Elena froze. Her eyes began to sting.
But no, she couldn't cry right now. She had to be strong for Amber.
She placed an arm across her friend's shoulder and rocked her gently.
"I thought the curse hadn't spread to these parts? The king assured us that he was going to stop the—"
"Who gives a rat's ass about what the king has promised?" Amber interrupted angrily, tears spilling rapidly down her cheeks.
"They're just a bunch of self-righteous figureheads, Elena. You need to understand that they don't care about anything but themselves."
"But how are you so sure it was the cursed people who did this to your father? It might be bandits… yes, that's it. A group of thieves who just wanted some money…" Elena replied, trying desperately to convince herself.
Amber shook her head in disappointment.
"Stop trying to avoid the truth, Elena," she said, sniffling.
"His arms were burnt badly, and his throat was slit.. and it wasn't a knife cut…"
"Elena! What are you doing out there? Get back inside right now!"
Kate's shrill voice startled them both.
"I'll be right back, Amber. Wait for me," Elena said, hurrying into the tavern.
"You lazy little mite," Kate spat cruelly. "You ran off to gossip with your friends, leaving my customers unattended to."
She grabbed Elena's long plait and yanked it harshly.
Kate had always been jealous of her hair. Every effort to force Elena to cut it had been unfruitful.
Elena only flinched slightly. Her eyes held an indescribable sadness and grief.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked, uninterested.
Elena swallowed hard, fighting back tears.
"Mr. Cedric is dead… They found his body today."
Kate stared her up and down, then let out a long hiss.
Elena looked up in shock.
"Why are you so sad about that? This is good news! I've never liked Cedric anyway. He was always meddling in my business and telling the whole town that I don't treat you well."
She scoffed. "You and I know that isn't true… right?"
Elena stared at her wordlessly.
"Well, who cares what you think?" Kate continued. "Cedric got what he deserved. Some might call it karma."
Anger surged through Elena's veins. The urge to slap her aunt was loud — almost overwhelming.
"Why would you say something like that?" Elena cut in, heaving with anger.
"He was like a father—"
"Your father is dead, Elena!" Kate interrupted rudely.
"Dead and gone for good. The sooner you come to terms with that, the better for you."
Elena's fingers twitched as she clenched and unclenched her fists.
"Get back to work," Kate sneered, walking away.
A group of four men entered the tavern. Tall, bearded, and rough-looking. One of them carried an axe.
Elena was used to such men and wasn't scared in the least.
"What would you like to have?" she asked robotically.
"We'd like a plate of bread—"
"Hey, Elena!"
A man named Gerald shouted from the next table.
"We've been waiting for you to refill our cups, and you went to attend to these people first?"
"Sorry, I had no idea. I'll be with you shortly," she replied half-heartedly.
After taking the newcomers' orders, she returned to Gerald's table.
"What did you say you wanted?"
"Are you deaf?" he snapped.
"I asked you to get us more ale."
"I'm on it," Elena replied tiredly.
Her head throbbed insistently, and the noise in the tavern felt louder than usual. Sharper, like it was pressing in on her.
Gerald's rudeness was nothing new. He had once asked her to marry him, and she had refused.
Since then, he came to the tavern every day either to sway her or make her life miserable.
Judging by his attitude today, it was the latter.
As she lifted the tray of ale and approached the table, flashes of Cedric filled her mind. His advice. His care.
Then the images shifted. It was replaced by Amber's description of his body.
Elena gasped and spilled a cup of ale onto Gerald.
"You little bitch!" Gerald cursed.
"I'm so sorry!" Elena exclaimed, snapping out of her visions.
"Sorry?" he sneered. "You did this on purpose!"
He grabbed her arm tightly.
"Let go of me!"
"You're going to pay for this," he growled. "I'll destroy this tavern!"
A hand landed on Gerald's shoulder.
"Don't you think you're going too far?"
Gerald turned sharply. "Who the hell are you?"
"Just a random person," the man replied lightly. "Let the lady go. You're hurting her."
There was no aggression in his voice. If one looked closely, they might even notice the small smile on his lips.
It was the hooded stranger from earlier.
He brushed his hair aside with his left hand. Elena's instincts had been right — he was very handsome.
"Mind your business," Gerald snapped, tightening his grip on Elena. "Or I'll deal with you after I'm done with her."
Suddenly, Elena's eyes went empty.
Her body moved before her mind could catch up.
She grabbed Gerald by the hair and slammed his head against the table.
"You little—"
He never finished the sentence.
Elena drove her knee into his groin.
Gerald howled in pain, still attempting to hold onto her. She twisted his arm sharply until a loud crack echoed through the tavern.
Life rushed back into her eyes.
She released him immediately. Her hands trembling, her breath uneven, as if she had just woken from a dream she didn't remember choosing.
Silence fell.
The tavern was very quiet.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
Had a weak girl just beaten a grown man in under five minutes?
Across the room, the hooded stranger did not look at Gerald.
He looked at Elena.
The faint smile on his lips faded, replaced by something sharper. Intent, assessing, curious almost cautious.
Interesting.
For the first time since he had entered the tavern, he did not feel like leaving.