Chapter 4
Gods she was tired. Beyond tired. How her eyes were even open and her feet able to move still, she had no idea. Decades of hard training had in no way prepared her for this kind of adventure. It had been only a few weeks since this random group of strangers had been cobbled together.
They had accomplished quiet a bit in that time at least. Gained a few more companions after their first week. A few people saved; several things were killed. Infiltrated a goblin camp, slaughtered everyone, rescued the archdruid and saved the grove. At the moment, they were preparing to enter the swamp and check out another lead on fixing their tadpole problem.
Tav mindlessly ran a damp rag over the piece of leather in her hand and stared into the flames, lost in thought. Might as well make good use of her time on watch and clean some of the blood and guts that had come to be on her friend's armour. The night seemed to crawl but soon enough her night-watch relief strolled over to the fire and gracefully sat next to her. She didn't need to look up to know that he was taking time to fuss with his hair and polish himself a bit after his nightly hunt.
She reached for the book sitting next to her and silently handed it to him. He took it and flipped to the bookmarked page.
"Good hunt?" she finally broke the silence.
A noncommittal grunt was her answer. No, then. The animals seemed smart enough to avoid the foul presence the swamp gave off.
"Do you need to feed?"
He sighed and shook his head. "No, I'll be fine for another night. Tomorrow, maybe. If I'm not able to find anything."
"Alright," she noted and left it at that. She found that insisting on anything from their resident vampire rogue would result in him digging his heels in just to make a point. Other group members had yet to learn this lesson, but Tav found no need to push the point.
The two of them had come to an easy routine in a short amount of time, shortly after their one night together at the grove celebration. That hadn't happened again and his flirting during the daylight hours had become more of a game for him to see how many groans and eye rolls he could earn rather than an actual attempt at flirtation. But at night, the quiet ease was what seemed to soothe them both. Usually sharing some blood, a book and short conversations. He often would prompt her into telling stories of her life- as boring as it was compared to all this- but she enjoyed watching the tight lines in his face soften as her words came forth. Sometimes, he would share small tidbits of his own existence and she found herself cheering internally when she earned one.
The bedroll was calling her tonight, earlier than normal. She needed to trance and rest. Moving to get up, she was stopped by a soft but firm hand on her wrist. Tav didn't say anything but stayed sitting. Her companion reached for something he had beside him and unceremoniously dropped it into her lap.
It was a violin and bow.
Tav had to contain her squeal of excitement. She deftly ran her fingers over it in awe, plucking at a few strings and taking the time to tune it as quietly as she could. Oh, this was such a joy to have an instrument in her hands again.
Tav couldn't help herself. She leaned over and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Returning quickly to the instrument, she missed his slight blush and honest smile at her childlike joy.
"Thank you, so much," she said. "Where did you find one!"
He shrugged but a glimmer of jest crossed his face "Secrets, darling. I expect to be serenaded for this, mind you"
Tav let out her obnoxious burst laugh then slapped a hand to her mouth. She slapped his arm and stood. "Thank you, darling," she mocked his typical tone but her coy smile let him know she was joking. "I shall be writing you your ballad starting tomorrow."
"I will wait with baited breath."
"I still don't like it."
Astarion pinched the bridge of his nose and had to supress every dark urge to stab his pen through the young noble's neck. Right there, his eyes focused on the very spot. It would be very simple. The jugular vein pulsed at the young man's throat, which moved as the man continued to speak. It was easy enough for the hungry vampire to find. Just some slight pressure and bam! Astarion's pain and suffering would end.
He was already in a pissy mood. Having to miss his nightly conversation with Tav in order to keep the appoint with the young Marquess. The fuckwit. He'd almost rather be walking through the sewers again than continue this appointment. Almost.
It was the third time the Marquess had him rework parts of his suit. First, he insisted on a design that his friend insisted was 'up and coming' -news to Astarion…the expert at the trends, hell a setter of trends through the centuries. It was not on trend. Next was fabric choice- choosing not only colours that clashed but fabrics as well. The Marquess refused Astarion's suggestions which then led the man's mother to come to his next appointment and pick it out for him.
Now the idiot was arguing with the length of the cut.
On one hand it would be ever so simple to just kill him.
On the other, it would be hell to get out the blood out of his beautiful wood floor.
Astarion rose to his full height and took a step back rather than commit murder. He draped the fabric tape around his neck and stepped back to look at the reflection in the floor to ceiling mirror.
Thank the gods for modern mirrors. He thought. Most modern things made his head hurt but one positive was that mirrors no longer were made with silver which it seems was the reason for the vanishing act.
It still surprised him some days to see his own red eyes staring back at him.
"It needs to be longer," the idiot's voice broke through his thoughts.
"And I believe that might be a mistake," he had to say with the kindest voice he could muster. "It would be unflattering for your proportions, my Lord." And a pain in the ass to start over again.
"Oh dear," the dowager Marchioness came over and started to fuss with her son. "I believe I agree with Mr. Ancunin. A bit longer wouldn't be good for your form, sweetling. This looks perfect. As always, sir."
The dowager leaned back to look behind her son and pinned Astarion with her brown eyes. He almost missed the quick wink. Bless this woman. He thought. Her late husband hadn't been much better now that Astarion thought about it.
"I guess you are right, mama." The Marquess finally agreed. He shifted on the podium and stared at himself. Fucking peacock. And people thought he was bad for preening.
"Mr. Ancunin, if you could be a dear and get my son some refreshments, please? It seems we are done with his suit but I would still like to pick out a few things."
Astarion nodded. "Of course, any preferences, my Lord?"
"Do you have anything better than last time? All the ones you had were things my father drank. I'm looking for something new, fresh."
"I don't believe I have anything new, my Lord," words came through clenched teeth.
The human huffed. "Well next time have something new in. I'm sure some of your other clients would enjoy it as well."
"Of course, grand idea," his voice dripped with sarcasm but the young lord missed the tone while looking at his own reflection.
You cannot murder your clients. You cannot murder your clients.
"When will you have this finished?"
Astarion helped the man out of the garment and mulled his timeline over. "In two weeks. I will contact your assistant with the exact time and date by the end of the night."
"Fine. That will do."
The pair wasted another half hour of his night, bumping back into his appointment with Lord Bern. The domino effect lasted the rest of the night.
It wasn't until his door bells jingled for the last time as he escorted the last clients through the doors, did Astarion let himself breathe. Forehead slumped forward onto the cool glass of the door. Some nights, it wasn't worth it.
But it was. She's back. We can do this again.
Right. Her violet eyes flashed in his minds eye and a small smile crossed his lips. The last few nights had been magical. Different. Very different from the last time they did this dance with each other.
This Tav didn't have to deal with life and death on the daily and it showed. Her laugh and smile came easier that it had in the early days. It was fun still to see what he could say to make that blush seep across her freckled face.
From the back of his shop, his phone trilled. This late at night it could only be a few people. It hung up in the time it took him to walk back to his office. Gathering his phone and few other things to bring upstairs for the day, Astarion made his way up to his apartment on the second floor before he dialed the phone.
He called Cat back. "Just the person I wanted to talk to."
She giggled. "Papa, that's just what a girl wants to hear."
"I have a dilemma," he started. Dumping the days things onto the kitchen island and leaning back against it.
"Oh! Do tell."
Astarion rolled his eyes but continued. "Some of my younger clientele have no taste-"
"Obviously," Cat cut in.
"And as such a few have demanded some other wine for refreshments. Any ideas on where to find some 'new' -and I am only assuming terrible- wines?"
Cat barked out a laugh. "Seriously? You are asking me for wine suggestions?"
"Yes, yes." He pinched at the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Mock me all you want but my usual supplier only deals with the best of the best, so they do not carry any of these…more common options."
"Well, I do have a friend that works at my normal shop that I can ask. Oh! Shit, she moved, didn't she?" Astarion heard her pull the phone away and start clicking away. "Let me text her and see if she has any suggestions. I think she mentioned moving to the Gate so she might have an idea for you."
Astarion pushed off from the kitchen island and meandered over to pour himself a glass of blood. Shit. He needed to leave another message at the bank to push for some more. The reserve was running lower than he usually liked. "A friend?"
Cat laughed. "Yes, well, we all can't be brooding recluses like yourself, Papa. Remember I mentioned her before? Syl? She taught the dance class that I did a few years back and we hit it off. Not surprisingly over wine talk. She and her fiancé moved to the Gate a few months ago. My work outs have never been the same since," she mentioned wistfully.
"Work out? You don't have to work out."
"No but want to. It's fun. Do you remember what fun is? It's been a few centuries since I think you had any."
He scowled. "Absolutely overrated. Besides, the last time all of you were over together gave me enough fun for a few more decades at least."
"Okay, she got back to me," Cat ignored the jab. "Cork's Cloak, I guess is a good place to start. She says she's working closing today and tomorrow if you wanted to chat with her personally. Syl is her name and she said just to mention me and she'd pull what she thinks might work. If not, she'd leave a list there of things that sound like what you are looking for."
"Thank you, dear. I guess I might as well stop in when the sun goes down tomorrow."
"Always happy to help, Papa."
He hung up and quickly finished his drink. Next time he'd be able to shove it to the Marquess. The ass.
Tav groaned as quietly as she could and shifted from one foot to another from her place behind the opulent service counter. Fuck heels. The balls of her feet were killing her slowly. What she wouldn't do to be able to wear her running shoes instead. But Cork's Cloak was an up-and-coming specialty wine experience- whatever the heck that meant. Unlike the Siren's loose uniform requirements, Cloak required their workers to dress head to toe in the most uncomfortable black clothing. At least it she only had another night before she could swap out for shorts and a tee again.
Flipping her wrist over, Tav checked her slim watch and sighed deeply. Another few hours until close. At least no parties were booked through. She was expecting a drop by but besides that, nothing.
She smiled thinking back to the surprise call from last night, warning her about the drop in. She had been waiting for Percy to call her for their weekly phone date when Cat had texted, then called her.
"Hey Silly!" Cat's infectious squeal had Tav pulling the phone away from her ear.
"Kitty Cat!" she answered back. A stupid nickname for the stunningly beautiful woman but a few shared drunken nights had bonded the two quickly. They had met when Tav had her short-lived but dream job teaching dance classes in Waterdeep. More specifically in Cat's case, Tav had taught both the ballroom dance and burlesque style. It took only a few classes for the statuesque elf to stand out and nearly bully Tav into drinks after work and night clubs after that.
"How is it going! I haven't heard from you in a week! What the hell, girl?"
Tav sunk deeper into her loveseat and pulled her legs up into her chest. "I know. I've been busy. Work has been killer. I pretty much just come home and sleep all day after."
"Poor, darling," Cat cooed. "I've got to come by and shake up your life a bit it seems!"
"As much as I would love that, I'm not sure I could take it." Gods, the image of Cat and Nettie together just flashed across her mind and it nearly took years off her life.
"Well good for you I'm coming by the Gate in a week or so."
Tav leaned forward and smiled. "Just for me?"
"As much as I want to say yes, no. I'm staying at Papa's and visiting. It's been a while and we have some family business to deal with."
"Oh, that's so nice of you."
"Isn't it?" she giggled. "Oh! Thanks for the recommendation. I let my friend know what you said. I expect you should see him in a day or two. And please razz him, for me?"
"For you? Anything!"
She didn't get any sleep that night. Cat lived by night because of a weird sunlight allergy and often forgot that normal beings had to sleep -or at least trance- at night. Tav included.
Although, Tav's face twisted at the thought, her trances had been getting stranger in the last year or so. Growing up with humans meant many didn't understand her needs as an elf. For the most part, it didn't seem to matter until her early teens when she started to watch scenes like a movie flash across her mind during her trances. It took a few years until in passing conversation with another elf she learned that sometimes one's previous lives could be seen. Whoever she used to be…man, that girl was amazing. And ever since coming to Baldur's Gate they seemed to have been deeper and more intense.
Sometimes it was thrilling, sometimes it was heartbreaking. Flashes of the same few people, nameless and often faceless. Just blurs of beings that pass by. Their voices rang in her mind often, their shouting commands, cries of pain or despair, laughing from joy.
She remembered telling Percy about it a few weeks ago. He had been interested, especially since he was never able to do such a thing himself.
The jarring jingle of the old-fashioned shop bell jolted her out of her thoughts. Tav straightened her back, adjusted the short skirt of her dress and tucked back her stray piece of hair. Elegance, as her employer stressed. We are aiming for elegance.
Her trained greeting was about to cross her lips but when she saw a familiar mop of white hair coming in through the door, other words came out without her thinking.
"Hey, you."