Kisenthea was watching the course of the trial, hidden among the nobles and courtesans. She had never liked Count Valderan very much. Master Volrath had always said he behaved like a serpent. And if he truly had been the one who gave the order to Lord Devan, then he was far worse than that.

  She could not help but be dazzled by Anthos—his candor when he spoke, his convictions, and not to mention his physical appearance, which now, at the trial, was far more refined. When she first saw him, leaning against the balcony of that cloister, she had felt something she had never experienced with a man before.

  Perhaps she was imagining things, but she had noticed that he looked at her strangely as well. She even thought she saw him blush at times. And now, seeing him at the very heart of the storm of intrigue, she felt an even stronger attraction. She had to find a way to speak with him again.

  Upon hearing the Queen’s final words, she found the perfect moment. Anthos surely had no idea how to get to the mage’s tower. That was going to be her excuse.

  When those present began to disperse and the Queen disappeared with Sir Mikrilev, Kisenthea saw that Anthos remained for a few moments talking with Kalen, Galfrido, and Begryn, debating energetically about what they had to do next. She thought she noticed Anthos asking them for some time to think, as his companions left him there and walked away. The guide looked for a seat against the wall and sank into it heavily, staring at the note the Queen had returned to him before withdrawing. She noticed that the cream-colored shirt he was wearing, along with the corduroy vest, emphasized the size of his shoulders and arms even more, showing that he was by no means a sedentary person, despite being lean.

  "Troubled?" Kisenthea asked, gathering her courage and approaching Anthos. The young man looked up and was surprised to see her. He noted she was wearing the same clothes as the day before.

  "My lady Kisenthea, what a pleasure to see you..." he said, trying to force a smile. "Yes, perhaps a bit troubled. Didn't you see the trial?"

  "No, of course not. Lord Volrath doesn't like to meddle in the internal affairs of the nobles. I was just passing by and saw many people leaving. I thought there was some kind of meeting or something," she said, lying shamelessly, knowing that Anthos could likely detect a lie like that with ease. However, the worry on the guide's face prevented him from reading the mage apprentice's words, so he simply nodded.

  "I understand Volrath doesn't like to meddle, but he'll have to by the Queen's order. He has to verify the authenticity of these orders..." he said, waving the parchment. "And I must deliver them myself."

  "Mmm... Lord Volrath is at the top of the tower right now. He won't come down until nightfall." She paused, swallowing hard. "If you like, I can accompany you to the tower... if you don't know the way."

  "Really? Sir Kalen offered to go with me, but..."

  “That’s perfect, wonderful. Better that way. Nothing like a knight for an escort through the castle, right?” she said, letting out a few nervous laughs.

  "But I can go with you, if you’d like... if you don't mind," Anthos said, swallowing hard. "Besides, I'm almost certain you know the way better than Sir Kalen. I don't want to go wandering around lost. I can tell him you’ll be accompanying me... if the offer still stands, of course."

  "Of course. I suppose we’ll have to wait until tonight..."

  "Yes, I suppose..."

  A few moments of awkward silence followed, until Anthos finally spoke:

  "We could go to a tavern or some inn for a drink. I saw there are places inside the castle, if I'm not mistaken."

  "All right," she said with a smile. "But what do you have in mind?"

  "Nothing strange, don't worry... but on my way here, I saw a dining hall near the alchemist's shop. There were some beer barrels and some wine. What do you think?"

  "It’s not a bad idea. They call it 'The Relaxed Refectory.' It functions as a sort of tavern-dining hall for the sergeants, guard captains, pages, squires, and minor nobles. I’ve never actually been inside, but I know of it."

  "And do you think they'll let us in?" the guide asked.

  "Why wouldn't they? You are a guest of the Queen, and I am the apprentice to the Royal Mage."

  They left the hall and moved through the corridors and stairs that Kisenthea seemed to know perfectly. It made sense, a result of so many years living in the mage's tower, coming and going through the castle as her only entertainment. For a moment, Anthos thought about how boring such a life must be. The girl seemed truly at ease in his presence. Was it just because he had plucked her from her monotonous routine, or was there something more? These thoughts kept drumming against Anthos's brain, finding himself thinking about anything other than the trial that could very well cost him his head.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Finally, they reached the small courtyard where the tavern-dining hall was located. The guide opened the door for the girl, trying to emulate the knights, and she smiled.

  Upon entering, they saw that it was an enormous place, paneled almost entirely in wood. It was quite tidy for a spot destined for the military, though it was clearly not for the low-level ranks, but rather for captains and sergeants. The lighting was provided mainly by torches, as the windows facing the outside were small and let in very little light. They saw several occupied tables with people who looked at them with perplexity the moment they stepped in, holding their gaze until they reached one of the empty tables. After a while, they realized everyone had returned to their leisure activities, and no one was watching them anymore.

  "Two beers," Anthos said to the old, limping barmaid with ashen hair.

  "Two beers coming up for the lovebirds," she replied, making Kisenthea blush.

  "I hope we aren't missed at dinner," the guide said, raising his beer for a toast.

  "To the sun and the moon finally finding each other someday," she said, pointing out the romantic motive for the toast.

  "To the sun and the moon," he repeated, lost in her jade-colored gaze.

  Kisenthea had never consumed such a low-quality alcoholic beverage. She was used to expensive wines or the refined spirits Lord Volrath kept in the tower. However, despite the bitterness that ran down her throat as the yellowish liquid entered, she felt it was one of the sweetest drinks she had ever tasted in her life—not because of the drink itself, but because of her companion. She wasn't used to frequenting such places, much less in the company of a man. She had almost no contact with the court or the nobles, and the few times she interacted with anyone, it was regarding a specific magical matter or at Lord Volrath's request. Yet there she was now, drinking a beer in a tavern with a man she had met only a day ago.

  A man she had not been able to get out of her head, even in the nighttime hours, when the dreams she had that night had given way to an irrepressible arousal and a final, damp ecstasy that bore Anthos’s name like a banner. And it had been the first time anything like that had ever happened to her.

  "And tell me... Kisenthea. Do you have friends here in the castle? Acquaintances among the nobility, perhaps?"

  "I don’t have much contact with people, to be honest... I don’t usually leave the tower much, and even less so the castle. Every now and then, when Lord Volrath locks himself away at the top of the tower, I take the opportunity to go to the neighborhoods near the citadel and walk for a bit."

  "And there’s no special friend...? Ahem... anyone in particular?"

  "What do you mean?" The girl knew exactly what the guide was getting at, but she enjoyed making him nervous. In fact, she seemed to be in control of the situation now. She smirked, waiting for Anthos’s answer.

  "You know... someone special... I don't know. A friend who is 'more than a friend,' perhaps..."

  "A 'friend more than a friend'?" Kisenthea burst out laughing, unable to help herself. Anthos couldn't help but feel like an idiot, but he joined her with a few chuckles. He hadn't imagined he’d be laughing given the tense situation the trial had put him in.

  "No, I don't have a 'friend more than a friend,'" she said, her eyes tearing up from laughter. "And you?"

  "No, not at all."

  "No irresistible and exotic lover left behind in Elbarie?" she asked, winking at him. Anthos turned serious, remembering his teenage love for a brief moment, but then he shook his head.

  "No, there’s no one."

  Suddenly, the door swung open, and their eyes went wide at the sight of those who had entered. It was Galfrido and Begryn. Upon seeing them, the warrior couldn't help but grin and, almost immediately, grabbed two chairs and pulled them up to the same table.

  "I'll be damned, Anthos!" the massive warrior said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You never mentioned you were coming here to drink. How are you, Miss Kisenthea? It’s a pleasure to see you this afternoon."

  "The pleasure is all mine... it’s good to see you," she said, trying to hide the embarrassment she was feeling. Begryn noticed and smiled; it was clear something was happening between those two. It was a good thing, considering the dark times that loomed ahead and the intrigues now crawling through Skycold Castle.

  "Barmaid! Two more beers!" Galfrido shouted.

  "Water is fine for me," Begryn added.

  "Two beers and water! What? I plan on drinking both beers myself..." he said, responding to his friend's scolding look.

  Kisenthea observed the enigmatic elf, who bore no resemblance to her master despite belonging to the same race. Beyond her darker skin and violet hair, those blue facial tattoos and her black, mostly leather attire gave her a macabre and mysterious air. She had read about the Order of The Sharpshooters, but she had never seen a member up close. At one point, Begryn noticed her staring and winked, causing the girl to blush.

  They talked for several minutes, during which the tense atmosphere relaxed somewhat. Galfrido’s theatrical nature did the most to ease any stiffness born of shyness. Begryn also played her part, sharing anecdotes and praising Anthos’s actions, which only made the young woman pay even closer attention to the guide.

  Finally, when night had completely fallen, Anthos stood up, excusing himself to take the letter to the mage’s tower, and once again, Kisenthea offered to accompany him. Galfrido was just about to remind the guide that Kalen was supposed to escort him, but he was silenced by a sharp kick to the knee from Begryn under the table.