Alternate

Chapter 3

Rand watched the minstrel pluck away at the chords of his lute. The tune was a cheerful one though it was completely lost on him. It was his third day of soaking in the ale and wine and some of the stronger beverages available. He was a bit surprised no one had come after him yet, but it wasn't something he was going to complain about. Three hours back home probably meant they were only just starting to look through his usual hangouts. No doubt they had contacted his boss and questioned him. The cops took murders seriously, but they weren't miracle workers and things took time.

A sip from the tankard and all of that disappeared from his mind.

The minstrel started playing a merry song that pulled a few of the others in the common room into singing along with him.

Rand wasn't one of them. He rather stared down at his tankard and ignored what happened around him.

He had had time to work on his emotions about the incident. He was still surprised how little killing his wife had affected him. There had been no breaking down into a miserable pile of sobs nor was there any overbearing feeling of guilt. There was no pleasure from having done it either, just a numbness and feeling of indifference. It made him question whether he had really loved her at all. Such thoughts usually made him lift the tankard and take a sip or two to get rid of them.

"Hello there handsome," came a female voice from next to him. Rand looked up with a slightly drunken frown. It was early in the day and he hadn't had time to work through more than a few tankards of ale so he wasn't completely wasted. She had black hair that was tied behind her in a ponytail. Green eyes looked back at him from under thick brows. She had a small nose and lips that seemed to beg for a kiss. "Need some company?"

Rand had no interest in a hooker. "Not today," he grunted and gave her a look he hoped would drive her away. In doing so he couldn't help but notice the curve of her hips and the slightly unbuttoned shirt that provided ample cleavage. He frowned at the fact she was wearing pants made for wandering the wilderness. No whore wore such things.

"You sure?" she asked and made no effort to move away. "You look the kind that would welcome female company."

"How do you figure that?" asked Rand without looking up. "Am I not focused enough on my ale?"

The woman laughed. "You are, but there's a vibe you give off. Something... irresistible about it."

"Well, you better learn to resist and find someone else," said Rand and took a sip of ale. He was caught by surprise when the woman pushed him back in his seat and sat down on his lap, draping her arms around his neck. She leaned in closer.

"Now you listen to me. You're going to pretend we're having some fun here just like a drunk man and a whore would. If you do anything to give the impression that's not the case I'll pull out the knife from my boot and carve your balls off. Are we clear?"

Stunned, Rand nodded.

The woman wasted no time starting the show by pretending to kiss his neck and giggle from time to time. She fooled even Rand into thinking the threat she had laid out only moments before had been his imagination. He put his hands on her waist and started to caress her sides.

"Don't let your hands wander off to places they shouldn't be," the woman whispered and took a moment to give him a cold stare.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Rand and looked around the tavern. The owner was busy drawing drink for the waitresses while the customers all looked like regular folk with no threat in sight. Then he spotted the two men making their way around the tables. They were strong built, one bald the other with greasy long hair. Both had swords at their sides with light leather armour.