Fin wiped his brow with the back of his hand as he handed out the last plate of food to a particularly inebriated gentleman who reeked of fish. Picking up his ale and giving Sal, the cook for the Wet Whistle, a brief pat on his back, the redhead exited the small kitchen to join in on the festivities.
As he shouldered his way through the packed pub and made his way onto the street, Fin smiled as he passed by a group of knights and some of the seedier patrons he recognized from the brawl. The group was cheering over some kind of gambling game with dice, and not one of them appeared hostile as they all laughed and shouted in good fun.
The witch was still trying to wrap his head around how the impromptu festival happened, when he strode by two men talking quietly under one of the shadowed eaves of a run-down house.
“—Going to have them come at different times. Can’t be suspicious.”
Fin slowed his pace and pretended to become interested in a shop window that was only a few yards away from the duo. He wasn’t able to make out their faces, but something about them pricked his instincts.
“They’re getting pretty rowdy these days; this’ll be good for them.” The man who spoke had a smooth voice, and his words were enunciated clearly, indicating he was nobility …
“Your group has been here the longest, right? Pity about the carriage, that—” They suddenly stopped talking, and Fin could feel unseen eyes fall on him. He frowned and tilted his head at the shop display of hunting knives, trying to look captivated by their prices.
When the men still didn’t resume their conversation, he made a show of stepping back and staring up at the faded sign.
Unfortunately, neither of them seemed inclined to risk talking further with Fin being within earshot, and so he turned and continued down the street that was thrumming with people. Food carts had come running at the whiff of a business opportunity, and some of the townspeople had even come and strung up lanterns between the buildings.
In half a day, the street had been transformed from a dingy cesspool of criminals and shady business owners to a place of glittering joy and fun. Women and children frolicked amongst the crowd, laughing freely and chatting with their friends, while the men discovered interesting discussions and games waiting for them.
There was a merry mood all around, making Fin smile to himself as he leaned against the corner of a building and surveyed the scene before him. In reality, he was waiting for the two men he had been eavesdropping on to move from their position so that he might glimpse their faces more clearly under one of the lanterns.
He saw them talk to one more person, who was obscured from Fin’s view due to the crowd, but only for a moment, so perhaps it was nothing.
Taking another drink from his cup, Fin glanced momentarily up at the night sky and was heartened to see the waning moon shining brightly above him.
As his eyes slowly fell back down to the street, Fin’s heart skipped a beat when he saw a lock of silky black hair pop out in the crowd.
That couldn’t be Annika … I mean, it’s late. I had said I’d most likely be back for dinner, but she wouldn’t take such a risk and— Fin’s inner monologue was cut short when he saw Annika’s beautiful face turn in the crowd, her dark eyes peering over every face.
Of course she would. She must’ve become worried and wanted to make sure I wasn’t murdered in an alley. Pinching the bridge of his nose, the redhead cursed himself for being so thoughtless. He didn’t want to draw attention to her in case it put her in harm’s way, but how could he—
“Well, hello, tall and dreamy.” The sultry tones of a woman drew Fin’s eyeline to the right, where he found himself staring at a beautiful woman with dirty blond hair that hung loosely around her in large curls, bright red lips, and light brown eyes. Her bodice was pulled tightly enough that it looked as though it could burst open if she so much as sneezed—though given the amount of cleavage she was displaying that must have been the point.
“Er … Hi. Excuse me.” Fin turned to look back at the two men who remained in the shadows, and then to Annika, but she had already disappeared in the throng of people. He began to step out of the shadows to take a proper look for her when the woman rounded on him and stepped in front of his path. She was practically shoving her breasts against his chest—she was tall for a woman—and between those assets alone Fin was effectively hemmed in.
“Not much real fun out there. A few townie bumpkins. You seem like you’re looking for something special.” She smiled up at him beautifully. Her eyes were somehow … hungry and desperate …
“I am, but you’re not her. Have a good evening.” Fin attempted to sidestep her, but she was oddly determined as she grabbed his tunic and leaned up hastily to kiss him. Fin dodged the attack, but only partially succeeded as her red lips careened into the side of his cheek.
Immediately, he stepped back and tried to wipe the oily cosmetic off his face, but the prostitute only took another step toward him, backing him up farther and farther.
“I don’t know if this kind of approach has worked in the past for you, but you need to stop.” Fin’s gaze turned icy, as he refused to budge another step, and stared down at the woman who finally hesitated. “Herding me back and accosting me isn’t doing yourself any favors. Not to mention, I’m broke. Now have a good evening, I’m going to go find—”
“Oh, come on, let’s just chat! I’m sure we could work out a—” The woman had reached out to grab Fin’s arm as he finally successfully moved away from her, when a small hand suddenly caught the woman’s forearm and halted her in her tracks.
Glaring up at the prostitute, Annika had appeared from the shadows. She was once again wearing peasant clothes, though the ones she wore were incredibly unflattering. She wore a plain gray skirt that fell just above her ankles, a black tunic, and a white handkerchief that hid most of her hair. The only sign of her ebony tresses was the dark tendril that had been freed from the bun at the back of her head.
“You’re going to leave my husband alone, or I’m going to make you eat your entire jar of lip paint.”
Fin was too stunned from being referred to as “husband” to register how sincere Annika was in her threat.
The prostitute showed only a moment of consideration before she laughed. Her condescending notes made Annika shift her grip on the arm, and the burst of pain made the woman suddenly choke.
“Be gone,” Annika hissed, thrusting the woman back several steps.
After a moment of staring just over Fin’s shoulder, the prostitute turned her gaze back to him. “Enjoy the short leash.” She barked like a dog, giggled, and whirled away back into the crowd.
Turning and staring up at him with pink in her cheeks, Annika began speaking angrily. “I swear, just because I helped get rid of her, she has the nerve to— Why are you staring at me like that?”
“You … you called me your husband.” Fin blinked as his gaze moved down, and he watched as Annika’s eyes widened.
“No, I— Well, I did, but only because I didn’t think she would leave you alone unless I said so.” Her voice trailed off to a mutter as she suddenly turned her attention to the crowd awkwardly.
“I liked hearing it.”
Annika blushed, unable to look at him, or say anything in response.
Fin smiled as he returned his attention back to the shadows where he had been hoping to see the men, only to find that they had left.
“Damn.” He frowned as he stared at the spot where they had been.
“What is it?”
“The men … They were there, I was waiting to see their faces, but—”
“Oh, the prostitute distracted you for them.” Annika shrugged as she leapt to the conclusion swiftly.
Fin turned to her, startled. “How do you figure that?”
“A high-ranking prostitute who becomes that aggressive toward a commoner isn’t likely, especially given that she was beautiful. I don’t doubt she has serviced far more powerful men, or even nobility—” Realizing that she was accidentally insulting Fin, she turned to face him quickly with apology already forming in her mouth.
“How do you know she is a high-ranking prostitute?” The redhead hadn’t even registered the slight and was more intrigued with the reasoning, much to Annika’s relief.
“She was dressed in more expensive material and had moderate-quality makeup. Also her teeth are perfect.” As she spoke Annika reached up and began trying to wipe off more of the red lipstick from Fin’s face.
“So she might know who the men are?” Fin began scanning the crowd looking for the blond hair, while missing the look of irritation that momentarily creased Annika’s face.
“Yes. Or her madam might.”
Fin looked down at her, ready to issue an apology and a farewell before chasing after the woman, when he registered the look of annoyance.
“You keep me waiting for dinner, have been drinking all day, won a brawl fight, and somehow started a street festival. Now you want to go chase a prostitute.” Annika folded her arms over her chest.
“I … I am sorry that I didn’t send word about not being able to make it back for dinner. This has to do with what the king asked of me, though, I’m sorry. You’ve made it clear you want us to keep certain facets separate from our relationship, though, remember? I doubt you’re going to tell me all about your day, right?” he reminded her while placing his hands on his hips.
“I don’t wind up getting kissed by strangers and starting pub fights that could get me stabbed!”
“No, you just get stabbed and then bury bodies in the woods,” Fin countered evenly.
Annika’s eyes widened, and her nostrils flared.
“Good thing I bloody well don’t tell you more— You do realize you just blurted that out in the middle of a Godsdamn festival?!”
Several heads around the couple turned at Annika’s raised tone, and people gradually began adjusting their paths to give the pair a wide berth.
Fin had just opened his mouth to reply when Red stumbled over to him with his son, who turned out to be named Sasha, and the man with black hair, a family friend of Red’s named Tom.
“Lad! What a turnout! I haven’t had this much fun since Tom an’ I met twins that— Oh. Who do we have here?” Red turned with a lecherous smile to face Annika. Both Fin and Tom cuffed him over the back of his head.
“Lorraine will kill you before dawn at this rate,” Tom growled.
“How’s it going?” Sasha drunkenly leaned toward Annika who was not taking kindly to the interruption.
“It was going just fine until a moment ago,” she snapped while shooting Fin a scathing look.
“Well, how ’bout I make it aaaaaall better!” Sasha sluggishly rested his hand on Annika’s shoulder.
Before Fin could intervene, she had the hand peeled off and bent back painfully, bringing the young man to his knees.
“Don’t touch me.”
Fin stepped forward hastily before Red or Tom could get angry and gently pulled Sasha free from her hold.
“You’ll be fine, Sasha, but you aren’t having the best of days. Maybe take a seat.” Fin patted the whimpering young man’s shoulder sympathetically.
“Oyy! Is this that sister you were tellin’ us about?!” Red demanded indignantly while pointing a sausage-like finger at Annika.
Rounding on Fin faster than a hawk hearing a mouse in a field, Annika exploded.
“YOUR SISTER?! GODSDAMNIT!” Annika turned away and began storming back toward the crowd.
“Hey! That isn’t what he meant! I-I-I didn’t say you were my sister!” Fin called after her, but he couldn’t even attempt to keep up with her as she wove in and out of the flow of people with near inhuman speed thanks to her smaller stature. Before he’d even taken three steps, she was on the other side of the street.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, Fin turned to the trio of men who all watched, shifting their stances uncomfortably.
“What … is wrong with the women in your life, lad?!” Red finally managed, making Fin begin rubbing his forehead.
“Probably me. I tend to make people go a little crazy.” The tone of defeat went unheard amongst the men.
“Red, there was a particularly pushy prostitute I noticed earlier. Red lips, tall …” Fin found himself at a loss of how else to politely describe the woman.
“Aye, you met Sultry Sandy! Bit out of your price range, lad.” Red shook his head sympathetically while Tom merely nodded silently in agreement.
“I’m not interested in … that … but who is her madam?” Fin asked, his focus turning back to the important task of finding the king valuable information.
The trio of men all shared confused expressions before answering.
“That’d be Madam Mathilda,” Tom replied, watching the redhead carefully. “Why do you want to know? She’s a mysterious woman … not many people have seen her.”
“Kind of like the owner of the Wet Whistle?” Fin asked slowly.
“Yeah—only we don’t even know the name of the tavern owner,” Red remarked while eyeing the tankard clasped in a passing knight’s hand. Sensing that his new friends were about to disappear back to enjoy the festivities, Fin rushed his questions.
“What is my best chance of talking with Madam Mathilda?”
“You could try goin’ to the house where all the girls live. It’s just ’round the corner.” Tom brandished his empty tankard down the slope of the street.
“Good luck, lad, no one has seen the madam ’side from her closest friends.”
Barely registering the warning, Fin set off toward the end of the street, determined to get the answers he needed, and then he was going to have a long talk with Annika.
They couldn’t keep fighting over their work …
With a sigh, the redhead braced himself for the coming hours, somehow sensing that his exciting day was not over just yet.