I'd barely sat down and the two of them were already pulling up chairs. Great. An elf and her watch dog on my ass.
The noise and hubbub returned to the tavern. Tavern fights were top-notch entertainment and extremely common.
I raised my hand and snapped my fingers at the innkeeper, an old, hunchbacked wolf with almost entirely gray fur and a pair of round glasses that fell over his snout. Something extremely strange for someone who should have had excellent vision.
"Ygur, another beer. Unfortunately, my last one has turned to crumbs."
Laughter echoed around us. Ygur rolled his eyes and muttered something, but since I was a loyal customer, he brought me another mug.
"Control yourself, D, or I'll kick you out of here for good!"
I gave him an insincere smile and took a sip of my eleventh dose of ghoul pee, which is what that beer tasted like. Ygur spit near my feet and returned to the two hooded figures.
"Would you like anything? We have beer, Rom, and Bajjo, a first-rate brandy."
She replied politely and delicately.
"A beer and a Bajjo, please."
The drinks arrived quickly, and silence fell between us for a few seconds before the elf spoke.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
I looked up at him. What do you mean, like that? Is there a right way to fight in taverns that I haven't learned in all these years?
"That was just a regular tavern brawl." No big deal."
He fidgeted with his fingers, seeming slightly uncomfortable with something.
"No. The moves and stance you used are definitely the ones King Vaer'ion usually uses. Very few people other than his personal guard know them. Where did you learn them?"
Damn it, just when I run into blue bloods, they have to be nobles. Second stupid thing tonight.
"Listen here, dog, I don't owe you anything. In fact, you owe me. So how about rewarding me by thanking me for saving your ass instead of throwing questions in my face?"
I lowered my eyes to the table and looked at my hands, calloused and covered with scars. Memories resurfaced like poison dripping into my mind.
"I was knocked to the ground by a sharp kick to the side of my knee. I rolled over in pain, clutching my leg.
In front of me, an elf with long silver hair tied up in a high bun and eyes as golden as pure gold was writhing with laughter, revealing teeth so perfect and white that they could blind you even from a distance.
"Honestly, I've trained children who fight better than you."
He walked toward me and held out his hand to help me up. I brushed my clothes to remove the excess dust and gave him my worst look of contempt, which only elicited more laughter from the elf.
"If it's any consolation, many of our children can already kill a few marmots in the field after a few weeks of training. Come on, wipe that frown off your face and try again."
Vaer'ion... is he still alive?
When I looked up, I noticed that the pair were staring at me intently. The elf seemed to be waiting for some answer, which, unfortunately for him, was not coming. As for the elf, her golden eyes moved quickly, analyzing every inch of me, as if looking for something.
"Are you people from the villages all like this? Do you talk like this to everyone, without a shred of courtesy?"
I let out a mocking laugh. Noble elves seemed to constantly need someone they considered inferior to lick their boots or lay down rugs wherever they stepped.
"Courtesan? Well, I had no idea you liked that kind of entertainment. You can find plenty of them down the street. Depending on your taste, 35 copper coins will guarantee you a welcoming reception."
"I said courtesy, not courtesan. By any chance—"
I slammed my hand on the table hard enough to lift the glasses slightly, which, oddly enough, didn't seem to scare them much.
"Look, I'm tired and out of patience. My shift for putting up with noble elves is over."
As soon as I finished speaking, the guard made an almost theatrical gesture, removing a bag from inside his robes and placing it on the table, producing a noise of coins and stones, which must have been valuable. Some glances were drawn in our direction.
I let out a laugh that was more sarcastic than I would have liked and pushed the bag back.
"You can keep your money, blue blood. I refuse to touch it."
He smiled crookedly, his perfect teeth displaying irony.
"Look at that, a mercenary refusing money? Hun Eryndell." (By Eryndel)
"Be careful when mentioning your 'goddess's' name in vain. She is somewhat… temperamental. Quel'Eryndell thalas elori." (May Eryndel curse him, or you, depending on the context)
A flash of fury lit up his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but the elven woman raised her hand, causing him to back away with a frown. She seemed to be enjoying the situation, as she kept a slight smile on her face.
"Interesting. You speak Elnari (Elvish)... You are more than the rumors say, Duncan.
A shiver ran down my spine. These bastards move like worms in the shadows. How does she know who I am? What else could she know? I took a sip without taking my eyes off her. When I put down the mug, I interlaced my fingers and spoke in a low voice.
"I see your information network is extensive. How do you know who I am and where to find me?"
The elf rested her hands on the table and leaned forward, causing her hood to fall back slightly, revealing part of her face. Even in the dim light, one thing was noticeable. She was beautiful, as all elves could be. Her skin was like polished pearl, her hair was a shiny silver, which in daylight would surely shine like liquid silver. However, as beautiful as she was, her eyes were deeply ringed with dark circles, the result of exhaustion from who knows what she had been doing. But that didn't stop her voice from sounding determined.
"I have my ways. And also, the description fits... a drunken mercenary who smokes like he has no lungs. He wears a black cloak. He's dark and tall, with black, curly hair and brown eyes..." She paused and took a sip of beer. As she did so, she grimaced and pushed the mug away. "I've been looking for you for some time, as I've heard rumors that you know about the Sword of the Mad Hero. I pay very well for information... and even more for its location."
I looked from her to the elf beside her. Either they were just two noble idiots after an ancient relic to use as decoration, or they might be plotting something. But why that sword?
"And why the hell do you want that thing? Didn't you know it's cursed?"
This time, the hood slipped back a little further, revealing more of her face, which caught the attention of some people around her. Apparently, she noticed, because she hid her face again. The guard stood alert, looking around without moving his head.
Elfa could hardly contain her excitement at the thought that she might have found a clue.
"Tell me what you know, please. I'll pay any amount!"
My eyes were fixed on her beauty. Was it some kind of spell? No, just my friend downstairs thinking too much.
I took a deep breath and took some coins out of my pocket, enough to pay for the tables, the mug, and the drinks I had. I put them on the table and got up.
"Give it up, ma'am. That sword only brings trouble. With your money, there must be better options."
I turned toward the door to leave. However, I felt a strong grip on my arm, with a hint of hostility coming from the table I had just left, which made my anger begin to grow.
Silence once again fell over the tavern, but this time it wasn't the silence of "something incredible is about to happen," but rather the silence of fear.
I looked down at my arm and saw the elf's hand holding me. I slowly walked toward him as I raised my eyes until they were level with his, our noses almost touching, but he showed no reaction, let alone moved, which made me even more irritated.
My face began to tingle, and from the reflection in his eyes, I could see that my eyes had turned crimson red. I let out a murderous intent, which made the guard loosen his grip a little. I could hear chairs scraping across the floor. Probably some customers getting up so they wouldn't have to witness the grotesque scene that was about to unfold. The only other thing I could hear was the rain... and an extremely annoying ringing in my ears, accompanied by a voice that kept saying to me:
"Kill him... rip his head off."
"Don't leave anyone alive."
A voice in the background, Ygur's, growled in warning, trembling with fear.
"D, please. Not in here!" he warned from the counter.
Silence once again fell over the tavern, but this time it wasn't the silence of "something incredible is about to happen," but rather the silence of fear.
I looked down at my arm and saw the elf's hand holding me. I slowly walked toward him as I raised my eyes until they were level with his, our noses almost touching, but he showed no reaction, let alone moved, which made me even more irritated.
My face began to tingle, and from the reflection in his eyes, I could see that my eyes had turned crimson red. I let out a murderous intent, which made the guard loosen his grip a little. I could hear chairs scraping across the floor. Probably some customers getting up so they wouldn't have to witness the grotesque scene that was about to unfold. The only other thing I could hear was the rain... and an extremely annoying ringing in my ears, accompanied by a voice that kept saying to me:
"Kill him... rip his head off."
"Don't leave anyone alive."
A voice in the background, Ygur's, growled in warning, trembling with fear.
"D, please. Not in here!" he warned from the counter.