“You think any of us will be a future lord one day,” asked Laranthel as he and his group of friends walked the paved streets of Greenport. They were on their way to a bar to celebrate Laranthel’s admittance into the academy. There were five of them altogether: Laranthel Charlotte, Micheal, Vatu, and Tatia. Micheal was a Night Person like Laranthel, Charlotte was a normal human native to the continent, and Vatu and Tatia were Imunani. The motley crew blended in with the crowds of people swarming the streets celebrating graduations and honoring those who would be going to fight in the north. “Uh, hello?”
“What did you say? It’s hard to hear anything right now,” replied Micheal from beside Laranthel. The five of them walked slowly through the streets, occasionally getting split up by crowds of people standing outside of inns and bars waiting for service or just standing around drunk. “Laranthel, say again?”
“Ah, forget it we’ll talk again when we get to Mayer’s.” Micheal shrugged and followed behind Laranthel who took the initiative and began pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. He tried to do so with as much tact as he could muster, but some people were just too drunk to take the hint. After a few more minutes of uncomfortable closeness with various strangers, Laranthel led his friends to Mayer’s. A fairy with a tankard in her hand adorned the wooden sign hanging from a pole jutting out from the wooden building’s entrance. Laranthel pushed open the establishment’s front doors and walked inside, his friends shuffling in behind him.
As they entered the room they were greeted by the scent of freshly cooked food, strong alcohol, and tobacco and hash smoke. The building was two stories high, the lower floor being the bar and the upper floor being a living quarter for Mayer, his family, and some of his staff. A couple yards in front of Laranthel was the bar itself, benched filled with patrons being served by Mayer himself, or his hired help. Making up the rest of the first floor were round tables and benches where patrons sat, eating, and drinking their time away. Laranthel waited for his friends to filter in before beginning to plan where to sit.
“let’s get a bench, much more comfortable than the table’s,” said Tatia in her soft soprano voice.
“I agree,” replied Vatu lowly. The five of them found a bench table at the far end of the bar, in between two other groups of customers. Laranthel sat at the edge of his side of the table, Charlotte squeezed in between him and Vatu. Across from him sat Tatia and Micheal.
“Like I was saying earlier, do you think any of us will be a future lord one day?” Laranthel scanned the table searching for reactions. His four friends sat in silence, considering his question.
“I think Vatu will be a lord one day for sure, he has that sort of air about him,” replied Micheal, his face serious. “The air of a brute I mean.” He smiled at the joke.
“You laugh, but one day I’ll rename this coast from Elysimyra to Vatuland and my first order will be to ban you from every bar from here to the Bois,” replied Vatu with a sinister grin on his face.
“Laranthel did you perhaps ask this question…thinking we would say you?” Tatia looked at Laranthel accusingly, she felt she had caught him red handed.
“No! I honestly wanted to know,” replied Laranthel, denying her correct accusation. “Is it so wrong for friends to believe in each other?”
“What’s wrong, Laranthel, are these delusions of grandeur you’ve been having!” Charlotte cut in. “Ever since you’ve learned you were going to the academy you’ve been acting strange. Some days it’s ‘Oh, I don’t know if I’ll do well in Eliaran,’ and some days it’s ‘When I get done at the academy, I’ll be the greatest warrior who ever lived!’ Well, it’s all nonsense to me!” The table erupted in laughter, and Laranthel felt his cheeks grow hot.
“Oh, don’t be that way! Don’t be so cruel to me! We’re friends, aren’t we?” He looked Charlotte in the eyes as he spoke, knowing it was his oldest friend who would be the most distraught at his parting.
“Well, some of us might be worm’s meat come next summer. Hells, probably most of us,” said Vatu grimly. He sighed then raised his head, turning toward the bar and shouting: “Hey waiter! Bar maid! Can we get a few drinks over here! Some wine, beer, ale, whatever you have!”
“Aye!” called the gruff voice of Mayer himself. He was an old human man, his brown hair turning grey and an eyepatch over his left eye from a life of adventure, or so he says. Most people suspected the old beast got it from wrestling pigs or hounds.
“Way to ruin the mood Vatu,” spat Tatia from her place across the table. “That is the last thing I want to think about tonight.”
“Yeah well, no wonder. Women don’t answer the levy unless they know magic,” Vatu replied his eyes still watching the bar. “Hah, lucky for you Tati! You barely know anything at all!”
“First of all, I know plenty,” glowered Tatia, her lips curling into an angry sneer. “Second of all, maybe I will go! They’ll need nurses and maids to clean sorry men like you from the battlefield.”
Vatu’s face grew somber at her words, and he replied in a worried tone: “Please be serious Tatia, don’t go if you don’t have to. There’s no telling what will happen to you.” He was right of course, if Tatia travelled with an army that got routed and she somehow ended up in the hands of foreign soldiers well…life for women could be cruel.
“I bet you regret calling me out about now don’t you Tatia,” interjected Laranthel, his hands cupped around his face to hide the discomfort the conversation was causing him.
“These drinks can’t come soon enough,” muttered Micheal, shaking his head in exasperation.
The drinks did arrive some five minutes later, the uncomfortable topic of conversation finally having run its course. The quintet downed the first round of drinks quickly, and demanded two more rounds, downing those just as fast. After an hour of eating and drinking they had become tipsy and slowed their consumption for fear of losing the entire night to drunken stupor.
“Ah, that always hits the spot! Perhaps we ought to go for another,” said Vatu boisterously, rocking back and forth in his chair.
“No, I think we’ve had enough for now. I’m starting to feel the flush,” replied Micheal from across the table, a look of contentment written across his face. “Ah to think, this will be the end of days like these for a while! And at such a tender age as ten and around six years for most of us.”
“Can’t you just say sixteen? Can’t we just be young for today!” Catherine leaned toward Micheal, turning her chin up at the blue teenager across from her accusingly. “I think we’ll have time enough for big words and heavy responsibilities here shortly.”
“Not too heavy I hope,” Laranthel chimed in from his side of the table. He felt that familiar warmth in his stomach from the alcohol and a comforting ignorance and lack of inhibition enter his mind. “Too much hard work doesn’t really suit me well, I think. Oh, look there! Someone’s lost their head!”
Across the room two elven men were brawling with each other, one tall and lean and the other slightly shorter and wider. The tall one punched the shorter one in his face, sending him reeling backwards into his seat, sending the wooden bench toppling to the ground. He caught his footing and tackled the taller man to the ground, turning the fight into a wrestling match on the floor of the bar. The room laughed and jeered at the two men, some placing bets on who would win.
“I think the brunette has it,” said Tatia leaning back against her chair so Micheal could see the commotion.
“I do too if the blonde doesn’t get up. Oh, what a show,” mused Micheal from behind Tatia.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Someone ought to break this up. Or scoot over,” said Vatu, trying to position himself so that he could see over Charlotte and Laranthel. The latter left his seat and knelt at the end of their bench so that Vatu could get a good look at the fighting. “Oh yeah, this is as good as won for the bulky one.”
As he predicted, the bulky elf remained atop the taller one, raining blow after blow on his guarded face. Eventually one of the bar men emerged from behind the bar counter and dragged the bulky elf from the tall one.
“Alright you’ve had your fun, now it’s time to leave!” Bellowed the large bar man. Two patrons joined him in dragging the pair of bruised elves to the bar’s front door and tossing them out.
“Gods, life is never uneventful,” mused Micheal. “Now that was a good fight! Well, beating rather. Normally its two drunken fools too haggard to really put on a good show.”
“We’ve seen better,” replied Tatia. She took another sip of wine from her tankard then set it back onto the wooden planks that made up their table. Her lips were stained red from the drink. “Let’s pay our tab and head to the pier, I want to clear my head and set my stomach before we all head home for the night.”
“Alright, this place has gotten tired anyways,” replied Micheal.
“You two just want to slink off and go kiss each other,” teased Vatu from across the table. Charlotte and Laranthel let out exaggerated gasps and gave the couple across the table accusing looks.
“The two of you are an item?” Laranthel had scanned the table and realized that Vatu hadn’t been making a joke. “Well congratulations!” He clapped his hands a few times then stopped when he received cold looks from around the table.
“You’re off the hook this time…,” said Charlotte. “But to keep it a secret, as if we aren’t all here friends? That hurts you two.”
“Yeah,” said Vatu in agreement.
“Mm, truly,” Murmured Laranthel in annoyance. He didn’t really care what Tatia and Micheal got up to alone and he thought it was ridiculous for Charlotte and Vatu to care so much, though he could understand why. “Listen, matters of the heart are best kept between the heart’s it matters to. Let’s pay are tab and be free of this place and this conversation.”
Vatu nodded seemingly satisfied, but Charlotte looked up at Laranthel with a smoldering fire hidden behind her eyes. He didn’t notice the look as he rose from his seat and produced a few copper coins from his pocket to set on the table, but the rest of the table did.
“Oh my,” whispered Micheal too quiet for anyone but Tatia to hear. She said nothing in response, following Laranthel’s lead in setting a few coins on the table and rising from her seat.
“Hey, we’re finished here!” Laranthel called. A barmaid called back to acknowledge their departure and Laranthel made for the door. Vatu, Micheal, and Charlotte set down enough coins to pay their tabs and followed behind, Charlotte’s face still wrinkled up in annoyance.
“So where are we headed again? The pier? Seems a stinky place to lock tongues.” Vatu chuckled at his own joke and Tatia gave him a light shove.
“You’re just jealous no one wants to get a taste of your wretched tongue, Vatu,” japed Micheal from beside Tatia. Having been outed, the two started walking nearly hand in hand. Charlotte, Vatu, and Laranthel took their places beside the couple, a comfortable distance between the each of them.
“No, I’m just annoyed that you two trust us so little,” retorted Vatu. The two glowered at each other, and Charlotte and Tatia joined in.
“Be silent! I don’t want to hit the road with worry in my heart about the fate of my friends!” Laranthel shook his head in annoyance. “We ought to be happy for these two, they are our friends, aren’t they? So, what if they kept it a secret? Is there some jealousy going on here? Do the two of you hold resentment in your hearts?” He stepped ahead of the four and scowled at them.
“No,” they said in unison. Their faces softened and the intense atmosphere of the group seemed to dissipate. There was one who seemed to grow more agitated by Laranthel’s accusation, however, Marianne.
“Some nerve,” she muttered under her breath, fists clenched. Once again, everyone seemed to notice but Laranthel.
“Perhaps we should give those two some alone time later,” whispered Vatu to Tatia and Micheal. Laranthel was still at the head of the group and Charlotte was too focused on him to notice the trio’s gossiping.
“I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all night,” replied Micheal. Tatia nodded her head in agreement, and they began to scheme on how to get the two alone.
They continued through the town’s winding streets and down the stone paved hill slope that led to the bottom of the cove where the piers were. A full moon hung high in the sky this night, its white light shining down on the bay, reflecting off the water and back onto the town. Between the moonlight and the town’s own white lanterns, the docks were illuminated in a soft glow that was as easy to see in as daylight. They made their way to the northern edge of the docks where the smaller commercial vessels were tied up and walked out onto the wooden piers. The quintet stood side by side, staring up at the moon and out at its silver-white reflection upon the water. Laranthel pulled a pebble from his pocket he had scooped up on his way down the hill slope and skipped it off the water. It bounced three times before skittering to a halt and sinking into the dark water of the bay. He crouched down at the edge of the pier and stared out into the water, his thoughts being consumed with his uncertain future at the academy, and how this would be one of his last days among friends for a while. It all seemed to be happening so fast and even though he wanted to go to the academy, he still felt like there were too many things that were out of his control.
Oh well he thought. Like mother always says, whatever happens, happens.
“If I weren’t a better man, I would kick you into the water and say, ‘what a terrible time to get lost in thought’ but I am not a terrible man,” said Vatu from behind Laranthel. He turned to see his friend standing over him, his eyes focused on the moon. “What were you thinking about, friend?”
“This and that,” replied Laranthel curtly, brushing Vatu’s question aside. “It is a beautiful night tonight, isn’t it?” He followed Vatu’s gaze to the bright white circle hanging in the sky, like a god shining down upon them with its cold gaze.
“Yeah, it is,” answered Vatu. He looked over to Micheal and Tatia who gave him a nod. “Listen, I know you said not to get mad about Micheal and Tatia’s relationship and I think you’re right. But still, it’s moving much too fast. I’m going to walk off with those two and make sure they don’t do anything they’ll regret later. You ought to stay here and talk to Charlotte, I think she’s still annoyed about the whole thing.” He turned and walked over to Micheal and Tatia and with a wave the three of them were off, walking up the pier to the stone path that led back up the hill.
Laranthel and Charlotte were now alone on the pier, one of them shifting uncomfortably with the weight of emotional turmoil in their heart.
“What will you do when I’m gone, Charlotte?” Laranthel turned back towards the tan girl behind him and found her staring back at him quite intently. She had the features of the humans from the Outreach, but the complexion of the Imunani. Her face was a blend of sharp and bold features from her diverse heritage, in many ways she was like Laranthel, a rare specimen only found on the coast.
Charlotte’s intense gaze remained on Laranthel for a little while longer, her scrutiny finally clear to the young boy. “I really haven’t thought about it that much, to tell you the truth,” she finally answered with a sigh. She moved to Laranthel’s side and sat down, hanging her legs off the edge of the pier.
“So, I can tell you’re not pleased with me,” said Laranthel after a long minute of uncomfortable silence. “May I ask why?”
“It’s just—,” Charlotte paused and considered her next words carefully, the anger and sadness she felt about their group’s happy days coming to an end was getting to her. “It’s just that you’ve been awful cavalier about all this. But maybe I’m just sad.” She laid her head on Laranthel’s shoulder and stared out onto the shimmering water ahead of them. “Hah, it feels like just last week I was pressed up against your fence trying to get you to sneak away from your chores and play with the other kids at the top of the hill!”
Laranthel laughed as his mind replayed the memories, then he felt a twinge of sadness pull at his heart. “Oh Charlotte—,” he began but couldn’t finish. His bottled-up emotions started to bubble up to the surface of his heart and he felt his breath leave him. What if this is the end of this? What if I never see my friends again? What if we stop being friends while I’m away? The worry began to flood Laranthel’s mind, and his heart quickened, beating hard enough for Charlotte to hear.
“Look at you! What will you do without me, hmm?” Charlotte pulled Laranthel into an embrace and allowed his head to rest on her chest, her chin placed in his blue-black mane of hair. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” Charlotte felt her anxieties begin to calm as she stroked Laranthel’s back consoling him.
“Gods, I almost cried there,” said Laranthel with a chuckle. “I’m going to miss you, Charlotte. More than the others.” He found it hard to imagine parting from someone he had known for his whole life, the next four years at the academy would be a strange new experience indeed.
“It’ll be over before you know it, and then we’ll all meet back here with a host of new experiences to drink to.” Charlotte pulled Laranthel closer, and they sat in each other’s embrace for what seemed like hours, just staring into the moonlight.
At the beginning of the pier stood Vatu, Tatia, and Micheal silently watching the pair snuggle up to each other. They all wore knowing smiles; it was a wonder the two hadn’t had a moment like this earlier in their sixteen years of knowing each other.
“All’s well ends well,” muttered Vatu watching the pair. He was leaning against one of the stone slabs that stuck out from the concrete that made up the dock. Tatia and Micheal stood beside him.
“Should we end it now and walk home together?” Micheal asked.
“No let’s let them sit a while longer, I think they’ve been secretly waiting for this,” said Tatia.
And so, the quintet spent one last night together enjoying each other’s company and reveling in the light of a new midsummer moon.