PrologueWarning: Language and content not suitable for minors.
Ruby Winchester was rarely intolerant. She prided herself on overcoming adversity, differing opinion, and cultural divides. Some people, however, managed to push her to her limits.
“He did what?” she snapped.
Duffy looked bashful. He had tried to put his point across for over half an hour. Ruby, as ever, was proving stubborn.
“He killed the girl anyway.”
Ruby pouted. She was not sure what she wanted to do more. Slap Duffy, or drive her sword through the tiefling’s gullet. She slapped the bard anyway.
“Ow!” Duffy cried.
The patrons of the tavern turned attentions to the duo at the centre table. Tankards stilled, wine glasses trembled, and barkeeps polished worktops gingerly.
“Was there any need?” he moaned.
The tavern fell back into its usual swing. The music, which neither had noticed before, became vibrant and jazzy.
“You let Aurelianus kill an innocent and get away scot free?” She leant across the table. Her eyes blazed with inner fire. Duffy, usually oblivious to her power, had to tremble.
He leant back. He knew too well what would happen if he challenged her when she was angry.
“I didn’t ‘let’ him.” He huffed.
“Oh?” she pressed. She folded her arms across her torso.
“Our dearest Luned neglected to mention he was that slippery.”
They continued to stare amidst the hubbub of a Scara Breen evening. They sipped their drinks in silence, the merriment of their afternoon a distant memory.
“We have to find him.” Ruby’s tone suggested this was not open for dispute.
“You say that as if he’ll come running at the first sign of trouble,” Duffy protested.
He picked up his tankard, long empty, and cursed under his breath. When he repeated his statement in his head, he realised how stupid he had been.
“That’s precisely what we’ll do...,” Ruby said excitedly.
Duffy grunted. He ran a tongue over his piercing, counted to ten, and then faced the situation.
“I’m going to regret saying that, aren’t I?”