A woman as old as Lissie’s mother greeted them with a huge smile and no top. Lissie did not look down. She kept her eyes serious, and above shoulder level. However, the woman was much taller than Lissie, so her face was pointed toward the ceiling. Which was dirty. So was the woman. She bent over and put her face in Lissie’s and said in a falsetto, “You girls lost?”
Lissie scowled.
Cora cut in and said, “The man we are traveling with has no sense and brought us here. He’s idiotic and dressed like a player. Skinny. About this tall, dark hair, light eyebrows.”
Desperate for a change of scenery, Lissie pulled herself away from the waitress. Lissie scanned the room for Alexander and found many unpleasant people. None of them were the unpleasant man she needed. There was a gross of men sitting at small tables glaring at games. Glaring at drinks. They did not look up at the topless waitresses or each other. In the corner was a band. The music was off-key and lively. They looked as if they were expecting a fight to break out or someone to shoot an arrow at their feet. Lissie watched the fiddle player dodge a thrown shot glass. It clattered heavily against the wall. Metal.
Her eyes turned to one of the few sources of light, a candle at a table nearby. The woman answered Cora, “I saw him come in. Talkin’ all fancy. Pretty thing, don’t see a lot like that around here.” The candle flared. Lissie looked back into the woman’s eyes.
Cora said, “Where is he now?”
“I dunno, honey. He was talkin’ to the owner. I wouldn’t dream to pull him out of her arms.” The woman turned with her tray of empty tin cups and sauntered off.
Cora stalked after her. “Who is the owner. I’ll pull him off anyone.”
Lissie was left there, standing, staring after the bobbing head of red hair. She turned, and started searching the outside of the room. Secret panels, hidden passages. She tried to feel the other sides of the walls with her mind.
Lissie could hear Cora’s voice over the muttering and music. She was arguing with the bartender.
Let her make a scene, I’ll find that scoundrel.
Lissie could feel the fire inside of her, rising. The candles sparked as she passed. She trailed a finger along the wall, taking the temperature.
There was an empty table. She stopped, and sat on the lonely stool. She stared at the flame on the candle before her.
Rise up. There it is, I can see it. Just catch it. Breathe it in, feel it inside, let it pull me.
She touched the wind. It blew through her.
No, it blew around me.
Lissie focused harder on the candle. The flame grew, dancing in a wind only she could feel. Darkness fell. Every candle in the room went out. Hers was bright enough to light them all.
Then it went out too.
Chaos erupted. Men were swearing. Drinks overturned and splashed on the floor. Lissie fled, feeling the wall.
A flash from behind the bar. Lissie turned, and saw the woman. She had to be the owner. She was the only woman wearing a shirt. Lissie smiled. The woman was glowing, moving behind the wall, behind the bar, behind a… Hall?
Cora’s hand on her shoulder. Lissie turned, and Cora asked, “Did you do that?” Lissie turned back to the wall behind the bar. Nothing. She sighed.
Lissie answered, “The owner is that way. Not in this room, but that way.” She pointed.
Candles were being relit. Lissie walked fast to stay out of sight of an enormous man with a hand axe. He was going from table to table with a taper candle. He was threatening the patrons and relighting candles. “Come on, we have to get back to Riley.” Cora was already pulling her back toward the stables.