A realisation washed over him.
*Garin had once told me he had a sister who was in Eldagrove. Now that I think about she does resemble him, but unlike Garin's usual reddish hair. Hers is blood red.*
"Oh, my name is Taylor."
She seemed taken aback by the sudden name.
"Any last name?"
"Yes, Voexius VonAustin."
"Voexius? Don't tell me you're his son. Is Lalia by any chance your mother?"
The question caught him off guard.
Bringing back a lingering pain he thought he'd forgotten.
"Yes…"
"What are you doing here? Did you run away? Is she doing well? It's been a while…"
She said, her voice filled with concern.
*Wow she's talkative. So many questions!*
"Wait before that, you look like you're in rough shape. Are you hungry? Should I make you something?"
"No, I'm fin—"
-Grrrowwww!
His stomach growled loudly.
Betraying his bravado and giving away his hunger.
"I'll be right back."
She said, offering him a reassuring smile before heading toward the kitchen.
As she moved away, he took a moment to gather his thoughts.
The tarven was buzzing with laughter and chatter.
Taylor glanced around observing the patrons still enjoying their drinks.
Their faces illuminated by a flickering candle light.
To him this was still new, so he felt like an outsider.
After a few moments, he heard the clattering of pans and the comforting sound of food being prepared.
-Sizzle!
-Sizzle!
The aroma of something sizzling wafted through the air.
Making his stomachs growl once more.
Then after a few minutes of torture.
Lennie returned, carrying a steaming plate with a hearty omelette.
-Thud!
"Here you go!"
She said, setting the dish in front of him with a proud smile.
"Dig in."
Without hesitation, he grabbed the fork and devoured the meal infront of him.
Each savoured bite was a warm burst of flavour.
Comforting his weary body after days of uncertainty.
Lennie watched with a warm smile her eyes twinkling with delight.
"Eat up! There's planty more we're that came from."
She encouraged.
Taylor could hardly reply, his focus solely on the food.
Grateful for the simple kindness she offered.
Then suddenly….
Bang!
The tarven door flew open as if kicked from the other side.
A group of men poured inside.
About seven in total.
Taylor immediately recognised the other two from earlier.
-Creak!
-Creak!
There boots scraped the hard wooden floor.
"We'll look what we have here."
The one who seemed to be the leader bellowed.
"If it isn't my darling!"
At his words the entire tarven froze.
Conversation died mid-breath.
Heads turned.
Even the clickings of bottles seemed to hush.
The leader walked straight toward tge counter, unworried and confident, like he owned the place.
When he reached out, smashing his paw down.
-Thud!
Making wood ring.
"Eight bottles of your finest rum."
He ordered, eyes locked on Lennie.
Lennie forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Will that be all?"
Tone bright and eager.
Every word shaped to keep things feom escalating.
"That'll be all."
He said at last- then leaned closer, his grin wide turning sharper.
"Unless you wanna spend the knight with me."
*You wish you fucking prick.*
She thought her expression composed.
"Of course."
She replied smoothly, though her voice sounded like steel wrapped in velvet.
"I'll have your orders ready for you."
Then she turned and headed back to te kitchen, shoulders sharp with restraint.
Taylor didn't pay the man any mind.
As he focused on the real battle infront of him.
Fork in hand, he kept eating-stuffing his face like he'd been starving for a lifetime.
The man leaned his elbows on the wooden table.
Posture relaxed—to relaxed.
Then he turned his head to him.
The man's smile fading.
"Huh."
He sneered.
"What's a kid like you doing here?"
Once again Taylor paid no mind.
To him it was best to ignore the situation.
But the man took his silent as an insult.
"Guess I should teach a kid some manners today."
He said, voice sharpening.
The other man giggled-low, and ugly laughs that made the tarven feel smaller.
"Definitely, show the kid boss."
As the leader raised his hand ready for a punch toward him,—
-Thud!
A wooden mug struck him square on the face.
For a second he staggered.
Blinking like he couldn't understand what had happened.
The whole front of his clothes drenched in beer.
Lennie stepped out of the kitchen like she'd been waiting for the moment.
"Sorry for the late delay."
She said sweetly, holding a tray of seven wooden mugs.
"There's your rum."
The leader's expression twisted in a rage.
"You bitc—"
"That'll be ten coppers valor coins ."
Lennie cut in immediately, voice calm and composed.
The man froze, staring at her almost choking on his anger.
Then his tone dropped.
"Huh…. You bitch…."
His eyes hardened.
"Do you wanna die?"
"Bring it you fucking you fucking prick."
Lennie snapped, stepping closer.
She placed placed the tray down.
Then she jumped over the counter in smooth motion.
Tak_!
Landing with a sharp tak of heels on wood.
Her fingers crunched-just once- like she was warming up.
The leader rushed forward, fist cocked.
Ready to land something brutal.
But his attack was met with only air.
Lennie had sidestepped with practiced ease.
Then she closed in on him.
Thud-!
Strucking him with a clean, light chop to throw him off.
His momentum betrayed him.
The man stumbled then….
Thud-!
He was knocked out cold.
It was as if his body did not belong in this fight.
*That was not what I expected.*
Then Lennie looked at the remaining man.
Her gaze made the air feel heavy.
The man hesitated fear, replacing their laughter.
One by one they backed away.
"Don't forget your bitc—"
She corrected herself.
"Your boss I mean."
They grabbed their leader between them.
They hurried out of the tarven without another word.
For a moment, the room held its breath.
Lennie returned to the counter like nothing had happened.
Wiping it clean with a forced smile.
"Does anyone need a refil?"
She asked voice bright—to bright.
"No, we're good."
A man said quickly.
Then swallowed as if he'd just remembered how to speak.
"Good."
Lennie nodded.
"Then you can see yourselves out."
After a few minutes the tarven was completely empty.
All the men had left.
Leaving behind lingering smell of beer and rum.
***
A/N:
[Sorry for the late chapter, I had some personal issues I had to deal with but now I'm back. But anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter. (^_^)]