“He owns the other hostelry, near the river,” Alannah answered, not trusting Oran to do it honestly. “He came here to harass my sister, and I kindly showed him the door.”
“Is that the truth of it?” Oran’s captor pressed.
“They’re slandering my inn!” Oran whined.
“I can’t be slandering your inn if I never speak of it,” she spat back. “And stay the hell away from my sister!”
“How exactly is your hostelry running if you’re not there?” The man holding her asked, his voice dangerous. “Is it worth losing business to harass a woman?”
“She’s not a woman, she’s a menace.” Oran pinned her with a murderous glare.
And to think she’d ever considered courting the bastard. Clearly, her instincts could not be trusted. “Says the devil himself,” she snorted.
“Let’s get you back to your inn.” The giant holding Oran put a heavy hand on his shoulder, steering him toward town.
The man behind her let go, finally giving her the opportunity to round on him.
“I was handling it just fine.” She didn’t even try to contain the anger that bubbled over into her tone. “I didn’t need your help. Indeed, you only got in the way.”
Heaven and hell, she’d wanted to punch Oran square in the face. But Alannah wasn’t as skilled at fist fighting so she hadn’t managed it before the men had broken up their brawl.
“I know.” The man fought a smile, which only irritated her further.
“And now you’re laughing at me.” She threw up her arms in frustration. “Wonderful.”
His handsome face sobered. Eyes the color of a thundercloud captured her full attention. “I’m not mocking your skill. I’m surprised and amused by your tenacity.”
Her bluster deflated. “Oh.”
“You had things well in hand when we arrived,” he continued, taking a step toward her. “And I’ve no doubt you could’ve handled it. I simply can’t sit idly by and watch a man attack a woman, no matter how well she can defend herself.”
“Well next time let me do it myself.”
“Next time?” He shook his head. “I don’t think there will be a next time.”
“There’salwaysa next time.” Alannah drove a finger into his hard chest. “And next time I expect to be allowed a fair fight. I’m not the one who needs to be rescued.”
He put his hands out in surrender. “You have my word. If there is a next time, it belongs to you.”
She nodded at him, finally backing down. She took a long look at the man. He was several inches taller than her, and she was tall for a woman. His dark, unkempt hair was tied back, his beard worn short. He seemed built of solid muscle. Dangerously handsome, this one. “Who are you?”
The man grinned, a look that brought a flutter to her stomach. “Conan. My companions and I were hoping you might have a room available.”
One of those companions approached from behind the inn. “I didn’t see anyone else,” he told Conan.
“It was just Oran,” Alannah assured them. “He was inside with my sister when I arrived.”
The storm rolled back over Conan’s face. “Did he hurt her?”
“He did not.” Emer’s bright, cheery voice called from the doorway. Two more giants walked out behind her. “And we do have a room open.”
Alannah eyed the four men, still unsure what to make of these new arrivals. “What brings you to town?” They might have stepped in to help chase Oran off, but between their fit, towering statures and the array of swords, bows, and spears, they looked like trouble. And the last thing she needed was more trouble.
“We’re bards, miss.” The tallest one, with hair the color of summer oats, stepped forward. He had a kind, gentle face in spite of his height. “My name is Finn. I’ve spent much of my life training and traveling through Mumhain, but I wish to travel to the rest of the kingdoms as well.”
“You don’t look like any bards I’ve seen,” Alannah replied, eyeing his sword meaningfully.
“When you’re on the road as much as we are, you need to be able to defend yourself,” Conan explained. “Too many cutthroats running about the hills.”
