"Some people say that time heals all wounds. That was definitely not always so." - Aideen deVreys, the Silver Maiden, Circa 509 VA

A Tavern in Sabaya

Central Elmaiya

Third Elmaiya Empire

1st day of the 4th week, 7th month of the year 161 VA.

The cloaked and hooded woman went to the tavern pointed out by the leads she had received. It was a rather dingy establishment, the likes of which could be found by the dozens in Sabaya, with nothing that made it particularly special.

Except that was where the clues her people gathered led to, where she hoped she would be able to find the person she searched for.

Once she opened the door, she was surprised for the usually rowdy, noisy atmosphere common in such taverns were nowhere to be found. Instead, melancholic tunes played on a lyre filled the room, and a melodic voice sang along with it.

Many years had gone by, yet I still missed you so~

Often I sighed, as I grieved on with my woes~

The hooded woman refrained from interrupting the melancholic ballad, as she pulled out a chair and sat on an empty table instead. Her hand gave a silent gesture to a nearby waitress for some ale.

Again I find myself, awake, alone in my bed, for you were not by my side~

It pained my heart as I recalled that you're gone, and my tears flowed like a tide~

We had joy, our good times, time went by, yet when the time came, t'was futile to fight against~

Life and Death was just a never-ending carriage ride~

While she waited for her drink, she looked around. To her surprise, the many rowdy patrons that frequent such taverns sat quietly on their tables, as they tried to remain quiet and not interrupt the performance.

Time had yet to heal this bleeding wound on my heart~

Pain from when the time arrives for us to part~

Many years had gone by, yet I still missed you so~

Often I sighed, as I grieved on with my woes~

For all this time we spent apart~

Many of the patrons had red eyes, and a few of the waitresses openly cried quietly into their hands. She even saw some of the burly men quietly shed a tear, then quickly wiped it away, pretending that dust got into their eyes.

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From when you were a youth, gentle and fierce in one, you were always a fine lad~

Always so curious, active and moving, you were just like a little cat~

Then you said, you love me, and we were together for good and bad~

Until the time comes when you have to make me sad~

When her drink arrived - quietly deposited on the table by an older waitress with red, still-wet eyes - the hooded woman took a quick gulp. It was a good ale, especially for such a humble tavern.

Time had yet to heal this bleeding wound on my heart~

Pain from when the time arrives for us to part~

Many years had gone by, yet I still missed you so~

Often I sighed, as I grieved on with my woes~

For all this time we spent apart~

Even though she had barely drunk any, the woman couldn't help but feel melancholic as she listened to the sad tunes being played. The soulful way the song was being sung, hinted at the personal nature of its lyrics to the singer.

Our time together had been a boon, yet why must you leave me so soon? Now all I had left is just to sing this sad tune~

She couldn't help but shed a quiet tear as she stifled a sob and recalled the few she had lost to time and age, and quietly dabbed the tears away with a handkerchief before anyone noticed.

Time had yet to heal this bleeding wound on my heart~

Pain from when the time arrives for us to part~

Many years had gone by, yet I still missed you so~

Often I sighed, as I grieved on with my woes~

For all this time we spent apart~

When the song finally finished, the hooded woman joined the rest of the tavern in their applause, as the hooded bard on the small makeshift stage gave a small bow in return. She waited until the bard was settled at an empty table by the corner and had their flagon of ale, before she walked over and set her ale on the table.

"My people tried to find you for a week, yet in the end, it turned out that you were under our noses all this time," said the hooded woman as she seated herself across the table from the bard. "I actually considered firing my spymaster over that silly oversight. He never even thought that you might be right here in Sabaya."

"Oh? That so?" asked the bard in a nonchalant tone of voice as they drained the last of the ale from their flagon and looked at the woman across from them. "Anyway, isn't it a bit excessive for you to personally come here and meet me? You could have just sent a messenger, you know?"

The woman had not answered right away, as a waitress came to their table with fresh flagons of ale at that time. She waited until the waitress was well out of earshot before she spoke again.

Despite the close proximity, the waitress had not tried to look under the woman's hood. It was common sense in the neighborhood to leave people who kept their hoods up alone. They had kept those hoods up for a reason.

In this case, that reason happened to be a desire for anonymity. Had someone peeked under the hood, they would have seen the visage of a white-feathered lizard therian female. A visage most everyone in Sabaya, nay, the empire, knew by heart.

The visage of the current Empress.

"We might not have spent much time together, but I did know you from when I was young," said the empress with a chuckle as she took a drink from her flagon. "And besides, I came to ask you for a personal favor. Doesn't feel right to abuse my underlings for that purpose."

"What personal favor might the Empress have need of so badly, that she'd seek me out in this dingy little establishment?" asked the bard rhetorically. The bard lowered their hood, revealing the pretty, pale-skinned face of a young human female, with a head of unruly silvery-gray hair. "Though I do applaud your sense of duty. Always a good sign when a ruler knows to separate the personal from the official."

"It's grandfather," said the empress with a sad sigh as she took another drink. "I fear he is approaching his last days, all our best healers have tried their best to no avail, so I thought of you, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, you could offer him some solace. Failing that, at least it would be a closure to know that we have tried our best."

"I see," said Aideen with a solemn nod as she finished the ale in her flagon in one long pull. "Take me to him, then. I'll see if I can be of use."