kawa~ inspiration #17
Jan. 10th, 2005 01:33 amTitle~ Round Three
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ The 'Thrai is mine~ and so are the bois in it.
Notes~ kawa~ inspiration #17. The night before the morning after, as it were.
~ ~ ~
“I’m empty.”
“Me too.”
“Whose shout is it?”
“Yours.”
Melraan blinked at the resounding chorus from the drinking party, curiously lacking a member tonight. “You sure? I could have sworn I’d shouted the la—”
“Stop arguing, Melraan, and shout,” Garuk interrupted, grinning.
The swordsman reluctantly dragged himself to his feet, collecting glasses as he did. “Two Venoms, one Rattlesnake and a Viper?”
A mumble that passed as agreement met his ears, and he wove his way through the crowd to the bar where he handed over the empty glasses and repeated the order.
“Six gold, five silver,” Kal told him. “I haven’t seen his Highness tonight, any idea where he might be?”
Melraan shrugged and handed over the respective coin. “Couldn’t tell you. I haven’t seen him since this morning though.”
The Golden Thrai’s proprietor leant forward, resting his elbows on the bar bench. That mischievous glint that was so associated with the barman was present in his eyes. “It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a rumour of any kind, would it?”
Melraan leant forward himself, imitating the barkeep’s expression. “You tell me.”
Kal looked at him with genuine shock. “You can’t tell me that you of all people haven’t heard this one?”
The swordsman laughed openly. “Which one? I’ve heard damn near as many as Nol has. I wouldn’t know which one you’d be referring to.”
“Is he going to be alone for his hrai-dani?”
Melraan half-raised his eyebrows. “You’d have to ask Nol. How are those beers coming?” he asked, half to change the topic, half to avoid as many questions as he could. He wasn’t the only member of the Own who got pestered by the general public about the prince’s business. For some reason, such questions made Melraan uncomfortable.
“As slowly as we can manage,” Kal replied. “You must know something, Melraan. Has he at least asked someone yet?”
Melraan took a page from Nimay’s book and remained silent, raising his eyebrows and looking pointedly at the beer kegs.
Kal sighed and beaconed one of the serving girls over, who immediately started filling glasses. The barkeep filled the Venoms himself and laid it on the bar. “Just a name, Melraan. Lynnlita? Nimay? Amyrallyn? Some Kazinian princess?”
The swordsman grinned candidly and collected the glasses before turning back towards the table. “My lips are sealed,” he threw over his shoulder.
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ The 'Thrai is mine~ and so are the bois in it.
Notes~ kawa~ inspiration #17. The night before the morning after, as it were.
“I’m empty.”
“Me too.”
“Whose shout is it?”
“Yours.”
Melraan blinked at the resounding chorus from the drinking party, curiously lacking a member tonight. “You sure? I could have sworn I’d shouted the la—”
“Stop arguing, Melraan, and shout,” Garuk interrupted, grinning.
The swordsman reluctantly dragged himself to his feet, collecting glasses as he did. “Two Venoms, one Rattlesnake and a Viper?”
A mumble that passed as agreement met his ears, and he wove his way through the crowd to the bar where he handed over the empty glasses and repeated the order.
“Six gold, five silver,” Kal told him. “I haven’t seen his Highness tonight, any idea where he might be?”
Melraan shrugged and handed over the respective coin. “Couldn’t tell you. I haven’t seen him since this morning though.”
The Golden Thrai’s proprietor leant forward, resting his elbows on the bar bench. That mischievous glint that was so associated with the barman was present in his eyes. “It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a rumour of any kind, would it?”
Melraan leant forward himself, imitating the barkeep’s expression. “You tell me.”
Kal looked at him with genuine shock. “You can’t tell me that you of all people haven’t heard this one?”
The swordsman laughed openly. “Which one? I’ve heard damn near as many as Nol has. I wouldn’t know which one you’d be referring to.”
“Is he going to be alone for his hrai-dani?”
Melraan half-raised his eyebrows. “You’d have to ask Nol. How are those beers coming?” he asked, half to change the topic, half to avoid as many questions as he could. He wasn’t the only member of the Own who got pestered by the general public about the prince’s business. For some reason, such questions made Melraan uncomfortable.
“As slowly as we can manage,” Kal replied. “You must know something, Melraan. Has he at least asked someone yet?”
Melraan took a page from Nimay’s book and remained silent, raising his eyebrows and looking pointedly at the beer kegs.
Kal sighed and beaconed one of the serving girls over, who immediately started filling glasses. The barkeep filled the Venoms himself and laid it on the bar. “Just a name, Melraan. Lynnlita? Nimay? Amyrallyn? Some Kazinian princess?”
The swordsman grinned candidly and collected the glasses before turning back towards the table. “My lips are sealed,” he threw over his shoulder.