As the day began coming to a close, the three helped the caravan set up shot in its new location, or at least Zelotes and Tulbrik did. They did most of the heavy lifting while Xiyloos would press the leaders who demonstrated arcane abilities for their knowledge on electromancy.

“Ya think that one’s gonna help us anytime soon?” Tulbrik asked, carrying an armchair out of one of the storage carts.

“Doesn’t matter, I joined to help this group and so did you, right?” Zelotes said whilst dragging a couch.

“Well you had the idea of dragging me into this chore, why didn’t ya drag our Masked Stranger into this instead of me?” Asked the disgruntled dwarf.

“I asked you if you wanted to help, and you said yes if it meant more pay. Personally, I’m doing this free of charge.” Zelotes answered, irritated. “Don’t you think you could use a break from that whiskey?”

“Like I said, I won’t pretend that I don’t know any be’er, but knowing and doing are two different things.” Tulbrik answered.

“You drink nearly half a bottle of whiskey every four hours.” Zelotes noted.

“Are ya kiddin’ me? I don’t even drink nearly that much!” Tulbrik retaliated, putting down the armchair before downing half a bottle.

“You smell like you’ve been pickled in one of those bottles!” Zelotes commented.

“Well you smell like days old jerky drenched in incense ya midden feartie!” Tulbrik insulted. The two stopped. They looked at each other for a minute, and laughed. “Maybe when we’re done ‘ere, we go to that tavern and get some refreshments?”

“One catch. Keep the drinking to a minimum!” Zelotes demanded.

“Are ya kiddin’ me! I’ve been be’er about me drinkin’ the last few days, haven’t I?” Tulbrik asked.

“You just drank half a bottle of whiskey, Tulbrik.” Zelotes said, pointing out the fact. “How can I trust that I will not find you passed out?”

Tulbrik muttered something in dwarvish. “Alright, ya got me.” he followed.

Day faded into evening as the two finished their heavy lifting. Tulbrik received his extra pay while Zelotes engaged in his evening prayer ritual, and the two made their way to the local tavern, the Yawning Goat. Each reserved their own room for the night. The tavern mostly consisted of humans, with a few dwarves dotted in between, even some drakgath, surprisingly. However, many seemed to be weary of the presence of the few dragonborn and the one leothien that had just entered.some glared daggers, others drew knives under their tables. But most were preoccupied with the event on stage. The main attraction in the tavern seemed to be the stage as though the crowds were awaiting the next performance, and for some, their dinner and drink. Scents of roasting meats, garlic, potatoes, aged beers and ales flooded Zelotes’ nose, clouding his ability to smell individuals from the crowd.

“You want to get a front row of the performance?” Zelotes asked.

“Ah, they got a band playin’ tonight.” Tulbrik stated. “Do what ya want, but… well I’m pretty sure you can guess where I’m goin’!”

Zelotes sighed “After all that liquor, you’re still bent on drunkening yourself, Tulbrik?”

Tulbrik laughed, “You know what my quest is, and like I said, I won’t pretend I don’t know any be’er.” He proceeded to the bar parting with Zelotes, while Zelotes found an empty table near the stage. Next to his table was what he assumed was the band, preparing for their next performance. They carried flutes and stringed instruments; they were mostly dressed in white shirts under fashionably designed, maroon tunics, one however stood out from the rest. She was an elven woman. Zelotes glanced at her with curiosity. He turned his head. She had warm, golden skin and fiery red hair and eyes with a crimson hue to match. She wore a tight-fitting, light purple and green leaf decorated waistcoat that highlighted the curves of her figure under a long and loose-fitting, maroon jacket that made a skirt with a belt at her waist and she seemed to play an instrument that resembled both a lute and a lyre. He wasn’t sure, but she seemed familiar somehow, like he’d seen her face somewhere before. He shook his head, trying to make sure his dwarven friend didn’t hammer himself too much. He heard footsteps approaching his table.

"Excusez-moi, is it that you are staying for the show?” A changed, yet familiar voice with a peculiar accent asked.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Zelotes turned and looked, the elven woman had approached him. A bright smile was on her face. “Pardon?” He asked, surprised.

“Are you staying for the show here tonight?” She repeated. Her accent was rich, slightly nasal with a flowing quality, and guttural sounding r’s.

“Yes, I suppose so. Have I seen you somewhere before?” Zelotes questioned, not sure what to make of the elf woman’s eagerness to interact with him.

“Je ne sais pas… Possibly, I knew a leothien when I was a child in Letharis. We played with each other for a whole month in the summer before my family had to return to our homeland. Good times.” She answered with a sigh at the end.

“Hold on… At the time, were your parents talking to a cattle rancher about something to do with a banquet? Did he happen to have a rather large family compared to elf standards?” Zelotes asked, as he remembered something.

“Actually, I did meet that leothien from a cattle ranch…” Her ears turned upward, as she turned back to face Zelotes in realization. “Zelotes, is that you?” She asked.

“All I have to say, it’s good to see my first friend again.” Zelotes responded, with a slight smile.

“Mes dieux! It’s been over a decade! I didn’t think we’d meet again, you have a mane now, and those big teeth!” She said ecstatically, briefly touching his sabered canines. “Oh and I love your cape! I just love how the purple and yellow make it look like morning sun rays!” She took a sniff of the air around him. “I admire your tastes, but you smell rather musty. You smell like you've been around incense a lot and I think it’s wafting over to us-”

“I have, actually.” Zelotes answered.

The elf looked at him, his armor, and the holy pendant around his neck. “Are you a holy person now?” She asked. “I bet that is just… divine!” she joked, her knife-shaped ears twitching upward.

Zelotes let out a chuckle. “Sorry to be rude, but I barely remember your name…” he said.

The happy expression on her face changed to an awkward one before smiling again. “Hi! I’m Jacqué!” She reintroduced herself. “So what are you doing here?”

“I was sent to protect the psittari caravan on their way here.” He answered. “I don’t think I’ll be staying much longer.” He looked down at his pouch, the cost for a night at this tavern wasn’t much, but it left him with only a few coins. “However, it would appear that I’m short on coin, so I’ll probably consult with the job board before I leave.”

“Well, I hope you at least stay for the show. And maybe long enough for the two of us to catch up.” Jacqué stated.

“Jacqué! Quit fraternizing with that predator over there and help us!” one of the band members called out.

They both looked at the table, Zelotes with anger at the labeling of predator, Jacqué with disappointment. “Plus tard, Zelotes.” Jacqué said, as she joined the band.

“Excuse me sir, would you like something to eat?” A goblin waitress asked, popping up beside Zelotes.

“Rare steak and broth please, nothing else.” Zelotes answered. The waitress wrote his order and rushed back into the kitchen. Zelotes looked at the bar, so far, Tulbrik was clearly drunk, but there wasn’t any chaos. It wasn’t long after when the performance began, with Zelotes’ meal coming shortly after the band began playing. Time passed, and evening turned into night. A few looks of acknowledgement between Zelotes and Jacqué were exchanged during the performance; she played quite well in comparison to the rest of the band, it seemed like she played so well that the resonance from her instrument’s plucked strings turned into shimmering colors. Eventually the show came to a close, and Zelotes decided to check on his dwarven friend. Zelotes realized that he had lost track of Tulbrik, and couldn’t find him at the bar. He left his empty plate and bowl and began looking for the drunken dwarf. After searching through the inside of the tavern, Zelotes had a look outside a window. Tulbrik was accompanied by three drunken guards, with a lampshade on his head.

“Th-this one goes to me bestest friends in the whole wide world!” Tulbrik hiccuped “Zelotes… and his big sword!” he said with the barest coherence he could muster while raising his mug.

“Hey, Tulbrik, let’s go to our rooms.” Zelotes said, tapping on Tulbrik’s shoulder.

Tulbrik looked up at him, with a drunken smile on his face. “Oh, there you are!, Hey guys, this is the big cat that I was talking about-” Tulbrik stumbled, falling flat on the ground. He got up, staggering. Zelotes grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him to his room while apologizing to the disgruntled patrons. After ten minutes, Zelotes and Tulbrik reached their rooms.

“Hey, bartend! I’d like about four, no, five more of those long dragon iced teas!” Tulbrik half consciously demanded.

“You’re going to bed, Tulbrik!” Zelotes announced, tired and irritated, before pushing him into his room. He then went to his own chamber, lighting incense and sitting to meditate. He thought of his dwarven friend. He prayed.

“Great Sunfather, who art highest king in the Golden Heaven, I beseech thy blessing for aid.

Bring my friend light to make him sober.

To address his plight, and his troubles be made over.”

He then laid down in his bed. A look of thought on his face before he was met with slumber.

“Zelotes! Quick! It’s an emergency!” The voice of Tulbrik cried, waking Zelotes as he grabbed his greatsword, and ran down the hall to Tulbrik.