Chapter 204: Caelus
The innkeeper looked like he was about to explode.
Before he could, Riku stepped between them. He placed a calming hand on the innkeeper’s arm. "Thank you for the information," he said, his voice firm but polite. "You have been very helpful."
He then turned to the boy. He saw the sharp intelligence in the boy’s eyes. He saw a knowledge of the world that no twelve-year-old should possess. He was intrigued.
"You," Riku said. "You and I are going to have a talk."
He gestured towards a quiet, secluded booth in the corner of the common room. "Come with me."
The boy looked at Riku. He seemed to be assessing him. After a moment, he gave a single, curt nod and followed.
Riku led the boy to the booth. It was far from the noise of the bar and the other patrons. They sat down opposite each other. The girls were still out on their information-gathering tasks, leaving Riku to handle this strange, new encounter on his own.
A serving girl approached their table. "Something for you, sirs?"
"Some bread and stew," Riku ordered. Then, out of habit, he added, "And a cold, sparkling drink, if you have it."
The serving girl didn’t even blink. "The Elowen kind, sir? With the bubbles?"
Riku froze. He stared at her. "You have... Elowen’s drinks? Here?"
"Of course, sir," she said with a shrug. "The merchant Rennan’s caravans started bringing them up a few weeks back. Sells out every time. Best thing to drink on a hot day. I’ll get you one."