Page 88 of Ashes of Aether
Eliya frowns. “That still doesn’t sound terrible.”
“He was wheeling a cart full of expensive wine back to his tavern, and I smashed most of his bottles.”
“Oh, I see,” she replies. “You’re right, that doesn’t sound great. I bet he was furious. Listen, I’ll talk to my uncle about it. Nearly everyone owes him a favor. I’m sure he will be able to convince this man to leave you alone. Even if he has to replace the bottles you broke.”
“No, no,” I say swiftly, “that isn’t the problem. He wasn’t annoyed about the wine. Not even in the slightest.”
“I’m confused. If he isn’t angry at you, what is the problem? How have you gotten yourself into such a mess?”
“Because he wants to see me tonight,” I mumble. “And I agreed.”
“You’re still making no sense. If he isn’t mad at you, then why would he—” She cuts herself off, realization illuminating her face. “Oh, I get it now. He likes you and asked you out on a date. That’s what it is, isn’t it?”
“He didn’t ask me out on a date.”
“Didn’t you say he wants to see you again tonight?”
“Yes, but it’s not a date.”
“It sounds like a date to me.”
“No, he just asked if I would stop by his tavern tonight.”
“Hm,” Eliya says suspiciously, scrutinizing my expression. “Is he handsome?”
“I don’t remember. I was drunk, thanks to you.”
“Well, he must have been handsome if you agreed to meet him again.”
“I miscalculated my teleportation spell, so I wouldn’t place too much trust in my judgement last night.”
“Do you remember what he looked like?”
“He was around my height with wavy gold hair and very green eyes.”
“And when you sayhistavern, do you mean he owns it?”
“Yeah, he does.”
Eliya sucks in a deep breath and fans herself, despite the frigid winter air. It looks like it’s trying to snow again, judging by the thick gray clouds swarming in the heavens. “I’ll have him if you don’t want him.”
“You’ve never even met him.”
“He sounds handsome. And he owns a tavern. What more can a girl want?”
I roll my eyes at her.
“And I still don’t see why it’s such an issue. If you don’t want to meet him, then don’t.”
I stare down at my hands.“Well...”
“You’re not sure whether you want to go?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“It was dark. And I was drunk. Maybe he’s hideous.”