Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (hardest books to read txt) 📕

was excellent, from the fork-tender meat to the sweet and savory asperfruit dessert. I hardly acknowledged Louis as he returned with our refreshments, and he returned to his post at the bar with a hint of satisfaction on his face.

While I used the last of my bread to soak up any spots of sauce left on my plate, the door to the inn opened loudly at the far side of the room. The hair on the back of my neck stood up as the three men from the side of the road entered, all chatting loudly with one another. Louis’s reaction only served to put me further on edge; he shrank back at the sight of the group and busied himself with the task of cleaning tankards halfway down the bar.

After standing aimlessly at the entrance for a few seconds, one of them hollered across the bar. “Hey! Where’s our greeting, Lou?” Even though I was watching the group, the shout still startled me, but the other patrons seemed unphased by the sudden outburst.

Louis skittered to the entrance, head hung like a reprimanded dog. “Good evening, gentlemen,” he said in a small voice. “Will you be having the usual tonight?”

The lead man reached out and roughly messed up Louis’s short brown hair. “That’s a good lad, Lou. Bring the drinks to our table, and some of that bread of yours, too.” He clapped him hard on the shoulder before joining his companions as they made their way across the room. Two of the patrons who had been in a side booth since we arrived called out a rowdy greeting to the group as they passed by.

Just go by us. Just go by us and we’ll leave. Please don’t be one of those guys that—

“Well now, what do we have here?” The man said loudly as the group approached our table. He was a short man, standing only a few inches taller than Lia would, with a bald head that gleamed in the flickering firelight and dark blue eyes that sat too close together on his face. He wore a similar outfit to his companions: a tan woolen jacket and dark pants, all stained with multiple layers of dirt and sweat. “It looks like someone is sitting at our table, boys. Strangers, too.”

Before I had a chance to reply, Louis shouted from the bar. “Don’t pay them any mind, they’re just, er, late to leave the city, is all. They’ll be gone tomorrow.” His voice trembled and cracked as he spoke. “Your drinks are on the house tonight, Palo! For being, uhm, such a loyal customer.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and grimaced. Oh, you sweet, stupid kid.

“Is that so?” Palo replied quietly as he turned back to Louis. “If that’s true, why did I see them travelling towards the city just a few hours ago?” Louis froze in place and fell silent as the color drained from his face. Palo moved to our table and leaned in between Val and me, placing a hand on each of our shoulders. “So, what are you doing here?”

“We didn’t realize this was your table,” I said with a smile, “but we’re just about finished up here. You can have it now.”

“No,” he replied as he gave my shoulder a rough squeeze, “what are you doing here?”

“Our business is our own,” Val remarked coldly before I had a chance to respond.

I let out a jovial laugh. “You’ll have to excuse my companion, Palo. She’s not the most personable with strangers.” I turned and raised my eyebrows at her in annoyance, hoping she would read the room. “We’re on our way to visit some friends in the city. I guess we mistimed our travel plans, and we had to stop here for the night.”

Palo looked around the table before moving his face so close to mine that I could smell his last meal, presumably an onion sandwich based on the stench. “Let’s not lie to each other, now. I would hate to have to report you to the Company, but if you don’t tell me what your business is…” He trailed off and gave me a knowing look.

“Why don’t you just mind your own business?” Lia yelled, her speech slurring. The outburst surprised everyone around the table and left us all in a momentary stunned silence. Palo looked between the two men he arrived with before throwing his head back and barking with laughter.

“It seems like your other friend can’t handle her drink!” He slapped his leg in amusement as he pushed off from the table and rounded to Lia’s chair. I felt my whole body tense up like a coiled spring, and my hand clenched the edge of the table with a white-knuckled grip. Although I knew the goons were no match for us in a fight, a confrontation with the Company had the potential to ruin our plans before they had truly started. “What’s your name, fair lady?” he asked her, leaning casually against the table.

“None of your business!” she yelled with a scowl.

“How lively!” Palo laughed again. “You have such a pretty face, my dear, it’s a shame for you to ruin it with such a sour expression.” He reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his thumb.

My fists balled as I prepared to launch myself over the table at him, but the feeling of Lia’s mana wrapping around my body stopped me. Despite her drunken, angry demeanor, I felt a cool and level-headed aura emanating from her, with a small touch of excitement. I sat back in my chair with a grin as the adrenaline pumping through me began to cool down. She’s playing him.

Lia’s scowl was suddenly replaced with a beaming smile. “Aww, you really think so?” In one fluid motion, she pushed out her chair, stood, grabbed her tankard, and smashed it across the side of Palo’s head. “Thanks!” she called out after him as he toppled sideways.

The atmosphere of the room shifted instantly. Our