“Right, let’s go,” I said to Lavendu.

  The tavern was dark, save for a few dusty shafts of afternoon light filtering through the windows. Tables and empty chairs were scattered around a bar with rge barrel kegs behind it.

  “Welcome in. I’ll be right with you,” a cheery voice chimed. A woman with slightly wider hips than the other girls was bent over one of the tables. She swayed back and forth as she wiped it down. “Have a seat. I just need a moment.”

  I tore my gaze away from her swinging hips and made for the bar. “Thank you,” I said.

  She snapped her head over her shoulder with an eager smile, revealing bright orange hair tied back except for a couple strands which danced around her face. “You’re a traveller!”

  Her voluminous bosoms bounced and jiggled with giddy energy as she flitted around the bar, every step brimming with enthusiasm. “Welcome to the Silver Stallion,” she said as she leaned over the counter, giving me ample view of her cleavage. I couldn’t help but keep looking.

  Normally, I had better self-control, but today I felt like a caged beast. Maybe it was that I couldn’t stop thinking about my night with Lavendu or perhaps it was just the vivaciousness of these women compared to those of Castletún. Fortunately she didn’t seem to mind my wandering eye.

  “What can I get you?” she continued, “a day beer?”

  “Ah, I better not. I still have some things to do today,” I said.

  “Have you never had a day beer? It won’t do anything to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s a day beer. It won’t get you drunk. It’s brewed to be uplifting. It’ll help you with your tasks, I’m sure of it.”

  “Alright, I’ll give it a try then.”

  Li’s smile twinkled and she spun around to the kegs. “So where are you from, traveler?”

  “Castletún.”

  “Now that’s really something. Visitors are pretty rare in these parts but one from Castletún. I was just a little girl the st time one of you made your way up here.”

  She spun back around and handed me a cool, clear gss of foamy golden drink.

  “Thank you, er…”

  “Li,” she said as she stood straight, pnting her hands on her hips.

  “Thank you Li,” I said as I took a drink. The day beer was cool and crisp. It reminded me somewhat of the gers back home but was really beyond compare. The metallic, piss-like fvor I was used to was repced with a pleasant piney bitterness and sweet bready undertones. The drink burst to life in my mouth with sparkling effervescence, which startled me so much I almost choked. I took several gulps.

  “That’s incredible!” I said as I pced the gss down with a thud. “I’ve never had anything like it.”

  “Gd you like it,” Li said. “So will you be needing a pce to stay while you’re in Itán?”

  “That’s actually why I dropped by. I was told you have rooms avaible.”

  “I do!” she beamed, then arched an eyebrow. “Just you? Or do you have any travel companions?”

  “I met a fairy guide on the way here actually.” I looked around for Lavendu. “I’m not really sure what that entails. So she might want to stay with me.”

  “She would probably like it, if she agreed to be your guide, that is. That’s quite a fortunate happenstance, receiving a fairy guide is somewhat rare. What’s her name? Is she from here?”

  “Lavendu,” I answered.

  “Lavi?” Li said, dropping her jaw. “You’ve got to be joking. Deep purple, wavy hair? Short and skinny?”

  “That sounds about right. She was just with me. I don’t know whe-”

  “You invited her in didn’t you?”

  I shrugged and shook my head.

  “My girlfriend and I live here so it’s technically a domicile. She can’t enter without an invitation.”

  Li made for the door. “Oh Lavi come on in darling.”

  Lavendu came in and gave Li a hug. She walked up to me and put a hand on my arm.

  “I don’t understand,” I said.

  “Fairy magic,” Lavendu answered. “It may be more powerful than that of the elves and humans but it’s bound by all manner of rules and limitations.”

  I nodded slowly.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll have plenty of time to teach you everything. Did you get a room?”

  “Yes, we were just wondering if you’d be staying with me.”

  She pouted her big lips and looked up at me. “Do you want me to?”

  I smiled, her submissive purple eyes engorged me. “Of course,” I said, “I’d love to have you.”

  She smiled and kissed my cheek. “Then I will!” she said as she stole a sip of my beer. “I haven’t lived indoors in ages.”

  Li raised an eyebrow at her, then turned to me. “I’ll need the afternoon to freshen up your room. It’ll be ready by sunset.”

  “Thank you Li,” I said, “How much will this cost? I’ll probably need to look for a job if I’m to stay awhile.”

  “No charge,” Li said. “No one uses money in Itán. But I could use some help chopping firewood and hauling supplies from time to time.”

  “I think I’m going to like it here,” I said, raising my gss.

  “So,” I continued as I passed the beer to Lavendu, “am I going to need to invite you in every time we come back here?”

  “No,” Lavendu said, “I’m a resident now, so I can come and go as I please.”

  “And we’re happy to have you Lavi,” Li added.

  “Jethro,” Lavendu said as she took my arm, “I’m sure everyone in town has heard about you by now. We should go introduce you to the stewards. They’re going to want to know all about you and Castletún.”

  I swallowed hard, sweat beading on my brow. Anxiety coiled in my chest. The weight of Castletún clung to me, no matter how far I ran.

  ***

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