“Yeah, in the kitchen. Go on in and help yourself,” she tossed over her shoulder.
I nearly moaned in relief. Abandoning the counter, I pushed through the kitchen doors, where I found a pot of the stew bubbling on the stove. I spooned some of it into a bowl, then pushed through the door with my hip to find a spot to eat.
Ragnar stood on the other side, blocking my path. His arms were crossed, and his lips were curled into a scowl. I stopped short. Some of the broth splashed onto my hands, scalding me.
“Ouch!” I darted to the counter and set down the bowl. He barely shifted out of the way, watching me with narrowed eyes.
“Serves you right,” said Ragnar.
“Excuseme?” I patted my reddened skin with the hem of my dress. A painful throb answered each dab.
“You heard me. Perhaps if you weren’t a blatant thief, fate would cast a kinder eye on you.”
I whirled toward him, frowning. “What are you on about? I thought I made it clear I had no intention of stealing from you, and then you said you were going to…” I lowered my voice, “…keep quiet about theyou know whatsince I gave you a bloody keg!”
“Theyou know what,” he said flatly, not bothering to keep his voice down. “Interesting way to describe you sneaking into my wagon when you thought I wasn’t there.”
“This wasn’t part of the deal,” I said hotly. “I’m taking back my ale.”
I tried to move around him, but he stepped sideways with me. Glaring at him, I tried again, but he blocked me as easily as a fallen log in the road. My fury made my skin throb. All my earlier euphoria about my dragon’s new ability melted beneath Ragnar’s blatant disregard for honor. I’d had enough. And if it meant I got banned from the festival, then so be it.
“Move out of my way, Ragnar,” I said in a low voice.
“Tell me where you hid my ale, and I will.”
I started. That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.
“Is this some kind of demented game to you or something? Well, go find someone else to play it with and get out of my way,” I said with a scowl.
“Absolutely.” He leaned in, lowering his head so that our eyes were level. The heat of him stormed toward me like a wildfire. “Just as soon as you tell me where you hid my ale.”
8
RAGNAR
Lilia glared up at me, and I scowled right back. After our morning encounter, I’d deposited her keg in my wagon, right beside my own collection, and then I’d taken a stroll through the grounds to check out the half-erected merchant stalls. When I’d returned with a steaming bowl of porridge, her barrelandall of mine had been gone. Only a layer of dust had remained.
It was clear what had happened. Lilia had been spitting mad when I’d blackmailed her into giving me some of her ale. At the time, I’d wondered if I’d taken it too far. A part of me had wanted to give it back. She had to earn a living, too.
But then the sneaky little thing had stolen it back. If she hadn’t taken mine, too, I might have let it go.
I should have seen it coming. Lilia didn’t strike me the kind of lass who ever backed down.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at here,” she said, narrowing her flashing silver eyes. “I don’t want anything to do with youoryour ale.”
“You expect me to believe it’s just a coincidence that it vanished no more than an hour after I caught you trying to steal it?”
She let out a little roar that was far closer to adorable than intimidating. “I’vetoldyou. Five times now,at least. I wasn’t trying to take anything from you! All I wanted was to poke around and find out what you’re hiding. And if I could reverse time, I’d never go near your bloody wagon in the first place. It’s given me a headache.”
“Then explain how all my ale is gone.” I leaned against the counter, where an impressive dragon candlestick held a flickering flame that cast a glow onto Lilia’s face.
She merely shook her head and threw up her hands. And for a moment, I wondered if I might have gotten it wrong. Her annoyance didn’t seem like an act… Of course, I’d met plenty of liars and thieves in my life, and I hadn’t always been able to see through their falsehoods. And if she hadn’t taken my kegs, then who had?
I couldn’t imagine why anyone else would want them.
I’d gotten lucky when Lilia had sneaked into my wagon. She’d dropped leverage right into my lap, which I’d gladly exploited. Now I had some good ale to draw in patrons—or I had, until she’d snatched it all away.
Nilsa bustled over from a nearby table, her wide eyes darting between me and Lilia. “Did I hear you say you’re missing some ale?”
