Red Heir - Lisa Henry Page 0,31

a small, unobtrusive building. Loth could tell just by looking that Grub was right—the other inn was for passers-by, with inflated prices and watered-down ale. This one though, had the look of a place that wasn’t out to impress anyone—if you didn’t know it existed, you didn’t deserve a room there.

“I’m not even going to ask how you know about this place.”

“Good,” Grub said. “Because I’m not going to tell you.”

There was definitely a story there, and one day Loth was going to find out what it was, but for now, the aroma of roasted meat wafting out of the tavern had all his attention. He tipped his head back, sniffing. Grub did the same, letting out a low moan that wouldn’t have been out of place in the bedroom.

“Oh my gods,” he groaned. “Real food.”

Calarian’s face drew into a pinched frown. “There’s nothing wrong with vegetarian meals!”

“Of course not,” Loth agreed, eager to soothe the holder of the purse strings, “not normally. But Grub’s still all ribs and bad temper. We should probably do something to put some meat on his bones.”

“Fair,” Calarian nodded, somewhat appeased, “I’ll get the rooms. Scott can stable the horses.”

Scott, in an effort to wrest back control of the party, waited until Calarian was inside before clearing his throat and declaring loudly, “I’ll go and take care of the horses, while the elf gets the rooms.”

He needn’t have bothered. Nobody was listening.

Chapter Eight

Loth watched, fascinated, as Grub ploughed through his third plate of stew. He wasn’t sure where the boy was putting it all, but he was definitely enjoying it, seemingly unaware of the filthy noises he was making as he ate. They’d secured a table in the back corner of the tavern where they’d be away from prying eyes. Calarian must have paid handsomely because every time Loth blinked there seemed to be a maid with more food and drink for them. Everyone ate and drank eagerly, differences put aside for now, and Loth guessed he wasn’t the only one in the mood to celebrate their escape from the swamp.

He allowed himself to relax, just a little.

For now, at least, they were safe. He leaned back in his seat, tilted his head back and took a long swallow of ale, and when he lowered his tankard, Grub was watching him intently. Loth couldn’t resist licking his lips suggestively, and the boy flushed and ducked his head to avoid Loth’s gaze. Before he did though, Loth caught sight of something in his face. A hunger perhaps, that had Loth speculating that despite Grub’s protests, spending his nights sleeping next to another man—an attractive man, though he did say so himself—had awakened more than Grub’s curiosity.

He stretched, enjoying the fullness of his belly and the warmth of the fire, before prodding at Calarian. “You arranged the bath?”

Calarian nodded towards the maid. “Just let Jenny know and she’ll have them bring the tub to your room.”

“Jenny? On a first name basis already, are we?” he leered.

He didn’t really expect Calarian to wink and say, “What can I tell you? The ladies love an elf.”

Loth was seeing a whole new side to Calarian, confident and almost—dare he say it—agreeable. Perhaps, Loth reflected, what he’d mistaken for teenage sullenness was no more than a desperate need to get laid. Apparently, he thought, grinning, he still likes at least one type of meat.

Grub stifled a yawn, and Loth noted the way he was slumped in his chair. “Come on, Grub. You can have the water after me. It’ll still be warm.”

“How come you get to go first?” Grub grizzled as Loth beckoned the maid over and gave his instructions.

“Beauty before the beast,” Loth replied airily, easing out of his chair.

He’d moved far enough up the staircase that he almost didn’t hear Grub’s muttered reply of, “Shit before the shovel, you mean.”

Almost.

He might have been annoyed if it was anyone else, but coming from Grub, it was funny. He still stopped and turned, though. “Look at me, Grub. Now look at you. If you bathe first, I’ll come out dirtier than I went in.”

“Fair,” Grub conceded, and they continued up the stairs.

The bath was bliss. Absolute bliss. Loth didn’t care that he’d had bigger baths before, or even hotter baths. He didn’t care that he’d been to the bathhouses in Callier before, where underground ovens kept the rooms filled with steam and the water was so hot it almost simmered. No bath in Loth’s life had ever been as glorious