“But you think it will be tonight?”
He pushed away from the wall. “I’m almost certain. If you’ll excuse me, I just caught sight of Short John peeking in. I’m going to go in search of our fearless captain.” He paused mid-step. “Will you be alright alone here?”
She waved him away. “Go. Devri is right over there, and we’re at a party. I highly doubt anyone is going to do anything as nefarious as attempted murder.”
“You never know. Just to be safe, don’t accept food or drink from anyone, and take Devri with you if you go outside.”
Sienna waved him away with a smile and watched as he disappeared outside in search of his crewmate. She slowly sipped her cider, which was now just a touch too cold to be completely enjoyable, and watched as the fae of Nivem mingled and talked and laughed, enchanted by the novelty of the human traditions and decorations.
“Ah, there you are. I wondered if I would find you here.”
She tensed as Erik’s voice washed over her. The elf approached, a plate of confections in hand, and stood betweenher and the rest of the room. She leaned to the side to peer around him, searching the place where Devri had been not two minutes before.
She was gone.
“Looking for someone? I can’t help but notice that your new man seems to have left you here all by yourself.”
Sienna kept her tone flat. “What do you want, Erik?”
“I was only coming to offer a friendly Midwinter greeting.”
“Consider it offered andnotreturned.”
She leaned around him on the other side, and he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Why such animosity, little Enna?”
“First of all,” she said, slapping his arm away. “I told you to never call me that again. Second, there is no animosity here, just disinterest. I bear you no ill will, but please go away.”
“I’ll go when I’m ready.” As if to punctuate his statement, Erik widened his stance and took a leisurely bite of gingerbread.
“In that case, I suddenly find myself in need of some fresh air.”
Sienna tried to step past him, but he once again held her in place. She glared at him.
“Let go of me! I swear, Erik, if you touch me again, I am going to scream.”
“I just wanted to talk to you. By the Realms, Enna, why do you have to be so dramatic?”
If I leave, he’s just going to follow and keep pestering me. Maybe if I let him say his piece, he’ll leave me alone for the rest of the night.
She crossed her arms and set her face into the steeliest expression she could manage. “Fine. What is it?”
Erik looked slightly taken aback by her sudden acquiescence, but he recovered quickly. “Where’s your betrothed?”
“You want to talk about Casper?”
“Only to wonder why heisn’t here.”
“He had some business to take care of down at the harbor.”
He hummed. “Ah, you mean the fact that he allowed Daland to commandeer his ship for the week and your father has just now returned. I can imagine that he would want to escape at the first opportunity.”
“He’s not escaping.” She clenched her jaw.
“He’s not here.”
“But he will be. Do you have anything that is actually intelligent to say, or are we done here?”
He absently set his plate to the side and took a step forward. She was already close enough to the wall that her shoulders bumped into it as soon as she retreated. Erik loomed over her. “Have you given any thought to my proposal?”
