City of Light: Chapter 5
Story by Anduskmiir on SoFurry
In which Lyndis visits a friend.
Here we have the first new bits in the story. From now on there is going to be more of that. :>
Chapter 5:
Lyndis made her way through the streets of Lumara, paying little heed to the people who passed her by. Gryphons, humans, and the other assorted races were little more than colored blurs to the determined rogue. Sure, the dragon she worked for was clever with spells, changing his shape and his strength could not be matched; he was ill suited for matters of persuasion. She could have taken Arcturus, but she was certain he’d scare away those she sought.
Now she stood before the place of her attentions, a bar nestled deep within the gryphon packed district, a bar that all around heard whisper about. It called itself the Feathered Fancy, a large sign proclaiming as much, jutting out from the three-story building. All manners of gryphons fluttered about it, many reclining upon the roof and lazing about in the sun. There they exchanged conversation while nursing tankards of ale, others performing captivating songs that only their ears could appreciate. The stone that constructed this place shimmered in the sun, the work of some ancient craftsmanship like magic she was certain only the likes of the dwarves would know. The entrance was large enough for three of their kind, outlined in enchanting vines of iridescent flowers, forming graceful arches reminiscent of the wings of gryphons in flight.
Tossing open the doors revealed a spacious interior, with vaulted ceilings to give off the impression of a great hall. These walls were adorned with vivid tapestries depicting ancient battles that the gryphons of Lumara shared with their two-legged kin. The air was alive with the sound of conversation shared about by the numerous patrons scattered about tables within, humans and gryphons alike breaking bread and enjoying one another’s company. Scents of Earthen Oak from the forests came to her, reminding the half-elf of her home back in Drenedar, these mixed together with the rich, intoxicating scent of honeyed mead, just one of the numerous drinks this place served, all named after various magical creatures and elementals that could be found across Sethera.
Gryphons and humans waved to her, greeted her with smiles and merriment. She gave them a gentle smile and light wave of the hand of acknowledgement in return, but alas, this was not why she was here, she was on a mission. Lyndis made her way past the numerous tables, to a section of the wall hidden from prying eyes. The rogue leaned up against the wooden surface, knocking several times in rapid succession.
“I know you’re in there.” She spoke clearly, unphased as a part of the wall opened to reveal two avian eyes.
“Who is…Oh Lyndis it’s you!” Chirped the gryphon behind the wall, “When did you get here?”
“Just came in, found a couple of blokes that took me in.” She pretended to inspect her fingernails, “How have you been Nestor?”
“Misses and I are having a quartet of gryphets. Just hold on a tick while I…” The gryphon’s head that had departed snapped back to the slot, “How do we know this is you and not an illusion?”
The rogue chuckled at this, she had wondered if she was going to have to criticize her friend’s security. “Last time your boss and I did a job together, the ole bird got a trio of arrows in his bum.”
“Anyone could have known that.”
“And when he thinks no one is looking he dresses up in frilly little stockings and likes to dance around with makeup on his beak.”
“Lyndis!” Nestor the gryphon opened the hidden door, revealing an orange male gryphon, his fur dusted with layers of black. He gestured for the half-elf to enter with his onyx tipped feathers. When she did, the pair pressed their foreheads together as he gave a pleased trill.
She wasn’t much for small talk; it was never good with this group. Always keep on your toes, else she was going to get a talon where she least expected it. As it was, she allowed Nestor to lead her up a flight of stairs until she was most certainly upon top floor. The last door to open revealed a spacious room, with several oval windows that could be folded in to allow the patrons to depart.
The floor here was a rug of vibrant colors, with pictures of gryphons in flight across a sprawling countryside. From here rose exquisite furniture of polished mahogany, with wings and hammers carved into their surfaces. The most dominating thing was a table suited for gryphons, with piles of parchment and open tomes scattered across its weathered surface. At the other end of this was a scarred gryphon with dark green feathers with an eye patch.
“So, you finally show your face again.” The gryphon said with a sharp voice. “After what you put me through.”
“Damon!” Lyndis spread her arms with a smile, ignoring the icy demeanor that surrounded the gryphon so. “You’re still mad about our previous encounter? Come now, it got you this fancy building, didn’t it?” She padded her way to one of the two legger seats, sat down and firmly planted her boots on the table.
“Thanks to you I got three arrows in my ass!” Damon padded towards her, revealing three patches on his hind quarters that were devoid of fur.
“You didn’t get a healer to fix that for you?” She scoffed, “Here I thought gryphons we’re vain.”
“I kept them as a reminder.”
“Reminder of what?”
His eyes narrowed, “Why are you here? It can’t have been to check on my wellbeing.”
She ignored the tensing of his muscles, the fluffing of his feathers, she’d seen this all before from him. “How would you like to make tons of coin?”
“I already have ample enough of coin girl.”
“Do you really? Come now, I’m not that foolish.”
Damon gave an indignant chirp, gesturing Augustus away with a toss of his head. With a curious eye the green gryph padded his way to a glass cabinet where several bottles of wine resided. He procured two of them and placed them on the table before grabbing her a glass. He sat beside her, tail curling over his hinds.
Plucking the bottle from the table she turned it over in her hand, reading the label, “Elven Frost Wine Damon? Don’t tell me I’m not worth it.”
“Its older than you are, fine year. I’m sure you’ll love it.” He removed the cork, pouring for her of the thick blue liquid. As it touched the air it chilled the glass, leaving a thin mist upon the air. “Now speak of this deal.”
“Course, I’m going to need a bit of information if we’re going to talk further.” She swiped the glass, noting the cold licking at her fingertips.
“What kind of information?” He chirped; brow raised.
“Recently my friend had some loot stolen from his home, terrible shame, real mess. I need help locating it.”
“That’s it?” the gryphon chortled, popping the cork of his own bottle, and tossing his head back to take a swig, “A simple theft?”
“Theft from a dragon.”
Damon started choking on his drink.
“Surprised?” She calmly sipped as the gryphon wheezed and sputtered, feathers shaking as he worked to compose himself, “He does have quite the temper.”
“A dragon, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Hardly, the kingdom’s lunatics went and took it from him, especially a magical book within the lot of it. So, I’m just going to be needing the whereabouts of it.”
The gryphon pulled back with a beak parted smile, sensing an opportunity falling into his talons, “I believe with a few string pulling that can be arranged, for the right price of course.”
“I wouldn’t have it otherwise.” She clinked her glass against his.
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Thank you for following along, new readers and old! We're going to start getting into rewrites, so some of you might recognize changes in the plot. :> I hope you're all enjoying yourselves!
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