Evander winced, his teeth on edge. “She told me one of her girls saw the dragon and pointed out on the map … on the map … where …” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
A barmaid pushed the tables aside, their wooden legs screeching across the floor. The music bounded into a tipsy folk song, and feet pounded as the customers swung into a rollicking dance.
Evander’s shoulders tensed against the noise, and Valenna’s annoyance melted, salt in water.
“Let’s get a room,” she suggested.
He raised his eyebrows.
“To eat and get away from the commotion,” she corrected.
Evander turned and nearly knocked over a small girl in a thin red dress who had sidled up to them so quietly that Evander hadn’t noticed her.
“I’m so sorry,” he cried. “I didn’t see you. Are you alright?”
“I’m sorry.” Her lip quivered, and she cast a look toward the woman at the counter. “I was told you wanted to know about the dragon?”
“Yes,” Evander replied. “We’re from the Silvanlight dracorium, and we lost a small yearling.”
“Yes, I saw it on my way to work.”
“When was this?”
“About an hour ago.”
“Thank you.” Evander took two kibs from his pocket and placed them in her hand. As she turned to go, the tavern door opened and Haldir stumbled in, his face dark with rage, water streaming down his face. Evander caught the girl’s arm, and she recoiled, then forced a smile.
“What’s your pleasure, sir?”
Evander handed her three more kibs. “I’ll give you these if you promise me you won’t work for that man with the dark hair tonight.”
“If I’m idle, I’ll be punished.”
“But you won’t be idle, because I need someone to watch my dragon. She’s very gentle, but she gets lonely.”
“Your dragon has too many heads,” the girl said nervously.
Evander offered her a soft smile. “I noticed that as well."
The girl’s eyes widened, and Valenna realized how sickeningly young she was. No older than Samara. “She won’t eat me?”
“She’s as gentle as a kitten. I’ll give you my coat to keep you warm.”
Valenna's heart warmed. There he was. Her Evander—the gentle man she’d loved in Largotia. He was still there, hiding beneath this stern, unyielding façade he’d built since he left.
The girl took his coat and wended her way through the growing crowd. Evander watched her until she passed Haldir.
“I miss you,” Valenna murmured.
“What was that?” He turned toward her.
“Never mind. Let’s get you out of this noise.”
Chapter fourteen
Valenna
Balancing two bowls of soup, Valenna led the way up the stairs to a snug little room over the bar. It boasted a four-poster bed covered with shabby blankets, a small fireplace, and a creaking rocking chair.
