The night passed quickly after Matilda returned with food and drink. Not long after Talia and Nico started to dig into their food the dwarves arrived, eager for their own dinner and drink. Things got loud, Matilda was constantly bustling about replacing empty mugs and empty plates. Talia had to admit she was impressed on how much the small men could pack away in such a short amount of time.
As the moons climbed higher in the sky the dwarves started to tell tales of their homeland. Bromyr babbled on to anyone within ear shot, roping them into long drawn out tales of battles long since lost or won, high craggy mountains, political events that went horribly wrong, anything and everything was on the table. Including his past sexual acts, though those stories came well after his first barrel had been drained of every last drop of amber liquid. By the second barrel Talia had to insist he retire to his quarters before he made an ass of himself.
Once he was neatly tucked into bed, and Talia verified he was sound asleep, she returned to the den to find Minnow laughing up a storm with the remaining dwarves. He hadn't aged a day, his hair was as black as the night sky and fluffy like a newborn chicks. He had slanted eyes the same color as his hair, a flat-ish face and a small upturned nose. He was an odd looking man, though Talia had always enjoyed his company. He had found a home amongst the exotic people residing within Amethyst Cove, none of them seemed to fit in with the normal humans inland.
"Minnow!" She cried excitedly. It had been years since they had last been able to visit, the moment she called out he turned with a look of excitement and glee.
"Talia! It's been a year if it's been a day! Come here and let me get a better look at you..." He leapt from his chair and bum-rushed her, wrapping her in a tight hug around her waist. He was only a head or two taller than the dwarves.
"I never understood your little quips but I'll agree, it's been too long." She patted his shoulders lightly, the only eager affection she could show without injuring him. He pulled back and grabbed on to her hand in order to drag her over to Nico's table.
"Now you have got to tell me the story about that ugly looking wound on your face. I have never in my life seen you coming out of a job with more than a papercut." He gushed, grabbing a chair and settling down next to Nico who offered him a pat-on-the-back hug.
"It's a long story, and one that might sober up this festive mood. Perhaps on the morrow." Nico cut in before grabbing them all another mug from Matilda's passing platter. Minnow frowned slightly but agreed with little persuading.
"So be it, darklings. So what news from the mainland? Anything fun?" Minnow had grown up in the mainland and once upon a time was more than pleased to call it home. That was until one fateful day he fell in love.
"Nothing is ever fun inland I'm afraid. Little Kings playing their little politics. But out here, pirates." Talia grinned at Minnow, he always had a story to tell when it came to pirates.
"Ah yes, you're wondering what my beautiful queen is up to these days. Unfortunately with the King's decree our ship hasn't been able to set sail in months. She's been quite vexed by it all, once a pirate always a pirate yeah? She's bound to start trouble if the King doesn't release his grip soon." Talia humphed, Delphi was a woman of renown, she owned the seas like the Kings tried to own their people. Except she exuded a true confidence, one she had earned through years of work and practice. Delphi was the only woman alive Talia truly respected.
"That's quite a shame, she always has such good things for sale when we're by. Well, that and the stories. She spanks any ship out there and makes them run home crying for their mommies." Everyone chuckled, though the mood was quite a bit more dour.
"Ah yeah, but she'll find a new way to get her thrills. As for me I'm happy just to keep this place going for now, after our last trip to sea I'm sated for some time. I'm telling you the storms out there in the deep are getting worse, waves nearly up to swallow our masts, lightning sparking across all visible sky, and wind strong enough to blow away any poor sod unlucky enough to find himself on the main deck." He took a stiff swig of his drink with a sour look.
"It's that bad?" Talia hummed. She had only been on a ship twice, not Minnow's, but it was still enough to teach her some hard lessons about the sea. The most important of which was that she never wanted to go back. Just imagining the pitching fragile wooden toy sent shivers down her spine. There could be no worse way to die than sinking down into the murky endless depths of a cruel ocean.
"In all my years crossing the seas I can surely say that the storms get worse with each passing year. Soon enough no ship will be able to cross the Cruelian Straits." He took another swig while Talia processed the information. From her knowledge the Cruelian Straits was a wide range of sea that provided the fastest route to Erishad and the country of Cadan where the main source of trade for Amethyst Cove came from.
Talia wondered absentmindedly if it had anything to do with the reemergence of dragons and demons. Certainly that would influence the world in some way, but storms? Turbulent oceans? Could there be any correlation? Could it explain why the King had shut his ports down?
"As long as this place has what we need to continue our journey I won't complain. We have no need of boats, so the unfortunate state of the city is no concern of ours." Nico spoke in a blasé tone, waving his pale hand as he took another drink. She scowled, while she wasn't one to hold back her thoughts she at least would have tried in Minnow's presence. His livelihood depended on the city.
"Those dwarves are at least enjoying their time here. Their rooms are full of things they've stocked up on." Minnow muttered bad temperedly. He scowled in Nico's direction though Nico paid him no mind. Talia sighed,
"As long as those ass holes aren't buying up anything that catches their beady little eyes. We have enough problems to deal with on our way to their mountains, we don't need to buy a string of mules just to carry around their shit." She set her drink down, her appetite for booze slightly curdled at the idea of having to plan around the dwarves spending spree. What could they possibly stockpile? It was bad enough she'd have to buy horses for them all.
"Don't you, like, sell horses?" Minnow sat his chin in his hand while looking at her, a mixture of bored and curious etched onto his face. He was already well drunk, she was surprised he even remembered such an obscure detail about her. Reluctantly she answered as quietly as she could,
"Well, yes. But the horses that make it out here are usually reserved for blue-bloods. They're, ah, expensive to say the least. Champion bred back on my... Farm." She wasn't supposed to have the property anymore. Or the title that came along with it. Hell, if Nazir ever found out she kept going after his explicit direction to destroy that part of her life he'd see to it she never saw the light of day again. Minnow yawned,
"Right. But you do still technically own them. I mean they came from you, they're titled to your estate until the point of sale. You could just go to the stables and see if they've got any still unsold. With the ports shut down that end of business has slowed greatly. Royals and the like don't make it out here anymore." He made it sound simple. She scowled again before taking a deep swig of her drink. She wasn't even in the mood to enjoy the flavor anymore.
"You're not wrong. But if word gets out I'm in town people will swarm me like ants." Her title was a prestigious one, or it had been once upon a time. People still knew the name, and the legend behind it. Besides, it was like Minnow had said, Lords and Ladies very rarely made it into the city anymore. If vendors found out she was around they'd be begging her to check out their stalls and buy their wares. It was all so tiring. It was why she hardly ever employed the use of the only heritage she owned claim to.
"Oh honey, word's well past 'getting out' now. You do realize you're a good two heads taller than anyone else here? And you've got those elf ears. You stick out even amongst the exotics." He shot her a wide grin as he said it. She had to admit, albeit begrudgingly, that he was right. She and the dwarves both were rather rare sights to see even within Amethyst Cove. Certainly the whole city was already well aware of her, and their, presences.
"I mean people keep poking their stinkin noses in here just to pop a look atcha." Nico slurred with an angry glance at the doorway. Talia turned just in time to see a few patrons dart back excitedly. She grunted. How had she been so oblivious to their glances? After years of it she supposed it was just second nature now. They weren't malicious, there was no threat within them so there was no use keeping an eye out. With a defeated sigh she finished her drink as a sullen state of exhaustion hit. Belly full and pleasantly drunk she figured it was the best time to make her way towards her bed before she got herself into trouble.
"I'll catch you fuckin assholes tomorrow. I'm going to head off." She rolled her shoulder in the direction of the door. Minnow gave her a drunken salute, Nico simply waved her off. She stood up and grabbed him by the back of his cloaks collar before hauling him up and packing him out the door.
"You've had plenty, any more and you'll beg me to put you to death tomorrow morning. I want to see some sights so it's bright and early for you too sunshine." She growled at him, pushing past the crowd of people still drinking and partying it up.
"Why do I gotta go with you? Eh? You don't need my eyes in this place." Nico slurred angrily while struggling against her. She grunted with each step as she packed him up the stairs to their quarters.
"No I just want your company darling." She whispered it into his ear causing him to go stiff. A bright blush lit up his pale skin like a light until he was hardly recognizable. She almost wondered if his eyes would burst from his head at the strain he was putting on himself.
"W... Well! If that's all it is..." He stuttered and stammered up until she opened his door and dropped him haphazardly onto his bed. She grinned down at him while he desperately tried to right himself.
"Lets meet up for breakfast an hour after sunrise." She left no room for argument, turning away she finally made her way to her own room where she could prepare for a decent nights rest. Her quarters were only a few doors down from Nico's, both had thick iron-reinforced doors which were lockable from the inside.
Her room was simple like the rest, a nice sized bed covered in hand made quilts no doubt imported from far away lands. The bed was like a splash of color compared to the drab and demure compartment around it. The walls were old wood, that alone could be determined from the smell and looks. But it wasn't in any way unpleasant, the smell of the cool sea air breezing in through the window was calming and comforting.
The rest of the room was decorated simply, two end tables, one for each side of the bed were situated with a lantern a piece and a plate and cup for night drinks. The tables had one drawer for personal items. On the far wall with the door a dresser sat alone, the dark and aged wood almost blending into the shadows. To her right was a walk-in closet to store more delicate clothing. There was also a wash table with a decanter of fresh-ish water to clean up with. Next to the cleanest and biggest window was a medium sized round table to share meals at, four chairs situated around it and a candelabra gracing the center.
With a deep sigh she stripped her clothing off before grabbing her travel bag and digging out her night clothes. She usually wore a simple thin-cloth robe with straps. It was easy to wrap it into the shape of a dress. Not to mention its free movement allowed for quick action should she ever be attacked. Although she had to admit her favorite aspect was the fact that it kept her cool instead of hot.
Carefully she wrapped the blue-green fabric around her body taking care to tie the strings tightly around her neck and shoulders. It covered her body perfectly, though any quick movement might cause someone to glimpse a little too much. So quickly she snapped her fingers, lighting the lanterns next to her bed . She then grabbed the satchel from her clothes pile and held it gently wondering what the best course of action would be. Would it be weird to sleep with it? She couldn't bring herself to leave it far from her reach. Sighing she crawled into the bed with it, holding it tight against her chest while situating the quilts and the pillows. It was safer with her, right? She couldn't let anything happen to it.
Closing her eyes she tried to imagine what would come of the egg once everything was said and done. If a dragon hatched for her would her life change? Would she stop killing people?
'One job at a time...' She coached herself quietly before drifting off to sleep.