“But you’re famous, Archer!” Nate jumps up and down, his black hair flopping over his blue forehead.
“MasterArcher,” Rychell corrects in a whisper.
“The artist made you look taller too!” Nate jabs a sauce-covered finger at the sketch.
“Many thanks, little one,” I drawl.
Halvard is holding back a laugh and Rychell pinches his arm.
The sketch shows Colette and me kissing and the tumbling Snowlight cookies. It’s snowing in the image even though it was not doing so at the faire.
Caught mid-kiss and in sugared ruins!is penned below the sketch and I almost wish the printing press had never been invented. Almost.
I hold up thebroadsheet. “At least this is only local news. The excitement will die down soon after I leave.”
Because if the news of me kissing someone gets to Kingstown, Valeria will come down on this place like a firestorm. I swallow. I haven’t seen her in over a decade, but our last exchange will be rooted in my mind for eternity. I’m just hoping I can avoid actual marriage to her until she finds someone else to obsess over.
Nate hugs my leg with impressive strength. “Don’t leave yet!”
I detach him and crouch to eye level. His blue cheeks are flushed as they always seem to be due to his constant movement.
“I will return for a visit very soon. I promise.”
He hugs me around the neck and his proud parents smile down at us.
Once we have my horse, Moonglow, watered and loaded up, I thank the family, wave goodbye in the courtyard, and take the side exit to the road in front of the house.
A crowd of both humans and creatures is cheering. At me.
Staggering back, I try to form words. Moonglow dances and snorts. I hold his lead and put a soft hand on his nose.
“Easy, pal.”
Is this about the broadsheet sketch? Of course, it is.
“Are you going to see Mistress Colette?” a stranger asks.
A male shifter raises a hand; I can smell the wolf in his blood. “Will you marry her here in Leafshire Cove or take her to Honey Sands?”
“I think you should wed in Kingstown,” another of the crowd calls out. “Your wedding will need to be very large with all the well-wishers!”
Great gods of all the realms. Valeria would have a fantastic time destroying that.
“Do you want to come back inside?” Halvard is at the door behind me.
I adjust my sweaty grip on the reins. “No, this will die down once I’m gone.”
“All right.” The orc waves an arm to get the chattering group’s attention. They’ve dissolved into excited gossip. “Let’s move on, now. You’ll scare my son. Plus, this is rude behavior. We know better than this in Leafshire Cove. You tourists must behave as we locals do, or our mayor will have something to say about it.”
The crowd nods andwaves, moving off in smaller clusters.
“Thanks,” I say to Halvard. “I might stop by the Acorn Inn to make sure Colette isn’t being likewise accosted.”
Halvard gives me a smile that should be frightening, considering the size of his tusks, but the kindness in his eyes overcomes that bit. “That’s kind of you,” he says. “I can go instead if you want to get on the road.”
“Thank you, but this is my problem. I’ll take care of it. See you soon.”
Halvard waves as I mount up and trot down the main road toward the Acorn Inn that sits to the right of the town gates. I don’twantto check on Colette. But I did trip and start the whole kissing situation, so this drama is at least partially my doing.
