Ez made her way over to us, a wooden tray held high in the air, full of soup, bread, and even a turkey leg. I begrudgingly admitted to myself that her expert movements through the jostling crowd were impressive. Not one drop of soup had spilled by the time she made it over to our table.
“There you are! A Wymble’s special—not to mention mypersonalfavorite,” she said with a wink. Her voice was deep and luxurious, every word fashioned to entrance and enthrall. Hesper leaned in close to her, surveying Ez up and down. I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood.
“And what’s your name, lovely?” I looked up at Ez, surprised she’d even noticed my existence.
“Clara.” My voice sounded cracked and thin after the day’s journey.
“And how do you know this rascal?” She gave Hesper another wink and bumped Hesper’s shoulder with her generous hips. I should have known she didn’t actually care about me or my name. I sat as the obstacle in the way of her spending the evening with Hesper. That’s all.
“We don’t really know each other,” I bit out. I could have lied, I suppose. Drawn up a story that Hesper and I were long-time lovers with three children, five ducks, and a wily cat. Maybe that would have embarrassed Ez and Hesper. Or maybe it would have done nothing at all but make it look like I didn’t want Hesper to spend the night with Ez.
She could do whatever and whoever she wanted. What did I care?
Nevertheless, my loss of appetite morphed into a burning acid feeling.
“I see,” Ez lilted and then pulled up a chair next to Hesper, sidling up so close to her that when she whipped her impossibly long auburn hair around, some of it brushed Hesper’s face.
Hesper leaned in close, catching a few strands, twirling them between her fingers.
I think I’m going to be sick.
“So where are you off to after this? Some grand adventure?” Ez leaned back in her chair, showing off her generous bosom spilling out of her tight floral corset. Even I couldn’t help staring. How can anyone be shaped like that? I’ve always been surrounded by luscious curves. Helda, Rosie, basically all of Moss boasted fine, full figures—from dwarf to orc to elf to pixie to human. I, on the other hand, was but a painfully average reed in the wind that Ez could easily bowl over.
“Ever heard of a town called Dwindle?” Hesper asked, casually placing her hand on the back of Ez’s chair.
Ez’s face blanched, as did mine. I didn’t know much about quests and journeys, but I thought keeping the whole thing a secret was key to the safety of said quest. But I supposed all of Moss knew every detail, and word could spread easily anyway. Still, Hesper sharing all of our plans just to get into the corset of this stranger drove me mad.
“That place is a nightmare,” Ez said, sitting up straighter in her chair. She whispered conspiratorially to Hesper, “I’ve heard that the townsfolkeatmonsters.”
“Is that so?” Hesper feigned a shocked look.
“Yes, yes, it’s true!” Ez nodded her head vehemently. “I’ve also heard tales that Shadow Woods bandits avoid the town.Shadow Woods bandits,” she emphasized. “The most notorious villains roaming the forest. That’s how bad it is. Whatever would you be doing there?” She pushed out her crimson-red bottom lip in a mock pout.
Hesper spread her arms wide as if to say,Why not?But instead, she said, “Maybe I like a little bit of danger. Maybe I crave it.”
At that, Ez’s beautiful face morphed into pure hunger. And my sanity plummeted to an all-time low.
“Don’t you have a bar to keep or something?” I asked.
“Not right now, I don’t.” She started caressing Hesper’s wrists, swirling sensual circles on the bit of skin showing outside of the leathers. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off the oncoming headache.
“You okay?” Hesper looked over to me, worry creasing her eyes.
I got up, grabbed the bowl of soup, tossed a coin onto the table, and headed out into the night once more. I bolted down the steps of Wymble’s Grubbs, past the stoops of shuttered shoppes, and found a rickety set of stairs that were mercifully secluded. I sipped on my soup alone while the rain soaked through me again. Tears stung my eyes, and I let them fall. I had been crying a lot lately, which was new for me. I apparently had some catching up to do after years of not crying even once.
But what did I have to cry about before now? Life was lovely.
And now my life was gone.
And there were monster eaters in Dwindle, which I guess could be far worse, but still.
And some hay-bed harlot was wooing my protector to bed tonight while I rotted away out here.
I heard a loud bang from down the road, like the doors of a tavern smashed off their hinges. The rain came down harder, drowning out the source. But I thought I heard quick patters, splashing in the mud. Someone running.
Then suddenly, Hesper appeared right in front of me.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled through the rain.
