Chapter 10

I t was easy to lose sight of my goal for freedom when the days were swept away with the crumbs and dirt from the tavern floor. I grew comfortable in the storeroom's stillness. The strict monotony of daily life pushed me into autopilot until three months' time had passed in a blink.

Occasionally, the city guards did their rounds, reminding shopkeepers and city folk that a murderess was still at large. However, after failed search parties, they focused their efforts on the other realms. The rumors and initial fear that spread through our people of my escape had long since faded away, replaced with uneasiness around the increase in attacks. The creatures of the flatlands were growing bold, attacking hunting parties only a couple of miles from the city's outer wall. Whispers of panic kindled like a spark in a drought until the entire Northern Realm burned with fear.

Tavern customers became infrequent after nightfall, save from the usual drunkards. The streets fell silent. Those that did pass by were heavily armed with spears, knives and various makeshift weapons. So far, the creatures had maintained some distance from the wall; however, with each new attack, they grew closer. It was only a matter of time.

Four months since we'd arrived at Frya's marked the eve of our city's most honored tradition- Festival. The energy of the city changed entirely on winter solstice. The northerners needed relief from the suffocating fear of the recent attacks.

Leaning against the bar with Arcturas curled at my feet, I could hear the echoes of bright, euphoric music and boisterous laughter through the cracked tavern window.

The longest night of the year, filled with spiced berry cider and buttery, flaky moon cakes, was the peak of Polaris's power. Drawing from the burning, bright stars speckled across the midnight sky, she'd summon the wards shrouding our realm, shielding us from the dangers roaming the far north. From the creatures with horrid red eyes and putrid flesh. As time went on and our people lost faith, her wards weakened- leaving cracks for the creatures to slip through. Now, more than ever, our people prayed for strength in her wards. With the increasing attacks, more and more northerners sought Polaris for her protection. The city folk turned to their faith, considering their fear. With this dramatic shift of faith, I prayed her wards would be impenetrable again.

The glass chalice I was polishing shattered in my hand with thoughts of the flatlands and the countless hunters that'd gone missing since my return. The youngest was 8, a boy who'd gone out with his father on his first hunt. They'd found his small body two weeks later, torn to pieces, drenched in that familiar black ooze.

It wasn't until warm, scarlet drops splattered on to the bar beneath me did I snap back into reality. Scowling, I reached for my cotton rag and wrapped my bleeding palm tightly; the gash throbbed under pressure.

I needed air. It was hard to keep track of what was reality and what wasn't these days. Endless hours hidden in the shadows left room for wandering thoughts. Pacing to the window, I unlatched the lock and slid it open, letting the cold front wrap its tendrils around me. Flurries whipped in from the night, melting against my feverish brow.

Would I wither away in the shadows of this tavern? How long could I remain hidden away until the bedroom upstairs became another prison? My throat tightened and I rubbed at my cloth covered hand, holding back short, quiet sobs. That key was my second chance. My new life. How could I live it sitting in fear, wasting away between sacks of potatoes? A fracture cracked up the old glass as I slammed it shut.

My cheeks cried for another kiss of crisp night air. My toes yearned for the exhaustion of an endless night of dancing. A couple pranced hand in hand down the street outside- their laughter rippled through the dim, dusk light. Frya had already retired to her bedroom upstairs, closing up early before any drunken festival goers made a mess of her bar.

Her claims of wanting some peace seemed to only scratch the surface of why she avoided the solstice and its celebrations like it was the deadliest of plagues. When I begged her to celebrate with me, even over just one glass of berry cider, she snapped- she pushed her barstool away and grumbled up the stairs about stumbling drunkards and fools.

Arcturas, now wrapped against my bare feet, kicked and grumbled in her sleep. I stroked behind her neck with my toes to settle her as I examined the wound and began picking particles of glass from the open gash, now brown with a clot. Reaching for the broom behind the bar, I cleaned up the shards of the chalice.

I returned to the window, shadows deepening beneath my eyes. Pressing my hand to the chilled glass, another couple passed by the tavern, their small son skipping and chasing snowflakes behind them. The old woman wouldn't notice if I were gone for an hour or two. She probably wouldn't leave her bedchamber for the rest of the night. A foolish thought pressed its way to the front of my mind.

"Arcturas, wake up." Bending down, I scratched the wolf behind her ear. One bright amber eye flicked open and peered up at me. She lifted her paw to expose her warm belly. A request for scratches. Complying, I stroked her underfur.

"So... You wanna go on an adventure?" Her ears perked, but still only a single eye blinked towards me.

"I was thinking about going to check out the festival…. There probably would be treats there." Her second eye snapped open.

"Well..?"

As if in response, she jumped to her feet, shaking her bushy tail rapidly. I chuckled and tiptoed to the coatroom. Silently creaking the closet door open, I lifted my cloak from its hanger and started towards the door. Being sure to tuck my hood over my brow, we stepped into the chilly night. The soft click of the door was the only sound behind us.

Arcturas padded along the cobblestone as we approached the city's center. With each step closer, the chatter of a crowd, laughing and giddy, grew louder and louder until it finally roared into the night. A sea of amethyst cloaks and robes ebbed around the mountainous city center, gathering most densely at the tall, now-polished statue of Polaris.

The aroma of roasting meat and baking pastries percolated into the air as street vendors jumped busily to work, serving customer after customer orders of salt lamb and cinnamon pies. Children bustled through the crowds in lines, their faces smudged with chocolate or hands holding a tin of solstice cakes.

Everyone smiled and laughed and danced.

Blues, purples, and greens of all shades bustled around me through the city's center. Colors I'd nearly forgotten pulsed and whirled through the space as city folk danced and twirled in the celebration. Clenching my chest, I nearly fell to my knees. Everything around me, so bright, so full of life, was overwhelming.

This was not the city I'd left five years ago, and a feeling of joy struck at my heartstring. No longer did the people of Ursae carry shadows on their backs, their frail bodies slowly fading into starvation. I stopped in my tracks, wide eyed at the vision of gaiety around me.

The city had healed while I was away, under Vikar's rule. Not a single trace of my sister's reign fluttered through passing expressions or conversations. My nephew had fulfilled the promise he'd made to me all those years ago. Grinning so wide a cramp settled into the creases of my lips, I leapt into the swirling crowd of dancers- jumping and moving to the rhythm of a nearby fiddle.

Interlacing fingers with the small blonde woman across from me, we giggled like children as we spun faster and faster; the world circled us in bright, warm colors of celebration. Arcturas bounced between us, her tongue flinging against an open mouth, drool pouring from both sides as she sniffed for scraps along the cobblestone. No one noticed the wolf with vicious fangs and flaming eyes sneaking beneath them, lapping up the treats their children spilled. She was even so bold as to sneak a bite of an unsuspecting turkey leg directly from the hand of a man immersed in jolly conversation.

The music slowed, bringing the crowd of dancers to a halt. I smiled at my partner. One too many glasses of solstice wine stained her lips a deep purple. Judging by the sway in her step and the beads of sweat dripping on her brow, even if she had recognized me, she surely wouldn't remember tomorrow morning.

"It's a shame the King couldn't see the festival his council threw," a round, red-nosed man nudged beside me.

"Why? Where is he?" I asked him, scanning the crowd for Vikar's royal guards or carriage.

"Hmm?" He turned to me, surprised by my interruption. "Haven't you heard? He's traveled to Aquilae, hoping to reestablish shipping routes. It's a real shame, y'know. I bet he'da loved seeing his people so happy."

A piece of me had hoped to see Vikar at the festival, but another piece was relieved that I wouldn't. I'm not sure I'd be ready to face that moment in time. To see how he's grown would be to see how much time had passed. How much I'd wasted away in that tower. I wondered if I'd ever see him again, or if he'd stayed the innocent twelve-year-old boy I'd left in that throne room. Maybe it was for the best. I'd simply slip away without stirring up the trauma of losing his makeshift mother for a second time. Clearly, the realm had healed most of its wounds during my exile; hopefully so had their King. The frantic melody of a fiddle picked up and, with it, the surrounding crowd. Tonight I shouldn't worry about the past. Or the future. I wanted to exist in the moment, to breathe in the night air and feel the joyous buzz of the city folk.

By the time the moon drew to its pinnacle, fatigue swelled my ankles. Arcturas had found a warm spot beneath a vendor's cart, stomach bulging in satiated bliss. A large bell rang from the temple above as the dancing slowed to a natural stop. Another bell struck, and the sky ignited with wisps of greens and blues so bright the shades reflected against the onlookers' wonder-struck faces. Flecks of silver and purple marked the stars of our galaxy above. The veil of color shimmered and whirled as if it was alive. A hush fell over the crowd as ringing bells erupted into the air, announcing our goddess's arrival.

There, stepping out from beneath the marble columns at the temple's entrance, was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. Her jet black hair seemed to float and wrap itself around her silvery frame as a satin cloak, the darkest shade of night, shimmered with each graceful step. She wore a dress that matched the color of the northern sky, with gauzy cerulean and magenta ribbons trailing behind her. An iron crown rested atop her head, its single point glinting in the moonlight. On each bicep she wore a matching iron cuff. Bewitched by our goddess, I fell to my knees, feeling the softness of Arcturas's tail curling against my thigh.

As she raised her hands into the air and looked to the sky with bright indigo eyes, a stillness thickened throughout the crowd. She whispered something I couldn't quite make out and an electricity blinked across the city, traveling to the outskirts just beyond the tower. Tingles spread from my toes to the crown of my head as the pulse washed over me.

Feeling as if someone had kicked me in the gut, a rush of air escaped my lungs and I reached for the grounding support of the street in front of me. Arcturas's fur straightened along her spine, her ears perked stiffly into the air and her eyes burned so deeply I thought they might burst into flames. The surrounding others were still smiling wide eyed from ear to ear, clasping their hands together in awe. The ward didn't have nearly as intense an effect on them.

Struggling to my feet, I stumbled forward, nearly shoving the small, ancient man in front of me to the ground. Apologizing profusely, I pulled the hood of my cloak lower over my face and wove through the city square littered with people. Arcturas trailed frantically behind me. My lungs needed air as the crowd began closing in tighter around me. Bile rose in my throat and I knew if I didn't shake away these tingles, now needle pricks against my skin, I'd be sick. I couldn't afford to draw that attention to myself- not with city guards posted at every corner of the square.

Finally, I darted through a break between bodies and gasped for the night air. The smell of meat and sticky wine, still low in the air, hit my nostrils and I lurched for a shadowy side street just in time to be sick. The roaring cheer of the crowd drowned the sound of my retching as Polaris returned to the temple and the festivities concluded. Arcturas nuzzled against my calves as I continued to be sick, heaving up the entirety of my stomach contents.

A couple, who I recognized as the pair I had seen crossing the tavern window, pointed their noses disgustedly away from my direction. To them, I probably just looked like a drunk who'd had one too many spiced wines. Wiping the bile from my lips and the sweat from my brow, I straightened and wobbled towards the street that'd lead me back to the tavern.

The lamplights had all burnt out hours ago as I struggled up the stone sidewalk. Dizzy with nausea and exhaustion, my legs were bags of cement beneath my weight. The brilliant borealis had faded until only a dim shade of purple remained in the sky. Concerned, Arcturas matched my step, never straying from my side. When the tavern stood only a few blocks away, three figures in deep purple uniforms marched towards me on the opposing sidewalk. Even with blurred vision, I recognized those horrendous velvet tunics anywhere.

City guards.

Scowling under my breath, I pulled my cloak tighter around myself and continued on, praying the boisterous group trailing behind me distracted them enough. As the guards grew nearer, they seemed to slow their pace. When we crossed each other's paths, they halted entirely. Shit.

"Hey! You there. Stop," one said, his voice rough with intoxication.

I held my breath and continued on.

"I said stop, girl," he called, staggering across the street on imbalanced legs.

"I'm just trying to get home, Sir," I said in a voice that wasn't quite my own. Through clenched fangs, Arcturas let out a threatening growl, warning the guard not to come any closer.

"A little lady shouldn't be out at this hour all alone. Why don't I escort you home?" he suggested, his eyes trailing the outline of my figure beneath the baggy cloak. My skin burned against his wandering gaze and the nausea returned as he licked his lips.

"It's only a few blocks away. I wouldn't want to trouble you," I said, lowering my gaze to the ground.

His two companions crossed the street and flanked each side, surrounding me. With ears lowered and tail erect, Arcturas bared her teeth, eyes flashing with ferocity.

"Tell your dog we're no threat," the one to his right said, a slight slur of his words.

"She's just protective. Now please, I really should be on my way," I said, fists clenched tightly beneath the folds of woolen material. Even if I had my trusty dinner knife, they outnumbered me. Not only would I be overpowered, but I'd also make a scene.

My eyes darkened with a deep, nearly primal violence as I pictured Arcturas ripping the soft, fleshy crease of the middle guard's neck open, sending blood spraying bright droplets of red on the pure snow beneath us.

"Nonsense. A poor, young thing like you, all alone, unprotected. You don't know who could roam the streets at this hour." The middle guard stepped closer, his breath hot and pungent on my cheeks. His two companions chuckled and closed the gap between us. My blood curdled as the one to my right nodded towards an alleyway, empty and dark.

"My husband is expecting me home any minute," I said, voice shaking.

"I don't see a wedding band on your finger, miss. Does your husband know you left the house without it? I bet he'd be real upset to find out you've been flirting with a group of city guards." The middle guard's lip glistened in the moonlight.

"We'll walk you home. We insist." The guard on the right reached for my arm. Before his fingers could wrap around my bicep, Arcturas leapt up. Her fangs pierced pale flesh, shredding his purple tunic. The guard yelped and kicked at her as she clenched down and tore at his forearm, as if his skin and muscle tissue were paper thin.

Swinging my leg, I knocked the middle guard's feet out from under him with a swiftness I'd never been capable of before. As the guard to my left lunged for me, I ducked beneath his outstretched arms and punched him where I knew it'd hurt. He fell instantly to the ground, cupping himself and wrenching in agony. The middle guard had cracked his head against the cobblestone walkway, but not hard enough to knock him out. He staggered to his knees as I towered over him, flames of fury flickering in my eyes.

With all of my strength, I kicked directly towards the center of his brow, his neck snapping backwards as he slid across the street to the opposing sidewalk. Leaving all three barely conscious, my wolf and I continued home as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

Although the tingles had subsided, my head throbbed. I stopped in my tracks, nearly keeling over from the onset of a splitting headache.

"Miss, are you okay?" A breathy male voice said behind me. Arcturas stopped in her tracks, ready to pounce again. A brunette man hunched at the knees was breathing deeply to catch his breath.

"What? Yes, I'm fine, thanks," I said, my brow twitching.

"You don't look fine; please let me help you," he said, offering his hand. Arcturas growled deeply. Blotches of black painted my vision as I stumbled to straighten out.

"I'm fine. Thank you, though. Why are you breathing so heavy?" I asked him, rubbing the crease between my eyes to relieve some of the tension.

"Well, I sprinted up here to save you from those asshole guards, but clearly you're more than capable of saving yourself."

"If that wasn't proof enough that I can kick your ass if you try anything, she'll rip your throat out if given the chance," I said, nodding towards the now tense wolf standing between us.

"I heard what those guards were saying as they walked towards you. I just wanted to help, I swear." Begging, he threw up his hands. Eyeing him, I stroked the wiry fur of Arcturas's back to settle her. She grunted, relaxing slightly, but continuing to glare at the man. The pounding behind my skull subsided with each stroke down her back.

"I'm Rune," he said, the brown of his eyes warming in the reflection of candlelight peeking through the window of a nearby home. Extending his hand towards me again, he hesitated and backed it away as Arcturas took a step towards him.

"Okay, Rune. Have a nice night," I said, turning to take my leave.

"Wait!" He stepped after me, "I'm headed this direction too! Let's walk together. Gods know I could use your protection." He chuckled at himself, but trailed off as he caught sight of my furrowed brow.

"I'd prefer to walk alone," I said, my voice clipped.

"Well… I could just walk behind you?" He fell into step. Two sets of boots crunched in the frozen layer of snow on the street as we walked in silence. Every so often Arcturas turned to check behind us, keeping Rune a comfortable distance away.

"The festival really was something, don't you think?" he called up to me.

"Yes. It was quite nice."

"I think I may have had one too many cinnamon pies though." He chuckled again. Grumbling, I stopped walking to turn back at him.

"What do you think you're doing, Rune?" I snapped.

"Just making conversation?" He eyed me innocently, flashing a toothy grin. Dimples appeared at each corner of his mouth and I couldn't help but notice how perfectly straight his teeth were. The geometrics of his features, now more defined by the clear moonlight, were sharp and straight. He had high cheekbones and prominent eyebrows that wiggled as he grinned. Nearly a giant, the man towered over me with broad shoulders and arms muscular from years of manual labor. Something warmed beneath my cheeks and I tore my gaze away from him before the feeling grew.

"Well don't," I said, stomping back up the street. We were only two blocks from the tavern now.

"Alright then. Can I at least get your name?" he asked, continuing to trail behind me.

"Ell." One block away.

"How about your companion here?" He pointed towards Arcturas who, in reply, snapped at his index finger. Jerking his hand back, he tucked them into the pockets of his trousers and threw her a sheepish shrug.

"Arcturas." Nearly there. I could see the flickers of the candles in the tavern windows.

"Well, it's nice to meet you both! It's nice to have someone to chat with on the walk home, especially after a night such as this," he said, brushing back the golden brown hair that fell lazily above his brow. Finally, I reached the tavern's knotted front door.

"This is me," I said, pulling open the door.

"You're staying at Frya's place? She's a lovely old woman… if you're on her good side, of course," Rune said, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

"Why do you say that?" With one foot over the threshold, I turned back towards the honey-brown haired man now leaning against the lamppost.

"Oh, um..," he trailed off thoughtfully, "I've heard she keeps a tight ship of that tavern of hers. I myself haven't been, but you know. City folk talk." He looked at his feet, scuffing a leather boot through the light dusting of snow now accumulating on the sidewalk.

Scanning his face, I noticed a faint glimmer bouncing off the sharp arches of his brow. Interesting. The way his skin seemed to shimmer in the coldness of the night was intriguing. The way his cheeks dimpled slightly as he smiled was somehow familiar. The way his eyes rounded as he spoke, depthless brown with flecks of amber scattering warmth in the paleness of the night, put me at ease. My chest softened. It felt easy to trust his gentle demeanor.

If I were thinking rationally, that'd make me nervous, but in the safety of the tavern's stores, I'd locked myself away. I secured my trust beneath thick, guarded layers. Frya, with her kindness and compassion, had slowly chipped it away, but at this moment I realized just how lonely a protected heart could be. If I were thinking rationally, I would tell him to fuck off and go to bed. But I wasn't thinking rationally. I was drunk from the night, the electric air of the festival, and the intoxicating beat of the fiddlers.

This Rune seemed innocent enough. And if he tried anything, I'd taken down animals nearly twice his size on my hunts. Something about his aura soothed the ache in my chest. Whether it be the strangeness of the night or the taste of frosted freedom, I yearned for connection. I craved a normal conversation between companions. Just for the night, I'd allow myself this freedom.

"Alright well-" he said, starting to take his leave.

"Thanks for, um, walking me home. Would you like to come in for a drink? We just got a shipment of elderberry spiced ale in. It'll keep you warm for the rest of your walk home," I said, pointing a thumb behind my back into the warm, dim light.

Rune continued to shuffle his feet, looking uncomfortable.

"That's okay, you probably have someone waiting up for you at home, anyway," I backpedaled, stepping further into the tavern.

"Oh, no no! I'd- I'd love to come in for a drink," he stammered, stepping past me into the held-open door. Shaking the cold from his bones, he unbuttoned the navy cloak he wore and hung it beside mine in the coatroom. Smiling, I hastily reached for two glasses behind the bar and uncorked the dark purple bottle of wine. Like two teenagers sneaking through a sleeping home, we crept to a table by the hearth, smiling shyly at one another as we settled into our seats.

With a pop of the cork, hints of elderberry, clove, and cardamom tingled my nose. Handing Rune a smudged glass, I took a sip of my own, enjoying the sharpness against the back of my tongue. He sipped slowly, grinning widely. An uncomfortable silence floated between us as we both struggled to find something to say.

"You really meant it when you said it'd keep me warm the rest of my walk home," he chuckled, a rosy pink appearing on his cheeks.

"It's my favorite. I sneak a few bottles for myself anytime we get a shipment in. Frya pretends like she doesn't notice, but judging by how she keeps this place, I'm sure she turns a blind eye." I laughed, feeling the warmth of the alcohol deep in my belly.

"So," Rune said, resting his chalice on the table with a light tap, "where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Oh, I don't know," I said, not meeting his curious gaze. "I guess I grew up fighting. I never really had any protection, so I picked it up fairly quickly." He ran his fingers down the stem of his chalice, listening intently to my reply.

"How'd you end up at Frya's place? I've heard usually only people passing through stayed with her. She doesn't strike me as the type to keep a staff," he asked.

I took a sip of my wine, letting the dryness burn down my throat, leaving a trail of warmth in its path. Suddenly, it occurred to me that by inviting this man for a drink, I'd most likely have to talk about myself. What would I say? I was an escaped convicted lady of Ursae's court with the accusation of murdering her sister in cold blood weighing on my back? I nearly laughed out loud.

Clearing my throat, I said, "Oh.. um, I was just returning for a visit initially. I left the city a few years ago, but I've been here for about four months now. Frya keeps me busy with work, and Arcturas doesn't seem to mind it here." The wolf curled up on her down-stuffed burlap bed by the hearth and gnawed on a bone contently.

"What about you? I presume you live in the city," I asked him, deflecting the conversation off of me.

"I do now, but I wasn't born here. I grew up in Venia, believe it or not. My Uncle's a farmer on the west side of Ursae. I moved in to help him when the winters grew too harsh. Gods, that was probably about ten years ago now."

"Venia?" I'd met no one from the East before. The bloody history surrounding them kept the Easterners isolated from the other realms.

"Yeah, I know." He trailed off. "I left when I was only a boy. I remember little about it, just the scent of the plumerias that run rampant throughout the city. They're always blooming. Growing up there, you grow sick of their sweet smell. Sometimes, when I was a boy, I'd pray to the Gods for a frost to come and wipe out all of those little white flowers." His gaze looked distant, as if he had been pulled into a memory.

I cleared my throat and swirled the remaining wine around my chalice. He drained the rest of his glass and smiled up at me, a faint hint of sadness curling around his lips. Unsure what to say, I pulled the cork from the bottle and filled his glass again.

"You traded eternal spring for eternal winter. I wouldn't say that's a fair bargain." I chuckled, refreshing my glass.

"No, maybe not, but at least ice doesn't smell."

Arcturas grumbled in her sleep, rolling to her back, fully exposing the soft undercoat of her belly.

"Are you high born?" Rune asked, cautiously brushing a finger through Arcturas's fur. Raising an arm for better access, she welcomed the pets.

"What?" I choked on my wine.

"You're very well-spoken for city folk. Your dialect is quite rare around these parts."

"My father was a Lord of the court, but I wasn't close with my family. The black sheep, if you will. I spent more time in the forest just outside the city walls than I ever did in court. How about you? You don't sound like a farmhand." I glanced at my hands, trying to suppress the flood of nerves as I confessed a hint of my truth.

"My parents were of status in Venia, but I never wanted that lifestyle. The courts, the politics, it was all so shallow. The lords and ladies were more concerned with the appearance of a thriving city than the wellbeing of their citizens." He trailed off, continuing to scratch Arcturas's belly.

"The courts of Ursae were cruel in their own way. Hardened from years of famine and snow, I think. It was difficult to trust even the closest of allies," I said, watching my wolf accept this stranger's affection, leaning into his pets. "She seems to trust you. Maybe you don't have ill intentions after all," I smirked.

Rune chuckled, looking up at me from his seat through thick, curled lashes. "What's the story with her? Not everyday does one come across a woman with a wolf as a pet."

"She isn't a pet," I snapped. "Erm, sorry. She's more than that. I was out on a hunt when I rescued her. She was so small I tucked her into the pockets of my cloak and carried her back into the city. One of the flatland creatures attacked her mother and littermates. She was the only survivor. We seem to understand each other, maybe because we're both alone." I smiled at the wolf, her right paw twitching in the air. Rune grew quiet. His mouth was a thin line. Most likely contemplating just how crazy I was.

"I sound insane…" I said, gulping down my wine, letting it sear down my throat.

"Maybe a little," he chuckled. I hope he'd take the deep crimson burning across my cheeks because of the wine and not my embarrassment.

"But," he said, looking at me earnestly, "I think I understand. Maybe you saved each other."

"Maybe." My eyes met his. The deep hazel glimmered gold in the candlelight between us. The wine had flushed his lips with a tinge of purple. Seconds ticked by, and we sat across from one another in silence, taking in the other's likeness. Finally, the scrape of my barstool broke the forming tension between us.

"Well, it's late. I'd best be getting to bed." I gulped down the rest of my wine and set the chalice down in the sink behind the bar before I could make any more poor decisions this evening. Rune cleared his throat, rising from his seat.

"Thank you for the wine, Ell," he said, handing his empty chalice to me. Our fingers brushed as I reached for it. The warmth of his skin opposed the ice of my own. An electric jolt coursed between us and we jerked our hands away simultaneously.

"Um. Well, I'll.. I'll be on my way." Stammering, he turned to go, nearly tripping over Arcturas's outstretched hind legs.

"Watch your step," I chuckled, "she might bite if you land on her tail." A soft warning growl rose in her throat as the wolf poked a single piercing eye up at him.

"Sorry, sorry!" Rune stepped over her apologetically, footing gingerly towards the front door. Pulling his cloak from the hanger, I handed it to him, making sure our fingers didn't touch again.

"It was nice meeting you, Rune," I said, handing him his cloak.

"You too, Ell. Thank you for a most unexpected evening. Maybe our paths will cross again." He threw his cloak over his broad shoulders and made for the door. Giving him a slight nod, I watched as he stepped into the night and disappeared down the sidewalk, glancing over his shoulder to shoot me one last tipsy smile. I returned to the candlelight of the tavern, clicking the lock. Arcturas peered over at me, her chin resting on her large, black paws.

"Oh, don't give me that look," I snapped, blowing out the nearly-melted candles on the bar with a huff. Washing the two chalices and replacing them softly on their shelf, the night replayed in my head. My skin still felt the warmth where our hands had met. Maybe the wine had gotten to me, but judging by his expression, I knew Rune felt that jolt of energy between us too. I crept up the stairs to my bedchamber with Arcturas padding behind me.

Tucked beneath scratchy sheets, the image of his soft, brown eyes flickered through my thoughts as I sank into a hazy sleep .