’t, unless you go out looking for trouble—you can just summon it.”

The logic perfectly foiled my argument for a second time, but it continued to do little for my peace of mind. “Fine. You win again,” I muttered with a dismissive wave.

Lia’s eyebrows flicked upwards as she chewed her lip, but the moment of distress passed before she responded. “I’m not trying to win, Lux. I just want us to get out of here without a—”

Our drinks are on their way.

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