Chapter 251: The Melodic Moment Alehouse

 

  The small group of hunters and Hollow Shade mages neared the edge of Undergrowth with ease. There were no walls surrounding the city, only log houses here and there. The streets were filled with bustling drows running about. An outpost stood on the main road, a few dozen paces beyond the houses. A few guards patrolled the road, walking from the outpost down to the nearest house and back.

  Stryg assumed the outpost served as some sort of checkpoint for new arrivals, but as he looked around the large open space all around them, he began to seriously doubt the security of this city.

  Astrid walked up to Loh and bowed deeply, “This is where we must leave you. My guildmates and I need to regroup with the rest of my guild and hold a proper funeral for our fallen.”

  “Thank you for your guidance through Glimmer Grove,” Loh bowed her head. “My people and I are grateful.” She took out a pouch of coins and handed it to the redheaded woman, “For the families of the lost.”

  Astrid smiled warmly, “Thank you, my lady. Your kindness will not be forgotten.” She bowed once more, “Safe travels, my lady. I pray you find victory at the tourney.”

  “Thank you. Take care of yourselves, the world is growing more dangerous each day,” Loh said.

  “We will try our best,” Astrid nodded. She made a short bow to the rest of the mages before she gathered her hunters and marched back into the forest, their bodies fading into the treeline.

  “They’re good folk,” Loh muttered. She glanced back at Stryg, “So what’s your first impression of Undergrowth?”

  “They don’t have walls?” Stryg twisted his lips.

  “Hollow Shade is the only Great City that does,” Loh said.

  “How do they protect themselves from threats?” Stryg asked.

  “Against armies? They rely on their natural defenses. Frost Rim is surrounded by the Rupture Mountains, Murtkon has the Silent Marshes, and Undergrowth has Glimmer Grove,” Loh pointed at the enormous forest surrounding the city.

  “And what about smaller threats? Like a group of assassins who just run into the city? How are they supposed to stop that?” 

  “That’s why they have guards,” Loh said.

  Stryg glanced at the outpost, “Yeah… They don’t seem very reliable,” he said dryly.

  “I wasn’t talking about them,” Loh smiled. She nudged his shoulder and pointed at one of the nearby trees.

  Stryg glanced between the tree and Loh questioningly, until he caught a slight hint of movement among the tree’s purple leaves.

  Stryg narrowed his eyes, “What the…?”

  “The rangers of Undergrowth are stealthy and quite effective, best remember that,” Loh patted his back before she walked down to the outpost.

  After a few moments she walked back to them, a stack of papers in her hands.

  “Okay everyone, gather up,” Loh called out.

  The mages shambled their way towards her and stood around in a haphazard circle. Vayu and Tauri carried Ismene in a stretcher and stood a few paces away.

  “Did everything work out?” Vayu asked in a hopeful tone.

  Loh nodded, “Yeah, the guards accepted our travel permits. Here, each of you take one of these,” she passed out the slips of paper to each one of them. “Undergrowth’s travel laws are quite lax compared to Hollow Shade. Still, these papers prove that you are mages here for the tourney. They should keep you out of trouble if anything comes up.”

  “Thank you,” Freya grabbed her slip with a wide smile. “I can finally get into a nice tavern and soak in a long hot bath.”

  “Ooh, that does sound nice!” Sylvie said with delight.

  “And on that note, my grandfather has already prearranged some rooms for us in one of the city’s most luxurious taverns,” Loh grinned.

  “Thank the gods Lord Noir spares no expense,” Callum sighed with relief.

  “Indeed, I look forward to tasting Undergrowth’s finest teas,” Cornelius twisted the curled edges of his mustache.

  “I have to go to the city’s magic academy and confirm our arrival and get the tourney’s itinerary,” Loh said. “In the meantime, Tauri, do you mind getting all our rooms set up for us at the tavern?” 

  “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Tauri smiled.

  “Is there anywhere to get a drink?” Stryg asked.

  “Many. The real question is, are any of them good,” Callum winked.

  “My brother told me of this really nice alehouse he went to last time he visited Undergrowth on one of his business trips,” Freya said. “We could go now if you’re all up for it.”

  “Sounds great, it’s been too many days since I last drank blood,” Callum licked his lips.

  “~Same~” Sylvie rubbed her stomach dramatically.

  “Freya, I thought you wanted to go soak in a bath?” Stryg asked.

  Freya shrugged, “Well, as team captain it’s my job to make sure our team has their needs met… Aaand I also like to have a nice bottle of spirits with me whenever I take a bath.”

  “No judgment here,” Callum chuckled.

  “A fresh drink does sound nice,” Cornelius muttered. “Miss Katag, would you like to join us?”

  “No thanks, I still have to get all our rooms ready,” Tauri shook her head.

  “Ah, of course. In that case, I will join you,” Cornelius nodded.

  “What? You don’t need to do that…” Tauri said.

  “No, I insist,” Cornelius smiled. “I will ensure we get the best possible rooms for the entire group, just leave it to me.”

  “Thanks…?” Tauri said wryly.

  “Master Vayu, are you coming?” Stryg asked.

  “Thank you, but I don’t drink anymore,” Vayu said. “Besides, I need to take Lady Ismene to the Pale Lotus.”

  “Pale Lotus?” Stryg asked.

  “They’re a white mage guild based in Undergrowth,” Vayu said. “They boast the best healers in the city. A few days with them and Lady Ismene will be back to her usual self.”

  “That’s good,” Stryg smiled tiredly. He felt as if a weight had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders.

  “Oi, Stryg!” Loh placed her hands on her hips, “Tourney contestants are forbidden from using magic outside of the tourney. So don’t go causing any trouble while we’re here, understood?”

  Stryg nodded, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

~~~

  The Melodic Moment was the greatest alehouse in Undergrowth or at least it was the most flamboyant. A dozen alabaster statues dotted the elaborate niches on the ebony wooden walls. Streams of bright-colored silks hung from the ceiling lanterns. The lanterns themselves were enchanted and inlaid with small magestones, fueled with white mana. The soft blue light they gave off granted the alehouse its iconic aloof atmosphere.

  A famous songstress sang from a small balcony that rose from the wall seamlessly as if it was just another branch sprouting from a tree. A small, but well-equipped group of minstrels played a soothing tune from underneath the balcony, accompanying the bards’ voices flawlessly.

  Behind the long polished bar stood half a dozen shelves filled with a practically endless amount of expensive and rare bottles of alcohol. 

  Expensive.

  That was the word Veronica realized.

  Expensive.

  This whole place screamed of expensive as if it was all it was trying to achieve, as if there was nothing more that mattered. Gods forbid someone actually might have fun here. Of course, in retrospect, expensive was probably the only reason Heather had chosen this alehouse.

  The Great House of Navis had acquired copious amounts of wealth in the past few generations and Heather was determined to flaunt her family’s money in whatever ways she could find.

  Usually, Veronica didn’t mind. Their social circle was filled with children of affluent Houses, spending gold was second nature to them. Unfortunately, Damian Parvus was with them today. The Great House of Parvus was the richest family in Undergrowth, second only to the legendary Great House of Thorn. Which meant Heather had to take them to the most expensive alehouse in the entire city, her pride wouldn’t allow anything less.

  Veronica disliked the aloof, cold ambiance of places like this. She preferred the more lively taverns in the lower stratas of the city. So long as she dressed with some of her servant’s clothes, no one in those taverns would ever know she was an aristocrat, let alone the daughter of a Great House. She could act whatever way she wanted in those taverns, free from the expectations of society.

  But here, in this expensive Melodic Moment alehouse, people were expected to act with a certain air of ‘elegance.’ Everyone here was probably either a wealthy merchant or some aristocrat, the only thing for certain was that they were all a bunch of gossips. If Veronica acted out in any way her parents would know every detail of the entire incident before dinner time.

  Worse, Heather had announced herself and her friends the moment they walked in. Everyone’s eyes had gone wide at the sight of the three scions of Great Houses. The guests had all quickly dispersed from the bar and made their way to the tables at the far corners of the alehouse, yet their attention stayed on Veronica and her friends as they sat down at the bar.

  “They’re staring at us,” Veronica muttered, peeved.

  “Do you want to go somewhere else?” Damian asked kindly.

  “Let them stare,” Heather said smugly and brushed her white hair back.

  “Welcome back, Miss Navis,” the barkeep bowed and offered her a glass of blue wine.

  “You come here often?” Veronica raised her eyebrow.

  “Once in a while,” Heather sipped her drink. “You must admit it’s nice to have such a nice bar all to ourselves, hm?”

  “If I wanted to drink alone I could do it at home, without strangers staring at me,” Veronica grumbled.

  “Then how about you drink with me?” Damian smiled lightly. He glanced at the barkeep, “Two of your best glasses.

  "Right away, Mister Parvus,” the barkeep nodded eagerly.

  “You come here too?” Veronica asked.

  “Sometimes,” Damian shrugged.

  Veronica wondered why Damian sat on the stool between Heather and herself. Heather always sat in the middle of any gathering, she always loved to be the center of attention. So why…?

  “Wait a sec,” Veronica narrowed her eyes. “Did you two set this up? Is this some kind of blind date? Is that why we’re at this empty bar?”

  “Well, I’d hardly call it blind, per se. We’re all on the same team after all,” Heather said wryly.

  Damian blushed, “I-It was supposed to be a double date.”

  Veronica glanced at the empty chair next to Heather, “Someone stood you up? You? Our academy’s Miss Beautiful three years in a row? Who woul- Oooh…” She smirked, “You asked out Calex, didn’t you?”

  Heather clicked her tongue, “He was supposed to be here. He promised.”

  “That sounds unlikely,” Veronica said dryly. “What did he say exactly?”

  “W-well, I told him we’d be having drinks tonight,” Heather stuttered.

  “Uh-huh, and then what happened?” Veronica asked.

  “Calex, um, he… and walked away,” Heather whispered.

  “He what now? Speak up,” Veronica asked.

  Heather bit her lip, “He nodded and walked away.”

  “That’s it?” Damian winced sympathetically.

  “Hah, I knew it!” Veronica burst into laughter. “Calex Thorn isn’t the kind of man to just casually accept a date.”

  “He’s a Thorn, they’re different from the rest of us,” Damian nodded.

  “More like indifferent. Calex doesn’t care about anyone but his family and their legacy,” Veronica said.

  “Yeah, but that’s his charm, he’s just above it all,” Heather smiled longingly.

  “~Yeah~” Veronica sighed wistfully.

  “Um, I’m right here too, you know,” Damian said, displeased.

  “Oh don’t be so intimidated, Parvus,” Heather patted his shoulder. “Calex is in a league of his own, no one’s comparing you two.”

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Damian frowned.

  “I mean, yeah,” Veronica giggled sympathetically. “You know you’re pretty cute.”

  “You think so?” Damian’s eyes brightened.

  “But, Calex has this glass-like beauty, you know?” Veronica shrugged. “Like perfectly chiseled, a work of art. It’s just how it is. Everyone admires the Thorns from afar, that doesn’t mean you matter any less though. You’re still a catch.” Veronica raised her hands and leaned back, “Just not my catch.”

  Damian hung his head in bitter rejection.

  “Hey, I thought you weren’t interested in Calex,” Heather said suspiciously.

  “I’m not, not like that at least,” Veronica grinned. “Unlike you, I know what’s possible and what’s not. Calex won’t date anyone his mother doesn’t approve of and we all know Lady Thorn doesn’t think anyone is good enough for her son.”

  “So, there’s still a chance?” Damian looked up with a cocky grin.

  Veronica shook her head, “You really don’t know when to give up, huh?”

  “My family didn’t rise to greatness through idleness,” Damian said.

  “Hm… Maybe you have a little Calex in you after all,” Veronica smiled coyly.

  “Ugh, this is boring,” Heather groaned. “Without Calex here what’s the point? Maybe we should just leave, Veronica?”

  “We could stay a little longer,” Damian said. “Barkeep, you must hear all sorts of interesting rumors. Anything salacious to entertain our friend?”

  The barkeep nodded and closed his eyes in thought, “Hmm… One of House Talon’s maids went to clean one of their mansion’s extra bedrooms, but when she opened the door she caught Lord Talon’s wife being rammed in from behind by a-”

  “Centaur, yeah, that’s last week’s news,” Heather sighed. “I heard Lord Talon slit the centaur’s balls off and made him eat it. Then he gutted the centaur in front of the stables.”

  “...What happened to his wife?” Veronica asked weakly.

  “Disappeared or so the story goes,” Heather said eerily.

  “...So she’s dead,” Veronica guessed.

  “Obviously, she was just some commoner before she married into House Talon,” Heather said. “No one important will miss her.”

  “Fuck…” Veronica swallowed uneasily.   

  Heather tapped the bar table, “Anything else? Something new?”

  The barkeep furrowed his brow, “Um… Oh! I got one. One of the merchants came in this morning. He claims that one of his caravans was traveling near the edge of Glimmer Grove and accidentally wandered into Vulture Woods…”

  “Really? What happened?” Heather leaned forward.

  “They say some of the caravan guards saw a pair of sylvan goblins,” the barkeep said.

  “Sylvan folk, really?” Heather’s blue eyes widened with interest.

  “But get this,” the barkeep whispered. “The goblins were riding wolves.”

  “Wolves? Bullshit,” Heather shook her head. “No one can ride a wolf, it’d bite your leg off first.”

  The barkeep shrugged, “Forgive me, Miss Navis. I don’t come up with the stories.”

  “Goblins riding wolves, huh?” Veronica mused. “I guess it’s not as crazy as those dragon rumors.”

  “Nothing is as crazy as that,” Damian chuckled.

  The Melodic Moment’s door slammed open with a loud bang. The songstress and minstrels stopped mid-song at the abrupt noise. The alehouse’s patrons' heads snapped towards the door, their eyes widened in surprise.

  Damian furrowed his brow, “What the…?”

  A voluptuous dire ducked her head under the doorway and stepped inside the wide room. She glanced around the alehouse with an excited grin. “Oooh, I like the blue lights, nice touch,” Sylvie said.

  “Vampire…?” Veronica muttered.

  It was rare to see any non-drow frequenting any well-established alehouse, let alone one as expensive as this. Not that anyone seemed to be complaining, both men and women alike stared wide-eyed at the gorgeous vampiress.

   “I can’t see anything, move your big ass,” a voice complained from behind the dire vampiress.

  “Oops, my bad,” Sylvie laughed lightly and stepped aside from the doorway.

  “Finally,” Freya rolled her eyes and walked in. “Huh, well what do you know? This place isn’t half bad.”

  Heather narrowed her eyes, “A dwarf… Golden hair and eyes? And those elaborate hair beads… Is she a Goldelm?”

  “A Hollow-Shader?” Veronica’s face lit with interest.

  Callum walked in behind Freya and glanced at the stacked shelves behind the bar. He sighed with relief, “Finally, some decent bottles of blood wine.”

  “Another vampire?” Damian whispered.

  “Just some more visitors here to watch the tourney,” Heather smirked. “Looks like they all came to see their city’s team lose.”

  A fourth figure walked into the Melodic Moment, he wore a black cloak and kept his face hidden beneath the hood. He was shorter than the vampires but taller than the dwarf. Yet unlike the rest, this visitor did not speak. Instead, he pushed past the other three and made his way straight to the bar. He pulled back a stool a few seats away from Veronica and sat down. The stool creaked underneath his weight.

  Stryg slammed his palm over the bar and turned to the barkeep, “Two bottles of your best dwarven Fire-Breath.”