She moved faster toward the flickering torchlights of the city ahead. Grateful for the rush of sounds, she neared the city, greeted by the clamor of people shouting and shutters being latched. The eerie quiet of that night many years ago pushed to the back of her mind. She tucked that haunted memory away. She needed the largest tankard of ale and to get lost in the drunken laughter of the humans and witches. Some had once considered Hale the prince of debauchery, but it was the Twin Eagles who could always sniff out a party. Bri stretched her neck from side to side as if preparing for battle, taking a left toward the sounds of lutes and drums, plunging into the distraction her soul so desperately craved.

Chapter Five

Three glasses sat before her, each a different liquor. With each sip, her body eased, the thrum inside her matching the hum of sound. After days of travel, the exhaustion would soon get the better of her. She’d have to sleep when the sun came up the following day. Nothing felt real when she slept so little, but the drinks helped blur the lines between life and dreaming until she didn’t care which it was.

Bri wanted to get lost in the music and sounds, but when she spotted the two maidens standing in the center of the crowd, she remembered why she had chosen this tavern. They still wore the same simple dresses as the other kitchen staff, faded by wear and sunlight to the color of sand. The olive-green aprons Bri had seen the others wearing earlier were absent, along with the tea towels over their shoulders and haggard looks on their faces, but it was clear they were from the palace—the Queen’s food tasters.

Bri did nothing to hide her wolflike gaze as she watched the two of them dance and sway. The look lured them over, and they edged closer with each song. Let them come to her. It was much easier to get information from people who thought it was their own idea.

“Hello,” the taller one finally said. Her friend nudged her with a giggle. “I’m Terez and this is Silvie.” She gestured to her friend. They seemed young, though if they were employed by the palace, they couldn’t be more than a handful of years younger than Bri. Terez was tall and lean, and Silvie short and round. Opposites in appearance, and yet, clearly best friends.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Bri said with a smile, gesturing to the booth beside her. “Care to sit? It looks like you’ve nearly danced your feet off.”

The two tittered to each other, an entire conversation happening between their eyes, before they pushed in beside Bri.

“We needed to let off a little steam,” Terez said, shifting so that she faced Bri. She scanned Bri’s glamoured face and eyes, lingering on her lips.

Smirking, Bri knew it wouldn’t take much to get an invitation back to Terez’s house.