toward the woman. “I’ll bet you that I can turn water into whisky and whisky into water.”
Evangeline scoffed and looked at her like she belonged locked up somewhere safely away from the public. Her eyes flicked to a large Scot at the door, who placed a hand on the dirk at his hip and frowned.
“If I can’t do it”—Avery spoke loudly, noticing a few men around her table had taken interest—“you keep the coin and I leave. If I can, you sell me dinner and a room, no questions asked.”
The woman’s eyes fell on the coin, and then she glanced around the room at the patrons who’d taken interest. Avery couldn’t remember what the coin was worth, but it was clear it provided some temptation, as did the idea of Avery providing some free entertainment.
“Aye. It’s a wager.” The woman offered her hand, and Avery shook it.
“I’ll need a shot of whisky and a shot of water,” Avery said.
“A what?” The woman looked at her in confusion.
Oh shit. When the fuck was the shot glass invented? Avery’s eyes locked on a small glass in a nearby man’s hand. He was sipping something that looked like wine out of it. “In a glass like that,” she said. “One whisky. One water. Filled to the top. You have to be able to see the miracle take place.”
Avery rubbed her hands together, trying to psyche herself up.
“This is crazy,” she whispered under her breath. She turned to the men, now watching her curiously. “May I borrow one of your playing cards?”
Three men produced cards, and Avery selected one from the man who looked least likely to kill her. The woman returned with the glasses and placed them on the table before her.
“Thank you. Now, watch closely,” Avery said, thrusting her arms into the air and loosening up her hands. She’d performed this bar trick a million times in the Three Sisters, but there were so many things that could go wrong in this environment. She said a silent prayer that her guardian angel was still with her and placed the card over the water. Holding it in place, she flipped the glass over and placed it on top of the glass of whisky.
The Lion and the Hare become eerily silent as both men and women circled to watch what came next. Some in the back stood on chairs so they could see. This was the hard part. The key was creating the smallest possible opening. She pinched the card lightly and gave it a gentle tug.
Like magic, the whisky rose into the upper glass and the water sank into the lower one until the two liquids had completely switched places. There was an audible gasp from her audience. With practiced hands, she nudged the card back into place, held it to the top glass, and flipped it over. Removing the card, she handed the glass to Evangeline, whose mouth gaped in wonder.
“Go ahead, taste it,” Avery offered, giving her the friendliest smile she could muster.
She did and then held it up above her head. “Whisky!”
Everyone erupted in cheers. Avery took a bow.
“Are ye a witch, woman?” The man near the door asked, his hand still on his dirk.
Avery laughed but thought she’d best put that idea to rest right away considering the history of witches in this part of the world. “No. Water is heavier than whisky. It’s a trick. The liquids switch places. I can teach you how to do it”—she turned back to Evangeline—“if you bring me something to eat and I can have a room. If not, I’ll have to go.”
Evangeline smiled warmly and swiped a hand through the air. “Sit down, lassie. I’ll bring ye some stew and have one of the girls fix a room for ye.”
Avery fell back into her chair and clapped her hands together. “Well then, let the water-to-whisky lessons commence!”
An hour later, her stomach was full, she was very tipsy, and she’d demonstrated the trick three more times until the man by the door whose name she learned was Aeden was able to replicate it to the cheers of onlookers. To her relief, the patrons lost interest when a bard arrived with a lute and set up in the corner of the room. At the same time, several men disappeared up the stairs with their chosen woman, no doubt to complete their transaction.
Avery decided to have another pint and watch the show. She leaned back, turning her body toward the bard. He was a