I look at the minotaur, who is already eyeing me while chewing.
“Name’s Torjack.” He extends an arm and offers me a hand swathed in brown fur.
I reach out with my good arm and give his a shake. “Zaira.”
“Nice to meet you, Zaira. I have to ask—why under the Crystal Realm are you traveling with a thief like Algar?” He chortles.
I smile, looking between him and Algar, who tosses his hands in the air like he’s claiming innocence.
“I just met Algar today, and he decided to join us. Before that, it was just me and Thane.”
“I see.” Torjack leans forward to study me a bit more intently. “And is it true you’re going toThe Shallows?”
Everyone says “The Shallows” as if it’s a cursed word.
I nod. “We are.”
“Good luck getting anywhere near it,” a lighter voice calls out behind us.
Another hybrid minotaur shows up, clearly a female based on her full, feminine physique. Wisps of curly brown hair frame her face, the rest collected into a thick braid resting down the middle of her back. She wears brown leather buffers and pants to match over two insanely muscled legs. Her tan biceps are just as defined, brown fingerless gauntlets occupying both forearms.
Just like Torjack, she has the horns and ears of a minotaur. Her nose is slightly smaller than his, turned slightly up, and as mortal as ever. However, her eyes are fiercer—black pupils surrounded by honey-brown irises. And I hadn’t noticed it on Torjack because he was sitting, but she has hooves for feet. Other than those features, the rest of her is undoubtedly mortal.
“Rynthea, how about another on the house?” Algar lifts his wooden mug and waves it in the air.
“I don’t think so. You can pay for the next. I know you’ve got coins on you, you little bandit.” Rynthea approaches our tables but doesn’t look at anyone else but me.
She’s tall, strong, and carries a formidable grace that can’t be ignored.
“Nice to see you’re awake, Zaira.” She quirks a half smile. “Would’ve been unfortunate if you died under my care.”
“Oh yeah, if it weren’t for Rynthea, you’d probably be dead,” Torjack announces, tossing another almond into his mouth. “Rynthea’s really good at creating healing elixirs. People come to her all the time for her remedies. You wound up in the right place at the right time, you lucky mortal.”
“I am very lucky,” I breathe.“Thank you so much for helping me, Rynthea. I would stand and shake your hand, but apparently, I need another half hour or so to let the cerwen wear off.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Rynthea places a flat hand on her chest. “Rynthea Kamtaur. If he hasn’t said so yet, that’s my twin brother, Torjack Kamtaur, and the spiky beastial behind the counter is Penju.” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder to where a porcupine-like beastial is now wiping mugs with a cloth at the bar.
“Yeah, hard to believe we’re twins, right?” Torjack wiggles his eyebrows. “Our mum used to tease us about how Rynthea stole all the strength and beauty while I was left with the brains.”
I laugh at that as Rynthea huffs.
“Or maybe you were just destined to be feeble, little brother.”
Torjack chuckles, shoveling more nuts into his mouth.
“You know you can’t stay here long.” Rynthea turns to Thane, and I swear her whole demeanor changes. There is more ice in her voice, and she clearly wears a grimace. “People likeyoualways cause a shitshow.”
“People likeme?” Thane repeats with a frown.
My heart thumps faster. Wait…does she know he’s a shadow assassin?
“Yes. Sorcerers who dress like you and carry all those weapons are notorious for picking fights,” she goes on. “I always have to toss your kind out for causing a ruckus and manipulating people.”
A bit of relief courses through me. To her, he’s just a trouble-making sorcerer. I bet there are many of them in Ruvain who pass by here.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’ll be out of here soon, isn’t it?” says Thane.
“Averygood thing.” Rynthea’s eyes flash as she looks Thane over with a scowl.
