The Nun and King

Chapter 10

Warren holds it open for us and we all step inside with myself bringing up the rear. The music is lively, with an older man playing a fiddle while another blows on a flute. Rory finds three tables to the far right that are empty and we follow him before taking our seats at the long wooden tables that hold twelve each. I'm not surprised to see that all of the women have chosen to sit together, leaving room for only a few more at the end.

When Rory goes to sit in the empty seat next to Beth Ann, who is busy taking the tavern in with wide eyes, I place a hand on his shoulder as he steps forward. "I think they wish to be alone. Maybe it's best if we give them space for a while," I suggest.

Rory—whose left eye is slightly swollen shut—sighs but takes his place next to me at another table. "You're probably right," he says.

Just then, a barmaid comes sashays over take our orders, eying us curiously. "They with you?" she asks, pointing her quill at the women.

"Aye," says Warren, unsure of the context of her question.

"Pity," she replies, tucking her blond hair behind her hair as she looks Warren over. "What'll you have handsome?" she asks, turning to Sven.

"What'd ya have?" he asks, giving her a grin. "I'm assuming you aren't on the menu?"

She gives him an eyeroll and places her hands on round thighs. "I ain't into youngin's like you. You can't be much older than, what, 23? I could be your mum. Besides, I'd break you in two anyways," she replies, causing Sven to sit up straight. Meanwhile, the rest of us stifle laughter as we watch his face turn red. "We have tomato soup with toasted bread, shepherd's pie with roasted potatoes and cabbage, or chicken and a buttered roll."

"Um," Sven stumbles, his confidence obviously shattered. "H-how old is the chicken?"

"Freshly butchered yesterday morning," she tuts. "Well?"

"I'll have the chicken then, and the tomato soup," he answers, elbowing Gale in the ribs when a snicker escapes his lips.

"Please," she adds, reprimanding him as she scribbles it down on her notepad. It's clear that at this point she's enjoying making him squirm just as much as we enjoy watching.

"Please," he says, pressing his lips together.

She then turns to me and cocks a groomed blonde brow.

"I'll have the same ma'am. Please and thank you," I say, giving my head a small bow while trying to hold back my smile.

"Would you like a treated rag for your face as well? Free of charge," she asks, lightly grabbing my chin in her hand before tiling my head back and forth to examine me. Her thin lips press together in disapproval and she gives her head a single shake.

Gently, I pull my jaw from her hold and offer her a smile. "I've had worse, believe it or not. But you have my gratitude."

She gives me a nod before going around and taking the other's orders, leaving the women for last. When she walks away we all burst out into laughter—Gale clapping him on the back while Warren ruffles his hair, messing it up.

"Knock it off" Sven mutters, patting the strands that escaped from his bun back down. "She wants me, she's just putting on a show is all. I bet two coppers that by the end of the night I take her out back."

"I'll take that bet," Nik says, patting his coin purse he keeps tied to his belt.

"She seems like she enjoys taking charge that one," Rory says, "I'll bet four that if she does she'll try to pop a finger or two in that little arse of yours," he finishes, which earns another round of laughter.