Chapter 14

Warm pools of amber light blossomed over the cobblestones as the lamplighter worked his way down the street, igniting the gas lamps one by one. Small puddles from an earlier rain reflected the golden orbs above and formed a string of glimmering beads lining the path. As I skirted a larger puddle to keep my favorite leather shoes dry, Remy jumped right into the middle, splashing water everywhere and soaking my legs. He merely laughed when I shrieked in outrage and promised revenge.

Light spilled from The Stony Mug onto the sidewalk, and even through the window I could hear the early revelers getting started. "Someone here's going to know about gargoyles?" I couldn't keep the disbelief from my voice. "Or were you thinking of having a drink first?"

"Two birds with one stone. Food, drink, and hopefully information."

"That's three."

"There's my lack of education coming out. Poor math skills."

"I have no doubt you can calculate the value of everything you steal down to the copper."

"You have me there," he said with a wink.

The smell of ale, roasting meat, and tobacco smoke assailed me as we entered the tavern. My stomach rumbled as it remembered the taste of Ralph's cooking and I wondered what was on the menu today. Then I also remembered the sad state of my finances. I eyed the bowl of nuts on the bar, but I thought it might be poor manners to devour them all without buying a single drink. With a sigh, I decided the leftover bread and cheese I had in my room would have to do.

I was about to climb onto a bar stool, but Remy pointed to a corner table in the back of the room. "That's my usual table. Let me talk to Ralph and I'll join you in a minute."

My feet squelched as I wove through the cheerful patrons, and I cursed Remy again. Reaching the table he had indicated, I slipped off my shoes and sat with my back to the wall to watch the crowd. Cutlery clattered against dishes, mugs thumped on tables, and laughter floated above the din. The diners were an eclectic mix of humans, lesser fae, and some I assumed were shifters—mostly men, but enough women that I didn't feel out of place.

Remy slid into the seat next to mine, carrying two mugs of ale. He took a drink from one and set the other in front of me. The ale was dark with a thick head of foam, and I eyed it dubiously.

"You don't drink ale?" he asked, one brow raised.

"Not really." I wrinkled my nose.

He picked the mug up, drank from it, and put it next to the other that was in front of him. "Good. More for me."

"Maybe we should get on with gathering information before the drink makes you ornery."

"This?" Remy pointed at the two mugs. "This doesn't affect me at all." He licked some foam from his lips. "Except to make me piss."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, completely at a loss for a response. He regarded me with his bright blue gaze and smirked. Understanding him was a lost cause, and I couldn't believe I had kissed him. He was sexy and an excellent kisser, but I preferred large, quiet men who didn't challenge me at every turn. Never mind that I didn't have time for anything outside building my reputation in the guild.

A serving woman appeared at the table carrying two plates of food that she placed in front of us. Before I could object that I hadn't ordered anything, she squealed and threw her arms around Remy's neck.

"Shirley," he said. "What brings you here?"

"Ralph hired me." She giggled and plopped down into Remy's lap. I made a quick grab for the still full mugs as she smacked the table with her hip, setting everything rocking.

"I haven't seen you in ages," she cooed, wriggling and batting her lashes. Her cap barely contained an explosion of blonde curls, just as her bodice barely contained an explosion of ample bosom.

"I've been busy, love," he said as he swatted a few errant blonde curls out of his face.

She peered at me. "Who's your little friend?"

Little friend? I opened my mouth to say something scathing, but Remy cut in.

"This is Ziola. We just work together."

I snapped my gaze to him, and a sharp pang burned through my chest. What was wrong with me? Just moments ago, I'd been thinking that I disliked him and now this annoyed me? That wasn't right. I'd said the same thing to Keillan about him, after all. I must just be hungry.

Averting my eyes from Shirley and Remy, I pulled my plate of food closer, picking up the fork. Maybe I couldn't afford it, but I'd be damned if I'd just sit here and watch the two of them hump like bunnies on the table. Head down, I started shoveling food in my mouth.

The sound of a heavy boot tread and a large shadow cast over the table had me looking back up. Ralph stood next to us with a slight frown on his handsome face. With a sigh, he reached down, gently took hold of Shirley's arm, and peeled her off of Remy.

"Let's go, Shirley, you've got customers waiting," he rumbled.

Shirley shook out her skirts and turned to Remy. "Will you still be here when we close? Maybe we could have some fun later."

The memory of Remy's hard chest and other parts pressed against me popped into my mind, and for a moment, I contemplated him having fun with me instead.

"I'm sorry, Shirl, but not tonight," Remy said soothingly. "I've got to work."

Her face turned pouty, but Ralph took her by the shoulders and turned her around. "Go on."

When she'd flounced away, hips and ass jiggling, Ralph sat down and rubbed the back of his neck.

"When did you hire Shirley?" Remy asked.

"Irene is having a baby, so Shirley is filling in for a few months."

Remy lifted one of the mugs. "Cheers to Irene."

Ralph nodded. "I'm happy for her, of course, but finding a replacement has been challenging."

I gave an unladylike snort. "You mean crawling in the customers' laps wasn't part of her job description?"

Ralph winced. "No. To be fair, she's not usually that bad."

"I'm just irresistible," Remy noted with a smirk.

"You're just trouble," Ralph replied.

I couldn't argue with that, so I said nothing and returned to my food. It was as good as last time, and I wondered where to find a man who could cook like this. Maybe Ralph had a brother. I eyed him speculatively before remembering I had no time for men.

Ralph stood and I looked up again as the most arresting woman I'd ever seen glided toward us. Metallic copper hair hung loose, framing a face highlighted by gold eyes and full lips. Her tall, curvy form was draped in a flowing gown that fluttered as she walked. When she drew near, I could see that her tan skin was subtly marbled and dusted with a glittering sheen.

We had a lamia in the circus who danced with veils and shifted between her human and half snake forms as she gyrated. The men showered her with coins as she performed, and I always thought she was an exotic beauty. This woman put our lamia to shame. She could have made a fortune as a dancer.

Ralph put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "Ziola, this is my wife, Petra."

Petra sat down and smiled warmly at both Remy and me. After several minutes of exchanging pleasantries, Petra said, "Ralph said you wanted to ask us something."

"Do either of you know anything about gargoyles?" Remy asked.

"Nasty fighters," Ralph said.

"Did you go up against any when you were with the Steel Serpents?"

"One time, a duke hired a few to protect his castle walls. Thank the gods the duke had hired us as well. I would not have wanted to fight them." Ralph grimaced and rubbed his cheek.

Petra leaned over to me and said, "Ralph was a mercenary for many years with the Steel Serpent Company."

"Was he the cook?" I asked. I could see someone his size as a warrior, but I wondered how he had transitioned from soldier to tavern keeper.

Petra laughed. "No. He's as fierce with a sword as he is with a ladle."

"Did you see any killed while fighting?" Remy asked.

Ralph shook his head. "They have this weird stone-like hide when they transform from their human shapes. Arrows and swords bounce off."

"Could you shoot them through the eye?"

I perked up and listened closely.

"I have no idea, but do you know how hard it would be to put an arrow through someone's eye in the middle of a battle?" Ralph asked. "A lot of them can fly, too."

"Where do they come from?" I asked. I knew they sat around on building roofs, but not much more than that.

"From the mountains," Petra answered. "They live near the peaks. Even higher than the troll communities."

"Did you know any there?" Remy asked.

"When we went to the troll villages to trade, sometimes a few gargoyles would come down for the same reason. Usually, they were in their human form, but sometimes one would shift. Most have wings, but they all look different. Horns, fangs, animals, demons… you name it."

"The common feature is that tough skin, making them all look like stone," Ralph added.

"Why would they come to the city?" I asked.

Petra shrugged. "The same reason anyone does. Financial opportunity."

Ralph rested his elbows on his knees. "They hire out as protection services, just like the hobgoblins. They can sit on a roof and keep watch for hours with no complaint. The weather doesn't bother them at all."

"The important question here is, how do we defeat them?" Remy asked.

Ralph looked at him blankly. "You don't."

Remy sprawled in his chair, and I felt lightheaded. Surely, that couldn't be right.

"If they can't be defeated, why doesn't everyone have them as guards and soldiers?" I asked.

"Their population is quite small and is dwindling," Petra said. "Like the trolls, they don't do well in urban environments. As mining, roads, and logging invade the mountains, fewer children are born. No one really knows why."

"They hire out for a few years, but then return to the mountains." Ralph scanned the room and added, "I'd better get back to work." He stood, squeezed Petra's shoulder, and returned to the bar.

I glanced at Remy to see if he had any other ideas, but he looked as blank as I felt.

"What about magic?" I eventually asked. "Maybe we could buy something from the fae?"

Petra pursed her lips and shook her head. "The fae aren't strong when it comes to enchanting stone."

"But you are," Remy said.

"Yes, but that's real stone, not people with stony skin." She toyed with a necklace and gazed at nothing. "I might be able to enchant a dart or arrowhead that could penetrate their skin. But," — she looked sharply at Remy — "I'm not keen on helping kill one unless it is life or death."

"I don't want to kill anyone either. If this weren't important, I'd be happy to walk away." Remy rubbed his chin. "What about putting a sleeping charm on it? Something that would knock them out for a while."

"Maybe. Are you a good enough archer from a long distance? I don't think you want to get close enough to use a blade. Even thrown."

"I am," I said.

Petra raised her brows at me.

"I used to shoot apples off acrobats' heads and out of their hands while they tumbled and juggled."

"Did you impale any?" Remy asked.

"Of course not." I lifted my chin and crossed my arms over my chest. "At least not by the time I turned ten."

Petra's eyes were wide, and her mouth formed a small O.

"I used rubber arrowheads until they were sure I wasn't going to accidentally kill anyone."

She shook her head, but then stilled. "Actually, you've given me an idea…" She trailed off, staring at the blank wall. Then she stood and said, "I have to experiment," as she walked away.

I gazed after her. "Um, does that mean she can help us?"

Remy shrugged. "She's absolutely brilliant when working with stone, so my guess is she'll come up with something useful." He pulled out the knife he'd used on me at the Quinlins and tapped the stone set in the handle. "She made this for me and enchanted it to return when I call it."

I stroked it with one finger and sighed. Given how often I missed my target with a knife, it would be nice to not have to chase after it. Sadly, I didn't think that was why Remy liked it.

Remy stood and downed the second mug of ale. Pointing at my plate, he said, "Are you finished? Feel free to stay, but I'm heading out."

"No." I pushed back my chair and slipped on my damp shoes. "I'll walk out with you."

As we passed the bar, Shirley was loading mugs onto a tray. She paused and beamed at Remy. "If you finish work early tonight, sweetie, you know where to find me."

He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. "I do, indeed."

I had never lacked for confidence. In fact, overconfidence had landed me in this arrangement with Remy. I was slender and that had always been an advantage, first in the circus and now in the guild. But between Shirley and Petra, I felt like a twelve-year-old waif trying to keep up with the grown women.

I trailed Remy out the door, head down and pride stinging. On the sidewalk, he paused and said, "I'll leave you here. You've got plans for the evening and so do I."

Plans? I wasn't sure what he was talking about because I had no plans except sitting in my tiny room by myself. Then I remembered what I'd told Jareth.

"Oh, no. I just said that because a pub crawl with Jareth, Polix, and Gordon didn't sound appealing." I fiddled with the edge of my fitted tunic and smiled tentatively. "Do you need help tonight?"

"No," he said quickly and looked away.

My smile evaporated as heat rushed to my cheeks. That was a stupid question. He undoubtedly wanted to finish in time to hook up with Shirley. Having me tag along wasn't exactly a benefit. I should have been thrilled for a restful night at home. Except I wasn't.

"I'm just going to spend time at the docks searching for Drex's toxin dumper. Go out and enjoy yourself."

"OK," I said and tried to appear nonchalant. "Meet up at the guildhall tomorrow?"

"Yeah. See you there." He stuck his hands in his pants pockets and strolled off down the street, strides long and loose. I stood by myself in front of The Stony Mug and watched him go.