Metal scrapped across wood as a tankard slide over the bar to Dekal. He guzzled the liquid, ignoring the smell and slammed it back against the table. “Another,” he rumbled with a crook of his finger. He slumped over the bar to wait, resting his head on his arm. He allowed his mind to go numb.

“Your player is running.”

I paused the tips of two fingers resting on top of a cold piece. I hadn’t moved it yet. Raising an eyebrow, I grinned lazily. Davon leaned back in his chair, far enough I could picture the front legs raising from the ground as he strained to look out the window.

The screen door creaked behind me, unexpected and unwelcome. Boots struck the stairs instantly, and I locked my gaze on the sudsy water. “Go away,” I whispered.

The screen door creaked behind me, unexpected and unwelcome. Boots struck the stairs instantly, and I locked my gaze on the sudsy water. “Go away,” I whispered.

“This is it.” Eric’s voice echoed loudly pulling my attention from the books I’d shuffled about, trying not to read. Eric held an unraveled scroll as his eyes darted over it quickly drinking in the text.

Scalding droplets dotted my arm drawing my attention from the hedges lining the edge of the cafe when Ivory abruptly raised her spoon from her cup to point with. “There. There. He’s at it again.”

The stool was uncomfortable beneath Zerra sat while Ibven wrote a long letter. The quill scratched over the parchment leisurely oblivious to her increasing disconcertment. At last he stopped and replaced the quill on the desk.

I slammed the cabinet door closed and jumped backward, pressing a hand to my chest. My heart thumped against my palm, reassuring me I was still alive. If only sanity were as easily assessed. I’d definitely spent too much time listening to gramps tales over the holidays and was seeing things.