I followed her to an aromatic indoor dining area a street or so down from the inn, where Sera sat across from three men dressed in shades of blue and gray at a solid-looking table next to the far window. One of them, gray-haired and wearing a sky-blue silk tunic, laughed at something Sera said, his youthful face open and unreserved. A cheek-scarred, older, and more muscular man sat on his right, dressed in gray, his sword visibly resting beside him at the table. On the gray-haired man’s other side sat an unassuming brown-haired individual who also appeared to be in his twenties.
Interrupting the gray-haired man, who was gesticulating wildly as he began telling some story, Sera waved us over.
“This is Hayden.” She gestured towards me, and I waved at the newcomers. The chairs groaned as Helia moved to sit across from the military man, leaving me to sit next to the wall and across from the brown-haired one.
“Hayden,” She turned to me now, “This is Aeolus,” she pointed to the gray-haired man across from her, who gave a jaunty little wave in greeting “Azure,” she gestured to the man sitting across from Helia, who lifted a hand in greeting, “And Sky” she introduced, pointing to the man across from me. Sky briefly made eye contact with me, his eyes glinting nearly gray in the waning light of day, and nodded a greeting. I greeted him in turn.
“We found Hayden stranded on our way here,” she explained, “we’re helping him find a way back home to ‘Earth.’” Sky, across from me, began to choke on his drink, coughing, staring at me with surprised eyes.
“You alright there, Sky?” Aeolus asked. Sky, still choking, nodded and waved off the concern, still staring.
Hesitantly, Sera continued. “We suspect he may be connected to the disappearances, as he claims he vanished in his sleep and woke up in the woods nearby.”
Aeolus, across from her, made a sympathetic face at my story. “If what she said is true, you must have been terrified.” He said to me. I nodded vigorously.
“I was. I’m not used to traveling.” That was an understatement.
Helia scoffed. “No kidding.” Sera frowned at her rudeness, but most of the table nodded along.
“He’s got no muscle on ‘em.” Azure agreed. I ducked my head to hide my flush, remembering my thoughts during our trek back to the carriage.
“C’mon guys, not everyone gets into as much trouble as we do, right Sky?” Aeolus asked, nudging him in the side.
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Sky, who hadn’t stopped staring at me, turned to look at Aeolus. “Right.” He said, clearly distracted.
Aeolus frowned and leaned over to whisper to Sky. “You okay there?” Sky studied him, then smiled.
“I’m fine, Aeolus. My throat’s just still sore from my coughing fit earlier.” Rubbing his throat, Sky gave what he probably thought was a reassuring smile. It came across as more of a grimace. He coughed again, emphasizing his statement. Placated, Aeolus turned back toward the rest of the table. Sky once again turned towards me, and I shifted under his studious gaze, uncomfortable. He opened his mouth to speak, but my salvation was found as the server approached to take our orders.
Most of the food was unrecognizable to me, and I copied the most popular order. Pleasant conversation drifted across the table as Aeolus and Sera caught each other up on events, with the occasional input from Helia or Azure. I let the conversation wash over me as they talked, Aeolus doing his best to drag Sky into the conversation. Sky rarely broke eye contact with me, responding with short sentences or single words, and Aeolus eventually gave up.
Laughter surrounded me, and as the torchlights flickered and danced behind them, I suddenly was desperate for a book to anchor myself in. I felt detached, almost as if I were watching a movie from a distance. The atmosphere was light and friendly, and none of them hesitated to slip a joke or a compliment. The scene was bright enough to make my chest ache with an emotion I couldn’t identify, bringing back familiar memories of family dinners and unavoidable social events, of sitting and watching and listening as others talked around me.
Soon enough, the food was delivered to our table, and I dug in. I wasn’t sure if the food was actually good, per se, but I devoured it hungrily. Now that they’d had some time to catch up, they remembered I was there and tried to drag me into conversation over dinner a few times in an attempt to be friendly. I dug my heels in and politely refused their advances, focused on my food.
The conversation turned back to the disappearances discussions on the approach to take next. Sky, still staring, stayed mostly silent, only interjecting once with an offer to join me in the library, claiming, “It might be helpful to have another mage around.”
The others accepted his offer without hesitation, but I was a bit more suspicious. Regardless, it was decided Sky and I would go alone to the library, while Aeolus and Sera, followed by Azure and Helia, would disguise themselves and wander the city for information on the disappearances. I wasn’t quite sure how that would work out, having seen Sera’s attempt at being a merchant, not to mention the threatening presences of Helia and Azure, but I wasn’t about to suggest anything that could possibly take me away from that library. At noon, we’d meet back up at the inn to take Millie and Aeolus’ pet, Notus, out for exercise. Plans decided, they turned the conversation to other topics.
“I know ya hate physical exercise,” Azure said, scanning me from across the table, “but it would do ya some good to learn some basics. Ya got lucky, meeting up with Sera and Helia here,” He gestured and waved a hand in their direction, Sera smiling at the compliment to her character, “There’s a lot worse people in these areas, ‘specially for someone as weak as ya.”
“No, thank you.” In my school days, my sister had attempted to teach me to ‘defend myself,’ leaving me with only more bruises. I had no desire to repeat the experience.
Azure gave me a one-shouldered shrug and a hefty dose of skepticism. “If ya say so.”
I did say so. I gave a polite nod and returned to my food. My face must have betrayed my thoughts as Aeolus took one glance at my face and started laughing, nearly choking on his own food. “He didn’t mean anything by it, Hayden!” He gasped for air. “He’s secretly a big softy, is all.”
Flatly, I replied, “I appreciate your concern.” No matter what they framed it as, it sounded like torture to me. The others clearly didn’t approve of my decision, but no one pressed further. Around dusk, the conversation tapered off to nothing and we headed to our separate rooms to go to sleep for the night.
In my room, Ani was curled contently up on the bed, napping. I removed my boots, then carefully shifted Ani out of my way, pulling at the blanket until I had enough space to lay down myself. The cat didn’t stir at the movement. The straw in the mattress was uncomfortable, and the fabric scratchy, but I fell asleep quickly, reassured by the roof over my head and the hope that I would soon be home.