"The Lion's Den? This one's the most popular and well known tavern in this region -- probably one of the largest taverns," Lloyd says in awe as they stand in front of the large tavern crowded with people.
It isn't like any other taverns. Lloyd is right, this one is not only the largest and most attractive, but also the most unique tavern in perhaps all of Asteria.
Inside, there are so many people that even Rose isn't too excited about it. There are many tables, with people sitting about drinking and chatting. There's a counter to the far end, where the tattooed man they'd followed now stands.
"Where do we start?" Alaina briefly hears Rose whispering, but she has her gaze fixed on the man with the tattoo by the counter, talking secretively with the owner, she presumes.
In the background, Lloyd is already desperately looking around for someone that may be of help, but the crowd of people constantly pushing and shoving him aside doesn't help at all.
"Your highness?" Lancaster is asking, but his voice is drowned by the sea of voices of people all chattering together.
Even if it isn't drowned out, though, Alaina wouldn't be able to hear his voice either, as she still has her full attention at the counter, watching the two men as they whisper to each other. After a moment or two, she is glad that her attention didn't waver and that her impatience didn't win over; because the owner and the tattooed man make their way towards a suspicious corner of the tavern, occasionally glancing around as if they are not to be seen.
Hurriedly, she pulls Lancaster by the arm and gestures for Lloyd and Rose -- who are rather far away to the other end of the corner, separated from them -- to follow. Pushing through the crowds, they manage to keep up with the two men until they stop in front of a hidden room, far secluded inside the tavern where no one notices. The owner then gestures for the tattooed man to enter the room, and Alaina peeks into the room sneakily just in time to see them descend the stairs leading to a hidden basement.
As they exchange glances, thinking whether it's wise to proceed downstairs, the fading noises and chatters around them seemingly vanish into nothing.
Finally, Alaina decides to go for it, and she starts walking into the room, but she is grabbed by the arm by Lancaster. She turns around to face him. "What?"
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Down there, of course."
"We do not know what is down there."
"I agree," Lloyd interferes, "we are here to search for information --"
"Who knows, the information we seek might just be down there," Alaina argues. "It's pretty shady down there, a perfect spot for shady people with shady information!"
"We really have no clue what is down there," Lancaster repeats.
"Why not we just ask around up here first?" Rose suggests. "I mean, there are so many people here, I'm sure at least one or two would give us a positive answer we seek," she points to the dark stairway leading underneath the tavern, then adds, "besides, it's kinda creepy down there."
Lloyd nods in agreement. "The man we met on the way did say that there are a lot of informants gathering recently, so I bet someone around here can --"
Lloyd trails off, and neither Lancaster nor Rose ask any further.
"Yes?" Alaina questions at the silence, but all she finds are horrified and panicked looks from the faces of Lancaster, Lloyd, and Rose.
"Ahem."
She hears someone behind her clearing his throat, and she wheels around to find the owner of the tavern she saw at the counter earlier.
"May I help you?" he asks in a hoarse voice, narrowing his eyes at them suspiciously.
"Um... you have a very nice tavern," Alaina says, unable to find the right words. She smiles at the man, innocently, hoping to erase his suspicions on them.
But this only make the owner increase his suspicions. "Thank you," he says genuinely. "Do you need something?" he questions yet again, not letting go.
"We're travellers," Lloyd blurts out. No harm to try and approach him, as he is but a simple tavern owner. "And we're hoping to find someone that could help us with -- well, for someone that could be of help for our journey."
The owner arches a brow. "What kind of a person are you looking for, exactly?"
"Someone with information," Lancaster says immediately, tagging Lloyd's game. "We are trying to seek answers, the truth -- part of our journey, you see, and the first thing we would require is basic information."
"We've heard that informants hang around here often," Rose says, and when she notices the owner with an unreadable expression on his face, she quickly adds, "because who wouldn't? Such a lovely tavern, like a magnet attracting everything around it."
The moment they watch the owner flush ever so slightly, they immediately understand that they have managed to convince him into helping them.
"Why, thank you, that's really flattering and nice to hear," the owner says, rubbing the back of his head. "Thank you for thinking so highly of this place. You need information, yes?"
Alaina nods. "Yes, please. Do you happen to know any regulars that are inter-kingdom informants? Or anyone, for that matter, who are aware of issues regarding the current affairs of the kingdoms?"
"Well, there are definitely many informants," the owner pauses to think. Finally, he says, "there's one I know, who's been looking out for the most recent activities..." the owner looks around before inching closer to them, his voice dropping to a whisper, "even the crazy thing happening in Asteria -- you know, the thing about the emperor. His name is Trevor."
Immediately, the four of them exchange looks of victory and satisfaction. Nodding to Lancaster who gives her a look of reassurance, Alaina turns back to the owner, "where can we find him?"
Once again, the owner looks around, before saying, "follow me."
They exchange glances once more before following the owner into the secret room and down the stairs. The stairs seem endless, leading them few floors below the tavern, and as they get lower, distant cheering and chatters are heard.
The moment Alaina spots a faint light below, she can tell immediately that the room below is much more crowded and livelier -- and even noisier, if possible -- than the tavern above.
As the owner steps on the landing below, he turns to the four and says, "please, do keep this a secret."
At his words, they know instantaneously that his tavern is one of the many that holds Tavern Games -- illegally.
"You have our word."
And as the four of them finally step on the bottom landing, they see a sea of people gathered around what seems like a battle ring, cheering or hooting for the two people on the ring, battling. At the corner of the rather spacious room, there is a long table where people around it desperately push themselves through, struggling to place their respective bets.
The tavern sure does seem like a very normal and peaceful one outside, but looks are most definitely deceiving; because what The Lion's Den doesn't look on the outside, it is what fits the name on the inside.
Alaina has heard before that taverns used to have Tavern Games at a large scale, where the taverns organise different types of events as contests to attract regular visitors. The events range from simple drinking challenges and casual dart throwing to arm wrestling and small fist fights, finally to serious battle matches -- the greatest attraction.
The taverns got so popular with such a practice that more taverns bloomed over the last decade and although it managed to encourage travels and visits between kingdoms, it soon got too far as battle matches were a burden of the kingdoms. Not only were there so many casualties, some people even risked their lives in the battle as some showed no mercy; and others who were merely spectators betted and wagered everything until they had nothing left.
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Since then, such matches that involve human lives are no longer permitted. The kingdoms put a strict rule, and those who are caught either as an organiser or a participant or even merely so little as a witness shall be executed.
However, despite the rules, some rules still are broken in a way or another. Some taverns -- Alaina has heard rumours -- still hold Tavern Games, and they're pretty good at hiding it from authorities.
The Lion's Den, obviously, is one of them; the battle matches are currently ongoing in the battle ring at the centre of the room.
"And now, the moment you have all been waiting for!" shouts a loud voice, and Alaina spots the source at the long table. "The finals!" the commentator yells, and cheers erupt the room.
"Noisy, so noisy," mutters Lloyd, covering his ears. On the contrary, Rose is excited; she perks her head high, constantly keeping on tip-toes in hopes of catching a glimpse of the game.
Lancaster is impatient and rather annoyed at the crowd and noise. Not wanting to waste any more time, he turns to the owner and asks, "where do we find the informant Trevor?"
The owner, who was smiling at the success and popularity of his Tavern Game, brings his attention back at the group at Lancaster's question. "Ah yes -- he should be somewhere around here..." he looks around, and after a moment, he says, "there! It's hard to not notice him, even in a crowd."
And he is right, for the owner brings the four of them to a hooded man, now standing in front of them, who looks very suspicious -- especially in a lively place like this.
"Trevor," the owner says, gesturing to the four of them, "these are travellers. They are seeking information."
The hooded man, Trevor, only bows his head. "Greetings."
"Well, I'll leave you guys to it," at that, the owner bids them farewell, walking towards the battle ring.
Alaina watches the owner leave, and as she does, she catches a glimpse of the game. The man with the dragon tattoo is just being announced, and he walks up to the battle ring full with pride. "He who stands in very secured and definite first place, the annual champ!" the commentator announces, and the tattooed man raises his arms high, earning nearly the entire room's cheers as he walks to the centre of the ring to face the other opponent who, in Alaina's opinion, doesn't stand a chance -- he is only a boy around her age, two times smaller than the man with the dragon tattoo, not to mention he has bandages wrapped up along his arm and legs. "Our favourite champion will be up against a new and very young participant -- Kai is his name; please go easy, champ!"
It must be not only Alaina who thinks so; because Lancaster raises an eyebrow, incredulous at the sight of the other competitor while Lloyd and Rose wince.
With a snap of fingers, the hooded man, Trevor draws all four of their attentions back to him. "Well? What is it that you wish to know?"
"We are wondering," Lloyd starts for the group, improvising while he is at it. "If you could tell us anything you know about this," Lloyd pulls out the paper with Caecilius' image on it he'd brought along with him, and hands it over to Trevor.
At the sight of the paper, Trevor's eyes widen, though the action remains unseen by them under his hood. Regaining his composure, he says, "and what of this?"
Lancaster narrows his eyes in suspicion at Trevor's uncertain voice. "Tell us everything you know."
Trevor looks around cautiously before whispering in a voice only audible to the four of them, "sure thing, but what's in it for me?"
"What do you want in return?"
He laughs. "Information requires a hefty price."
Grinning, Alaina simply says, "you name it, you've got it."
Seeing that Trevor is halfway to giving in, Rose quickly says, "and if that's still not enough," she snatches Lloyd's bag -- earning yells from Lloyd -- and shoves it in front of Trevor, "we can exchange information."
Trevor laughs again. "That's fine. I'll just take some gold."
"You have it."
Satisfied, Trevor gestures for them to the quiet and isolated corner of the room. They pass the battle ring just as the commentator announces that the game is about to start. In the corner of her eye, Alaina watches the boy -- Kai -- as he shakes a gloved hand with the tattooed man, a cheeky smile plastered across his face; something about that smile tells Alaina that the bandages his arms and legs are covered with are only for display. And she is right, for the moment the commentator declares the start of the game, he moves agilely out of the way just as the tattooed man strikes.
Stealing glances at the fading image of the battle taking place out of curiosity, they make their way slowly to the corner as background cheers dissipate from earshot.
Now in the quiet zone, they can freely discuss without interruptions or noises.
"So," Trevor starts, leaning against the wall. "You have to first tell me the rough premise of what you want to know -- then I'll know the right thing to tell you."
"What in Asteria made this ridiculous idea of an empire a thing might be a good place to start," says Lloyd.
"Caecilius Black -- the man in that paper -- is the loyal advisor of the King of Nyx. I suppose he thinks it's time for a change."
"A change, by taking all seven kings' powers away and replacing them with only one of him?" Lancaster questions.
Trevor shrugs, nonchalant. "Perhaps he feels the kings are incompetent."
"Even so, the more brains the better; a lone man is nothing. Three people, even if less wise compared to a single man, together they shall be triumphant."
"But there is just no way the kings would agree so easily to his proposal," Rose adds. "So what made them?"
Under the hood unbeknownst to them, Trevor frowns. "What's done has been done, ultimately the kings have seemingly accepted to step down -- for reasons that are unknown, of course, hence I cannot answer your question. But I must ask this: are you unhappy?"
Without an answer, the four of them are left disappointed, without any words to say. The silence tells Trevor that indeed, they are unhappy. "Tell you what," he speaks again when he doesn't receive a reply, a smirk forming on his face. "You're not the only ones who are unhappy -- there are rebellions forming all across Asteria. However, they're all gathering in the Kingdom of Caelus."
At the mention of the rebellion in Caelus, Alaina immediately looks over to Lancaster, who returns the gaze. "Caelus?" she repeats to make sure. She feels as if the stars are aligning for them: what a coincidence that there's a rebellion in Caelus, the place they're about to head to. They are not the only ones who feel troubled by the events, they are not alone.
Trevor nods in response. "Indeed, or so I've heard."
"How do we know if your information is accurate?" Lancaster asks with his eyes narrowed, threat in his voice.
"It's up to you whether or not you want to believe me, my job's done -- I've delivered the information," he shrugs, and starts off in the direction of the game that somehow seems quieter than before. "Now if there's nothing else, excuse me, I'll like to place my bet on the game." and he strides off, leaving the four of them alone.
"Well?" Lloyd asks after a moment of silence as they all process the information.
Exchanging another glance with Lancaster, Alaina smiles, contentment in her eyes. "All the more reason to go to Caelus, then."
*****
"Lucky us," Alaina says as they exit the tavern, "that we met helpful people."
"With useful information," Lloyd nods, jotting down notes on a parchment with a quill.
"You're amazing, Lancaster," Alaina says suddenly. "We never would have found out -- never would have travelled this way, even -- if you hadn't suggested to go for Caelus in the first place."
Lancaster opens his mouth to answer, but Lloyd manages to win over first. "Don't I deserve some credit? I was the one who suggested we visit the tavern to search for information; I was also the one who suggested to start from the paper, remember?"
"Thank you," Alaina says earnestly.
Lloyd, not expecting it at all as he was just aiming to snatch the spotlight from Lancaster, is unable to speak from guilt and embarrassment. So instead, he sinks his head back to writing, saying softly, "a pleasure, your highness. But you're right indeed -- it all began with Lancaster."
Lancaster is certainly confused by Lloyd's sudden submission, but he doesn't poke further. He knows very well Lloyd is of a prideful man, and despite their differences always getting in the way, they do acknowledge and respect each other enough. "Also a mere coincidence, perhaps," he says finally, "that Caelus is where I was born. Who knows where would we have gone, otherwise?"
"Give yourself some credit," Alaina pokes at his side. When she is at it while Lloyd finishes his scribbles with Rose hurrying him, she catches a glimpse of the boy who had been back in the tavern on the battle ring, the one who had managed to capture Alaina's eyes when she and the others were speaking to Trevor the informant. She'd heard his name when he was announced by the commentator: Kai.
She watches as he exits the tavern, too; fiddling with a sack of what's probably gold, a satisfied smile on his face as he throws it up and down and catches it with ease.
As he descends the steps of the tavern's entrance, he turns in the direction of Alaina; and for a very ephemeral but rather lasting and definitely undeniable moment, they catch each other's eyes. Instinctively, she quickly looks away, flushing. Not too long of a moment later, though, she looks back, but he's already gone. Somewhere in that seemingly endless eternity, the moment their eyes had met is gone forever, ceasing to exist.
"Are we ready?" Lancaster asks with impatience in his tone, the question rather directed to Lloyd.
At the sudden question Lloyd drops some of his items in his hands, and Lancaster sighs in exasperation.
"Just -- a moment --" Lloyd says, frantically scrambling for the dropped items on the ground, whispering urgently to Rose -- who is yawning and standing boringly beside him -- for help.
Not lifting a finger to help, Rose begins to complain. "If it weren't for you, we would've reached our destination ages ago --" but she is interrupted by a loud bang around the corner, and all of them jerk up at the sudden noise.
Alaina scans their surroundings curiously as Lancaster places his hand at the hilt of his sword in case; even Lloyd stops gathering his items immediately, staying close to Rose.
There is another bang, and Alaina is certain that the source comes from right behind the tavern. Curiosity getting the better of her, she takes off, running in the direction of the sound. Lancaster quickly follows in fear of any harm that may come to the princess, gesturing for Lloyd and Rose to follow as well.
Turning the corner, Alaina stops in her tracks as she sees a group of men cornering a boy against the tavern's back walls. The boy, Alaina recognises, is none other than Kai.
Despite being cornered, though, he shows no sign of fear. Instead, he only smiles -- a cheeky, cocky grin; one similar to the one Alaina saw when he was shaking hands with the man with the dragon tattoo.
"You're going to surrender the gold, or we'll have to make you," says the man in front of the group -- who is the man with the dragon tattoo, all of them realise then -- as he clenches his fists, the others behind him doing so as well.
Before they even have the chance to do much as to attempt to stop them, the entire area is engulfed in flames in a split second, the fire narrowly missing the four of them.
Alaina feels the temperature rising up drastically all around her, and all she feels is intense heat. Despite only being able to see the fire surrounding them, she hears a voice ringing in her ears that she is certain the others could hear, too.
"Burn."