"To Bo!” Pavel shouted above the din. “May his keg never run out!”

The table cheered as everyone threw back their mugs. Cold ale hit the back of Serena’s throat, causing her to sputter and cough up the bitter tasting drink.

Werond laughed and slammed her back with a fist. “Easy boss!” she said, as Serena coughed silently. “Bitter shit don’t go down easy the first time!”

The caravan had stopped in some tiny town off the side of the Trade Way. Serena couldn’t remember what the name was – something with an S – but she was glad that it was just an overnight visit. Apart from the tavern and currently closed market, nothing in the town called out to her, or made her eager to stay. It was no wonder then that the caravan was swamped by eager townsfolk, seeking passage out of their quaint dead-end town.

No one could afford the fee. Pavel had seen to it personally, turning away each would be vagabond. Werond had nudged Serena at one point, and together, they watched as two attractive barmaids attempted unsuccessfully to seduce Pavel for a free ride.

“Poor girls have no idea.” Werond chuckled, as Pavel dismissed them, oblivious to their low-cut tunics.

It was after the barmaids, frustrated and confused, had left, that Pavel approached Serena and Werond, inviting them both to celebrate Bo’s life. Paid for by the money left in Bo’s purse, of course.

Werond had grabbed Serena and dragged her along before she had a chance to say no.

And now Serena sat on a crummy bench in between Werond and Pavel – Cruck’aa sourly across from them – attempting to drink ale for the first time, under dim flickering torchlight in a backwater bar. Around them, the regular drunken patrons griped and groaned about their misfortunes, shooting their table dirty looks every other sentence.

She gulped down another mouthful of ale, this time not biting as much.

Serena grinned. It was fun.

“I understand wanting to remember him,” Cruck’aa said, gingerly pushing away his ale. “but that stuff is poison.”

“Naah!” Werond said, sipping from her mug. “It’s all about moderation. Can’t poison you if you don’t down a tankard every night.”

“Which I’m sure Bo did.” Pavel said. “Wonder how he didn’t keel over earlier.”

“He was built tough.” Serena signed, setting her mug down. “Never realized how much he could drink.”

“And I never realized how little you drink!” Werond said, pointing her mug at a now scowling Cruck’aa. “Not even half a mug, huh?”

“And I never realized how dependent you were on the bottle.” Cruck’aa shot back, feathers ruffled.

“Compared to Bo, I’m pretty responsible.”

Serena’s hands twitched on the table, sending a loud laugh through everyone’s minds.

Werond grinned.

“Okay, so I wasn’t responsible once.” She said, before turning towards Serena. “You still haven’t told me what I did that night, boss.”

Serena smiled coyly. “You’re right! Here, lean in and I’ll tell you. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

Werond grinned and obliged, a hand cocked on her ear.

Serena leaned towards her, then jabbed two fingers into Werond’s ribs, sending a harmless shock through her.

She jerked to the side, yelping, and dumped ale over herself and Serena.

Serena jerked towards Pavel, and threw her hands up, flinging drops of ale into the air.

Pavel chocked in his mug, spraying ale from his mouth and down his tunic; he pushed away from Serena, laughing as he coughed up the rest of his drink.

“You bitch!” Werond exclaimed; her face twitched as she desperately tried to hide a grin. “That’s my favorite tunic!”

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“That’s your only tunic!” Serena signed.

Werond threw her head back, her laugh echoing throughout the tavern, as a fit of giggles consumed Serena. She waved a hand, and with a small sucking noise, the spilled ale vanished.

Cruck’aa shook his head but remained silent. Pavel wiped his mouth, then used the same sleeve to mop up the table.

“Well,” Pavel said with a grin. “I have to back Werond, she seems pretty responsible.”

“What?!” Serena exclaimed. “Pavel you didn’t see her that night with Bo, it was terrible!”

Pavel shook his head. “No, I did see her. I walked past them during my little patrol around the camps.”

Werond cocked her head. “Well then you must have seen me shitfaced, right? I was pretty far gone.”

“No, you looked fine to me! Bo and everyone else were falling all over the place but you had barely finished your –”

“Bartender!” Everyone jumped as Werond twisted around and bellowed at the barkeep behind them. “We spilled a bunch, could we get another round?!”

Pavel looked down at his mug and nodded, as the barkeep jerked a thumb into the air, grabbing a pitcher of ale.

Serena rubbed a knuckle against her ear as the he refilled everyone’s mugs.

“Did you have to scream that?” she asked, waving him away. Werond grinned nervously.

“Ah, yeah, mistake. Didn’t need to be that loud, huh.”

Serena nodded, and tipped back the last of her ale. As she did, a motion by the door of the tavern caught her eye.

Lord Zultan, his white hair matted with sweat, leaned halfway through the door frame, looking around. Eyes snapping to her, the Lord flashed a sign – one of the few Drow signs that she knew.

Tonight?

He pointed a finger at her.

Wagon?

Serena stared at the Drow, frowning.

After a moment, she nodded.

Zultan mimicked her before withdrawing, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Serena poked Werond with her elbow, causing her to jump.

“Hey, I need to go find a bush.”

“Oh, sure, sure,” Werond said, scooting out of the bench and standing up. “You want me to come with you?”

Serena stood from bench and paused. Pavel waved his mug behind them.

“Hey! Where you two going?” He asked, “Don’t leave me here alone with Mr. Grumpy Feathers.”

Serena grinned. If looks could kill.

“Need to pee Pavel, Werond’s coming with me.” Serena signed.

“Oh, yeah, that pair thing that women do, sure.” Pavel downed more ale, slamming the mug on the table. “Well, we’ll be here when you get back!”

“Speak for yourself.” Cruck’aa muttered.

“Alright,” Werond said, as they made their way towards the entrance. “I don’t suppose you saw any good trees on the way over, huh?”

“Actually, I don’t have to pee.” Serena signed, pushing open the door and stepping out into the chilly night. Zultan was nowhere to be seen. “But I will need you for something else.”

Werond cocked her head, eyes narrowed, half a smile upon her lips. “Uh…what did you need me for?” she said slowly.

“I need to talk to Lord Zultan.”

“Oh.” Werond said, face returning to normal. “Oh.”

“I know you don’t like him, but I need to…talk with him.”

“Do I need to say anything?”

“Not if you don’t want to.”

“Then we’re fine. I’ll back you up, make sure he doesn’t fuck with you.”

“Thanks, Werond.”

“Well,” Pavel said, draining the last of his mug. “what do we talk about now?”

“Perhaps the fact that Serena is constantly being distracted by her employee.” Cruck’aa said, eyes half closed.

“What? You still going on about that? Serena can make friends, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Cruck’aa’s eyes snapped open, and he twisted his head towards Pavel. A small shiver went down his back, as the giant bird of prey stared intently at him.

“They are not just friends Pavel. Werond’s been making sure of that.”

“How do you figure?”

As Cruck’aa opened his break, his head snapped to the front of their table.

A small woman, shorter than Serena, had halted in front of their booth. A deep scowl was painted across her face, and she stood with an air that demanded attention.

She placed her hands on the table, leaning forward; her grey cloak split, revealing studded leather armor, and a long, worn rapier strapped to her hip. The hood from her cloak had been pulled back, highlighting her blond hair and pointed ears.

“Any room on that caravan of yours?” The woman asked; her voice was firm, and something familiar within it caught Pavel’s attention.

He leaned back in the bench, his jovialness pushed away.

“Lot of room left. If you can afford the fee.” Pavel said, eyeing the woman coolly

The elf narrowed her eyes. “I can afford it. But I don’t want to pay it.”

“Don’t know why we’re having this conversation then. Pretty firm on that fee ma’am.”

The woman grinned, white teeth flashing like fangs.

“Been awhile since anyone’s called me ‘ma’am’. Not since my marching days.”

Pavel grinned back. That’s what it was. “Had you figured for a military gal. The no bullshit attitude you got going on tipped that off.”

“How the hell did you know that?” Cruck’aa asked, glancing between the pair.

The woman shook her head.

“You’re perceptive. So then, the barmaids that wanted on, notice anything odd about them?” she asked.

Pavel frowned, and twisted around in his seat, only to find that the pair of women were gone.

“Don’t think so.” He said, twisting back.

“Well for one, they don’t work here,” the elf said, straightening up and crossing her arms. “don’t have the same uniforms. And two, you pissed them right the fuck off. Could see it from halfway across the room. They had a nasty look in their eyes when they left. I’d watch out for them if I were you.”

Pavel narrowed his eyes. The woman shrugged.

“Lot of talk, I know. But those two aren’t good news. If you live through tonight, keep me in mind. We’ll call it a trade, me saving your life in exchange for a spot on the caravan.”

The woman turned on her heel and marched towards and out the door. Pavel held his gaze where the woman had been, as Cruck’aa looked between him and the door.

“The hell was that all about?” the Aarakocra asked.

Pavel shrugged.

“Don’t know. Sounds like bullshit to me.”