Page 44 of The Fury She Holds
Tal’s laugh died when she thought of the pompous socialites Daire had complained about, and she knew they would have done exactly that.
“I’m kidding, you know.” He leaned over, careful not to bump her shoulder with his. “I made these myself.”
Tal snorted around another bite of pheasant. “You did not.”
“I did indeed. I learned so I could repair my red suit. Can’t have anyone asking questions. And the only way to learn wasto say I wanted to make my own clothes. So here I am!” He gestured to his pants with a flourish.
“I don’t believe it. No noble would debase himself by making his own clothes.”
“I guess I’m not a noble then.” He winked at her. “But believe it.” He pointed at the hem by his ankles. “If you look closely, you’ll see that the right hem is a bit lower than the left. And I forgot to put a pocket on the right side.” He pulled at the fabric by his hip to show her.
Tal chuckled. “And your maidservant let you wear them?”
“Oh, she tried to burn them. But I bribed her with chocolates for two weeks. Since then, she’s taught me more, and I’ve made a handful more items, but these are still my favorite.”
They sat in silence and listened to the gulls overhead, the sailors unloading their ships, and the townspeople passing by. Her mind quieted for the first time in weeks. As she relaxed against the wall, her shoulder brushed Faron’s, and she didn’t move away.
Faron rested his head back against the building and closed his eyes. His chocolate brown hair hung loose by the side of his brow, cropped close enough to avoid his lashes, but long enough to be disturbed by the wind. In the back, the length tapered and tickled the collar of his brown leather coat. He smiled at the darkness behind his lids.
“I can feel you staring,” he said.
Tal paused for a breath. “You’re tired.”
Faron nodded. “Looking this good is hard work.”
She scoffed.
“It isn't easy turning down so many beautiful women, you know.” The teasing returned to his tone.
“So don’t.”
“I’m saving myself,” he responded.
“For some foreign princess with a fortune and powerful kingdom to promise herself to you?” Her breath hitched at the intensity in his gaze.
“For a mysterious brown-haired beauty to take off her mask.” He didn’t lean into her or make any crude remarks. He only stared as his lips turned up ever so slightly.
Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks. “Any chance she will?”
He turned back to resting his head against the wall. “She’s untrusting, but I’m hopeful she’ll let me in.”
The sarcasm that usually littered her tone failed her. Instead, she searched for the words to fuel his optimism. “I’m sure you’ll do everything in your power to make it so.”
He lifted his head again, a boyish grin pulling at his lips. “Is that an invitation?”
Tal hesitated, unsure how to respond. She searched his face for something, anything to give her a snide remark to throw back at him. She bit her lip to keep from smiling and stood abruptly. “I need to get back.” She handed the canteen back to him. “Thank you for the elixir and food.” She turned without a good-bye and nearly sprinted home, noting the distinct lack of pain in her limbs, and the way her fury curled into her chest like a purring kitten.
13
Tal sighed and paid the barkeep for her drinks. It was well past the appropriate time to be walking alone at night, but she was no stranger to moonlit—and sometimes drunken—patrols. She hadn’t tried to rope one of her friends into joining her. Her thoughts were too jumbled, jumping from frustration over Daire to thoughts of Faron for the last two days.
She stumbled over a stone and veered to the right thanks to the several pints of ale she’d had. To an observer, Tal looked like just another drunk who had nothing better to spend her money on. They didn’t know that ale often kept her fury at bay. Some nights, she could sneak away somewhere to unleash it and calm her emotions, but the resulting risk of losing days at a time to pure exhaustion often stopped her. Other times, she could fight the frustration out without giving in to the magic’s call. And then some nights, like tonight, she hadn’t the energy to do either and opted for the numbness that ale provided. She gladly let the townsfolk peg her as a lowly bounty hunter who spent her nights at the taverns. There was no telling which of them would sell her for a hefty reward should they learn of her magic.
Tal stumbled into a particularly dark section of town. Cobblestone ended and gave way to dirt and gravel. She knew the area well enough to traverse it in the dark. She’d even memorized the way across the rooftops. Tonight however, she chose to walk on the street. She passed by several dilapidated buildings when a figure stepped out of an alley and blocked her path. The male stood a head taller than her without a scrap of muscle on him. Tal tried to side-step the man, but he followed, blocking her further. Another stepped out of the same alley and moved behind her, while a third guarded her from the side.
“Where you headed, miss?” asked the one in front. His voice grated on her nerves. He flicked a gold coin into the air, caught it, and sent it flipping again.
Tal sighed but said nothing. She made another attempt to step around him, and he blocked her again.
