Burmese Bay Seaport, Country – Ganghe, Kingdom – Dandre, Continent – Grenada
Silver Fire Dragon Tavern – local hangout for merchants at the East Gate
5 p.m.
Forty-five minutes to an hour or so, the four of them finally came to a halt. All of them wheezed from sheer exhaustion. One of them, a slim female, pushed blue tinted black hair away from her eyes. She gazed in sheer admiration and trepidation at the enormous spiral gate that indicated they’d arrived at the Burmese Seaport. They’d paused in order to give each other time to compose themselves. They were very close to their primary destination.
“Is it just me or did the spirals enlarge again?” Tessa murmured nervously.
“Not just you. The farther downward we travel, the bigger those things become.” Trey wrinkled his nose. “A serious waste of magic and material.” He shook his head wearily. “I hope those buildings anchored the magic to something substantial before they died. Else these things will tumble down the first time an oversized wave rip through here.”
Laina sighed. “They did.” She smiled at Trey. “That was one of the first things they did.”
Meridian grunted. “No matter. At least the tails went spinning into a different direction when we split on the bridge that headed in three alternate directions.”
None of which those tails could follow. They had to pick and chose and gave up at that point, at least Tessa hoped so. “Did any of us mention where we were headed within their earshot earlier?" She didn't remember.
“Doesn’t matter. They’ll find us eventually.” Trey shrugged indifferently. “What happens after that all comes down to what Damaris has plans for Laina and other women of the clan who’re of the same age.”
Tessa grimaced. “I pointblank refused.” She did recall him considering offers of marriage for her as well. “I won’t repeat what I said, but I did shock him somewhat.” She’d declined them all very bluntly citing her disinclination toward the male gender. “I’m probably out of favor with him for the time being.” Not at all the truth, but she hadn’t found any male or female to her liking. Besides, there was too much else she wanted to do with her time. “That might be why my notions of tributes were all refused.”
Laina shook her head. “Some of mine were refused as well initially.” She wrinkled her nose. “Though if that brat was any indication, I think we’re all lucky to not pay tribute in this case.”
Tessa nodded. “I’m in complete agreement with you on that score.”
The two males merely shrugged. “Then we’re in agreement that we can move onward, now?” Trey suggested impatiently. “I want to explore before the rougher element shows their faces.”
Meh, Tessa grimaced. “That’s fine.” She was tired.
“We’re almost there, Trey.” Meridian scowled at him. “Just one right turn and we’ll be at the entrance door.”
Silent with anticipation and trepidation, Tessa took the lead because none of the others would budge. A sigh escaped her as she studied the sight before her. “Somehow, I was expecting something a little more impressive.” She did admire the sign. Painted beautifully, the silver fire dragon appeared to come and looked directly at her briefly.
In one narrowed alleyway, a small innocuous appearing building squeezed between the primary and secondary eastern entrance gates. The Silver Fire Dragon Tavern hosted a neutral stance towards all men and women who traveled through Burmese Seaport and tolerated nothing that resembled foul play.
“Here are the prodigals.” Damaris called out jovially.
The four of them snapped out of their momentary enchantment. Skittish they all glanced at each other warily. What the hell was that back there? Tessa shivered. She glanced at the dragon, but it was once more a mere single image against a rounded piece of board.
She bowed her head in brief acknowledgement at the tavern master. He stared at her with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. Then he inclined his head back to her and whispered. “The time has come for you to embark upon a journey. When the frost touches the rooftops, tis then that you’ll whisk away elsewhere.” He straightened and moved onward to the others.
Tessa didn’t look back. She sensed uneasiness flooding the air from Laina, Trey and Meridian. Evidently, they received prediction as well. Just wonderful way to begin their day in the Silver Fire Dragon Tavern.
“What else do you know about this place?” Tessa murmured to Laina.
“Well they also have agreements with other nearby taverns to house and feed various merchant groups while they resided within the Seaport, selling their goods, purchasing supplies and heading back out on their myriad paths.” Laina shrugged. “Which means I dunno whether we’ll actually stay here tonight or not.”
Meridian grunted. “I’m beginning to think…not.” He glanced at Trey. “You?”
Trey shrugged. “I’ll give it at least one night. If nothing changes for the better, then I’ll look around elsewhere.” He smiled faintly. “I’ll also make sure none of you become trapped here either.”
“That’s rude, youngster.” A buxom woman chastised him.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Sorry, Mistress Verna.” Laina interposed herself between Trey and the Tavern Mistress. “We’ve suffered from some unnecessary encounters earlier and that, I’m afraid shortened our tempers somewhat.”
“Hmm,” Mistress Verna looked from her to Tessa and the others and back to Laina. “I’m guessing the rest of the caravan is going to show up?”
“Aye, which is why we came in the second fleet.” Laina nodded vigorously.
“Bah. Very well then, I’ll forgive the rudeness this once.” She frowned at Trey. “Your illusion types are the worst when it comes to manners.” She flipped a hand at them. “Go on now. I need to prepare.”
“Yes, Mistress.” Laina motioned for the others to dismount. “Just bring the saddle bags. All the rest of the items will be taken care of by the horse boys.”
Tessa sighed, slung the bags over her shoulders, and carried the weapons crossed over her back. Just as they entered the main hall, a voice boomed from outside.
“Where are those wenches and males that accompanied the first wave of the Damaris merchant Clan?”
Oh dear. It was that royal. The foursome hunched their shoulders and sighed.
“Guess it was too much to hope that they would give up.” Tessa muttered.
“I’m sick of these domineering bastards.” Laina growled.
“You’re not the only one.” Trey muttered. “They’re relentless on the hunt.”
“It appears that we’re the prey.” Meridian rubbed his forehead.
“No matter what you are to them, you’re guests here.” The tavern master made the statement and they jumped in surprise when he added. “The silver fire activated and therefore you’re welcome to remain here as long as needed.”
Huh, what did that mean? Tessa exchanged troubled glances with the other three. She sighed and moved to a table where she plopped down and rested her head on folded arms. Now she was too tired to focus on anything.
“Mind your manners, Royal brat.” Mistress Verna stopped the demands. “You’ll gain no entry in here with those men.” She slashed a hand through the air when someone evidently meant to shove past her. “Might I remind you that this is a neutral location, my lords?” She reiterated very coldly that they weren’t welcome in the tavern. “You can wait until the tributary takes place on the morrow, just like every other demanding royal that showed their faces here.”
Much angry cursing was heard clearly through the doorway. However, the angry Royal finally went away. There were sighs of relief all the way around. Damaris rubbed the back of his neck as he surveyed the drooping foursome. “Well, since you’re now under the auspices of the guardian, I cannot very well make you show up for anything on the morrow.”
He turned to face the Tavern Master and Mistress. “How many more of my caravans can you house?” He put his head together with the others. “I may request some of them to go to other taverns and inns to as to not to burden you.”
“That depends on how many you have with you.”
“Four hundred men, women and children. Half again as many livestock.” Damaris told them.
“We can do half that number.”
“Very well. I’ll go and guide the others to different locations.” He paused. “Or you can have a representative with appropriate tokens come from the other places and they can guide them.” He sighed. “I don’t want any people bottlenecking the streets and alleys with our numerous wagons and livestock.”
“You’re very considerate, Merchant Clan Leader Damaris.” The tavern master murmured.
“It’s the least I can do since that foursome caused so much trouble ever since they set foot inside the gate.” Damaris turned his back on Tessa, Laina, Meridian, and Trey. He very effectively dismissed them from his mind.
The brusqueness annoyed them, but they knew better than to irritate him. Instead, they took it as a good sign that he wasn’t going to pester them about future nuptial arrangements.
“Guess we should find where we’ll sleep this night.” Tessa yawned again.
“Goodness me, you’re likely all exhausted by now.” Verna murmured. “I’ll just have Lynn lead you girls to one room, and Jinn, the boys to another room. You won’t have connecting doors, but you’ll be placed side by side. This is on Merchant Leader Damaris’ orders.” She added when the four of them eyed her in bemusement. “Hurry off now, it is going to get noisy and busy soon.” She shooed them off and they hurried away without complaint.
Even as she mentioned it. A low roar of murmurs filled the entrance.
That very night, the Damaris merchant clan showed up en masse. They were a huge caravan of fifty or more vehicles drawn by various animals. Riding alongside them on horses were a small group of four that hadn’t joined with the main group that came in first.
Fortunately, the journeying foursome were snug in their beds and fast asleep with the doors’ locks securely fastened and the same with the windows. No one dared attempt to break in with so many mages and warriors flooding the area.
Too tired to dream, but fully aware of something not quite right, Tessa sank into a reflective trance. What she saw shocked her indeed.
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Water gushing through a large exposed hole in a wall like the dry washed tavern, many people laid in states of unconscious stupor. Vile stenches of liquor and worse fouled the air.
Tessa, Laina, Trey and Meridian were the only ones standing and they each had kerchiefs covering their faces. They stood surrounded by menacing figures in black clothing that concealed their features. All of them held sharp shining black knives enscripted with gold leaf and burnished silver. All of them tinted red with blood.
None of the Damaris merchant clan remained alive…none except Laina. The others shielded her as they debated their options.
However, an unholy shriek rent the air. Snarls and howls drifted in from outside. The water continued filling the lower levels of the large room.
“What do you want from us?” Tessa demanded.
“Your life’s blood, bitch.” One of the attackers condescended to speak. “You hold the key to immortality. A hybrid feline human.” The sneer made her hackles rise. “You’ll do well as the latest specimen collected. The rest are useless trash. It took us sixteen long years to track your whereabouts. Too bad your friends will die.”
Oh no they wouldn’t. Tessa had enough of people dying just because of her unique existence. “I think not.”
“We seconded that.” The other three chorused.
“I also don’t condone violence within my walls, much less my home.” A silver mist coalesced in the middle of the room around the four of them. “You’ve come after the wrong targets, Millidyne.”
“Hmph.” Millidyne sneered. “You think you can beat me in that useless mist form, Iridescence?” He made a scornful laugh.
“No, but they can with my assistance. However, in this case, we’re taking a little trip elsewhere.” Iridescence retorted and pulled them out of the place with a poof.
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Tessa woke with a start. “The hell was that dream.” She muttered. Though it hadn’t felt anything of the sort. More like it was a prophecy, a warning of the future to come. She grunted in confusion because now she didn’t know what to think anymore. She rubbed her forehead with a sigh. She didn’t think frost tinted the rooftops yet. Now though, she had to wonder what type of building this was and what the history of it really contained.
She yawned, rose from her bed and went to the small shelf of books that was nearby the bed. If she couldn’t sleep, Tessa figured she might as well read. No matter that the tributary was only later that evening. She suspected none of them were expected to show their faces. Fine with her, she didn’t want to doll up for some affair she had no interest in.