“You don’t deserve her,” Lothar sneered. “As if Mariella would pick a pig farmer’s son over a wealthy merchant.”
“She has picked, hasn’t she, my dear?” Jeremiah glanced over and I followed his gaze.
It was then that I noticed a lithe, barefoot female with hair the color of straw standing back on the stairs. She had a worn shawl wrapped around her shoulders, covering her night clothes. Her face was pale, and she was looking between the two males with her mouth wide open.
Above her, Jo stood with her hands on her hips.
Jeremiah and Lothar glowered at each other, raising clenched fists as anger radiated off of them in waves. Jo pushed past Mariella, coming to stand between the two males. Despite the fact that they loomed over her, Jo radiated authority.
“Gentlemen,” Jo crowed in a soft, soothing voice. She looked between both the males, her gaze hard as she said, “Let’s not fight over this.”
“Go away, Jo,” Lothar snarled. “This doesn’t involve you.”
Jo placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head. “Everything that happens at The Opal Spoon is my business, Lothar. Mine and Finn’s.”
Lothar raised a brow. “I don’t see Finn here tonight.”
Jo took a step forward. Her eyes were hard and her fists furled at her sides as she said, “Just because my brother isn’t here doesn’t mean he won’t find you if you hurt one of our girls. You know this. Besides, there are more than enough females in Thyr to go around. I’m sure that you can find someone just as beautiful as Mariella to warm your bed.”
The male in question sneered, stepping close to Jo as he glared down at her. “You’re little better than a whore yourself, Jo. Running a brothel that fronts as a tavern. What would you do if the king’s guards were to find out about your off-the-books operations?”
The moment the words left Lothar’s mouth, it was as though the air itself had been sucked out of the tavern. All conversations ceased as a dozen pairs of eyes swung to the confrontation.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Daegal standing near the door. He nodded subtly. If I hadn’t been paying attention, I wouldn’t have seen it. My skin felt tight as tension permeated the atmosphere. Something was about to happen. I could feel it.
Jo’s voice was icy, her jaw clenched as she tilted her head ever so slightly. “Did you just call me a whore and then threaten me, Lothar?”
The male shifted on his feet, swallowing, but didn’t back down. “I said what I said,” he replied.
“Idiot,” Xander muttered under his breath.
Faster than I could blink, many things seemed to happen at once. Jo dove forward and delivered a right hook to Lothar’s face that Matthias would have been proud of.
Lothar gasped, tumbling backward as his arms flailed wildly. He fell onto a round table. The wood cracked under his weight as the dishes fell to the floor with a clatter. The moment the plates shattered on the floor, it was as though a spell had been lifted.
Suddenly, all the patrons were on their feet, their fists clenched as their faces contorted with rage. I lost sight of Jo as an older male darted out from his seat, shoving one of the scantily clad females aside before slamming his fist into another patron’s side.
I watched the fight unfold with wide eyes. Mugs and chairs were being used as makeshift weapons as patron turned against patron. I had been trained to fight, but my training had been nothing like this.
Slipping my hand under my cloak, I reached into the hidden pocket of my dress. The quietzingof my dagger whispered in my ear. I kept the weapon out of sight as I watched the anger take hold of everyone around me.
Keeping my grip firm on my dagger, I was in the process of gathering my skirts when a hand landed on my arm.
“Come on, Sunshine,” Xander said quietly. I glanced down, noting a sword similar to the Fortune Elf’s hanging off Xander’s hip. “Daegal Saw this. We only have a few minutes before soldiers come to investigate the commotion.”
He didn’t need to say anything else. Tightening my grip on my dagger, I slid off the stool and followed Xander out the door.
The moment we were out of the tavern, a cool breeze slammed into us. I bristled, letting go of my skirts to draw my cloak around me.
“We don’t have any time to waste,” Xander said gruffly, pulling me down the street behind him. “Jo and Daegal are going to meet us at the Traitor’s Bridge.”
Traitor’s Bridge. The ominous name rattled within me.
“Where…”
My words cut off in a strangle as I caught sight of something that sent shivers down my spine.
Two tall males with long, black, feathered wings were turning the corner. They were walking with purpose, their heads high and legs spread as they kept their fists at their sides. Swords hung from their hips, but I knew they didn’t need them. Their bodies were weapons enough. Any moment from now, they would be right on top of us.