Chapter Twelve: Byron

So we got through the first trial.Byron’s dragon relaxed, its scaled body uncoiling as they thought back to their previous evening at the tavern.

We did, Byron replied as he sipped a cup of hot coffee and stared out across the ocean through the huge window of the apartment. The sun was starting to dip toward the ocean, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold that would soon deepen to rich reds as the light faded from the sky.

His dragon chuckled. I think you might finally be tapping into the poetic side you have denied existed for so long.

Byron snorted. I think I read that description in a book.

Of course, you did,his dragon replied with a roll of his slitted, serpentine eyes.

But no matter how he described the scene before him, with his own words or those that belonged to another, they did no justice to the blazing vista of the setting sun and the sparkling ocean that filled the apartment he’d rented from Sophie’s friend, Ash.

If there was one thing he’d learned about Sophie since he’d decided to stay in Wishing Moon Bay for a few months, it was that Sophie knew everyone. Or so it seemed. She was a social butterfly who made it her mission to make friends of all shapes and sizes.

Like the orcs at Haven Berry Farm, his dragon said and licked his lips. The berry pies we ate on our first visit to the farm were delicious.

Byron chuckled, thinking back to the mammoth berry pie they had eaten there. The orcs who had taken to working the fields had concocted the idea of creating a new brand of their famous berry bakes, tailored specifically toward shifters. But not to their human side, no. These bakes had their animal sides in mind, thankfully, including dragons.

Trust orcs to make something so successful by just making it larger.

A simple, yet seemingly effective strategy. Byron drained his coffee as the image of his mate drifted into his mind, threatening to blind him to the striking scene of nature before him. Nearly time to go.

Trial number two, his dragon went on, as if Byron wasn’t acutely aware that today he and Cassie were due to take part in the second trial of the couples’ competition at The Lonely Tavern. In fact, it had been all he could think about all day.

He was overwhelmingly excited to see her again, but that excitement was marred by a tug of unease.

What if they failed? He could not bear to see Cassie disappointed if she was unable to receive her sage advice. It could only be made worse if he was the one who failed her.

We breezed through the first one,his dragon reminded him.

That is not how I would describe it, Byron said. There were some points during the potion-making trial that felt more like they had been flung into the path of a winter storm. With more than a little chill in the air between them.

And then there was Jerome.

His dragon gnashed his teeth at the very thought of the name. I don’t like that guy. There’s something about him.

There’s history between him and Cassie, and I think he’s the kind of person who might use that fact when it suits him,Byron said.

Then we need to make it clear that Cassie is off limits,his dragon replied.

I don’t think Cassie would appreciate us warning him off, Byron said. If we overstep, that might be the end of any chance we have of winning Cassie’s heart and making her ours.Oh, and any chance of saving our family from losing their home.

Then we need to be subtle, his dragon said.

Not usually your strong point.Byron drained his coffee cup, went to the kitchen, and placed it in the sink, his anxiety growing. He did not know what he’d do if he lost his mate forever because of this competition. He didn’t even care about the sage advice. With Cassie, he had all he needed. He just hated the fact that they were in a fake relationship.

You seem to forget one thing,his dragon said.

And that is?Byron grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

This is not a fake relationship. His dragon puffed out a stream of smoke to emphasize this fact. Cassie is our mate. There is nothing fake about that. And I believe our connection is stronger than any competition. She can feel that there’s something between us. Deep down, she knows what we share is not pretend. Even if we fail the tavern trials, it won’t be the end of us.

True. Byron rolled his shoulders and let go of some of the tension building in him. His dragon was right. They were fated mates. And that was one thing that could not be faked.

I’d focus more on worrying about what exactly this next trial entails, his dragon said. Knowing the tavern, things might get hairy.

Well, I guess we’ll soon find out. With that, he left the apartment and headed toward the street, where he looked up and saw the first star appear in the clear, warm evening. That lifted his spirits. How could things go wrong on a night like this?

His dragon chortled. You keep believing that.

I will, thank you very much.

Byron walked with a pep in his steps down the streets of Wishing Moon Bay. The town had always been somewhat familiar to him—he’d read up plenty on the history of such an important town and had even spent many an evening poring over maps of the area, but there was nothing like walking the streets amongst the townsfolk who hailed from all sorts of pasts and places.

There truly was nothing, or nowhere, like this place.

Normally, it would have felt like he reached his destination of The Lonely Tavern all too soon, but the promise of seeing his mate again meant it could not come soon enough.

His brisk walk ended beneath the pearly pools of lights from streetlights in front of storefronts that seemed to have closed early for the night. The alleyway that led to The Lonely Tavern was just up ahead, but in between him and there was a sight that could brighten even his darkest nights.

Cassie.

“Byron.” Her face lit up brighter than the first evening star as she saw him, and his heart fluttered in his chest.

Romance!his dragon teased lightly.

Byron pushed his dragon to the back of his mind. “Cassie.” He raised his hand and waved, trying to look nonchalant, while his dragon flew around inside of his mind, blowing heart-shaped smoke rings as he refused to be ignored.

“That was good timing.” She stepped toward him, stopping just outside of his reach.

He wanted nothing more than to close the distance and sweep her up, but instead, he stopped as well. “Yeah, it was. Meant to be.” He laughed nervously.

“Something like that.” Cassie laughed with him. There was a beat of silence as they looked at each other before Cassie turned and held her arm out. “Shall we?”

“Of course.” Bryon grinned.

He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

“Oh, I just mean, shall we go to the tavern?”

“Right. Yes. My mistake.” Byron wasn’t sure what to do with his hand for a moment.

“But you’re right. We really should do our best to keep up appearances.” She held her arm back out, this time toward Byron.

“Yes. Good idea.” Byron nodded and took her hand.

He sucked in a breath, and she gasped almost inaudibly as their palms touched, and gave each other a shy smile before they headed for the alleyway.

The sounds of voices and laughter reached them, and as they turned into the normally dimly lit side street, they were greeted by the bricks of the buildings and the cobbles of the streets awash with warm light from floating orbs of magic overhead. Rows of benches and tables lined either side of the walkways, filled with people eating and drinking, brimming with mirth. People and shifters alike were walking atop the tables, dancing, chasing one another, and generally making a scene to the laughter of the crowd.

“It’s a full-blown street party,” Cassie said, coming to a stop.

“Yeah. Wow.” Byron eyed the groups of people. It didn’t look like anyone from the competition. Actually, that was a lie. He spotted a few couples he recognized, but they were the ones that had lost the potion trial. As he kept watching, he began to recognize a few more faces. “I guess these are all the people who want to visit the tavern but aren’t being let in because of the competition.”

“It looks like Flint’s working the bar.” Cassie pointed to a short wooden stockade that had been set up near the tavern door, where people clamored around as Flint continuously poured drinks.

“Even out here, Morwenna’s got him bartending.” Byron chuckled. “And look, there’s Harry and Burt. How on earth did they get that barbeque all the way down there?”

Cassie’s eyes widened as she saw the large metal contraption that belched flames whenever the apron-clad Regulars opened the top.

“I suppose we should just head inside?” Byron suggested.

“I suppose so.”

They stood for another moment watching the crowd before they stepped forward together and began to pass by the long benches.

A few people gave them a wave and a cheer as they walked past, and the couple waved and smiled back before they quickly passed by.

At least we’re not the only ones who feel a little uncomfortable in a crowd.His dragon eyed the milling crowd.

Pity, I was hoping Cassie would be at home here so we wouldn’t have to be, Byron said half-jokingly, though as he felt Cassie hold him a little tighter, he was glad that they would be able to share the same love for quiet time alone.

“Do you think anyone here has any idea what the next trial is?” Cassie asked.

Byron shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s need to know, as Morwenna says.”

“Not even Flint?”

“I don’t think he’d tell us even if he did, for fear of reprisal from Morwenna.”

“Good point. That’s one witch I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of.”

“Hey, you two!”

“Hi, Burt.” Cassie smiled at the older gentleman.

Even with the heavy lid closed, Byron could feel the heat coming from the barbeque, and his mouth watered at the aromatic smell of smoke and spices. He turned his attention to Burt, but his eyes were drawn to the writing across his apron—‘Licensed to grill.’

“We heard you two passed last night’s trial with flying colors.” Harry stepped over to them, tongs still in hand and beads of sweat on his grinning face. “Quite literally, apparently.”

Byron glanced down to Harry’s apron, with similar writing—‘Don’t ask me about my secret sauce.’ Byron frowned at the cryptic message.

“It was tough, but we figured it out between the two of us.” Cassie looked up at Byron. “I don’t know if it was what we were expecting.”

“Not that we knew what to expect,” Byron said.

“That’s the beautiful thing about this place.” Burt turned and stared lovingly up at the warped timber of the tavern. “You never know what you’re going to get.”

“As long as you two are having a grand old time in there, I’m sure it doesn’t matter one bit how you do in the trials.” Harry put his hands on his hips. “I’m certainly jealous of you two that I’m missing out on this adventure.”

“This whole thing seems to be so popular that I’m sure Morwenna will do it again.” Cassie looked at all the people.

“Oh no, it’s not up to Morwenna.” Burt turned back around. “As much as she loathes to lose control, she, more than any of us, knows better than to try and get in the way of the whims of this place.”

“Really? The tavern organized this whole competition?” Byron asked skeptically.

Burt and Harry looked at each other knowingly.

“Maybe that sagely knowledge you should ask for is a clue to what this place is all about,” Burt suggested.

“That would make you the most envied person in the whole of town.” Harry chuckled before clacking his tongs together. “Now, we better get back to it. These burgers will not flip themselves.”

“Best of luck, you two,” Burt said. “And if you see Stan in there, tell him to bring us out a few pints of bread beer when he’s done. I’m sure this stuff Flint’s been sent out with is watered down.”

“Will do.” Cassie nodded and turned for the door, but Byron held out a hand.

“Sorry, Harry, but I’ve got to ask—”

Harry and Burt turned back, serious expressions on both of their faces.

Byron gulped. “What is your secret sauce?”

Harry pursed his lips and leaned in close. “You really want to know?” he growled.

“I-I think so.”

“Well, I could tell you, but…” Harry’s face split into a grin he could no longer contain. “Then I’d have to grill you!”

Both of the Regulars fell into a fit of laughter, holding their stomachs as they guffawed.

“I see.” Byron smiled, looking at Cassie as she laughed along.

“What? It was a good joke.” She nodded toward the door. “Come on, let’s go and see what awaits us.”

They left the Regulars as they high-fived one another and headed around the pop-up bar toward the tavern door.

“Shall we?” Byron asked.

“We shall.” She nodded, and they approached the tavern door. For a moment he held his breath, afraid the door might not open for them, but as they approached, it swung open on well-oiled hinges and they stepped inside.

The atmosphere inside the dim room beyond was filled with an electric, nervous energy. The remaining couples seemed to have been given a shot of confidence after completing the potion trial successfully, and groups of people talked in hushed, yet excited tones.

The one thing Byron did, however, notice was that all the furniture seemed to be back mostly where it belonged.

“There you are!” Stan hurried toward them. “Come and join us. Morwenna is giving out free drinks to the competitors.”

“That awful bread beer?” Cassie wrinkled her nose.

“Oh, no. You can have anything you want. As long as it’s not wine,” Stan replied. “It seems that the wine connoisseur has gone offline.”

“You mean the wine cooler?” Byron asked.

“No,” Stan replied. “The wine connoisseur. He’s normally in the cupboard over there behind the bar, but he’s gone. Morwenna’s certainly not happy about it, but then again, she’s not happy about a lot of what’s happening at the moment.”

“Maybe he’s had a better job offer.” The fine-featured Nancy with her pale gray hair drifted their way, sipping a sparkling gin and tonic through a straw.

“Now, Nancy, why would he want to work anywhere other than here?” Stan asked incredulously.

“I could think of a reason or five,” Nancy replied.

“I don’t know. If I weren’t retired, I’d have loved to have worked in this place.”

“Work here?” Nancy raised an eyebrow. “You practically live here.”

“Guilty.” Stan smiled sheepishly. “Did I mention that you two really do make a cute couple?”

“Thanks.” Byron and Cassie looked at one another as they answered in unison.

“Just as long as you’re not faking it with a love potion.” Nancy raised an eyebrow.

“No,” Cassie snapped then winced and her cheeks flushed pink.

“Why do you ask?” Byron said cautiously.

“Supposedly, a couple caused all the commotion during the last trial.” Stan glanced around. “They drank a love potion to fool the tavern into thinking they were an actual couple.”

“Really?” Cassie squeaked.

“Mm.” Nancy nodded. “But they didn’t make it strong enough. It wore off part way through the trial, and we all think that’s why they were having so many issues.”

“The tavern really doesn’t like fakes.”

Byron and Cassie glanced at each other, and he could see the anxiety on her face.

Lucky for her, this is not fake, his dragon soothed.

“Morwenna!” Stan called as he spotted Morwenna appearing from the back room behind the bar, her face flushed and her hair more frazzled than ever as she carried out a jingling crate.

“What?” she snapped. “If you ask one more time whether the wine connoisseur does champagne as well, I’m going to lose it.”

“Cassie and Byron are here,” Stan replied.

“Whoop de-doo!” Morwenna said with feeling. But not the correct feeling as she plonked the crate on the bar. “All right, my lovely, freeloading custom…contestants, here are more drinks free…” She coughed. “Fr-Free of charge, while I try to figure out our technical difficulties.”

There is always something off about her, his dragon said.

Byron felt a large presence creeping up behind him and turned to look up at a hulking figure, able to just make out a tusked mouth and heavy brow where his face was cast in shadow. At first, he thought the flash of huge teeth was the orc barring his teeth, but Bryon felt relief wash over him when he realized it was more of a smile.

“All right, fellas!” The orc’s voice was like grinding boulders. “How is it?”

“Kengar!” Stan reached up a hand above his head and Kengar gently shook it.

“Kengar.” Byron let out a breath. “I almost didn’t recognize you up there.”

Nyara appeared from behind the orc. “Quite a crowd outside.”

“Sure is!” Stan said happily. “Now, what does everyone want to drink? They’re on the house.”

“On the house?” Kengar asked in surprise.

“As a gesture of goodwill and to apologize for the possible delay in starting this next trial,” Morwenna said, her voice monotone and almost robotic.

“Why the delay?” Nyara asked before smiling and mouthing ‘hello’ to Byron and Cassie.

“Morwenna doesn’t know what the next trial is. Or where it is,” Stan said in a hushed whisper that carried around the tavern. “Or even if it is going to happen.”

Heads turned to face him, but he didn’t notice, as he shrank back from Morwenna’s beady stare.

“Stan! Who has been spreading such rumors?” Morwenna snapped as she placed two pints of beer on the bar, their contents sloshing dangerously close to the rim of the tankards.

“I heard it from...” Stan raised his eyebrows toward the rafters.

“Points will be deducted for defamation of character and slander,” Morwenna said as she placed two glasses of gin down on the bar next to the beer. “I always know exactly what is happening in my establishment, and to think otherwise would be to think that Brushworth would leave all of your muddy footprints across the floor.”

“Thank you, Morwenna,” Cassie said as she picked up her gin glass. “You always know just the drink everyone wants.”

“You are welcome,” Morwenna said as she scanned the bar area.

“Is everything all right?” Byron asked as he turned to follow her gaze.

“It’s just that I can’t help but notice that everything looks as it should.” Morwenna’s mouth was a thin line, as if she’d prefer it if things were not as they should be.

“Maybe this is the trial,” Kengar suggested as he picked up his beer and drank it, the pint glass looking more like a shot glass in his giant hand.

“Believe me, this is certainly a trial. Giving away free drinks, while all the paying customers are shut outside,” Morwenna grumbled and shook her head.

“So, really, you don’t have any idea what the trial is?” Cassie asked.

“No.” Morwenna scowled. “And we’re already past the start time.” She eyed the tables and chairs in the bar area. “Maybe I should clear the room, just in case. I’d hate to have any damages if there’s any more falling furniture.”

She raised her hands and muttered a spell under her breath. Byron’s skin prickled as Morwenna spoke, and it felt like nothing he’d ever experienced before. It felt older, deeper, as if she were tapping into something ancient.

As old as dragons, his dragon said. As ancient as Cairnnor.

Then the tables and chairs began to move, their legs scraping across the wooden floor like nails on a chalkboard. One by one, the stools slid out from under the tables and hopped into the air, spinning upside down before they came to rest on the tabletops.

But then the sound of scraping was replaced by a low rumbling, and the tavern seemed to shake.

“False alarm,” Morwenna said happily and waved her hand, reversing the spell so that the tables slid back into their original places.

“Well, this tavern is filled with surprises,” Byron said to Cassie as the wall to their right slid back to reveal a long corridor.

And leading off that corridor were multiple doors, stretching as far as the eye could see. Unless it was an optical illusion. But when Byron pushed out his dragon senses, he was certain it was all real.

Well, we do know the tavern does not like fake, his dragon said.