Chapter 36: The Soul of the Ocean
Eolinne ushered them all to the seating area, politely gesturing for the Heirs to sit on the overstuffed chairs and sofas arranged around a large fireplace. She went to a side cabinet, opening it and reaching inside to pull out a few drinks while they took their seats. She paused with her hands inside the cabinet and seemed to come to a decision. She put most of the bottles back and pulled out one bottle that was a bright and sparkly pink and a second darker one. She poured out six small glasses of the bright pink liquid, adding a dollop of amber liquid on top of each. Then she distributed the drinks around the room and raised her glass. “A victorious mission earns an expensive toast."
Nathan took a quick sip of the drink, eyes widening slightly as spice overwhelmed his taste buds. It was quickly followed by a wave of numbness that traveled in the wake of the fire. Nathan burned some Focus and Stamina to quickly determine if there were any poisons in the drink beyond the high level of spice and the mild numbing agent, finding nothing beyond a few mild stimulants.
All of the Heirs looked to Nathan for approval. He fought to keep his expression steady and keep his nose and eyes from watering as he gave a sharp nod of approval. They all turned their attention back to Eolinne, raising their glasses to match her.
She rolled her eyes at the display. “You learn your lessons.” Then she gave a toast, words formal and a bit nostalgic. “May we evade the eyes of the Questors, and live lives in the spaces left between their footfalls.” She threw her glass back and drained the entire thing at once.
Nathan and the Heirs followed suit, and Nathan lowered the glass to look around with a guilty grin. Aarl coughed and choked while Khachi growled low and indignant. Sarah’s breath whistled through her teeth as she glared at Nathan. “Didn’t you taste that?”
He shrugged. “It’s not poisoned. I kind of like it, in moderation.”
Stella smacked her lips, examining the glass and swallowing a few times. “So did I?” She seemed uncertain about that, inhaling a few more times to feel the air flow across numbed teeth. “Yeah, that’s the dragon’s breath. Can I have another?”
Eolinne seemed thrilled. “I am pleased beyond song to have found another with the taste for fine things.” She took Stella’s glass and reached for Nathan’s, pausing and raising an eyebrow at him.
He shook his head. “No thanks. You were going to tell us the lore of the oceans?”