Zilo and friends rub their ears as they journey home from the tournament of swordsmanship. Their dwarven employer had made sure to show his gratitude in the currency of volume to them. Leo made double sure that he paid them in coin as well.
The journey back was slightly uneventful and slow, not wanting to aggravate Alaroc's wounds on the journey. They bid farewell to both Tess and Aakif, their temporary allies in the competition as their paths diverged from each other. By the time they arrived in Deneval, Alaroc had fully healed, and the reception the night of their return held another surprise.
Leo immediately skittered off to Maldrek's office with the coin and to brag about his new creations he had designed for the tournament. Alaroc took up his usual spot on his favorite stool and the ale began to flow. Cruxis contently took to a corner and began praying in thanks for his safe journey.
Zilo was immediately approached by a smiling Aria who said, "I have a surprise for you, Zilo."
Zilo's expression went grim and he gripped her shoulder before saying, "It's alright, the child will be well taken care of." Aria blew him off with a snarky tone as the bard swapped back over to a similar smiling face. Aria grabbed onto her violin from the counter top and began playing a bit.
Her eyebrows strained as she focused on her playing and slowly the stains from her day of work faded away under the effects of Prestidigitation flowed into her clothes. Zilo smiled and lifted the girl off the ground in a hug and shouted,
"You've begun your Prelude! I can't believe I missed it! This is fantastic!"
"Prelude?" Questions Aria as Zilo puts her back down.
"It's a bardic term for the moment you instinctively see the connection to bardic magic. It's the true test to see if you can be a bard or not, and It can take years to finally reach that point! I didn't reach it til I was 21, 3 years into my training!"
Aria's smile shines and she says, "Guess my teacher really knows what he's doing then."
"It's only because his student is a better bard than half those in the Umbral Academy." Smiles back Zilo before giving her a light playful kiss. He snaps out of the smooch and turns toward the bar saying, "We must celebrate, Right now!"
Aria blinks and says, "I figured this out a few days ago though"
"Even more reason! May! Drinks all around, my lovely student has amazed me yet again!" May smiles to the bard before flashing him a thumbs up and retrieving a few spare glasses from the shelf. Maldrek and Leo emerge from the office and the rest of SSI and the patrons of the tavern raise their glasses to the couple.
Zilo and Aria took to the stage after a few drinks to loosen up and they dance together with their violins flowing in tone, the entire bar clapped along with them. Maldrek and May decidedly abstained from the drinks, but the rest of the heroes began on their way to not remembering the night.
Jin Shi broke his record of 20 mugs, Alaroc did the same with 18, Leo made off with 50 gold from his dice games, Cruxis got everyone home without any sins to regret in the morning, and Sparky swung from the new chandelier. The bar made a killing, and everyone had a grand old time. Maldrek made Clay go to bed before the night got too crazy along with a Blindness-Deafness spell so he could peacefully sleep.
The night was beginning to die down as the midnight moon began to fade into the night. As the heroes all gathered at the counter, they began to decide who would clean up. The door opened yet again as Aria walked over to lock up. In walked a young man accompanied by 2 larger burly nondescript men.
The young man looked young and scrawny with pale skin and light brown hair. Some scruff looked to be struggling to cover his chin. His outfit looked very well pressed, but bland, a carefully cared for brown cloth vest and tied off tan shirt and pants. His eyes wobbled and his stance was wary. He smelled of wine, but not the cheap sort you'd find in this part of the city, but some from the far off winery's guarded by royal guards and reserved for the most noble of the city's patrons.
"Someone fetch me some ale, I seek to parch my thirst."
May whispered to Maldrek, "Smells as though his thirst was parched early on this night." Aria bows to the man at says, "Very sorry sir, but last call was half an hour ago, we're about to shut up for the night."
The man looks over to the bar and scoffs before producing a coin pouch from his pocket and throwing it to the bar. Jin caught the pouch as Maldrek said, "Sorry sir, but like Aria said, we're about to-"
"By Azathoth!" Shouts Leo looking to not gold, but platinum pieces falling from the pouch. Leo grabs a mug, swabs it in record time and pours some ale for the man. The man takes a seat and the rest of the heroes agree that Leo will clean tonight if he was so determined to serve, with Aria and Zilo helping.
The man continued to call on Aria every time she was readying herself to get down and scrub the floors, asking questions such as if they still have any food to serve, and after she said no the man looked to one of his burly companions saying,
"I thought you said this place was throwing a giant party, and here it is, boring as a nunnery."
Zilo from behind the counter said, "There was, but the nights are young, not immortal."
"Watch your tone with me, I'm a paying customer. Next time you correct me will be a mistake you won't forget." Zilo shakes his head as one of the large men silently lock eyes with the bard and seem to say sorry for their boss's manners.
Despite the fact that Leo was the more readily wanting employee to serve the new patron, he continued to ask for Aria. The man began leaning in close to the woman making her smile uncomfortably not forgetting her duty. That said she very much wishing one of the bouncers were still awake, and not sleeping off their record breaking ale filled bellies.
Leo's greed was beginning to fade as he soon realized that Aria was more what this man sought. The magus slunk back behind the bar and asked Zilo, "Do you plan to do anything?"
"Bout what?" asked the bard.
"That man is moving in on your woman."
"Is he?" Zilo snaps a look over to the man and Aria. "She's smiling though? It's probably fine."
Leo slaps his forehead and next says, "Regardless it is late and the sun will rise in mere hours, he needs to leave if we want to have any chance of sleeping while the sun is down. You're the talker, go talk him home."
Zilo shrugs before he walks over. Aria's eyes twinkle as Zilo arrives and the bard says, "Pardon sir, but with the amount you gave us you could pay for more than the whole bottle, so if you'd like I can give it to one of your men and you can finish your drinking at home in more comfort than on wooden furniture."
The man shines back a lewd grin toward Aria with ale slipping from his lips, "I'm plenty comfy here."
"I understand that, we put in a lot of effort to ensure so, but night has passed, perhaps you could enjoy a free wine bottle as well, you've more than covered the cost.
"I'm staying right here where the company is more than pleasurable." Says the man with a smile and an arm reaching around Aria's waist and pulling her close. Aria's smile turns to one of shock and disgust and Zilo looks to this scene and his eyes hollow out.
"Let her go, sir." Remarks Zilo, with no more servitude in his tone. The man scoffs and releases her and she begins to scuttle over to Zilo's side. However as she did, the man wound back to give her a smack across her behind. Unfortunately for him, Zilo saw the swing.
The man's arm is halted by the bard's hand gripping his wrist. The bard's jovial face is absolutely gone. The two big men rise but before they can fully rise they are forced back down by Leo, who had stealthed behind them as soon as he saw Zilo's reactions begin to switch.
In one fluid motion Zilo stepped forward and knocked the man's chair out from under him and spun with him. At the end of the spin Zilo released him from his grip and hurled the man into the door to the tavern and the man burst out into the street, sprawling.
The two faces of the men froze in amazement before bolting outside and making sure the man was unharmed. Zilo, Leo and Aria walked to the door and watched as the man stood. He was shaky but not worse for wear.
"HOW DARE YOU!? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!?"
"A creep." Plainly answered Aria. The man pointed to himself and he answered, "I am Prince Kranoc Deneval, my uncle is king. You've made a fool of me. I challenge you to a dual! Let's see you try and face me when you can't catch me off guard!"
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