Chapter 20-Downtime

"Thanks, York!" Rose said, kissing him on the cheek.

"You know, I still can't believe I bought you that lamp. It cost me nearly three hundred gold!" York answered. "Well, maybe if someone hadn't broken the last one, I wouldn't have needed this one!" "To be fair, if you hadn't socked me in the face, I wouldn't have broken it in the first place."

The two looked at each other for a minute before bursting out in laughter. "I still don't understand you two," Dustin suddenly said, poking his head in from the kitchen. "When did you get back? Did the hunt go well?" Rose asked.

Dustin response was to disappear into the kitchen. York and Rose looked at each other for a quick second, before a large object came crashing onto the floor in front of them! They jumped back in surprise, looking at the severed tail before them.

"Dammit, Dustin! Don't do that!" York yelled at his apprentice, who walked back in laughing. "Hey, I couldn't help it!" He responded.

"You shoulda seen the Royal Ludroth after Zephyr and I were done with it," Dustin continued. "Those swords you gave me really did a lot of damage." "Well, of course! Fire is effective against most leviathans," York said. "But I know for a fact that you didn't cut this tail off yourself. Which means that chances are, Zeph's here too."

Zephyr walked in from the kitchen as well, his signature smirk on his face. "Still as sharp as always, York. And before you ask, yes, I did cut the tail off, but no, I didn't kill the thing. Dustin did a rather spectacular job of that," he said. "Well? Don't just leave us hanging; tell us what happened!" Rose said, eager to hear the tale.

Before Dustin could begin, though, there was a knock on the door. York went to open it, but before he could Hugh burst in, followed by Karah. "Hey! I heard we're having Royal Ludroth tail for dinner!" he said. York and Rose both turned and looked at Zephyr accusingly. "Well, what could you expect?" Zephyr said, trying (and failing) to look innocent.

As Rose began to cook the tail, the rest of the party listened to Dustin and Zephyr's story about how they defeated the leviathan. After they were finished, York grinned. "You know, you guys are completely right; that is something I'm crazy enough to do!" They all laughed before Rose called them all in to the feast. Karah went wide-eyed at her first bite. "Oh my god! This has got to be the best food I've ever had!"

The group laughed again, while Rose thanked her new friend. York suddenly got up and went over to one of the walls. He opened a hidden cabinet, revealing a barrel of ale! "York, when did you put that in?" Rose asked, surprised. "Same time I built the house. You suggested it, remember?" he answered, pulling out a few tankards as well. "I just never told you about it so you wouldn't end up passing out every day."

Everyone got a tankard except Rose and Dustin, which Dustin resented. "How come I don't get any!?" "Because, Dustin, you're still underage. This stuff could kill ya!" Hugh answered with a laugh. "Well, what about me? I can drink!" Rose said, directed mainly at York.

"Which ended with me unconscious on the floor, and you with a broken lamp," York said, taking a quick swig. "You can have some of mine, if you want." Everyone laughed, and the unofficial party lasting well into the night. Zephyr left first, stating he had to prepare for a trip he was departing on tomorrow. Dustin crashed on his bed not long after, still tired from his earlier hunt.

York, Rose, Hugh, and Karah moved up to Rose's room at that point. They talked while on the balcony outside, which York had built to stargaze before Rose claimed the room. "You know, Hugh, I still find it hard to believe you managed to get together with someone," York said while leaning on the railing. "You, of all people!"

"I guess it just goes to show that there's someone for everyone, York!" he replied, grinning widely. The two didn't notice as Rose and Karah snuck up behind them. York suddenly noticed Hugh lurch forward, and with a surprised yelp, Hugh flipped over the railing before falling into the ocean below! York laughed at the sight before he too was suddenly flung into the sea by the girls, who stood on the balcony laughing and high-fiving.

"Wow Karah, and I thought I was bad!" Rose said. Karah laughed before saying "I think we both knew that had to happen!" York and Hugh scrambled up the ladder back onto the balcony, still gasping for air. "Ok, what the hell?" York asked Rose. "I buy you all that crap earlier and that's my thanks?"

Rose walked over to him before pulling him closer and kissing him. Hugh whistled at the sight, but was cut off when Karah smacked him on the back of the head! "Ow! Sorry!"

Unbeknownst to the four, they were being watched. A man with piercing red eyes stood with his arms crossed on the roof, intently staring at York.

"Enjoy your reprieve," the man said to himself. "It may be the last you ever have…"

York quickly turned and faced the roof. He thought he had heard something, but nothing was there. After watching for a moment, he turned and went inside along with the others. "Guess I'm just seeing things," he thought to himself.

Hugh and Karah helped them clean up the kitchen before departing. Rose had taken York's earlier suggestion, and was passed out on the table after drinking the rest of his ale. He simply sighed and carried her back up to her room and gently laid her on her bed. After pulling the covers over her, he quietly closed the door to her room and went downstairs, making sure not to wake Dustin either. He set the small black object he had purchased earlier on his table before laying on his bed.

"Just exactly what is this?"

Yeah, this chapter was mainly just for fun. I'd equate it to a small college party. Don't worry; we'll get back in action soon!