Page 6 of The Witch in the Dead of Night

Niamh hovered gleefully by the door. She was out of earshot, thankfully.

“I didn’t realize you would be paying me a visit today,” Ewan said, winking. He spoke in a brogue typical of the Lakes Region to the east that had softened after years of living in the capital. He had traveled quite a distance to get here, but then again, perhaps not too far for an opportunity to work below one of the best blacksmiths in Valen. “Especially not so forcefully.”

“I didn’t realize you’d returned to the city,” I said, keeping my voice low.

“Just got back a few days ago. Brummings sent me halfway to the Sunken Coast for a delivery,” he explained, heat radiating off of him that had nothing to do with the forge. “You know, I might be able to convince him to give me a few minutes off.”

My mood soured at his invitation. “I’m actually here on business,” I said flatly. “So I’m afraid I don’t have a few minutes.” I held the list out to him. “The seneschal sent me for some things.”

“Understood,” he said, either unperturbed or unaware of the annoyance in my tone. He rummaged through the shelves behind him, selecting a round tin. My eyes drifted to the upstairs room where we often squirreled ourselves away. No, I thought forcefully. No time.

“Master Brummings’s special formula,” he said, handing it to me. “They’ve got you scouring the soldiers’ armor now?”

“We’re preparing for the Solstice up at the palace,” I explained. “These items are for the seneschal. Besides, the soldiers don’t wear silver.”

He grinned. “That Mackey boy is putting your nose to the anvil, eh?”

“Maxence,” I corrected.

He shrugged. “I’ve seen about a dozen of those frilly carriages flying past the window today. They’ll take someone’s eye out if they’re not careful.”

“I know what you mean,” I replied. “We nearly had our toes run over on the walk down here.”

“Shame, that,” he said, desire seeping out of his pores like honey. “I’m guessing you’ll be too busy to visit again for some time.”

I nodded. “Maybe the week after next.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I dropped the coin into his outstretched hand, our fingers brushing. “Have a good evening,” I said.

“Wait!” he called as I turned to leave. “You forgot something.”

My brows knit together as he held something out to me. It looked like some kind of dagger, sheathed in leather. Its hilt was engraved with the tail end of a serpent. “What is it?” I asked.

“A fine blade, if I do say so myself,” he replied. “Ordered special by the Lord Seneschal.”

“That wasn’t on the list,” I pointed out.

He grinned. “I know, but I was hoping you might deliver it for me. As a favor? I promise the Lord Seneschal knows it’s coming.”

“Fine,” I sighed, slipping it reluctantly into my satchel.

Ewan beamed at me. “I owe you one.”

Niamh threaded her arm through mine as we exited the shop. “So, what did you talk about?” she asked excitedly.

I groaned. “I was just buying what I was supposed to. How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not interested?”

She shot me a disbelieving glance. “If you’re not interested, then why are your cheeks so red?”

“Perhaps because I was embarrassed that my friend was staring at us from the door, grinning like some kind of deranged gargoyle,” I said sardonically. “Why don’t you stop trying to fix me up and instead focus on the seneschal’s apprentice who’s been trailing me like a lost puppy asking about you? If you don’t call him off soon, I might have to turn one or both of you into a toad.”

I grinned as her jaw snapped shut, although she was fully aware that that threat was beyond my power. Arm-in-arm, we turned onto the main street of the Garment District.

“He’s not bad looking,” she said.

I glanced sideways at her. “Who? Maxence?”