Pirate Queen Alex
Let me amend that.It sounded way too dirty.
Pirate Queen Alex
We’re thinking about you.Hopefully we’ll see you tomorrow?
Margo
Lilian.I don’t mean to play concerned mom, but as your best friend I’m going to play that card.Answer me dammit!
Margo
Just like a thumbs up would be great.
Margo
Do I need to call your real mom?
Ninth Week of Faire: Battle of the Bards
“Isingtomylove,
“I sing to my love,
“Oh, sweet Matilda,
“Why have you gone… above?”
A chorus of giggles followed the poor attempt at a ballad, followed by polite applause.Lilian peeked out her door, surprised to see such a large crowd gathered near the picnic tables in Reject Woods.Usually, the space was completely empty.But it seemed one of the court minstrels had set up camp, occupying them with terrible song after terrible song.
“You thinkthat'sgood?”a pirate actor called out from the crowd.“I'll show you a real song!”
The crowd cheered as the man plucked the strings of a guitar before falling into a well-practiced shanty.It was objectively better than what the poor bard had come up with, but that was the nature of Bard Weekend.What had once been a cheeky name had become something the actors took to heart.
The theme, Battle of the Bards, was a new addition to the faire in recent years, but Lilian had to admit it was growing on her.The air was full of music and singing, both good and bad.
Court Bards found themselves in direct competition with the band of singing pirates.Logan's men and Alex's crew had even done a few serenades together.Since Pirate Weekend, Lilian noticed an uptick in visitors from the Cove roaming around their part of the fair.The shift certainly helped increase foot traffic of guests as well.
Reject Woods was no longer the forgotten part of the faire.Smiling guests strolled through the paths, their laughter filling the area more than ever before.Hearing them elevated her mood after the disaster of last week.
Margo kept shooting worried glances her way, no matter how much Lilian assured her everything was okay.
And itwasokay.
Bodice and Brawn had customers, and she and Hawk were growing closer.All of that was good, right?
Except, Ten Cents Books still wasn't doing great business.Even though she’d revamped the prices and the interior, even as the entire town had come by to see the changes.
But it still wasn't enough.
“So,” Margo said eventually, clearly looking to lighten the mood between them.“Are you going to finally tell me what is going on with you and Hawk?”
Lilian stilled.She’d known this moment was coming.Both Margo and Alex had been texting her nonstop, but she'd diligently pushed off responding.Now there was nowhere to run.
She refused to lie, but she could answer the question in her most innocentI’m not doing anything crazytone.“He took me home?”
Margo’s brows rose over the rim of her glasses.“And?”
