The Blood Pact Chapter 4

I couldn't tell which one it had been but I blushed bright red all the same. As I spun away from them, I found myself falling right into the arms of someone in house livery.

"'ow 'bout a drink, love?" he said, his hands fumbling to grab hold of me as he swayed dangerously. The fumes from his mouth were nearly enough to send me to the ground as well.

"Yes, of course, I'll be right back," I said, spinning out of his grasp and hurrying for the door. Another drunkard presented himself right in my path but I sidestepped him before he could even finish his slurred greeting. That was it. I was now free to go track down that bastard...

"Master Oringel!" I heard someone shout from across the room. A little cheer rose up from the gathered revelers as Master Oringel, the Chamberlain, and Sir Ruvano all entered through the other door like triumphant champions freshly returned from war. Master Oringel's reputation as one who enjoyed a good party was well-known in these halls. He'd also just saved me the bother of having to find him.

The beer might have reduced my legs to jelly but my mind suddenly snapped into clear focus. Completely ignoring the groping hands and the drunken pleas for my attention, I pushed my way through the crowds toward the wizard.

"Master! Master Oringel!" I cried when the press of bodies became too much for me to overcome. He was busy greeting with some of his fellow card players and didn't seem to notice me at all. "Master Oringel!"

"Hey girl, I ain't no wizard, but I still know a little magic," some dirty old man more than twice my age said as he rubbed his beer drenched body up against mine.

"Get your dirty hands off me, you bastard!"

In my panicked flailing to escape him, my elbow somehow connected with his nose. He went to floor like a sack of wet laundry, a stream of bright red blood flowing down his face. A small circle opened up around us and silence dropped over those looking on.