As I make myself comfortable in the booth, Crumb curls up on my feet. I smile. At least I have company for another night of poring over dusty tomes.
…
“There has to be another way,” I mumble as I swirl a finger around the rim of my steel mug.
I study the journal where I’ve written the names of all the sorcerers I’ve spoken to about Analla’s curse. Five of them…and none can help me.
Well, let me rephrase that.
None have the desire to help me. They’re all afraid to go against Seferin.
I lean in, lost in thought, until my elbow slips off the edge of the table. I catch myself with a jolt and sit upright, blinking hard.
My gaze bounces around the tavern to make sure no one witnessed my folly. Crumb has, of course. He’s still lying on the floor right next to me, head tilted as he peers up.
Someone else has as well—a beastial with gray reptilian skin and an oversize bald head sitting at an adjacent table. His tongue slithers through his lips as his thick tail thumps against his rickety wooden chair. A ghostly smile appears as he focuses those vertical-slitted snake eyes on me.
I force a smile at him while suppressing a shudder. Reptilian beastials have always unnerved me. They’ll literally eat their own children if it means getting ahead.
Thankfully, Bolivar appears, towering over me like the giant he is. I’ve never really paid much attention to the half-giant tavern owner’s height until now…or how attractive Analla may have found him, with his thick beard and black hoop in his ear. Then again, I don’t spend many nights alone in the Tilted Crystal drinking away my sorrows.
“I think that’s enough for you tonight,” Bolivar says, glancing at my empty mug.
Hmm. I guess it wasn’t just Crumb or the beastial who noticed my tipsiness.
“I’ve only had three.” I pass him a scowl, pressing my back against the worn leather of the booth. “I’m not drunk, B.” I pause. “Drunkenough,” I clarify.
He raises one dark eyebrow. “Do I even want to know why you’re drinking this much, Zaira?”
“Well, when your sister does the dumbest thing in the world and gets herself cursed and locked in a dungeon by Seferin, you need alotof ale to accept it. Even more when you finally think up a plan to save her that could be lethal.” I shrug. “Or I can just flat out kill the aforementioned sorcerer myself to make everyone’s lives a tad easier.”
“You try that and you’re dead before you can even get the chance to look at him.” Bolivar scratches his chin while giving his head a shake. Swinging his gaze around the dimly lit tavern, he accepts the brief calm and slides into the opposite side of my booth.
Crumb takes that as his opportunity to get up and rest his chin on Bolivar’s lap.
“I know you’re upset, but you need to keep your voice down about Seferin in here,” he says, rubbing the top of his dog’s head.
“Why should I?” I counter.
The brown skin between his eyebrows wrinkles as he stares at me as if I’ve lost all my wits.
I give Bolivar an apologetic look. I know I’m being absurd, but I’m bordering on drunk, which means I’m acting bolder than usual. Plus, I’m frustrated and can’t help but speak the truth.
“Seferin has connections all over Meriva.” Bolivar gestures to the left. “I’m sure there are people in this place getting coin from him. They hear you talking about him, they’ll tell him, and he’ll come after you, too. Then you’ll end up in his dungeon just like your sister, or worse. He’s not a man you want trouble with, Zaira.”
“Why didn’t you tellherthat?” My eyes burn with tears, but I bite into my bottom lip to prevent them from falling.
No more tears.
I adjust the frame of my spectacles to hide my watering eyes, then lift my chin. Tears won’t save my sister. A plan will, and I have the beginnings of one.
I gesture to my empty mug. “Another, please. I’m on the cusp of a breakthrough to save my sister and, quite possibly, the entire world if I can figure out the logistics.”
“And what is this breakthrough?” Bolivar asks, feeding into my sarcasm.
“Well, I told you before that I’ve spoken to a few sorcerers about Analla’s curse. None want to help, but one of them did tell me if I’m desperate enough, to seek one of the prosperity stones in the Temple of Elphar. Apparently, prosperity stones can break any curse. I could get one, sneak into Seferin’s keep again, then use the stone to break her curse. All I need is to find someone willing enough to guide and protect me on the journey there.”
Bolivar’s features turn as hard as a rock. “The Temple of Elphar? In The Shallows?”
