I'm hungry and there is a feast to be had. If there was pandemonium and someone spilled my food, I would not be responsible for my actions."
"Are you ever?"
"Have I ever avoided responsibility for my actions?"
Sera considered him while she took a long sip of her drink. "I…don't know. I've never paid attention to that kind of thing, which I suppose means you have never avoided responsibility for your actions. I would possibly have noticed otherwise."
The barbarian grinned as the innkeeper brought the platter to the table, as well as a mug of hard apple cider, likely to help with the heat of the food that was served.
"And here I thought you would need to leave me a gold coin to pay for any damages incurred," Ansen noted with a smirk.
"Not this time," Skharr answered. "More is the pity. I was hoping for a little exercise."
"And I'm sure all the diners would take pleasure in watching your fists beat unwilling flesh,” the proprietor responded briskly. “If you need anything else, milady, tell me." He bowed his head respectfully before he backed away.
The barbarian grinned before he turned his attention to Sera.
"There’s no need to look so smug about it." She shook her head and the amusement faded from her features as she cast a worried look across the room.
"Something is wrong." His tone was sharp as he stated the obvious and leaned forward so none of the other patrons could hear him.
"Not here," she whispered.
They both stood and moved out to the front of the Mermaid, which was considerably less crowded than the common room. He had a feeling there were still ears to listen to what they were saying but she would be able to see them a little better when there were fewer folks about.
"Something is gnawing at you, that much is obvious," he muttered and folded his arms. "I was under the impression that the situation with the undercouncil had been resolved."
"It was, but it presents a few…new difficulties," Sera whispered and leaned against a nearby wall. "A few of those who control Verenvan feel as though a power vacuum has formed, and while they deal with it, they would prefer that things be as peaceful as possible."
"Peaceful?"
"They were too…ah, polite to say it outright, but the point is that many folk would see killing you as a stepping stone to taking the power left by those you killed."
"Polite?"
"I did mention they were folk of power in the city, yes? Did you think they would be street urchins like the undercouncil?"
"Did you call your sister a street urchin?"
The guard captain grinned. "I thought you might miss that and yes, I did."
"So, what did the overcouncil think I could do about those who want me dead for political reasons? Did they want to join the hunt?"
"No. In fact, they want you out of the city as soon as possible so they can resolve the situation."
There was an undertone to her voice that Skharr couldn't quite place for a moment. When the thought crystallized, a smile touched his face and he ran his fingers lightly through his beard. She was worried, and not only for the safety of her city. Sera was worried about him.
He leaned forward and placed a light, tender kiss on the top of her head. "I'll be gone by first light tomorrow."
The fact that she hadn't hit him or stabbed him already was probably a good sign. It might even be an indication that she wouldn't in the immediate future.
"Well," she retorted. "That was an unimpressive kiss."
He lowered his head. "So you’ve been kissed many times on the head, have you? Enough that you are able to decide which are acceptable and which are not?"
"I merely assumed you had horrible aim," she answered with a smirk and a wink before she turned away and stepped into the street. He could only hope she had left enough coin to pay for her drink in the common room, although he found his attention drawn to the figure that receded quickly into the blackness of the evening.
"I'll need a cold bath," Skharr whispered, shook his head, and entered the inn. The common room seemed the same as it had been when he left and his food and drink remained untouched on the table where he could still catch hints of her scent lingering in the air. He closed his eyes and leaned closer to his food, where at least the heady scent of spices covered almost anything else.
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