The White Wolf (Half-Breed Book 1) by Brittany Comeaux Read Free Book Online

had a slightly receding hair line and a rough beard forming on his face. Varg knew the old codger as one of the few honest people living in Birhog.
    Horatius stepped out from behind the counter, approached Varg, and gave him a giant bear hug. The sight of this scraggly little man embracing a large man like Varg was a humorous sight, but Varg never minded.
    “Long time indeed, my friend,” Horatius replied once he freed Varg. He then turned to Milea and, with a coy smile, added, “Who is your lovely friend?”
    “This is Milea,” Varg answered. “Milea, this is Horatius. He owns Moonlighter's Manor.”
    “Pleasure to meet you, Sir,” Milea greeted politely.
    “Pleasure's all mine,” Horatius replied. Then he asked Varg, “You courting her?”
    Varg and Milea both offered a laugh, yet scowled at each other for doing so, and then Varg answered, “No, we're currently partners in an investigation of sorts.”
    “Then you will not be offended if I tell her what a lovely little dove she is and how if I were only twenty years younger—”
    “No offense at all, Horatius,” Varg interrupted, for he didn't want to hear the rest of that sentence, “but I do believe your wife may have something to say about it.”
    “The poor dear passed early this year I'm afraid,” a sullen Horatius responded. “She was sick since before last winter.”
    “Sorry to hear that.” Varg said.
    “I am sure she's at peace now,” Milea offered.
    “Well now, enough of my problems,” Horatius said. He then turned to Varg. “I suppose it's the usual for ya then?”
    “Of course,” Varg replied. “We also have questions if you have answers.”
    “I'm always full of information,” Horatius said with a proud smile. “Come and grab a pint, Varg. Of course the lovely Milea gets a drink on the house too.”
    “On the house? Oh no sir, I can pay,” Milea objected.
    “Nonsense,” the old man said with a shake of his head. “Varg and I made a deal years ago that won't be changing tonight. Take a seat and I'll tell ya all about it.”
    Milea nodded and took a seat on one of the stools and Varg claimed the seat next to hers just as the amiable Horatius resumed his post behind the counter. Horatius quickly grabbed two mugs and filled them to the brim with fresh mead from a large barrel against the wall, then passed them on to Varg and Milea.
    “Now then,” Horatius began after the two of them finished their first sips. “It all started about ten years ago. An infamous band of thieves broke into my pub and raided the place every week or so, sometimes multiple times a week. They ransacked my poor pub and stole all the drinks, food, and money I had that wasn't locked up, and they threatened to kill my sons and do worse to my wife if I tried to stop them. This went on for an entire month until Varg came to Birhog one day.
    “The bloke was just passing by during one of the raids. They tried to rob him of everything he had, but Varg refused to comply. Instead he fought 'em all at once and killed most of them in just a few hits. I'd never seen a beast like him go up against a dozen armed men, but he defied the odds and those who survived his attacks ran away forever like bitches with tails between their legs! So then I said to Varg, 'Because you saved Moonlighter's Manor, I'm going to offer you free drinks for life,' but Varg insisted that he pay because as he said it, he would probably drink my place dry if he were allowed free pints.”
    “Probably? Horatius, I do believe I said 'definitely,'” Varg jested.
    “Well, that being the case, Varg and I finally agreed upon one free pint per visit, so here I am honoring that agreement to both him and you, Miss Milea,” Horatius finished.
    Milea smiled. “You have my gratitude for the delicious mead.”
    “It's not often I get pretty women to look at, much less the ones who know their drinks!” Horatius laughed. “Anyhow, didn't the two of you have something to ask me?”
    “Oh, right,”