sweetheart. You’ll love them.”
Rhianne looked at the words printed before her but didn’t understand any of them. She could read the English, but nothing made sense. “I must put myself in your hands.”
Ben rubbed his together. “You won’t regret it. I hope. Hey, Janie,” he said to the next attractive young woman who stopped at the table. “Bring us one shrimp gumbo, one jambalaya, a mess of bread, and two blonde ales.”
“Sure thing, Ben. How about a side of beans and rice?”
“Maybe later. We’re starting small. This is Rhianne. She’s new.”
“Oh, hey.” Janie turned a big smile to Rhianne. “Welcome to New Orleans.”
She gave Rhianne the same interested once-over Holly had. They must believe her Ben’s paramour. As Rhianne couldn’t exactly explain how she’d met Ben and what she was doing here, she only smiled.
Janie took away the cards, and a young man sloshed two glasses of clear liquid to the table. Water, Rhianne guessed, though it smelled slightly metallic.
Two mugs of ale landed on the table only a few moments after that. Ben raised his once Janie had departed.
“Here’s to freedom,” he said.
Rhianne frowned in bafflement. “What are you doing?”
“It’s called a toast. You raise your glass, say what you’re drinking to, then we clink the glasses and drink.”
Rhianne liked the idea. “To freedom,” she echoed. “And the goblin who made it possible.”
Ben’s cheeks reddened. He moved his large glass to hers and gently tapped it. Then he drank.
Rhianne sipped the foamy liquid and found a drink she recognized. Ale, clear and tasty, with a zip of bubbles.
“It’s good,” she said in surprise.
“Yeah, humans can make decent beer. It’s one reason I’ve stayed here all this time.”
He tossed the words off casually, but Rhianne saw the flame of deep pain in him once more. What was Ben’s story? He’d said he was exiled no longer, but the pain hadn’t gone away.
Sadness and frustration tugged at her. “I can’t stay forever. No matter how good the beer is.”
Ben quickly set down his mug. “It’s too dangerous for you to go back. Dylan can kiss his own ass.”
“I will not return to be a spy, not that way.” Rhianne shook her head. “If I were cold and calculating, I’d do it, but I’m not. No matter how much my mother tried to make me so.”
Ben looked surprised. “I owe her. She’s a great lady, Lady Aisling.”
“Don’t I know it.” Rhianne’s bitterness flowed out before she could stop it. “I love and admire her greatly. My mother kept my dangerous father away from me. But everyone expects me to be exactly like the imperious Lady Aisling. She can be ruthlessly brutal sometimes.” Rhianne trailed off, rubbing the chilled beer glass with her fingers. “I don’t want to be like that.”
“She’s Tuil Erdannan,” Ben pointed out.
“So am I. But don’t have the urge to create or destroy an entire race for the fun of it, or to devastate hoch alfar who are just trying to get through their days. The average hoch alfar are fine, trying to make a living and not draw attention to themselves.”
“If you say so.” Ben’s rumble was dark.
Rhianne turned her mug on the table. “I know what they did to goblins. But that was the lords and princes, the same people who enslaved Shifters. The ordinary folk likely had no problem with goblins, and I know they don’t want any pet Shifters.”
Ben listened. Actually listened, meeting her gaze, his shoulders moving slightly. “You could be right. It’s hard to have compassion when you watched your own people be slaughtered.”
“I know.” Rhianne swallowed. She couldn’t imagine such a horror. “I’m sorry.”
They fell silent, awkwardly so. Rhianne reflected that she and Ben might have had a nice day together if the whole history of Faerie and some of the bad people in it didn’t lie between them.
“Here y’all go.” Janie returned with a large tray, followed by the young man who’d delivered the water. The two of them laid steaming dishes in front of Ben and Rhianne. “I brought you a mess of silverware in case you want to share.” In great delight, she set down the forks and spoons as though she bestowed an exciting gift.
“She’s the best,” Ben said, his affability returning. “Thanks, Janie.”
“Y’all enjoy.” Janie and the lad bustled off, leaving Ben and Rhianne with the savory smelling food.
“Dig in.” Ben lifted a spoon and scooped up thick broth from his bowl. He stuck the spoon into his mouth, then an expression of great pleasure softened his