Page 61 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
Drue nodded, and together they hauled the dead raiders out of plain sight, eventually pushing them into the mouth of the main river to be swept away.
Drue faced Talemir and the horses. ‘I don’t know about you, but after all this, I could use a stiff drink.’
‘My apologies, but I’m all out of fire extract.’
Drue grinned. ‘Luckily, I know a place.’
The beautiful Naarvian ranger was full of surprises, and as she led Talemir through the abandoned miners’ town with such purpose, he appreciated her all the more.
First, they unsaddled the horses and cooled them down. ‘Let them wander to graze and water themselves,’ Talemir said. ‘They won’t go far.’
Drue murmured her agreement, and they watched as the Tverrian stallion and Naarvian mare made for the stream.
‘You said something about a drink?’ Talemir asked, turning back to the ranger.
‘I did indeed, Warsword. This way.’
Drue brought them to a stop outside a large building, where white stones and wooden beams crafted the face of the tavern’s structure. It was impossible to see through the boarded-up windows, but Talemir could imagine the raucous sounds and music that might have once sounded from within. He took in the sight with a pang of longing. The last time he’d been to such an establishment was with Malik to celebrate Wilder passing the Great Rite. There had been countless toasts to him becoming one of them, becoming a Warsword. Talemir’s chest tightened. The three of them would never have such an evening again.
Regret surged, but upon seeing the rustic sign swinging in the breeze, Talemir stared in disbelief.
The Dancing Badger.
‘What is it?’ Drue asked, her brow furrowed.
Talemir pointed to the sign. ‘If I couldn’t see it with my own eyes, I don’t think I’d believe it, but you’ve just brought me to the sister tavern of the one my warrior brothers and I used to frequent in Harenth…’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘The one in Harenth is called The Laughing Fox. And it’s known for connecting a network of taverns all over the midrealms… I’ve never visited or known the name of the branch in Naarva. But here we are, it seems…’
‘You’re fond of the place in Harenth, then?’ Drue asked, taking two steps at a time and reaching for the heavy wooden door.
‘Very much so. I’ve shared some good memories with people there.’
‘Beautiful women and brawls?’ Drue quipped with a smirk.
‘Wouldn’t you like to know, Wildfire?’
The door creaked loudly as Drue pushed it open and let them inside.
Dirt and dust covered the stone floor, and a great cold hearth lay at the centre. In each corner was a generous booth, the sort of place Talemir imagined he, Malik and Wilder would pass hours and hours drinking and playing cards. Dark timber beams lined the ceilings, and iron chandeliers hung low over long tables below. Across the surfaces were discarded plates, cups and empty bottles, while the bar itself had clearly been ransacked.
‘How do you expect there to be a drop left in this place with raiders scouring the town?’ Talemir asked, his boots crunching atop broken ceramic pieces.
‘Your friend Marise is not the only fierce protector of his supplies. My father told me long ago that the owner, Palmer, kept particular things under lock and key… In a secret cellar in addition to the trade one, to be precise. Wait here.’
Talemir stared after Drue as she ducked behind the bar and disappeared below ground. While she was gone, he sipped from his tonic and looked around, noticing that great barrels lined the outskirts of the room and the walls were packed with rows of painted portraits in mismatching frames.
Recognition flaring, Talemir approached one in the middle and shook his head once more in disbelief. For there was the familiar face of Albert, the barman and owner of The Laughing Fox in Harenth.
‘What’s your poison, Warsword?’ Drue’s voice sounded.
Talemir turned to find her holding several bottles. ‘How in the realms did you manage to find those?’
Drue gave him a secretive grin. ‘That’s for me to know,’ she said. ‘So, what’ll it be?’
Talemir took up a stool opposite her, unable to stop his own smile from spreading across his face. ‘I’ll take whatever you give me.’
