Chapter 9: The Vagabond Mercenary
The tavern was noisy as ever, a cacophony of boisterous joy
that would be a little unbearable for anybody unfamiliar to the custom of
celebrating the end of the day in a den that stank of ale and smoke. Brendas
felt uneasy in amongst the crowd not because of how loud it was, but for a fear
of being recognised. After all, he was no stranger to crowded places--It was how
he made a living. However, nobody seemed to pick him out, whether it was thanks
to the many faces or the bath he took before following Akalgan downstairs.
Together they picked a rather average table, little ways from the merriment
where the sound miraculously sounded less intruding.
At the moment, Brendas just watched as Akalgan consumed his
dinner in a manner that was a few notches away from ravenous. But that did not
bother Brendas, as he probably would be doing the same--It was more that he
wanted to be able to sink his teeth into the supple roast meat himself. Akalgan
glanced over the agyan steak long enough to spot the hungry eyes. He stopped
and cut a bite and forked it over to Brendas.
"Try it--You look like
you want to." Akalgan ordered before Brendas could say no. The boy pursed
his lips together and closed his mouth over the bite, pulling it off the fork
and chewing longingly on very-much real great food. He nodded with a small
smile when he swallowed. The small hint of pleasure on Brendas' face brought a
little cheer to Akalgan's own, before he continued eating his dinner.
"Akalgan the great
adventurer!" Mykolas exclaimed as he walked over to the table. Akalgan
smirked at the remark and waved Mykolas over and beckoned he take a seat. The
big burly bear laughed heartily as he took one of the empty stools at the
table.
"As if you need to
buy any drinks at all with a spirit like that." Akalgan pointed out.
Mykolas laughed even more and shook his head.
"All the more of a
need, my friend!" He replied, before turning toward the nearest serving
girl. "A round of ales for our table
when you get the chance!" He called out to her, and she nodded.
He then turned back to Akalgan, and noticed the boy sitting
with him. "And who is this young lad?" He
inquired curiously. Brendas averted his gaze nervously, but Akalgan just patted
him on the back.
"This is Brendas, he
is..." Akalgan paused only briefly to come up with an apt response. "My guide here in town." He answered.
Brendas nodded and smiled a little to Mykolas, who chuckled.
"How luxurious for
you. I suppose it helps you to know from an insider where the best places are
to drink, eh!?" Mykolas joked. Akalgan laughed alongside him while Brendas
just humoured the two and smiled.
"Suppose I might as
well start telling you those stories you so sorely want to hear!" Akalgan
mentioned when the serving girl brought the ales over to the table. Mykolas
thought about it as he passed his payment for the ales to the girl before she
bowed and returned to the other many patrons.
"I was waiting on
another friend, but I truly cannot wait for your stories." Mykolas answered
before taking a swig of ale. Akalgan chuckled.
"Then how about the
time I fought alongside heroes against the infamous Fell King? Or maybe the story
of how I dropped a giant off a cliff?" Akalgan suggested. Mykolas shrugged.
"What about
embarrassing stories? Any of those we can start on?" He asked
inquisitively. Akalgan's brow furrowed.
"I would not want
your view of me skewered so suddenly." He retorted. Brendas joined in
however.
"So there is an
embarrassing story?" He asked suddenly, stopping Akalgan in his tracks.
He gave Brendas a look and rolled his eyes.
"Yes. Yes, there is.
The time I dropped a succubus off a cliff." Akalgan muttered. Mykolas
laughed a little at the thought.
"Although I admire
how consistent you are with dropping people off cliffs, I want to know if that
worked since succubi actually have wings." He inquired. Akalgan gritted his
teeth behind half-smiling lips.
"This one had no
wings." He replied as he sipped his ale. He then looked at Brendas, then to
Mykolas. "Because I cut them off her
back myself." He added menacingly. Both Brendas and Mykolas nodded
thoughtfully, but then Brendas raised an eyebrow.
"Wait--How is it an
embarrassing story?" He asked.
Before Akalgan could answer, a newcomer had arrived.
"Mykolas, old dog! I
had no idea you were bringing friends!" He exclaimed as he arrived to the
table. Mykolas recognised him immediately and turned around with a rambunctious
laugh.
"Veratus! About time!
What took you so long!?" He asked rhetorically. He shook his head and
beckoned for the Ordinator to sit. "I'll
shout you an ale!" He added. But Veratus chuckled as he sat down and only
shook his head.
"No, no, I think I'll
remain sober tonight." He replied.
"Feh! I've never seen
you drunk!" Mykolas retorted. Veratus smiled to the other two he had not
met yet.
"Because he's always
too drunk to remember." He murmured to Akalgan and Brendas. Mykolas scoffed
and shrugged.
"Anyways, I should
introduce you all-- Veratus, this is Akalgan and Brendas." He began,
gesturing to the other two.
Veratus shook hands with Akalgan, and then Brendas simply
waved at him a little. Akalgan tilted his head at the handshake.
"A very Imperial
thing to shake hands." He observed. "Is
that just your upbringing, or do most Dark Elves take to shaking hands?" Veratus
smiled.
"A bit of both
actually. Since the Principality is pledged in vassalage to serve the Empire,
such a pledge has the customs and benefits of Imperial culture seemingly merge
with our own culture." Veratus explained. Akalgan nodded thoughtfully as he
sipped his ale again.
"Uh, Akalgan and
Brendas, this is Veratus." Mykolas interjected, finishing his introduction.
Akalgan nodded with a small smile.
"Yes, I recognise you
from the execution." Akalgan noted. Veratus was stunned for a moment,
before chuckling it off.
"Not one of my finer
moments as ordinator, for sure." He responded. Akalgan nodded quickly.
"No, no, of course
not. I meant your swordsmanship and valour was admirable." He clarified.
Veratus then smiled proudly.
"Yes, well. I do my
best and keep faith in both my sword arm and those I serve." He explained.
Akalgan raised his brow marginally in silent cheers to such a response. Mykolas
took another swig of ale and sighed exasperatingly.
"Okay, okay, everyone
knows each other, now hush! I want to hear this 'embarassing story' of
Akalgan's!" He rasped. Akalgan rolled his eyes again as Veratus and Brendas
both leaned in with intrigue.
"... Fine, if you must
know..." Akalgan began, already regretting his decision to tell the story.
"I had been on my travels again, following the roads through Grimmvale
from the Imperial Province toward Wesirinfell. It was just the norm, a vagabond
mercenary on the lam from boredom and pennilessness." Akalgan narrated.
"What about the succubus!?" Mykolas
exclaimed.
"A succubus? Akalgan, did you--?" Veratus began to ask.
"SH! The both of you!" Akalgan
hushed them in annoyance. "... I was
passing by Grimmvale quickly because I thought it was a boring place, in all
truthiness. I had not cared enough to notice I had attracted the attention of a
certain individual." Akalgan went on.
"You mean the succubus?" Mykolas
asked.
"Ugh... Yes. It was the succubus." Akalgan answered briefly. "I had
no idea when I was in Grimmvale, but the fiend had been watching me. Often I would
be plagued by... Nightmares. But I just thought it was my surroundings getting to
me." He explained.
"I have heard tales that Grimmvale is naturally creepy." Veratus mentioned.
"Tales of werewolves and mysterious figures--Sounds like hogwash to me!"
Mykolas added.
"... In any case, I reached the border of Grimmvale and crossed over
without a problem into the highlands near Talonguard. It would only be two days
before I reached the closest settlement to the city. But I... Experienced
complications." Ala;gam
continued. "... As it were, I soon realised my nightmares were actually reality. It
turns out that... The succubus was taking advantage of the situation while I
was--When I was trying to sleep." He
hesitantly explained.
"Bwahahah! You felt one of Kyr-Basareth's bitches inside out? My, my,
what a daring dragonkin!" Mykolas
teased Akalgan over that moment.
"... Well--" He tried to
continue.
"Are you okay? Did it burn too much physically or...?" Veratus asked, seemingly joining Mykolas in
teasing Akalgan.
"Fine. I will confess, I will forever have trust issues for any whore
no matter how pretty she may be--But that is not the story of how I dropped the
filthy temptress off of the highest cliff!" Akalgan defended himself.
"Ohoho! By all means, my Dragonian friend, do continue--But I doubt it
will do much in dissuading the images and amusing thoughts in my head!" Mykolas replied!
"Mm... Just you wait, it will happen to you and I will be laughing." Akalgan muttered. "Ahem... Eventually, through strength of mind and body I--Saw through the
unholy ruse and confronted the foul demonic bitch. I pinned her to the ground
easily after her siren's voice and empty lies fell upon deaf ears. I then took
my sword and slowly cut both her wings off, one before the other to hear that
wretch's voice turn from song to scream." Akalgan continued.
"Mm, I imagine." Veratus
noted.
"I tossed her wings aside and pulled her along by the dirty horns of
hers to the nearest and fortunately tallest cliff, and I hurled her over the
edge before the first light of dawn struck the horizon." Akalgan went on with the story. "I did not turn away from the edge until
the screams and thuds became only thuds, and I then made haste to pack up camp
and be on my way with the haste of Ylas--" Akalgan almost concluded.
"Oh, just imagine the
looks on the faces of people when I tell them the great Akalgan felt the kiss
of Urzarogh's finest upon his mighty loins!" Mykolas boisterously exclaimed
over his fourth mug of ale.
"--And I swear by
Akarith and Atlas, if you repeat this story to anyone, I will hunt you down and
drop you off a cliff-- Into a volcano!" Akalgan growled. Mykolas and Veratus
laughed together, but nodded to keep Akalgan happy. Brendas just smirked a little bit, but stayed quiet ever still and
watched.
"On the other hand,
they say time heals all wounds..." Veratus began to note. "... So maybe one day Akalgan might enjoy
supple succubus flesh--" Akalgan scoffed and finished his third drink.
"I think not. I
believe I will just have to become a regular customer at the Loving Rose or
some other 'massage house' they have in Arthroyeaux." Akalgan muttered.
Veratus raised an eyebrow with amusement.
"Oh? Well, well." Veratus
said with notice of the hint. "Not a fan
of such a thing myself, but I suppose it would help--How did you put it... A
'certain individual' cope with trust issues for elegant wenches?" Veratus
joked. Akalgan shook his head at him.
"I never said such a
thing. By ancestors, you two are the worst." Akalgan remarked.
Mykolas looked a little dazed, but clearly did not
understand the hint.
"What... Do you mean,
Veratus?" He asked, his voice slurred but not by much. Brendas had no idea
either and he paid close attention.
"Well... The 'massage
houses' of Arthroyeaux are actually classy brothels crossed with inns, with a
bath house being used as a front for the establishment." Veratus began to
explain. "Just to clarify, I know of
this from travelling friends who... Found out about this by accident." He
added briefly. Brendas nodded as he leaned in, while Mykolas ordered another
drink. "See, the attendants--Or
'masseurs' and 'courtesans', do offer good massages for patrons, but they are
very suggestive in their work and always attempt to entice any patron to become
a... 'Client', of sorts." Veratus continued explaining as Akalgan and Mykolas
worked on their refilled mugs of ale. "Now
these massage houses seem to favour more masseurs than courtesans--Strong yet
gentle hands, that kind of thing. More often than not, clients actually choose
the masseurs--Most probably because the massage houses usually employ Lizen men
to work at their establishments due to how well they can massage and also...
Excel in 'other areas'." Veratus clarified. At that point, Brendas
understood.
"Oh... So Akalgan meant
that he--?" He began to ask, but then Akalgan put his mug down.
"How about a real
story now? One with character." He suggested, changing the topic
completely. Mykolas perked up at the mention of more storytelling.
"Yehahas! Tell us
more about your adventures or unholy escapades, great adventurer!" Mykolas
cheered a little tipsily. Akalgan smiled as Brendas and Veratus leaned in once
more to hear another tale.
"Well, how about a
bit of a twist on my favourite pastime of dropping people off cliffs? This is
the story of how I dropped a cliff on people..." Akalgan began.
The hours went by as Akalgan went on from his cliff story
onto more epic tales, with Mykolas ordering yet more drinks whilst Veratus made
snarky remarks and Brendas simply listened to all the incredible things Akalgan
had done in his travels. He told them the story of his battle against the
undead minions of the dreaded Fell King, Arthis Feldragon. He spoke of his stay
and meditation with elder dragons for a decade, and learnt many things he swore
never to use until the time was right. The stories went on while the tavern's
merriment and noise died down. The candles began to burn low as the atmosphere
was reduced to small conversations spread across the tavern.
Mykolas, at this point, was drunk even for an Ursaren of his
size. Veratus was the one to cut him off finally, upon realising the late hour
of the night.
"I think we should
call it a night now." Veratus suggested. "It seems Mykolas has drunken himself into a stupor. I will have to
take him home so he can sleep it off." He added. But Mykolas groaned.
"But I wanna hear
more stories! I can listen stilllllll...!" He complained, drifting off at the
end. But Akalgan shook his head.
"No, no, Veratus is
right. We should probably get some rest now for tomorrow." Akalgan
declared. Brendas only looked at Akalgan, and he felt almost as sad as Mykolas
that he could not hear any more stories. Akalgan seemed to give the impression
that he had not even begun to share all his tales he had to offer.
"How will you manage
to get Mykolas home though, Veratus?" Akalgan asked curiously as Veratus
stood up. He grinned.
"Mykolas doesn't
know, but I always hire a cart from the tavern or from a place nearby to haul
him away. I just need help to get him to the door!" Veratus explained.
"I cannn hear you!" Mykolas
growled with a slur.
"Would you mind?" Veratus
asked as he put Mykolas' left arm over his shoulders. Akalgan nodded and stood
up to help. Brendas stood up as well, but only watched as the two ably carried
Mykolas out to the door. True to his word, a cart awaited Mykolas and Veratus
in the street. Akalgan raised an eyebrow at Veratus' preparedness. "Mykolas always gets drunk when we go
drinking. I've learnt to do this after two incidents involving him sleeping in
the tavern." Veratus mentioned afterward, as if reading Akalgan's mind. As
the two worked together, Brendas watched from inside the door, wondering
whether he should take his chance and leave now, or stay.
Akalgan nodded to Veratus regardless as they hauled Mykolas
into the cart with a heavy heave and a ho. Veratus chuckled. "Many thanks. I think I can take it from
here." He claimed. Akalgan waved his gratitude off.
"Not a problem. Both of
you take care then." Akalgan remarked. Veratus smiled and waved to Akalgan.
"It was certainly
nice to meet you both. We should swap tales again sometime--Perhaps somewhere
without drinks!" He suggested. Akalgan shrugged.
"Maybe we will. It
was nice meeting you as well!" He farewelled as Veratus directed the cart
through the streets to his destination.
A smile, clear and bright as day crossed Akalgan's face. It
actually was not every day he made good acquaintances, but he definitely felt
gratified inside whenever he did.
"Well, they were
certainly interesting weren't they, Bren--?" Akalgan asked as he began to
turn around to Brendas, only to stop and find that the boy was gone. All
Akalgan could see were the unfamiliar faces of tavern patrons and the quieter
late night atmosphere. He pressed his lips back together and rubbed the side of
his neck before heading on inside. "Goodbye
to you too, pickpocket." Akalgan muttered quietly, and as he did, he
checked to make sure he still had his coinpurse and other valuables.
Just to be sure.