Read Online The Last Canticle: Summoner's Dirge by Evelyn Shepherd - Free Book Online Page B

just tired. Do not concern yourself,” Balin said as he took up his beer. He wanted his conflicting thoughts to leave him. He felt cursed. He took some large gulps from his mug and hoped the alcohol might numb both his desires and his fears.
    Damir eyed Balin skeptically, and Balin braced for him to insist, but Damir picked up his own drink and said not another word on the subject. The barmaid brought out their food, and Elina dug in with vigor.
    Damir speared his fork into the flaky crust and split open the pie. Steam wafted up from the gravy, chunks of meat and vegetables spilling out onto his plate. Damir took a bite, his pink tongue darting out to lap up the stray drops of gravy on his lips. Balin could barely repress a groan as Damir turned a simple act into an erotic display.
    One bite after the next, Damir ate his pie with the occasional flick of tongue against his lips. Balin had to force himself to eat his own meal. His cock throbbed hard in his pants. If he didn’t get himself under control soon, he would have a lot of explaining to do.
    Balin focused on his surroundings and not on Damir’s sensuous mouth. Forks scraped against plates as the patrons ate. Beneath the smacking of lips was busy chatter. Balin could make out snips of conversation from the neighboring table.
    “I hear the king of Kalrune declared war on us,” one man said.
    “No, you moron, nothing has been declared yet,” his companion argued. “They’re still in peace talks.”
    “They ain’t in peace talks. King Auric scuffed in His Majesty’s face and raised his sword.”
    “You fool, you’re as loony as His Majesty; you know that? They’re still in talks, and I hope they stay that way. It would be a damn shame to set off to war.”
    Balin shook his head and speared a potato. Medicus Ashwin and Emperor Folken were right. War loomed on the horizon like a black plague.
    Elina finished her ale with the speed of a sailor freshly ported, and slammed the mug down. Damir removed a couple of trolics from his purse and passed them to her. Balin saw Damir lift one finger in a wordless command for one more . Elina flashed him a toothy smile and rose to her feet.
    Balin watched as she walked to the bar, her walk almost like a dance, it was so graceful. He looked away, distracted by the rise and fall of Damir’s Adam’s apple as he drank heartily from his tankard. Balin’s attention snapped back in Elina’s general direction when he heard a man shout.
    “You stupid cunt!”
    Elina was sprawled on the floor, her cup beside her and its contents dripping from a stocky fellow. Elina rubbed her backside and said with a groan, “S-sorry, I slipped.”
    “Hey, Jude! Your fucking cards are crooked, you cheating bastard!” one of Jude’s companions yelled.
    Jude brushed him off with a harsh bark. “Shut it, Griev!”
    Griev launched out of his chair, cards forgotten, and pulled a knife from his boot. “I ain’t shutting it, you lying cocksucker.”
    Elina scrambled to her feet and moved to return to their table. Jude’s hand shot out and clamped around her wrist. Elina squirmed and let out a pained cry. Damir jumped to his feet and crossed the tavern to Elina’s side before Jude’s other hand could lift.
    Damir threw the first punch, a dizzying blow to Jude’s jaw that snapped his head to the side. Jude’s fingers went slack. He released his hold on Elina, and she stumbled backward. A faint glow emitted from Damir, barely noticeable, but Balin could see the blue emission behind the folds of Damir’s cloak.
    Jude let out a warning, a bearish growl that came deep from his chest and rattled through the bar just before he slammed his massive fist into Damir’s gut. Damir’s knees hit the floor as his body crumpled. He let out a rasped groan, the dull light he’d started emanating extinguished before anyone could spot it.
    Balin kept to the outskirts, moving with the shadows. In the blink of an eye, he drew his dagger from his boot and