Her smile melted away when she heard Olwen’s laugh cut through the din. Her shoulders pulled up toward her ears, and she turned her back to the room to prepare more drinks. The reflective copper wall gave her a view of the tavern.
Olwen was at a table on the right side of the room. He sat with his back to the doors, laughing with other warriors. No one she knew, at least. His eyes lifted, and they locked gazes. She froze, waiting for him to rise and come for her. But nothing. Instead, he looked away, engaging back in his conversation.
Minutes passed.
Then several hours.
Lia managed to stay behind the bar.
Unnoticed.
With her head still attached to her body.
She wiped out glasses, humming to the merry jig of the bard. Lia glanced at the copper wall, watching the young man play the fiddle like his fingers were on fire. Cosmos would have loved it. The bard was quite good and had managed to keep his head down when several giants had taunted him throughout the evening.
The song ended, and Dahlia found herself clapping with the rest of the patrons. He bowed low before starting a new melodythat was a little jaunty and a bit cheeky. Lia handed Jaiix a cup of wine when he began to sing:
There once was a king who took a queen,
That led the world to chaos.
She caused quite a scene,
And left the fool in ashes.
Oh no.
Dahlia spun around, eyes wide, wishing that the bard would stop singing. He did not want to ridicule the king when his men and closest friend were in the room.
Oh, where, oh, where did you go?
How did you disappear like smoke?
The queen who destroyed a king.
And made him the kingdom’s joke.
Lia’s pulse thundered in her ears as more faces turned toward the young human bard. Perhaps he wasn’t as smart as he seemed. He grinned out at the crowd without a shred of fear. The musician knew exactly what he was doing.
Did she beg and cry,
When you were between her thighs?
She ran from you,
You’ll always be her monster.
Blushing furiously, Dahlia glanced at Olwen, who had slowly stood from his table, his attention locked on the bard. The crowd booed, and yet he continued on, a gigantic smile across his face.
Oh, where, oh, where did you go?
How did you disappear like smoke?
The queen who destroyed a king.
And made him the kingdom’s joke.
Diaz stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes scanning the tavern, assessing the situation.
