Bramble grinned and pushed Talus and Crow forward. The bouncers immediately stepped out of the way, giving short bows of respect to Thalora as she entered the tavern. Magi were uncommon around these parts, but offending them could result in an early retirement face down and floating in the marsh. The bouncers weren't willing to take that risk.
Talus looked around as he passed the bouncers, shifting his vision into the Mirror Realm spectrum. His three shade attendants never left his side, hiding within the space between realms. But his gaze abruptly locked onto someone across the crowded room.
A man, rail-thin with oversized clothes barely clinging to his frame, stood separate from the throng. His hair was an affront to the eyes, a towering mullet styled into an exaggerated pomp that defied both gravity and dignity. The man smiled, his top lip obscured by a thick handlebar mustache waxed outward into fine points. He gave Talus a knowing wink.
Talus barely had time to register the absurdity before the man's form shimmered. A swirl of light engulfed the man, rippling through the Mirror Realm like a stone tossed into still water. When it cleared, a grotesquely overweight feline now sat in the man's place. The fat cat grinned and hopped atop the bar with surprising agility, sauntering across the polished wood to intercept them. Talus's eyes narrowed. With a shrug, he managed to free himself from Bramble's guiding hand.
"Excuse me a moment. I see someone I must speak with," Talus said, setting down his pack at the bar. Crow looked at him in surprise, but chose to suppress his curiosity. His interest quickly changed to confusion as he saw Talus begin to interact with an oversized, fluffy, white cat covered in black swirling patterns. Talus sat in a chair at the end of the bar, segregated from the rest. "That shell is borrowed... and poorly fitted. You are no child of man."
"Oh, how sharp! You've got the knack. Nor are you, behind your face so white," The cat rumbled in reply, a deep purr emphasising his words.
"Why wear the skin of beasts?" Talus asked.
"A cat so plump or a man so thin, It's all the same-it's what lies within. Purrhaps it's called Ailuranthropy! A gift, a curse, a mystery, you see. I prefer my paws, quite honestly. What's stranger still, a man who casts three shadows at his sides," The cat replied, holding up three claws in a disconcertingly Human gesture. The expected slits of the cat's pupils mirrored Talus's own, a spiral that allowed sight into places beyond. "One, two, three-your secrets swirl, like mirror mist or a dancer's twirl. My name is Vorbal, soft as fur. Yours? Irrelevant, kind sir."
"Ah, the scent of ancient blight. A song of an old pact still lingers in your fur. I hadn't realised our echoes still danced among mortals," Talus observed. His words caused the cat to briefly stiffen, before it hopped from the counter to curl in his lap.
"Oh claws and curses, what a burn. But worry not, for now it's your turn. Nine lives I've lived, each more dull than the last, so let's strike a bargain, make it fast! Three little tasks-no more, no less. Succeed, and I'll gift you my final breath. Not death, mind you, let's not be grim. Just a sliver of life, on a whimsical whim!" Verbal said, pompously holding up three claws once more. The cat flicked its massive pompadour-like fur out of its eyes with an exaggerated sweep, an unnecessary gesture made necessary by the sheer volume of it. "A deal for delight, for jest and for fools, complete them, and circumvent all the Magi tools."
"Your cursed tether is peculiar, neither Ether-bound nor woven with Magi thread. A parasite, yes, but a clever one that offers you more benefit than detriment. Still, your breath is worthless to me. If this shell perishes, I shed it like old silk. What remains… is elsewhere," Talus said, folding his arms and glancing around. No one seemed to notice their interaction.
"Not every gift is what it seems, life is not bound to your mortal dreams. I've dodged death more times than most. I'm less a cat, more a ghostly host! These trials are trifles, fit for a pup. So, answer now. Are you game or not, buttercup?" Vorbal purred.
"Then let the thread of my fate be pulled. I'll play your game, obscured with riddle as it is," Talus confirmed with a slight nod. The Accursed were creatures born of the pairings between Fae and Humans. Their ways were fickle and could be hugely beneficial or wildly destructive. It was always a risk when making a deal with one.
"Purrfection! Outside, on the bridge-don't be late! Cross the canal and seal your fate," Verbal instructed, agilely leaping from his lap. The fat cat glanced backwards before leaving with a flourish of his fluffy tail.
Talus climbed from his seat and left after the cat which was sauntering through the crowd, leaving his companions at the tavern. Outside, the bouncers gave him a glance, allowing him to pass without a word.
The canal wasn't far away, and the cat, Vorbal, was already waiting for him. The cat was nuzzling his cheek against an elderly man sleeping sprawled on a rickety chair, a moth-eaten hat drooping to cover his face.
"First things first, let's fill my plate. There's a mudskipper there I wish to dine and date. He's slippery, sly, and rather stout. Fetch him for me or I'll mewl and pout! There, take that rod, give it a flick. But mind the mud, it's thick and it's slick!" Vorbal instructed, licking his lips before raising his paw and beginning to groom himself. A faint shimmer of magic sprinkled out into the canal. Talus did as instructed, picking up the rod and looking at it in confusion, unsure of how to operate it. "Use bait, my dear-don't make me shout! Hook, flick, splash-then reel him out."
The rough series of steps was all the prompting Talus needed. He launched the line out into the shallow canal, more mud than water, and began winding it back in. The squirming worm on the hock drew something's attention, a set of eyes opened up in the mud nearby. The giant mudskipper pried itself from the muck on its front fins, scurrying forward in a short burst. It paused before shooting forward a second time, then it froze again. Sensing no threats, it launched itself forward in hot pursuit.
"Ahaha! You've got the magic touch! Reel him in. Don't fumble, clutch! The slippery beast is nearly caught, give it a tug, show me what you've got!" Vorbal shouted in encouragement.
The mudskipper was undeterred by Talus's frantic winding, getting closer and closer to its meal. In one final surge, it caught up to the worm, chomping down on the bait. The change was immediate, the mudskipper attempted to escape but was hooked on the line. The battle was intense, the mudskipper dragged the line taut, threatening to break it.
"The line strains, what now?" Talus frantically asked, unable to suppress the emotions that seemed to be suddenly heightened. The mudskipper got close enough that it spat a stream of water in their direction. Talus had to duck to the side to dodge out of the way.
"Let him flee, let him dash! Lest the line go snap with a splash!" Vorbal exclaimed. Talus did so, slowly alternating between letting the fish run away before dragging it back in. It was a strange experience to watch, fishing usually took place underwater, but this was happening in a thick mudflat with barely any visible water. When it looked like the mudskipper might escape, a sprinkle of magic subtly strengthened the line, allowing Talus to pull it successfully up onto the wooden walkway. "Bravo! Encore! You've made me proud! Fish in the mud and crowds all wowed! You're quite the fisher, who would've guessed? Your skills, dear kitten, have surely impressed!"
Vorbal leisurely reached out and plucked the mudskipper that was bigger than him in one paw, tossing it into the air. It came down, and the fat cat miraculously swallowed the fish whole in one gulp. The cat purred in satisfaction, rubbing its belly in an eerily Human gesture.
"The first knot is tied. I've completed one of your tasks. Tell me what's next," Talus demanded. There was a tremor inside him. Foreign, uninvited. Was it... triumph?
"Ah-ah, no rushing, take a breath. Let's not go dancing with Lady Death! Task two awaits, a trifle of cheer. But follow me close, and lend me an ear!" Vorbal instructed. His delight and excitement were clearly evident in the way he moved. The cat rudely ascended the sleeping man and used his shoulder as a leapboard to jump onto the handrail. The old man was awoken with a fright, looking around in startled confusion.
"Huh, w-what was that? Shards, pesky cat stealing my bait again. Get out of here, you menace!" The old man shouted, shaking an angry fist in their direction. He turned back to his rod, noticing with a lurch of despair that the reel had broken under Talus's supernatural strength. The fat cat strutted away without a care, his tail curled in the air, leading the way to their next affair.