Blood Red (61 page)

Vivi Anna

The Inn was bustling with people when they walked in. The stink of stale ale and even staler sweat permeated the air. Red smiled at the familiar smell. She took a deep breath, welcoming it back.

Some curious people stopped in mid-sentence to stare at the trio. But most ignored them, preferring to mind their own business then get involved in anything more exerting than lifting their pints to their mouths.

They found stools at the worn wooden bar to sit.

Wolf made eye contact with the barkeep. The fat man waddled cautiously over to him.

“Three pints.” He lowered his voice, “And a word with the owner.”

The barkeep looked down at Wolf’s hands. He briefly glimpsed a flash of royal red. Wolf covered the ruby as quick as he had shown it. The barkeep nodded.

He came back with three pints of ale. He leaned close to Wolf. “You can stay in a room, he will come to you.” The barkeep slid a key across the counter.

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Blood Red

Wolf took and pocketed it, nodding his consent. He picked up his pint and took a long swig.

Red drank half her ale in one big gulp. The warm frothy liquid was like heaven going down her dry throat. She didn’t think she’d tasted anything as wonderful. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and glanced at Rapunzel.

She sat looking into her cup. A look of distaste furrowing her brow.

“Drink it,” Red growled.

“It has things floating in it.”

“Just hops. Drink it or people will begin to notice.

The last thing we need is a lot of attention.”

Rapunzel looked sideways at her. Red finished her ale in another long gulp. She slammed the cup down.

“Barkeep, another!”

Rapunzel took a deep breath and drank the thick, foamy substance. She nearly gagged, but kept drinking. She drained her cup dry. She slammed it down. “Another!”

Red looked at her.

“It’s not bad, once your tastebuds go numb.” She stuck out her tongue and wriggled it at Red.

Red turned on her stool, turning her back on Rapunzel. She leaned close to Wolf. “Do we really need her? She got us out, provided us with currency, what use is she now?”

“She has knowledge that we will need, I’m sure of that. Meeting her was no accident. There are other nobles out there like her. She will be of use in convincing them to fight with us.”

“Could we not just torture the information out of 121