Hello, Everyone!
Welcome again, in this ever continuing story about my warlock Mary Windfiddle and her adventures.
Last time we had a flashback from about a week ago where our heroes were travelling and got passed by a group of Zerakastolians – the inhabitants of a magical kingdom at the far north-east of the continent. They met a silver dragonborn who made them feel uncomfortable with his rude speech, and realized that the Zeracastolians were probably going to Meraket which needed help being saved from a prolonged drought.
In real, non-flash-back time, Mary and her two companions have just exited the Red Forest where Mary fulfilled her first Patron's request, and are now heading towards Belfast where Bruno’s family has summoned him.
Rain was pouring over Meraket.
A giant cloud was hanging above the area, unnaturally shaped and unmoving. No thunder or lightning were breaking it, only the rain was falling, filling the wells, muddying the ground, feeding the plant life and enriching the soil.
Small figures were darting all over the streets and when Mary and her companions approached, they saw that those were people. Meraket’s inhabitants were dancing in the streets, drinking and laughing, celebrating the end of their long months of drought. The locals stopped them on the streets, offered them toasts, tried to hug them or sing with them.
Mary dodged all attempts at physicality and constantly hid behind Bruno and Aurum. She felt dizzy with all these strangers' affection. She didn’t know those people! What right did they have to touch her?!
The three adventurers quickly found a place to hide from the rain, a tavern called ‘The Stern Mistress’. There were celebrating people in it as well, but Mary could see at least one corner where she could sit away from the crowd and no one could try to hug her from behind.
“I’ll bring you two something to drink,” Aurum said, eyeing the dancing people. He, for one, was far from unhappy from the locals' attention.
“Can you ask if there’s tea?” Mary said without much hope.
He looked back at her with amusement and shook his head.
Bruno stayed with her and kept her company. While they were waiting, the ground shook beneath their feet.
“What was that?” Mary jumped up.
“It’s what we in the mine call a ‘vertical’ quake. The earth masses are adjusting themselves” Bruno explained. “It wasn’t too strong, so perhaps it was far away. Probably nothing to worry about.”
The bard returned with three mugs and the happiest of expressions. His collar was unbuttoned and his hair was a mess. Without any explanation about his looks, he handed Mary the smallest of the drinks.
“So, this is mead,” he said. “They told me it was almost non-alcoholic.”
Mary took the drink in both her hands, the way she’d hold a cup of tea. She kept feeling uncomfortable in this packed up place.
“And that’s their best ale.” Aurum gave Bruno the other mug and they toasted with a few of the closest locals.
“It’s so crowded!” Mary complained.
“Oh, there’s more space over there,” Aurum pointed. “Nobody dares sit with the ‘heroes of the day’.”
At the other side of the main tavern hall there was a table that was left half-empty. There were only two people sitting on it, an older human woman in green and…
“Isn’t that the dragonborn we met on the road?” Bruno said.
“U-huh,” Aurum confirmed. “And the woman is from the Zerakastolian group as well. They were the ones who made it rain, everybody is talking about it.”
He winked at someone at the bar and blew them a kiss.
“We can’t just join the Zerakastolians!” Mary objected. “What if they don’t want company?”
“But what if they do?” Aurum shrugged. “And look at all that free space! Noone is toasting or trying to dance with them!”
That did sound appealing. Mary and Bruno followed their bard towards the Zerakastolian table.
Ok, this is a good place to stop for now. Next time we’re going to meet my favorite rude dragonborn and his companion whom--as of yet-- we don’t know anything about. And, you know, something is going to happen in this tavern. This chapter is called “Trouble in the Tavern” for a reason! :)
Thank you for reading!
Take care and be well!