Chapter ten: Opening party

"But uncle D... why he didn't stayed with his friends?"

"They was heroes and he was only shadowy thief..."

"But they didn't mind."

"Yeees uncle D, he was pretty stupid to left 'em!"

"I know kids... I know..."

He took last nail and after two hits with hammer was pub sign on it's place.

„So this is it, now pub is officially open."

„Whoo! And now we should celebrate little, what do ye think, lads?"

„Oui, great idea, and I have some special surprise."

Xellos ran into pub and returned back with three glasses and bottle of best wine, imported from eastern continent.

„That must cost a fortune..."

„Well it did, but I got these with it for free."

With fox smile on his ex-mazoku face he searched his pockets and than in his hand appeared three big cigars.

„Is it what I think it is?"

„Zephilian tobacco, hand rolled, first grade! Here it is monsieurs!"

---

They sat down in middle of empty pub, opened bottle and light up cigars.

„I need to apologize, maybe it can cost fortune, but it is definitely worth of it."

Said D and exhale cloud of white smoke, holding wine glass gentle in left hand.

„Heh D do ye know tha' ye almost lookin' as some lord like this."

„Oui but he can use some new clothes... we are not going to wander wasteland anymore so we could get something better."

„I like this coat, but you are right... Val would you mind to bring that box covered with brown paper over there."

„Yea, here it is... „

D opened it with one of his claws.

„So here is something to wear without scaring our customers."

„Non chance with you around..."

„..."

„Sorry monsieur D. it was just joke... so please could you stop piercing me with that death glare?"

„So this is for you Val."

He took from box dark brown shirt and pants and dark green west.

„Wow tha's great D! But what I'm gonna to do? This isn't good for barman."

„Oh sorry you are not barman. Your work will be to help us and keep this place sound and clean. When you have not something broken you are pretty handy anyway."

„Well tha's not tha' bad!"

„Oi that mean that moi am gonna to be barman?"

„No."

„Why non?!"

„You are skilled with knife and since you have normal mortal taste your cooking is not that bad."

Answered D and passed him white apron and cap, purple shirt and white pants.

„It looks good... well except that cap, why cooks wear those?"

„Maybe it is proof of their great cooking skill... what do you think, Val?"

„Wha'? Ah... yea so everybody 'll know that tha' great stuff tha' they'r eatin' is made by ye."

„Hmmm... Its not that bad... moi will like it... nice cap."

He took cooks cap and place it proudly on his head not noticing D's wink to Val.

„So ye gonna be barman?"

„Yes."

Answered D and took black pants and shirt and dark blue apron.

---

They all changed into their new clothes and met down in pub when bell rang and few people entered pub.

„So we'rrrr herrre forrr openin' parrrty!"

„Hey Rawr how ye know tha' we'll open today?"

„D invited us!"

Customers was Rawr, beastman from tiger tribe, Laani his friend (rumored to be more than that) from cheetah tribe and Hawof from hyena tribe. He was kinda skilled in playing wagon's fifth wheel. And too Richmond, big traveling blacksmith with dark skin and his small petite wife Shaamy, she had some beastman blood from cat tribe but her husband never mind her cat ears or tail. Their two kids, small five years old Tim and two years older Sheesah. And behind them was standing human Robson and Goof from dog tribe with his eight years old son Larr. Both father and son was kind of weird fishermen because they was afraid of water and in Port was told many funny stories about them.

„We have lots of customers for first day!"

Said Xellos peeping from kitchen door. When they all found places D took initiative to greet them.

„I welcome all of you here in Freak Asylum pub. So what it will be?"

Children stared at him fascinated. It was weird but at same time as many adults was afraid of him kids was amazed with his demon look.

Everyone else ordered and D even offered them first drink for free because he was kind of proud, they all came so long way just because their pub opened today. Everyone ordered something for launch and Xellos had a lot work to do, Val opened one of beer barrels and now was chatting with fishermen about their latest catch. D served them all and was pretty busy even if pub was more than half empty. They could use waiter, he even consider asking Val for help but he was good at fixing things but he was amazingly clumsy when comes to handle with many mugs and glasses and his math... well to say it in better light it wasn't flawless. When he had while off he caught sight of children looking at his guitar behind bar.

„Mr. D can ye play? I never seen someone play tha' guitar."

Asked older boy.

„Well yes... and do not call me Mr. I am just D."

„Could we call ye uncle D?"

„Errr... well... fine."

„Hey D it looks tha' ye got fan club."

Grinned Val from his place.

„Coulda ya play somethin' pleaaaaase uncle D!"

„Yes pleaaaaase!"

Where all kids got that puppy eyes...

„Fine..."

He sat on bar, took guitar and start to play slow and nice melody. Kids was watching him fascinated.

„Uncle D could ye sing?"

„Ummm...no, not good, really."

„He's lyin'."

Grinned Val again, obliviously having fun watching big demon and his little fans. D send him quick deathglare but it was somewhat soft so Val only grinned back again.

„Really I can not sing..."

„Pleaaaase uncle D!"

He was kinda lost.

„But... but I can tell you story."

„Yay! Would it be story 'bout great heroes and wizards?"

„And sorceresses!"

„Don't be stupid women can't be heroes!"

„Of course they can be..."

„Heroines?"

Added D ad girl nodded.

„Yea strong and brave and so!"

„Well I remember story about... amazing female knight that traveled accompanied by two friends, brawn barbarian and hot headed... treasure huntress."

Kids cheered and listened to story about bad bandit king that stolen great treasure from old temple and heroes that fought him, they loved part about mystical thief that seem to be bad at first sight but at the end helped to heroes and returned treasure to temple.

---

D took last two sleeping children into their parents rooms and dismissed light spell. Down there was his pseudo-working employers drinking with customers, but he felt totally tired already, that damn kids are worse than alcohol. He imagined Val behind bar table and fought urge to run down there and stop him, tomorrow he will not remember how many beers he had not to mention customers. But well... it's first day after all so let them be for a while. He ended at the roof leaning against shaft. Smoking his last cigar only him, miles of silent wasteland in every direction and stars...

"All your life you sought stars..."

He shook his head... he hated riddles. Or to be exact he loved them as long as he knew right answer but this was... why she did this to him. He didn't deserved it...

"Seyruun too didn't deserved to be destroyed, or thrown into rebellion or whatever."

Damn, his own mind betrayed him and he tried so hard to not think about it. It's long time anyway and there is nothing what he can do. He is just demon, he live here and own pub, nothing more nothing less.

But still he needed to know... to be sure...

---

It was bad idea anyway, pub was almost like after Lina's dinner. Plus some drunken guys sleeping on floor. He tried to wake them but after few tries he just threw them into their rooms.

"Mhfrn... he...hey... D... c-could y..ye l-let m...me do...down?"

"Rich? You are awake."

"Pfff... of... c-course... s...some k-kids like... Xel... and Val... c-couldn't... h-hold...o...on lon...longer than... m-me."

"Actually they did not, I just took them into their rooms but do not judge their age by the way how they look like... you should be... surprised."

"W-w-what?...How... old..."

"They are? One almost five and other more than thousand years."

"...h-ha...ha...ha... you...g-got me."

"Nevermind... do you plan to return home tomorrow?"
"Y-yea...b...back...t-to the... Port."

"Will you mind company? I wanted to... get some more information about... something down there."

"N-no... o...of...zzzzzzz..."

"Richmond?"

"..."

"At the end he did not hold on so much longer..."

Notes: I repaired my notebook so I'll write next chapter soon but internet connection in my flat is as stable as drunken tightrope artist. So sorry if it will take longer.

Thanks for reading and if you have ideas for the story, found some mistakes or just want to comment please review.