Chapter 562: Merry Crescent
The tavern was bustling with life. Every table was crowded with five too many customers. There was no music, the usual minstrels were nowhere to be seen. Stryg supposed it wouldn’t have mattered, no one would have been able to hear them over the hundred voices clamoring for another beer.
When the barmaster spotted Stryg he immediately straightened up and shouted a set of orders to a pair of helping hands. The two young men hurried into the kitchens and came back with a small round table that was noticeably more polished than the rest. They placed it into an empty corner, then one began to wipe it down with a clean rag while the other jogged over to Stryg. “This way please, sir.”
“Thanks,” said Stryg as he led Tauri and Melantha over to the table.
“Special treatment?” Melantha noted with a playful smirk.
He shrugged. “I’m sort of a benefactor to this place.”
Before Melantha could push him on the subject, a barmaid skipped over to the table. She was pretty, for a human, Tauri conceded silently. There was a fresh cut across her cheek, not two days old, but it didn’t stop her from smiling wide. “Sir Stryg, you’re back! I didn’t know when I’d see you again.”
“Hey, Carla, it’s been a while. I’m glad to see you’re in one piece.” Stryg reached up without much thought, placed a hand over her cheek, and cast a simple healing spell.
The barmaid tensed in surprise, but did not move. “H-How has Feli been?”
“She’s doing fine, thankfully. I’m glad this place is still standing after the siege.”