Page 13 of Leviathan's Song
“Thanks, Hy. You’re a doll.” She flashed a smile at him, earning a wink in return.
A familiar shivery sensation of animalistic magic brushed over me.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Bane, one of Sidney’s acquaintances, duck his large frame through the entrance of the bar and saunter to the back counter. His swagger and grace belied his bulky, muscular frame, and paired with the feelings of intense predatory focus, I could never mistake him for anything but the panther shifter he was.
Sidney raised an eyebrow as a Cheshire grin spread across his face. “Bane,” she greeted.
“Sidney,” he returned, still grinning. He had a broad jaw, golden brown skin, hair as dark as mine, and lively chestnut-colored eyes under heavy eyebrows. “How are you lovely ladies doing today?” His voice always sounded flirty.
“Just peachy,” she answered idly. “What’s new?” she asked, focusing on her drink. Bane seemed like a shoo-in for Sidney’s ‘type’ but for reasons even she couldn’t explain, she’d never been interested in him. It didn’t deter him from his constant flirting, but then, he flirted with everyone. I bit my lip to try to contain my smile.
He spread his large hands on the countertop beside her and bounced on his arms a little before setting his elbow on it and resting his weight on his forearm. “Was down at the Salty Wench a few nights ago and heard some gossip you all might be interested in.”
“Uh-huh.” Sidney looked like she was half listening.
“This old guy was runnin’ his mouth. You know that old doofus that’s always talkin’ about that dragon he claims he killed way back when?”
That had Sidney’s attention.
“Harrington,” she muttered, setting her drink down.
“Yeah, him. So, he got a little sloppy on the sauce and starts tellin’ the whole bar he’s getting a stone golem from little Miss Elara here.” He points a meaty finger at me. ‘Little Miss’,like I’m a child. I gave him a slow blink.Come on, dude. “Anyway, I didn’t personally think that was true, but regardless whether it was or not, I didn’t think you ladies would want that kind of attention.”
“Uh-huh.” Sidney took another sip, not looking at him. “And why didn’t you come find me a few nights ago when you first heard it?”
He lifted a shoulder lazily and dropped it as his smile dimmed a little. “Was it urgent?”
“Seeing asLittle Misshere has had some Phantoms after her over it, yeah, I’d say it was. But I guess we probably couldn’t have expected that, even if we’d known at the time,” she groused, leaning back farther in her chair.
His smile dropped completely. “Phantoms?” He glanced at me.
Sidney waved a hand dismissively, still not looking at him. “Don’t worry about it, we’ve got it.”
Bane’s smile returned as his eyes scanned up and down her figure. Maybe her disinterest felt like a challenge to him? I shook my head slightly at their antics. “You know,” he said absently, “while I’ve got your ears, I wouldn’t mind putting in an order for a speed boost.” He gave a winning smile.
“Don’t think you’re getting some kind of discount in exchange for your gossip.A fool too late bewares when the peril is passed,” she said, quoting some dead queen from the Void. One side of his smile fell.
“Is it passed?” I asked her.
Sidney glanced at me and sat forward in her chair. “If it’s not, it will be soon. Any idea where I can find Harrington?” she asked Bane.
“Well…” He paused to think, rubbing his thumb along the stubble of his jaw. “I dunno about tonight, but he usually starts day-drinking at the Wench on Friday afternoons and stays there for the rest of the evening, I think. At least whenever I’m there on a Friday he’s always around.” Today was Thursday, so it would have to wait until tomorrow.
Sidney stared at him for a minute while he gave a small but hopeful smile. “What do you want your boost on?” she asked. I laughed as he crowed in triumph and ignored their haggling to flag down Sabine. I needed to get some food in my friend if the way her drink was disappearing was anything to go by.
“Evening, lovelies! What can I get for you tonight?” Sabine was friendly and warm, and anyone could tell by her features that she and Hyrak were siblings. She wore her long hair with bits of colorful cloth woven in, and they fluttered when she walked.
“Excuse me, Ma’am. Can we have the news?” the man to my left interrupted before she disappeared with our orders.
“Sure thing.” Sabine dug in her pocket and tossed some tiny calling stones onto a raised dais in the corner behind the bar.
As soon as they landed, tiny celestial spirits appeared, fluttering about the dais like little spectral butterflies. These spirits, which had many names but were often referred to simply as messengers, fed eagerly on the energy people left behind in the little pebbles we called ‘calling stones’. In return, they would absorb information and present it to the desired party. People in media could present them a story and send them along to various locations.
The first spectrals to land took turns delivering their stories, ghostly images flickering above the dais, informing viewers that a trade agreement between far-off kingdoms had fallen through or that the mountain village of Thurim’s Reach had been isolated again due to an avalanche.
By the time Sabine arrived with our order, we had finished our drinks and were engrossed in the latest celebrity scandal. It involved two major political rivals who had been discovered to not only be having an intimate relationship, but to have been hiding a lovechild as well. Their political parties were in an absolute uproar, but romantics everywhere were hoping for a summer wedding.
Sabine laughed as she approached. Sidney had her glass clutched to her chest and an enraptured expression on her face. “Sid, I always knew you were a giant softy! You’ve got the biggest heart-eyes I ever saw.”
