[Ridge]
I wake up with Kadeeth's knee in my back, which I didn't think was possible considering he's taller than me. He's practically sprawled out across the pillows.
I could kick him off the bed. What's he gonna do, go cry to the Duke? Okay, that was low, but I can say whatever I want in my head. He never has to know about my constant need to cause him bodily harm. It's just part of the best friend gig. He signed up to be mentally bashed when he decided to stick to me like a leech from the moment we met.
I freshen up with the provided water basin and Raforn wakes up Tellur and Kadeeth. I don't know how long the man's been up but I hope he managed to get at least a pinch of sleep. He starts trying to herd us out the door, which only makes Kadeeth want to go as slow as possible. Until I smile a honey covered, tight lipped, smile at him and he gulps and pulls on his boots faster than I've ever seen him fasten them before.
He might be the only Noble who laces his own shoes every day. I finally taught him how a few years ago, but he'd been begging me to show him since I entered the Academy. He wanted to know how to lace boots, put on armor, tie ropes, hitch wagons, and even draw a bath. I refused to teach him certain skills for a while, because I was scared he wanted to run away from home and hide as a commoner or something.
Then we built the balcony and I eventually realized he was just curious. Curious about a completely different way of life that most people were familiar with. There was really no point in being so worried about him running away, since he snuck out to the Academy all the time anyway, and that drove the Duke just as mad.
"C'mon, Roley doesn't like people to be late!" Raforn whines, tapping his foot as Tellur splashes cold water on his face to wake up.
"Wow, you guys really have nicknames for each other." Kadeeth jokes, sticking out his tongue and fake gagging.
Raforn's face scrunches up in disgust, "Ew, man. She's like twice my age, she could be my mother!" Kadeeth just laughs and tosses a pillow at him. Raforn puts his hands up to guard his face instead of catching it, which only makes Kadeeth tease him more.
"Let's get going, we want her on our side. So if Doc says she likes punctual people, then that's what we'll be." I adjust my folded sleeve and unlock the door. Raforn huffs and marches past me out of the room.
"Punctual, my ass. Freakin' Nobles..." He mumbles, side eyeing me. I roll my eyes and lock the door once everyone is out, using the small metal key the Innkeepers gave us.
~*~
When we reach the tavern I almost don't recognize the place. It's aglow with oil lanterns and a big stone fireplace fueled by debarked logs tattooed with worm markings. Laughter and loud chanting pours out of the windows into the barely lit streets while the sun disappears further behind the surrounding trees. Almost the entirety of the small town of Rancid seems to be gathered at the tavern.
Is there some kind of holiday tonight? Or a festival? I look over at Raforn to gauge an answer, but he just keeps walking with his usual RBF like this is the most normal thing. Is everyone in this town a drinker? Do they all gather at Morin's Midnight to celebrate?
We file into the crowded bar as best as we can without losing each other in the swarms of warm bodies. Kadeeth grabs the back of my shirt and pulls me away when someone accidentally bumps into my arm.
I turn to Raforn and yell, "WHERE IS SHE?" He puts his hand to his ear and shouts back but I can't hear him over the buzz of men and women enjoying their evening.
"I SAID, WHERE- Oh forget it." I start shoving my way as politely as I can towards the corner booth we sat at earlier. I see Caroley before I see the actual table. She's sitting around, arm wrestling and drinking with anyone who feels like challenging her. A small cup filled with coins topples over as she slams another woman's thick arm down.
She starts sweeping the coins back into the cup with her hand, and that's when she notices us making our way over. She lifts her arms in an enthusiastic wave. The defeated woman across from her plops a bronze coin into the cup and follows her opponent's attention towards us. The new woman smiles and scoots over a seat, patting the challenger's chair. She probably thinks we're here to join in on the betting too, but then Caroley gets up from the table with the cup and slings her arm around Raforn.
The other woman blinks for a second and then smiles and stands to greet us as well. Caroley ruffles Raforn's practically nonexistent hair, but he shoves her hand away in distaste anyway, as though she just ruined his freshly styled mane.
"FOLLOW ME, FOLKS" She booms over the noise. We trail behind her blindly as she leads us to a door in the back with a long line outside it. I didn't realize most of the crowd was gathered around here. She exchanges a quick word with the two uniformed men standing outside the closed door before pulling me off to the side for a moment.
She leans in close and says just loud enough for me to hear, "Now, y'all aren't gonna give us any trouble, right? I can spot Nobles a mile away, but as long as you're tight-lipped about our secrets, you can bet I'll keep yours." I know I can't answer her in a volume only she can hear, so I look her dead in the eye and nod. She claps my shoulder painfully hard and bellows, "GOOD!"
The men open the door to reveal an extremely narrow staircase, with a low ceiling and well-worn steps. It plunges into a dim, smokey corridor that ends in a set of heavy duty, metal doors. We follow Caroley and Raforn into what appears to be the entrance of an alternative, underground business.