Chapter Five

The tavern was, as predictable, noisy and crowded; with the afternoon coming close to an end, both inhabitants and visitors of the island had sought refuge there, to drown their exhaustion or worries in alcohol. It was quite difficult for the elves to understand these rudimentary humans, their total lack of education, or even consideration in that respect. But this was no news – always had racial differences functioned this way.

"I'm sure we're going to enjoy being here immensely," Torri rolled her eyes, the sarcasm in her tone obvious, even as she was leaning against the wall. The table was dirty, the wood ancient and eroded by time's passing, and she had no desire whatsoever to sit upon that sorry excuse for a chair.

Nirra had been less pretentious and had just taken Knave's example. The human and the gold elf were seated, and trying to keep a low profile, much unlike the more ominous moon elf with her arms crossed on her chest and a permanent scowl on her face. The two looked at the latter, slightly disapproving of her stubbornness.

"Good job attracting all attention," Knave congratulated her, ironically, and even clapped once, to enhance the effects of his words.

"Thank you," Torri smirked, raising her head even higher, defiantly.

The argument would have, perhaps, continued, but they were distracted by a fourth figure, who had suddenly decided he should come and sit at their table. "Heya, friends," this new man smiled warmly to the three of them. His common figure was far too benevolent for any of their liking, except Nirra's, perhaps, but even the gold elf was a bit reserved and regarded him suspiciously.

"Saemon Havarian," Knave greeted the man without making too much of an effort to hide his contempt, one of his eyebrows already rising.

"Good to see you haven't forgotten me," the man bowed his head, still irritatingly docile and friendly.

"Mhm," Knave sighed theatrically. "Really, Havarian. Whatever it is you want, I'm sure I can't provide it."

"Oh!" the man seemed outraged, but he was so fake that even the most inexperienced and naive of people would have realized he was feigning it. "I assure you, I don't want anything. Except, that is, to inquire about you, old friend."

"I wasn't aware we were that close," Knave remarked. "But fine. I'm doing great, actually."

The mage's all-too-blatant disregard for courtesy seemed to baffle Saemon for a few moments, but then his smile came back, even friendlier, if that was possible. "It's good to hear that. I'm not doing that well," he gave the answer that Knave had more than hinted he did not require, by not asking the question in the first place.

The mage silently picked up his glass of wine and took his time with sipping from it, as if he was at home, and very comfortable, at that. "Last I heard you had stolen Desharik's ship. The whole island was tumultuous for a while, because of that. I'm surprised you're back."

"That was a mere misunderstanding," the man cautiously replied, that irritating attitude not fading in the least, the one of serviceable dog. "I explained it all to Desharik, and we've sorted things out."

Knave took a few moments, glancing to the puzzled and reserved Nirra, and to the all-knowing Torri, before regarding Havarian again, something close to pity in his attitude, on this last act. "Ah, I see," he nodded. "You groveled. And probably made promises which you will not be able to keep."

"Of course not," Saemon shook his head, that glint of fake outrage showing again. "That reminds me... wouldn't you be interested in doing some busi-"

Knave cut him short at once with a simple gesture. "I don't want to hear it, Havarian." His words had been firm enough, and apparently the other man knew the mage well, since he realized at once how futile it was to press on.

"I was just holding out a hand to an old friend," he shrugged. "But if you don't want it, that's fine with me."

He somehow was... too eager to speak, by Torri's standards. The moon elf had already decided she liked this new one even less than she did the ever-frustrating Knave himself. "Excuse me," she interfered, icily. "Is there any specific business you have with any of us? We were discussing something rather important."

"No, no, not at all," the human shook his head, doing his best at rubbing her right side, unaware, of course, that Torri didn't seem to have one. "I had just missed my old friend here, that's all."

"I see," the moon elf continued, the same way.

"She's so monopolizing sometimes, mind you," Knave sighed, as if Havarian was supposed to know how those things went. Then, he turned towards Torri. "My dear... if you would only give me a moment." Knave smirked to her triumphantly even as she remained speechless in front of that, blinking.

The mage had guessed correctly. The moon elf was not one to cause scenes in public, especially in front of people she held in such disregard as those surrounding them at present. She considered herself too far above them, intellectually speaking, to go that low. That was why the only thing she did was aim a most hateful and outraged glare at the mage, a clear promise of things to come.

"Thank you," Knave continued, and turned back to Havarian, stopping midway for a moment, to wink at a visibly amused Nirra. "So tell me, 'good friend', what happened, so that you've decided you should come back here and talk to Desharik."

Saemon blanched, for only a moment, but then his smile returned. Ever persistent, wasn't he? "Asides from my morals, of course," he began testily, "there was the small event of... Desharik's ship sinking. My Dimension Door spell took me here, I am afraid."

"Sinking?" Knave did his best to look more interested than ironical. "Really? And how did it sink, exactly?"

"The sahuagin," the man warily formulated a gloomy reply, as shortly as possible. "The adventurers that helped me... acquire the ship wanted to go to Suldanessellar, so I was forced to sail that way, in exchange for their help."

"I can imagine," Knave nodded, doing his best to look serious and trusting, although he was certain the events had occurred quite differently. "I'm sure they pressed on until you accepted this offer."

"Most certainly," Havarian nodded, then hurried to stand up. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to conduct with my friend there." He saluted courteously, and then headed towards the 'friend', a hostile and displeased-looking pirate, surely one of Desharik's own men.

Knave's every trace of amusement faded in a matter of seconds. "I'm sorry," he eyed Nirra, apologetically. "I would have tried to find out more, but he fled too quickly."

"No one would have manged to, no worries," a bitter gold elf answered him. After a few moments of thought, Nirra's smile returned, bit by bit. "We'll be there soon, anyway, and all will be explained."

"Most certainly," Torri was quick to step in, leaning forward and placing her elbows on the table. Her head menacingly turned, until she was facing Knave. "And now about earlier..." She smiled to him, most sweetly, although it was obviously just a mask for her displeasure, and a threat. "I would appreciate it if you never did anything like that again."

The mage shrugged, and defied her with a smirk of his own. "I wouldn't have done it in the first place, if I had thought you'd approve," he retorted, quite calmly.

Torri rolled her eyes. "I guess everyone is allowed to have dreams, then," she almost spat the words, her calm too intense, too perfect to be anything else but a curtain covering the storm beyond. She rose. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will be going out for a walk."

"I wouldn't advise that," Knave noted, warily, discarding their last small feud immediately. "Brynnlaw is not exactly the safest of places, you know?"

"The risks will be my own," Torri replied, sternly, then spun on her heels and marched off.

"Don't worry," Nirra smiled to the mage, reassuringly. "She is a capable fighter. She can take care of herself."

"I wasn't worried," Knave shrugged. "In fact, what's currently on my mind is the little bit we've found out from Havarian. Recent sahuagin activity is no good sign. It means they might still be in the area, and we have to travel that way soon."

"True," Nirra's face clouded. "If... if you think we should renounce this trip, just tell me so, please."

The human mage stopped for a second, to offer her a warm smile, full of a kindness one would have hardly thought him to be capable of. "It's quite alright," he replied. "I'm sure we'll make it through one way or another." Somehow, he seemed to perfectly understand why Nirra so wished to see her homeland again, and soon, even more so than Torri understood. The gold elf gave him a grateful nod.

Postponing the time for such concerns, they spent the rest of the evening conversing on different light topics, and when they were ready to withdraw, Torri hadn't yet returned. After a small debate, they commonly agreed that she could, indeed, take care of herself, and just rented a couple of rooms and went to sleep.