Malida seemed unsure, but bravely took a step forward, then crouched down to Naoki’s level. Taking this as some sort of signal, Naoki trotted forward and began prancing circles around Malida, clearly excited to have found a new friend.
Malida let out an uneasy chuckle, hesitantly patted the little dragon between her folded wings, then stood and approached Finn, wrapping her up in a hug.
Surprised by the sudden show of affection, Finn tensed, then relaxed into the embrace, hunching forward to put herself at Malida’s level.
“I’m glad you two are back together,” Malida muttered.
“Oh we’re not-” Finn began, pulling away from the hug.
“We’re working things out,” Kai interrupted, cautioning Finn with his gaze from behind Malida’s back.
Finn knew that Malida was touchy about who Kai brought into her home, so she just smiled and nodded. It seemed they’d be maintaining their previous ruse of husband and wife, though Finn would punch Kai right in the nose if he thought it meant he could walk in on her in the bath again.
Malida put her hands on her plump hips, narrowing her gaze. “Why do you two seem suddenly nervous?”
“We have a few extra companions this time around,” Kai explained, moving to stand by Finn’s side, wrapping a companionable arm around her. “Not that we would dream of asking you to extend the same hospitality to them as you have given us in the past.”
Finn fought the glare she wanted to give Kai, and smiled instead. “Yes, we were only hoping for a little help with Naoki. It’s difficult to keep her concealed for long, and it would likely not go over well with her running freely in the streets. We’ll gladly offer you anything we can in return.”
Malida glanced at the dragon, who was now inspecting the rest of the sitting room, then nodded. “I suppose she can stay back here, as long as she won’t cause any trouble. The two of you will stay as well, of course, though the rest of your companions will need to find lodgings elsewhere.”
“Of course,” Kai agreed, before Finn could interrupt.
Though the comfortable bed and access to a nice hot bath were more than they’d likely find at any of the inns in the small port town, Finn was reluctant to accept Malida’s terms. Her primary concern was the injustice of leaving the others to lesser accommodations, especially Iseult, but there was also the discomfort of staying in a room with Kai once more. Though they had developed what could amount to a tense friendship, shared lodgings had not gone over well the last time.
Finn let out a long breath. “I am grateful for your hospitality, but I would not feel comfortable leaving behind our companions. There is a young lady in the group who I feel would not be entirely comfortable sharing lodgings with some of the others. Perhaps it would be better for only Kai to stay here with Naoki.”
Malida looked suddenly suspicious again, but nodded. “I will not force you to stay, as long as Kai is willing to watch over your . . . pet, but I do hope you’ll reconsider.” She looked Finn up and down, her eyes lingering on her breeches. “And I’ll find you a proper dress.”
“Oh that’s not-” Finn began to argue, loath to lose her breeches, but Kai stopped her with a look. “Thank you,” she said instead, grateful for Malida’s kindness, even if it was a bit misplaced. It seemed their problems had been solved, at least for a single night, dresses not withstanding.
“Now I’d say it’s time for a hot meal,” Malida announced, “and some scraps for your pet? The only payment I require for my hospitality is a full account of the things you have seen during your travels. We are living in strange times, and it pays more than mere coin to be informed.”
“Of course,” Finn agreed, thinking to herself just how right Malida was in her assertion. Information could be more valuable than land, ships, armies, or anything else that could be purchased with mere coin. She only wished she had more of it to share.
After getting Naoki set up in a bedroom with a large plate of meat scraps, Finn and Kai rejoined the others in the tavern. Kai was not pleased it had fallen to him to once again watch over the temperamental dragon, and he was kicking himself for not arguing. He wasn’t even sure why he hadn’t argued, except that being back in Malida’s home brought forth memories of their previous time there. A time when Finn had decided he was perhaps a decent man, and he had regrettably gone out of his way to scrub such an absurd notion from her mind. Perhaps he was still trying to prove himself decent, even now, though he felt he’d already done so several times over.
Malida hadn’t heard much hearsay of any bounties, so they deemed it safe for Finn to return to the common room, though she’d keep her hair hidden by her cloak, just in case.
Drawing himself out of his thoughts, Kai looked up from his seat at the round wooden table as a barmaid placed a massive bowl of lamb stew in front of him. He watched while everyone else received their meals, placed next to half empty mugs of ale.
Anna sat next to him, seeming to pay as much attention to the ongoing conversations as he was, which was little. With a sigh, he lifted his bowl and mug, then stood, moving toward the bar where Malida waited. He could have told her what she wanted to know later that evening, but decided he preferred her company at that moment, as opposed to his travel companions, especially Maarav and his men.
Malida watched him cross the room, a thoughtful expression on her round face as she wiped the perfectly clean wooden bar with a rag.
Reaching her, he set his meal down and took a seat on one of the tall stools. “Ready for my epic tale?”
She smirked. “I’m ready for you to tell me what’s going on between you and Breya . . . or is her name Finn?”
“I see you’ve already spoken with your daughter,” Kai sighed.
“I did,” she replied, “and now I’m wondering about a great many things. Last I saw Finn, she was sneaking out of my home at dawn. Now you are somehow back together, but not as husband and wife. Instead, you’re traveling with a large party. You never travel with large parties, so I assume that part is Finn’s doing.”
“Yes,” he sighed, wondering if he should attempt to keep the ruse going at all, “she’s a very demanding wife.”
“She’s not your wife,” Malida stated bluntly. “Did you truly think you could deceive me? I can see that you love her, but there is no clear understanding between the two of you.”
He blinked up at her, entirely dumbstruck. He knew Malida had been suspicious, but to have known all along? “Then why did you go along with it?”
She chuckled, then grabbed Kai’s ale to take a swig. “Why not? After all this time, I knew I could trust your judgment, and I genuinely like her. She’s a sweet lass.”
Kai leaned his elbows on the bar and buried his head in his hands, letting his tangled, chestnut brown hair fall forward. “I suppose I’ll start from the very beginning,” he sighed, “long before we came here the first time. It’s the only way I can fathom explaining it all in a way that makes sense.”
Malida took a moment to refill his ale from one of the large casks behind the bar, then gestured for him to go on.
He snuck a quick glance over his shoulder at his party, then began, “It all started back in Garenoch, when we met an odd, long-haired girl, and her elderly companion . . . ”
He went on to detail their entire journey, leaving out exactly who Finn was, and what she and Iseult sought. He told Malida of their long sea voyage, and detailed all that happened once they arrived back on land. He also admitted, though Malida already seemed to know, that Finn was never truly his wife, but that he really was trying to help her. He hoped in coming clean Malida would take pity on him, and would still allow him to stay in her home that evening. She was at least still speaking with him, which gave him hope she understood his reasons for lying.