CHAPTER VIII #6
We reach a decent-sized pub, its grey walls standing bleak as it mixes with the old white marble stones throughout.
A rickety wooden signpost hangs above the door without any name affixed to it, just the simple carving of a mug in the middle.
I frown as we approach, noticing that there are no small stables or anywhere to tether our horses and look over to Holis, unsure what to do.
“Sam and Bryson will watch the horses, Lady,” Nathaniel dismounts with a nod to the other men.
I smile at the solider and swing my leg over Millie as the rest of the group does the same. We all hand our reins to the two and walk into the pub, the ambiance so eerily quiet that I have to double check we didn’t just walk into a library.
No loud or boisterous voices greet us from inside.
Instead, the simple room remains silent as I count on my hand the number of humans sitting inside.
A man from behind the counter catches my eyes from across the room, his frown deepening at the sight of our group.
There’s something familiar about the look he gives me, and as I walk towards him with a smile, I realize he’s the same man that stared at me on the road when we arrived yesterday.
“Hello,” I keep my smile on the man as he eyes Stormfall without emotion.
Holis moves to stand next to me, as does Canon, the two waiting at my sides as I continue. “Can we get a round for our group? Ale, if you have it.”
The man nods quietly, dropping his cloth on the counter as he turns to the barrels behind him.
I hear Cal, Alanna and the rest of our small group moving to a table at the far end of the room, no one saying a word to each other as they sit down in silence.
I let my eyes trail around the pub, noticing that, apart from those in our group, no Discerni sits inside. The pub is only filled with humans.
The barkeep catches my glance again before he drops a few mugs on the counter, his gaze quiet and bleak.
I watch as he takes in my human features through hidden glances, then lets that glance flick to Cal and Nathaniel sitting at the table behind me, frowning again as he turns around to pour a few more drinks.
Holis takes the first round back to our friends as Canon and I wait for the next, everyone silent and still, matching the room.
“Thank you,” I smile and place a few cinerin on the counter, feeling the barkeep’s eyes on my back as we move to the table.
“Will we be departing today?” Cal asks when Canon and I sit down.
“I’m unsure,” I reply with a small grimace. “The delegation from Aireal is expected to ride in today. We may be asked to remain the night with them.”
My big friend frowns and moves his large arm around the back of Alanna’s chair as she takes a heavy drink of ale.
The two of them are still a bit stiff with each other, but I can tell that the situation in Etter has brought them closer.
They’ve put aside the tension that took over in Auclair, if only to focus on everything happening here.
A few of the humans that sit at the other tables all shift in their seats at Cal’s gesture, watching him with wide eyes as he moves so casually next to a Discerni woman, not understanding.
This is good.
Let them see what life outside Woodlands is like.
Holis pulls out a pair of dice, also noticing the small views around us as he smiles in recognition.
He bumps my shoulder playfully, opening his palm in front of him as I grin and take the game from his hand.
Everyone from our group moves their seats closer to the table, ready to bring some life to this dull room.
“Fours are yours,” I smile to my friends, rolling the dice in my hands. “Everything over seven and we all drink.”
“Ancients,” Alanna grumbles with a small grin. “We’ll be here all day.”
That’s the idea.
We pass the full of the late morning in the pub, our voices carrying louder and the drinks flowing as the day passes on.
For the first time in a while I feel everyone around us loosening up from their own silence, the group letting go of their anxiety to try to find some enjoyment in this lifeless town.
Canon sips on his ale, as does Nathaniel, though both feed off of the rest of our enthusiasm.
They relax in their chairs as the barkeep brings another round, while Nathaniel even offers to trade places with Sam and Bryson, both soldiers walking in with wide eyes and grins as we cheers to them to have a drink with us.
A few human men and women of Etter also begin to find their way to the pub, letting their glances look upon our table, if only for brief moments.
It’s the first time since arriving that I actually catch a glance or two, those stares curious and without fear now that they’re away from the watchful eyes of the Woodlands Discerni outside.
“Join us,” I grin to the man behind the bar, requesting another round.
The pub is slow and I have no doubt he can manage his duties alongside our fun.
The man gives me a rare smile in response, one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but it’s there.
“Perhaps another time, Lady,” he replies, “though Jens and Morrow look to be asking.”
I turn around to our table and smile at the sight of Cal bringing up two empty chairs to his side. Two older men grin shyly before taking the seats.
“And your name?” I turn back to the barkeep with a grin.
He places the new drinks on the counter, not meeting my eyes. “Stefan, Lady.”
“Thank you, Stefan,” I give him another small smile. “Your pub is welcoming. We appreciate the hospitality.”
Stefan’s gaze quickly darts to mine, his eyes searching before they look around the room behind me. He frowns just slightly, still looking at our surroundings, so I turn around and look at the pub with him.
Everyone seems to be having a good time. So why is Stefan glancing around the room like it’s the most un-welcoming thing he’s ever seen?
“How long have you lived in Etter?” I ask him casually, reaching into my bag for more cinerin.
“My whole life,” he replies, picking his cloth back up.
I look at the man in small curiousness. He has to be in his late thirties, possibly early forty.
If he’s lived here his whole life, then that means he lived here when I did.
When my parents did. Was he not a part of the group of humans that were slaughtered in the dead of night?
Did he hide, like me? He would have been only a few years older than I am now when it happened.
“And do you enjoy your life here?”
“It is all I know, Lady,” he turns away just as the door opens.
I frown and fit as many mugs in my hands as possible, noticing two Woodlands Discerni enter the room.
Their eyes dart immediately to our group at the table as the rest of the humans in the pub go silent, all of them staring blankly into their drinks.
I place the mugs on our table and watch as the mood in the room immediately changes.
Cal eyes me, as does Holis and Mana, all of us grimacing at a good morning now lost.
King Voland and his son arrived just after midday.
Their large delegation was greeted promptly by human boys that ran around the courtyard of the residence to take their belongings and tend to their horses.
It was an entirely different reception from what we were greeted with last night, with the foreign King and Prince being afforded every attention to detail as Kaven smiled upon.
Our group watched the whole procession quietly as we made our way back from the pub, watched as the human delegation was lavished with care.
Troy is with the royals as well, accompanied by three other Woodlands Discerni who all stand at ease before the residence, the lot of them smiling openly at Lord Kaven and his wife. Keane, Desmond and Lord Alexander are present too, having traveled back from their tour of the mill.
“A full group,” Lord Kaven beams, smiling to the King of Aireal and his son before he extends a hand to Troy.
“One that I hope isn’t going to be too much of a burden, Kaven,” Troy laughs, shaking the man’s hand in such a warm greeting that I scowl.
“We have ample space for you and your men above,” Kaven grins as Troy does the same, “and can accommodate the King and his son on the second floor.”
I nearly scoff at the Discerni Lord from afar. Of course he has room in his residence for this delegation. Just not ours.
“Thank you, Kaven,” Troy turns his smile to Esme, reaching for her hand, “and always a pleasure to see you, Lady Esme.”
I frown deeply at the openness between Troy and the Discerni and hoist myself off Millie, leading her to the stables. Our traveling group is completely ignored by the new arrivals, something I don’t mind one bit.
“We’ll be staying another night,” Mana’s cool voice greets mine, walking up beside Millie. “I just heard them now.”
I sigh in response.
What fun.
Alanna and Cal announce that they’re heading back to the kitchens for lunch and take the Warrior soldiers with them before they retire for their rooms. I grimace at the news, hating that we’re all still separated and hating that there’s nothing to be done about it.
Apart from visiting the pub in the village, there’s just little else for them to do here except hoard themselves inside.
Canon and I leave the stables with Holis and Mana, the four of us moving quietly back through the courtyard that is now empty of people.
We walk into the ground floor hall, moving down the pristine white marble walls towards the open room in the middle before making our way up the curving staircase to the songs of the argents.
Holis and Mana say their goodbyes and open the door to their small room, though Holis stops just before entering, his eyes darting to the bag at my side.
I nod, knowing that I’ll write to him if needed, and walk down the rest of the hall with Canon until we reach the room I’m sharing with the brothers.