Warrior Rising
Chapter 3: Heroes' Feast
Author's Note: Spyro & Malefor belongs to his respective owners. Again, this story takes place in a new alternate world and universe.
Spyro smiled when he entered the Sunbeam Tavern. The elves, prowlers, dragons, and sprites that sat around tables looked up. They cheered. Some customers hefted their glasses and mugs high. Their loud cheers filled his ears. Joy and excitement filled him. It was his favorite tavern to visit after completing quests and adventures.
The purple dragon made his way to a table. Two other dragons joined him once he sat a table. They were his companions, his best friends, and fellow adventurers. The first was a male with one good horn and half of the other. He wore a beaded necklace and hummed a cheery tune. The second was a female with black scales and ridged horns. She looked about the tavern, chewing on several mint leaves.
Spyro chuckled as he looked at his companions.
The black dragon tilted her head. "What's funny, Spyro?"
"Just you two and your habits, Xanthe."
"So what? You have peculiar habits too." Xanthe tapped Spyro on the snout. "You like to indulge in sweets, right?"
She always has to tease. Spyro nodded. "I do…I can't resist a good cookie or cake."
"You should because I can make a song out of your love for sweets," the male dragon with the broken horn said with a grin.
"The last thing I need is a song to embarrass me, Fisk."
Fisk laughed, and Xanthe joined in. Spyro rolled his eyes. Jokes were always shared between the three dragons. Spyro had grown accustomed to them since they began their careers as adventurers.
A waitress, an elf, approached their table. She dipped her head and smoothed her tunic, apron, and skirt with both hands. She greeted the dragons with a bright smile.
"Welcome, adventurers. What would you like to eat and drink?"
"A plate of turkey legs and sweet rolls and a cold glass of ale," Spyro replied.
"Grilled chicken, roasted peanuts, and apple cider," Fisk said.
"A glass of sweet tea, a plate of turkey legs, and a salad," Xanthe said.
The waitress nodded. "Excellent. I will have the cooks prepare your meals."
Spyro watched the waitress walk away before turning to his companions. His thoughts turned to a topic that ate at his mind and his heart for months. Malefor the Terrible.
Malefor the Terrible was a name that many dragons knew and feared. Some even hated. Malefor was a purple dragon, gifted with great powers and abilities. Spyro remembered hearing stories about Malefor. The dragon was born in a large city in the North Land. He had been raised and trained to be a warrior and guard of that city. He caught and handled criminals and bandits well and done so for years. But Malefor was proud and arrogant and ambitious. Malefor left the guard and become a criminal, one of the worst to walk the world of Auru.
Spyro ground his teeth. He wanted to stop Malefor and all his crimes and break up the gang he started. But Spyro knew he wasn't strong enough, not yet, not now.
"You're thinking about him again?" Xanthe asked.
Spyro snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Xanthe's voice. He looked at her and nodded slowly.
"One day, we'll stop him," Xanthe whispered. "But we must get stronger and smarter."
"For now, let's enjoy our victory in the last quest," Fisk said.
Spyro smiled at his two friends. Pushing away the thoughts of Malefor, he focused on the present. He recalled the last quest they had been on before coming to the tavern. It was a mission of confronting a group of bandits that invaded and terrorized a village of sprites. The bandits used weapons, intimidation, and numbers to overwhelm and scare the villagers. The villagers sought adventurers and heroes to save them and free them. Fortunately, Spyro, Fisk, and Xanthe came and heard what happened.
Spyro had tried to talk the bandit leader into surrendering. Talking and persuading an enemy not to fight but to give up was hard. But Spyro was willing to try. In the end, the bandit leader refused. A fight followed. After an hour and a half, Spyro and his friends defeated the bandits and freed the villagers.
"Our last quest was a success," Spyro said. "I'm glad we saved the people."
Fisk leaned forward in his seat. His grin was warm and lively. "Same here. And I will have a song for our quest too."
"No surprise there," Xanthe replied with a laugh. "You have a song for everything."
"And you still chew on mint leaves every day. Keeping your breath fresh for your future boyfriend, eh?"
"Shut up! I just…enjoy the smell of the mint leaves."
Spyro stifled a laugh as Xanthe swatted Fisk with her tail. Not a dull moment with these two, he mused. But they make my life exciting and memorable. I love and appreciate them.
A half hour passed before their food and drinks arrived. The delicious aromas filled the air. Spyro licked his lips. His mouth watered with hunger. Spyro picked up a glass filled with ale. He offered it to Fisk and Xanthe for a toast.
"To the Blazing Trio!" Spyro said.
"To the Blazing Trio!" Fisk and Xanthe cried.
The dragons clanked their glasses together, drank, and began to eat their food.
