Blood Red (62 page)

Vivi Anna

her?”

Wolf laughed. “No, I’m afraid that is not an option.”

Rapunzel let out a long, loud burp. So loud, it surprised even her. “Pardon me.”

Red shook her head. “Are you sure about that?”

Wolf put his arm around her shoulders companionably. She did not shrug him off. He squeezed her close. “Have another ale. You will soon forget she is here.”

Five pints later, Red could hardly forget that Rapunzel existed. Not when she was dancing up on a table in the middle of the pub. A crowd, mostly men, had gathered and cheered her on with whoops and cheers.

Red and Wolf sat on their stools at the bar, nursing their ales. “Do you want to reconsider the torture?”

Red asked as she drained the last of her drink.

“Get her down.”

“Why me?”

“I would be too gentle.”

Red slid off the barstool. She wandered to where the rowdy crowd had gathered. She looked up at Rapunzel. She was in the middle of a not-bad version of 'Danny Boy' as she slunk on her hands and knees on the table. She had her skirt hiked up, and the men had a candid view of her legs. They whistled and hollered at her.

Red stepped up to the table and grabbed her arm.

“Time to go.”

The men at the table booed her. “Let her be, you ninny,” one ambitious man yelled.

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Blood Red

“Yeah, let her be,” the others chorused.

“Oh, shut up, the lot of you.” Red pulled on Rapunzel. “Get off this table before I drag you off.”

“Bugger off, will ya?” Rapunzel kicked out with her leg. She sent Red flying back into the angry crowd. One energetic youth pushed her back to the table.

“Fight!” An old scraggily man yelled, his voice cracking from age.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” the others chanted, hopeful glee on their weathered faces.

Red rolled her eyes. What was it with men wanting to see women fight? Did they think they would end up kissing or something?

Red grabbed Rapunzel’s arm again and pulled her down so they were face level. “This is not helping.

You are exposing us.”

Rapunzel tried to pull away, but Red’s grip was too strong. “I do not care. I’m going on my own. I say bugger the prophecy.”

“What prophecy?”

“Never mind. Leave me be. I will make it on my own.”

“You are drunk and being right stupid. Any man here would rip you apart. These are not gentlemen.

They will not ask for your permission.”

“I have seen worse things in the castle.”

“But here, there is no Master to protect you. There will be no one to stop them if they go too far.”

“And you will protect me, dear Red?”

“Not likely. I’m just saving Wolf the trouble.”

Rapunzel shook her hand off. “Piss off. I will do 123