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Chapter 3: A New, Old Friend |
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Pretty happy with how these have been coming along. Today we meet a good friend of mine, and on of my favorite characters to walk into the life of my Joie. Hope you all enjoy this one guys.
Was it luck or fate that night? Whatever it was, it was definitely something.
It had been only a week since Fear took over running the tavern. Everything went fairly smoothly, she had only had to break up a couple of fights in that time. On this particular night it was crowded, but everyone seemed to be doing their own thing, and as of yet, not many had asked about drinks. On top of it all Fear had found a couple of people to help her as servers if she became busy with something else, it made her life much easier.
As the night wore on people came and went, until groups dotted the tables and hovered by the fire telling stories. Even on a slow night it seemed so comfortable in the tavern, Fear thought to herself. It was then that the door flung open, pulling the barkeep out of her own thoughts.
In stumbled a man, tall and muscular, yet slim. His skin was tan, likely an elf from the eastern reaches of the country. His raven hair was pulled back into cornrows, braided tightly and brushing the back of his neck as he moved. The man wore no shirt, exposing swirling bands of gold along his arms and torso; tattoos of some sort. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of shades, despite the fact that it was nearly midnight.
From the way he walked and the amount of blood that was dripping from him, he had recently been in a fight, and from the looks of it he had won, if only just barely.
Somewhere deep down Fear felt like he was familiar to her, but she had no idea why.
"Please, someone, help me..." he tried to speak loud enough for his voice to be heard over the noise of the tavern as he fell to the floor in a heap. Yet no one seemed to hear him, no one except Fear.
The teal haired woman moved quickly from behind the bar, grabbing something as she half ran across the room. Sliding it into her pocket she knelt beside the collapsed man, placing a hand just under his arm.
"Let's get you to a chair, we can't have you laying on the floor in your current state. Can you stand?" Fear spoke to the man, hoping that he wasn't unconscious. When she got a quiet "yes," in response she couldn't help but be relieved.
Placing his other arm behind her neck she used her arm that was under his to help him stand. The two made their way to the nearest table with an open chair slowly, him trying to stay on both of his feet, and her trying to keep him upright. The man was just barely taller than Fear, who stood at 5'11". Once they reached the table Fear used her foot to pull the chair out for the man and helped him sit.
"Here, drink this. It won't fix everything but it's a start." She reached into her pocket and produced the small vial filled with a bright green liquid she had grabbed earlier; A potion.
The unknown man nodded slightly and took the vial, downing the whole thing in one swift movement. Then, there was silence between them for a moment as the potion started to take effect.
Finally the man spoke. "Thank you for your kindness, m'lady. I was attacked by a small group of humans on my way here. I managed to fight them off, killed three of them, but I was still wounded. Cowards, can't even take on one elf in a fair fight."
Fear nodded. "What matters is that you made it here safely. Let me get you something to drink. What would you like?" She smiled softly at the man, knowing that the dull pain of his injuries would still persist for some time.
After a moment of thought the man responded. "Some sake to numb the chill would be magnificent." Before Fear could walk away he held up a hand. "Thank you again, I appreciate your help Miss."
Fear nodded, again with her soft caring smile as she walked away. Behind the bar she grabbed a bottle of sake for the man, as well as a rag and a bowl of warm water to clean the blood off of him.
She returned to the table, setting the bottle beside him. "That's on me tonight." She interrupted his movement to place gold on the table. "You need it more than I need the gold." Reluctantly he placed the gold back into his coin pouch before taking the bottle and a hesitant drink.
As he drank Fear pulled a chair up beside him and pointed to the bowl of warm water. "Do you mind?" She didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
He simply shook his head, indicating that he didn't mind, though he did seem a little embarrassed. She dunked the rag in the water and started to lightly wash the blood from his skin.
As the silence between the two of them grew the man seemed to grow anxious for conversation. "If I may ask, why are you not out fighting?" He paused, seeming to realize that he had phrased his question wrong. "I mean, what brings you to this tavern?"
Fear smiled as she continued her work. "I'm a mercenary by trade, but I recently came into ownership of the Silver Rose. The previous owner was killed by some vampires about a week ago and I couldn't bear to see this place close down. So I took up running it. My brothers are still fighting though, and I trust in them to fight enough for me as well."
The man nodded. "My sister is out there as well. I hope I will see her someday soon." He raises the bottle of sake up with his left arm as she has busied herself with cleaning the blood off of his right. "A toast to our loved ones and comrades, both fallen and still alive."
Fear nodded with a smile. "Here here." If she hadn't left her glass of wine at the bar she would have raised it as well, but for now this would have to do. Once she was done helping him clean off the blood she stood, picking up the now dirty bowl of water and cloth. "Well, that looks better at least. I'm sorry that I am no doctor, but it's the least I can do for you." She places the rag in the bowl and hands him a kerchief from her small hip bag. "for your arm." She motioned towards the gash on his arm before going to take care of the bowl and rag.
Once she returned the started to speak again. They spoke of where they had fought, their families and friends. They even discovered that they had fought a battle near one another, and both had been close to the same little girl. He told her that despite her saving the girl, she had wandered off again and was killed by some humans.
Both of them sat in silence for a while, recounting their losses and mourning by themselves, yet still enjoying each other's company.
When another man, loud and clearly worn from the day entered and sat at the bar their silence was broken.
"Barkeep, whiskey as hard as you have please. The whole bottle if you can spare it!"
Fear chuckled, recognizing the man from a previous night this week. "I'll be with you in a moment sir. I do believe a bed is in order for this gentleman and then I will be right with you."
The white haired man at the bar raised a hand and rested his head with a soft thud on the wooden surface. Meanwhile the dark haired man in front of her seemed ready to jump to her defense from the other man's rudeness.
Fear softly placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, we all deal with the stresses of battle in our own way. Now you should get some sleep sir, you seem like you need it."
It was at the moment that he realized she was probably correct as his head dropped a little bit. "I think you're right Miss."
"Follow me please. We don't have any more rooms, so if you don't mind it, we have some more beds in the back. Feel free to take any that looks unoccupied." She walked towards the back, the tan elf trailing just behind her.
In the backroom he selected one of the beds and sat on the edge. "Since you wouldn't let me pay for my drink, at least let me pay for this. How much a night?"
"10 gold a night." Fear nodded in acceptance of his offer. "Either nightly or by doing a little work around the tavern, we could always use more hands around here."
He fished out 10 pieces and nodded as well. "I'll keep the offer in mind. You've been quite kind. I thought I would be sleeping on the ground every night of this war."
Taking the gold Fear smiled again. "We all do our part in this war, I just try to keep everyone in good shape for their next battle. If you do plan on staying here frequently, I hope that I can at least get your name?"
The man looked at her as her removed his boots and belt. "It's Razz. Since you now know mine, may I have the pleasure of knowing yours as well m'lady?"
Fear smiled once more at the man, standing as she moved towards the door. "I'm Josephina, but please everyone calls me Fear. Now, you should rest. You've had a long day, and your battles will not be fought if you don't get enough rest when you can."
As Fear left Razz pulled his blankets around him and drifted into a fitful sleep.
Fear returned to the tavern main to deal with the other man.
"Here's your whiskey Alkren. Drink your stresses away," She paused and held the bottle away from him, "after you pay me." She laughed, holding her right hand out for the gold. The white haired elf, Alkren as she had called him, quickly handed over the gold pieces.
Once handed the bottle he grinned. "Thanks Fear, You know how to treat your customers right."
"I just try to keep everyone in a good state to battle another day so they can return to their loved ones is all." Fear busied herself with wiping down the bar top as the man drank away his worries.
After nearly an hour Alkren had finished the bottle, and stumbled his way back to the beds in the back for the night, a hangover clearly in store for him in the morning.
Fear could only smile as he made his way to the back. He was a good man, with a history that no one deserved, and she understood all too well. She felt sorry for him sometimes, but she knew he could handle himself. Now that the night had died down Fear sat down to relax.. Perhaps she too should go to sleep.
Most of the patrons had fallen asleep anyway. It was time to rest, and Fear knew deep down that more would be in store for her in the coming months.
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 Fearless Demon child · Wed Jan 27, 2016 @ 12:06am · 1 Comments |
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