“So, come to scab, have ya?”
Nathan glanced over at the bravo lounging against the river pier, then at the alpha lounging in a rather more muscled fashion against a lamp post. The water gurgled and murmured as an eel slithered through the water, and he could practically taste something with intent that indwelt among the change in the air that the moment was bringing.
There was something small he felt he was missing, too, something that eluded his notice no matter how he tried to zoom in on it.
“Not sure what you mean by that,” he said in a conciliatory fashion, since he very much didn’t want to get into a fight in his first hour in a new world, and besides, he hadn’t had a chance to try the apple pastry which he’d smelled, and it had smelled good. Instead, he had been asked to step outside for a peaceful word, and the barkeep had inclined a head in what Nathan had taken to be a yep, go do that gesture. “Where’s y’all’s Hall, anyway? I was going to swing by and talk. I could ask what jobs you’d consider scabbing.”
“Really.” The alpha growled that, vibrating the cobblestones. “Tethna like you, gonna see the Flex?”
“Got questions for your Eye, brother,” Nathan said levelly. He knew precisely the kind of social dynamics that were at play, though he was more used to seeing them from people whose net worth eclipse that of most countries. It was refreshing to see them in a more natural setting, he thought to himself in a way that he did not realize the ludicrousness of. “Might see if your Quill wants to buy. Business is business, and I’m no Adherent of the Path. Just another traveler making my way in the world.”
“You can’t be—”
“Easy, Jo,” the alpha murmured, holding his hand out in a gesture whose meaning escaped Nathan for a moment. “You tell me true, Tethna? Took you for an Itinerant. Off the Path, full and square?”
“I raise no home to my people in desert bone-white or in forest pale, and would offer them no salt nor wine.” Nathan answered automatically, his mouth filling in words where his mind had only intent. “I’ve left the Way and my Court alike behind, and they wouldn’t be happy to see the face of me again in this lifetime. And for my part, what I’d really like right now is to have the pastry I ordered from the Flagon, and the kite too.”
There was a moment of grudging silence, and then the bravo—Jo, Nathan reminded himself—nodded. “Good choice, both of those, I s’pose.”
With that, the two of them walked off, and the palpable threat he got from the other three melted away. Nathan strolled back into the tavern just in time to catch the barkeep delivering what he’d ordered to the table, and he smiled at the sight.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“See something funny?”
The young wizard, for he was fairly confident that he was both young and a wizard, considered that for a moment. “Yes,” he said slowly, then nodded firmly. “Yes. I saw a little guy carrying a plate about the size he is, pretending like he’s actually holding onto the plate.”
The barkeep put his taloned hands on his scaly hips, trying to glower intimidatingly—though not with a great deal of effort, Nathan was sure, because (and this was true) Nathan was quite confident that the lizardman could have flattened him with an act of pure will. And as he glowered, he reached up with the point-source of kinetic energy which the plate was perfectly balanced on and set the plate on the table, then did the same with the glass.
“That’s an impressive display of skill and technique,” Nathan said in a tone that disguised the fact that he was guessing. “How many people get taken in by the charade?”
“Enough,” the lizardman grunted appreciatively. “And that’s how I like it, y’hear?”
“I won’t tell anyone,” the Earther promised with a faint smile. “Say, what’s your impression of the local Hall? I’ve been advised to go swing by there.”
“Advised.”
“In a roundabout fashion.”
The lizardman grunted in amusement. “Appreciate your kindness,” he said softly. “We’ve been seeing some trouble in town. Long story, but the Guild of Aestheticians, Fish League, and Culinarian Association contracts a mess, there’s a big fight. Don’t take ‘em unless a Hall offers you one.”
Nathan nodded firmly. “Not looking to get involved in any trouble,” he said emphatically. “Just here on walkabout, you know? See the world, learn something true and beautiful, maybe find somewhere to rest a little.”
“Well.” The barkeep smiled a little, then shrugged. “You won’t find that here, I don’t think. But you will find a good pastry, and a decent kite.”
The first bite of the pastry showed the truth of that. Nathan closed his eyes and savored it. The apple was perfectly crisp, perfectly tart; the sugar practically sparkled with flavor and exploded with crunch, the dough was flaky and infused with an impossible amount of butter, and all in all it rivaled the best he’d ever had on Earth for quality.
The long sip he took of the berry kite turned out to be just as good, and illuminating at that, since he’d had no idea what a kite actually was, knowing only that it was the appropriate thing to order. The berries were some sort of fermented not-quite-analogue to strawberries, and it was a kite because of the way the still-dissolving string of lime crystals floated around the insides of the glass, kept buoyant by the patch of spicekelp which had infused the drink. It had been the other way around, had been the other way around for centuries, with a slice of lime that trailed down a thread of dried torchleaf; but the blight had all but eradicated torchleaf seventeen years before Nathan’s arrival and the flavor was retained only in the magengineered kelp that still expressed the same compounds.
Of course, there were still diehards which insisted it wasn’t the same. And for them, that was enough to make it true.
Suckers, Nathan thought to himself, for he had during the time he was taking his second sip come to all of those thoughts and conclusions himself. And then, one bite at a time and one sip at a time, he worked his short way through his order and left the tavern in peace.