Forbidden Bond: A Velthorn Tale — Chapter 24: Beneath the Festival Lights

← Chapter 23: The Morning After | 📖 Series Index | Chapter 25: Beneath the Festival Lights pt 2 →

The late afternoon sun slanted through the tavern’s windows, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards as Mikhail sat at the counter. His borrowed red tunic felt strange against his skin – softer, finer than his usual attire. The fabric caught the golden light, transforming the simple garment into something almost regal.

He absently twirled his spear between practiced fingers, the familiar weight and balance grounding him as his thoughts wandered. The polished wood caught fragments of sunlight, sending them dancing across the tavern’s walls like scattered stars. Around him, the Axe & Fiddle held its breath in the quiet hours before evening, the air rich with lingering scents of woodsmoke and ale.