Twist and Turns, page 3
Her chest felt tight, her mind alternating between worry and a drunken relaxation. Why should I be worried? she asked herself. It’s not like I have any place to go, or anyone to see. I’m nobody lost in nowhere. At least the locals are friendly.
“To the Lady Linetta!” Once again, Linetta lifted her glass and emptied it. I might as well make the best of things, because my only alternative is to make things worse.
Somewhere, deep inside her, a voice called out in warning, but the wine made it seem very small and far away.
Chapter Three
Salvation seemed at hand as she watched Neff reappear behind the bar, a steaming plate of food in his hand. He set it down in front of her, his expression humorless but a look of calculation in his eye. Linetta ignored the barkeep, instead focusing on the plate. She moved her hand in the direction of the fork. Picking it up, she managed to spear a potato before being jostled by the crowd, who was agitating for their next free drink.
“Careful now,” Frie said, putting a finger under her chin and turning Linetta’s attention back to him. She chewed her potato, trying to follow what the handsome Fae was saying. It was a little difficult because her eyes couldn’t quite focus. “We don’t want you to lose your footing. Best hold tight on to me.”
He’d never loosened his hold on her waist, but now he wrapped her arm around him, pressing her against his broad chest. His smile was wolfish, but Linetta didn’t notice. Her stomach, unappeased by her measly tribute, demanded further sustenance. She turned back to her plate, then blinked in confusion when she realized it was empty.
A few of her admirers were chewing happily, and she caught one munching happily on a pigeon leg. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement, swinging the leg up in a short salute before biting off a chunk of the meat.
Linetta’s brow furrowed, and her stomach howled in frustration. Oh dear, she lamented, her thoughts moving slowly through the fog of wine. I thought I ordered dinner. There must have been some mistake. She lifted her hand to signal the barkeep, but Frie grabbed her arm and brought it around his waist like the other. She found herself pressed against him as he leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“Things are getting a little rowdy,” he said softly. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to go back to my place where we can talk and drink in peace?”
Peace did sound nice, but he hadn’t mentioned food yet, so Linetta wasn’t ready to abandon the bar so soon. She patted him gently on the chest with what she hoped was a conciliatory smile on her face. Linetta then removed her arms and lifted one to try and summon the Fae female who was filling glasses as quickly as she could.
“Check it out, gentlemen,” Frie said, his voice shifting from soft to lively. “This one enjoys a crowd, it appears. You should have said so, milady.”
Linetta glanced back in Frie’s direction when the barmaid ignored her. He’d put an arm around the men standing on either side of them, both wearing identical eager grins. Frie bounced his eyes twice, then gave her a look filled with heat. “If it’s a party you want, then come with us. I promise to provide more diverting entertainment than this.”
She blinked, her vision doubling for a moment, making her think there were six men trying to lure her away from the bar. Maybe I should be flattered, she thought, then giggled out loud. Maybe Linetta is the type to entertain multiple men in the same evening and still have time to get the washing up done.
She shook her head, the last vestiges of reason that hadn’t been diluted by wine allowing her to do the math. Three against one, those aren’t good odds.
Frie, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy his advantage. He was smiling like he’d won seven rounds of Eyes or Ears in a row. Reaching out, he took her hand, ready to lead her away. Linetta stood frozen as alarm bells began to ring belatedly.
“Let her go.”
The voice could have been forged from ice. Linetta turned her head to locate the body from whence it came. Her eyes widened as she took in a Fae male at least a head taller than the next tallest man in the room. His shoulders were wide, his chest broader than Frie’s, his muscular frame making him seem like the prototype for which his uniform had been created. His midnight black hair that would normally fall past his strong jaw was pulled back in a loose bun behind his head, revealing the most pleasingly pointed ears she’d ever seen. But it was his eyes, brighter than emeralds in noontime sunlight, set between sharp cheekbones and above a distinguished nose, that held her attention.
A woman could lose herself in those eyes, she thought, then shook her head to clear it of the flash of attraction she felt. Not this woman. I’m already lost.
Frie tugged on Linetta’s hand, and she fell forward, unprepared. The flirty Fae caught her without effort, putting his arm around her and turning her back on the other male. Before she could struggle, the soldier’s hand was on Frie’s arm, pulling his grip from her. “I’d suggest you and your friends make yourselves scarce before I lose my temper.”
Linetta turned her head to glance in the direction of the soldier as a chorus of groans went up from around the bar. “Come on, Braken.” She saw a fellow soldier moan in disappointment. “We’re just having a little fun.”
At the jeers of agreement from the others around him, the one she now knew was called Braken scowled and crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “Fun at the lady’s expense. You all have taken advantage of the poor drunken woman long enough.”
Neff stopped pouring to fix Braken with an angry glare. “Mind yer own business. The lady has plenty of good coin to spend.”
She heard several people voice their agreement, and Neff went back to pouring drinks and passing them out to every hand that reached in his direction. Linetta wondered how long the coins in her purse would hold out if her generosity continued to be taken for granted.
“Let’s not make this a whole thing,” Frie said, waving his hands to calm the crowd down. Putting his arm around Linetta again, he gave his opponent a frosty smile. “Besides, we were just leaving.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Linetta turned to take in Shoshanna, who was bristling like a cat with its back up. She took up a place next to Braken and glared at Frie, her expression saying she was ready to back up her words if necessary.
“See, this is why you should come back to my place where we can get to know each other without all these distractions,” Frie bent down to whisper in her ear. He again attempted to pull her in the direction of the door, but this time it was the barkeep who stopped him.
“Don’t even think about crossing the threshold until you’ve paid for these drinks,” he growled in Frie’s direction.
“Okay now,” Linetta slurred, holding her hands up, palms out. “Why don’t we all just sit down and have another drink, and we can work this out amiably...amicaly...” A hiccup interrupted her attempts at the correct pronunciation. “Amicably,” she said at last with a nod of pride.
Braken’s jet-black eyebrow rose. His face said he wasn’t impressed by her vocabulary. The men around them, however, sent up a shot of delight, and Neff smiled as he began pouring once again. “The last thing you need is another drink,” the male said, his voice gruff. “You’re only making the situation worse.”
“The lady can speak for herself, Braken,” Frie bit out, yanking her in his direction.
“The lady is drunk,” Braken said, grabbing her other hand and pulling her back in his direction. “She clearly isn’t used to the strength of Cimmeran summer wine.”
Linetta felt like a child’s doll being fought over by two Elven terriers, but the words penetrated, and she flinched at ‘Cimmeran.’ I know that word. She frowned. How do I know that word?
“She’s going to rent a room,” Braken was saying when she tuned back in. “And she’s going to go upstairs and sleep it off.”
“Ain’t no more rooms, remember?” Neff said gleefully, making Braken scowl. “You and your fellow soldiers rented all of ‘em.”
“Plenty of room at my place,” Frie said smoothly, giving Linetta another tug before finally releasing her wrist as Shoshanna came at him like a whirlwind. The barmaid didn’t hold back, shoving Frie and cursing at him with the viciousness of a fishwife.
“You shameless cad,” she hissed, aiming a knee at his privates that he narrowly avoided. “You spent the last two weeks convincing me you ain’t been kissing Miriana behind the bakery like Trina and Lulabell swear that you have. You’re nothing but a no-good, low-down, heartless little—”
“Come with me.” Linetta blinked up the Fae male who towered over her, his expression nearly as black as his hair. He grasped her arm with two hands, determined that she wouldn’t be pulled away this time. Braken only made it two steps toward the stairs before he was forced to stop as three of his fellow soldiers blocked his path.
“Not tonight, Braken,” one said, already slurring. “Tonight, we drink.”
“Do it on your own coin, then,” he snarled in reply, attempting to shoulder his way past.
“Why should we when the lady is happy to pay for us?” This came from a ginger-haired Fae with bright orange freckles. He scratched at his nose and swayed a little, already having imbibed heavily.
“I’m not going to argue with you as to why your behavior is wrong.” Braken’s tone was even, but his words felt like a threat. “You can stay and disgrace the uniform as long as you like, but I’m escorting this woman to her bed.”
“How come you get to take her to bed?” Frie whined loudly, then yowled in pain when Shoshanna’s open palm connected with his cheek.
The crowd was getting restless, the drinks they’d already had at her expense filling them with courage. Linetta realized that things could get out of hand quickly. When one of the other soldiers shoved Braken hard enough to push him back, Linetta freed her hand from his. “Calm down, boys,” she said, aiming for dignified but her choice of words and inebriated tone making her sound more seductive than she intended.
A hirsute male gave her a smile full of teeth and pushed another full glass of wine into her hand. Linetta noticed something was different about him, and she blinked, bleary-eyed, as she tried to determine what it was. He’s not...Fae... she thought, confused. Without thinking, she took a drink when he raised his glass to her. Although the wine was as crisp and tasty as ever, Linetta realized after she drank that she’d passed the line of comprehension.
Off-worlder. The word popped into her head, like a puzzle piece slipping into place. Before she could think further, she was distracted by a scuffle as Braken squared off against his fellow soldiers. They hadn’t yet come to blows, but she wasn’t sure how much longer things could remain non-violent.
“There you are,” a voice said, an arm encircling her waist again. “I almost lost you. Let’s go now before someone tries to stop us again.”
Frie attempted to lead her in the direction of the door, but Shoshanna leapt suddenly on his back and bit into his shoulder. He yelped and flexed out his limbs, an arm inadvertently knocking Linetta down. She landed hard on her behind and winced, then tumbled backward, the wine finally taking its toll.
Linetta saw the world upside down, an upside-down Braken shoving his colleagues as the circle around him grew tighter. Good luck, handsome soldier, she thought, raising her hand in a drunken salute he couldn’t see, then passing out cold on the barroom floor.
Chapter Four
The stream gurgled softly, almost like a sigh, drawing her attention to its surface where her own reflection sat, gazing up at her. The day was warm around her, a gentle breeze blowing through the thick trees and bushes on either side of the water. She watched her reflection as the wind played with a lock of her hair, lifting it before letting it go.
The wind picked up, the leaves around her rattling. Branches began to sway, then the trees themselves. She paid it no mind, her eyes rapt at her reflection. You’re me. Remember?
The words came to mind out of nowhere, unsettling her. Despite the mighty wind shaking the trees around her, the pool was still, its surface fathomless, dark and deep.
She froze, a sudden feeling of familiarity filling her. I’ve been here before.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she jolted, then swiveled around, looking up to see the owner of the hand. What she saw so confused her, it took a moment for her mind to process it. The same pale pink gown, the same honey-blond hair and pointed ears.
Her reflection had somehow climbed out of the water to creep up behind her. Fear buffeted her as a howl rose up from the trees around her. Her reflection smiled, a feral smile that froze her insides. She opened her mouth to scream.
And suddenly she woke, bolting upright in bed and ripping herself from her nightmare in the process. Linetta blinked into the light then groaned, falling back against the mattress, the memory of the dream escaping like a thief into the shadows. Head pounding, she managed at last to prop herself up on her elbows and take in her surroundings.
The room was small and tidy, as was the bed supporting her. A lone window looked out at the neighboring rooftop next to a small dresser holding a wash basin. There was another, larger table and a plain wooden chair, and a chest with a satchel atop it. She noticed a heavy gray coat hanging over the door leading to the small bathroom.
The sight of the bathroom reminded her that she had to relieve herself, the need hitting her forcefully, making her think that it had gone ignored for too long. She hobbled into the bathroom, hurrying to go before it was too late. What happened last night? Her tongue felt dry, her mouth still holding a remnant of sweetness. I don’t know if I’ve ever been that drunk.
Then again, I don’t know who I am. Maybe I’m the type who drinks every night. She doubted it, though, given what a lightweight she’d been with the Cimmeran summer wine.
Linetta let out a sigh as the tension left her, then froze, hearing voices through the thin wall she shared with another room. She listened for a moment, recognizing one of the voices. The image of a dark-haired, muscled Fae with striking green eyes entered her mind. Braken, she thought, putting a name to the image.
His voice rose, and she realized it was an argument she was overhearing. The other voice had to belong to another male, the tone one of authority. “You’re taking her, and that’s that,” the voice stated, expecting his orders to be followed.
Braken wasn’t pleased. Even with the wall to muffle their voices, she could make out every word he spoke, anger vibrating in his voice. “I’m not interested in playing a glorified babysitter all the way back to the capital.”
“It doesn’t matter what you’re interested in, velox. You’ll do what you’re told.” The hard edge in the other’s voice was impossible to miss.
Velox. That term was familiar. It represented a rank in the Fae military, one of the lowest ranks. They were skirmishers, famed for their quickness, but also left to do the grunt work. Linetta was surprised when Braken didn’t fall into line with what his superior officer was ordering. Although he did try to fight the entire bar room last night, so...
“What happens if I don’t want to go?” Braken’s tone was neutral, but she could still sense the grit in it.
“Then you follow in your father’s footsteps.”
There was a pause, long enough for her to wonder what had happened to Braken’s father, then the velox spoke again. “What happens if she doesn’t want to go?”
She. A chill covered her. Linetta had a sudden idea what ‘she’ they meant.
The other man’s response was matter of fact. “What she wants isn’t important. You saw her ring, just like I did. A ring like that means nobility, and nobility belongs in the capital.”
His words sank in, and she took a deep breath. Looking down, she caught sight of the ring on the middle finger of her right hand. Carved out of gold, it held a crown with gemstones embedded in its four points. A certainty filled her that this was the ring they were speaking of. And it apparently marks me as a member of the nobility.
They’re taking me to the capital, whether I like it or not. She wasn’t sure whether to panic or praise the Light. An idea was forming, one that quickly spread across her mind, gaining acceptance as it went.
I should let myself be escorted to the capital. If I recover my memory along the way and decide I don’t want to go there, then I can give my escort the slip later. And if I am a noble as they think, then there are worse places than the capital to be headed. Remembering how quickly things had gotten out of control last night, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to have some protection until she could figure out who she was and where she belonged.
With a shake of her head, her plan was decided. She left the bathroom, eyeing the empty tub longingly and wondering if she could convince Shoshanna to bring her up some bathwater. I might have made an enemy for life last night, she thought with a frown as she headed for the wash basin. There was water in the pitcher, she saw with relief, and filled the basin, unwrapping the bar of soap sitting beside it before stopping to peel the rings off her fingers.
She removed the ring with the crown last, then paused and stared down at her hands. Where the silver and opal rings had sat, there was a little strip of pale skin, but the skin under the crown was darker. I haven’t been wearing that ring long.
It was another clue, but one that led her nowhere, so she put it out of her mind and began to wash her hands, then her face and neck, feeling cleaner but wishing she had the luxury of a full bath. Something told her that she didn’t have the time, however, as she realized she was waiting for a knock on her door.
Walking to the table, she picked up the comb sitting there. Wiping it carefully on the towel beside the washbasin, she then sat on the chair and began combing through her hair. It was tangled, with bits of leaf and twig peppering it, so she meticulously removed all of the debris and then started her long, methodical strokes, counting them as she went.
