Tales of the Pearly City (Pearly Tales Vol.1) [Completed]

81. Elenora at the bar

"Shit." Cal cursed. 'And it was just getting good.'

Cal slid out of her grasp, he grabbed the lone figure by the hand and dragged her into the depths of the dim guild.

"What are you doing here?" Cal whispered.

Shayley looked up at him, it didn't take a lot to guess by the puffiness of her eyes that she'd been crying. "I couldn't leave things as they are." She whispered back.

Cal sighed. He kissed her.

"You're not mad?"

"I am mad, Shayley. About more things than I care to mention, but I still love you Shay. It doesn't matter how mad I get, I will always ALWAYS love you."

Shayley was surprised when she was pulled into a warm embrace. The rain couldn't hide her tears here.

"I love you too, Cal. I'm sorry. I let you down."

"I'm sorry too. And you haven't let me down. I'm mostly angry at myself for putting you in this situation. I can't imagine what you've gone through for this city. Maybe it's not without its fair share of scrapes and bruises, but you did exceptionally well at keeping it alive considering how poorly I prepared you."

Cal pet her wet hair. "You did a good job, Shay."

Shayley collapsed into his arms, she never thought she'd ever hear those words, especially after today. She relished the sweet comforting smell of Victa berries as it felt like a giant two hundred year old burden was lifted from her.

Cal sighed, he couldn't send her home like this. When she was done he'd send her to go get changed and sneak into bed with Ophelia. It would be a chance for the two to patch things over after this afternoon. In the meantime, there was something unexpected happening in the tavern tonight and he needed to be a part of it.

** ** **

What just happened?

Elenora was just threatening an eye-patched jackass and then he disappeared next door with another woman. She blinked then opened and closed her hands in the air.

"Don't mind him, he may be an eccentric, but he wasn't wrong." The barkeep picked up the glass and began wiping the spilled juice.

Elenora sniffed the air. "There wasn't even any alcohol in his drink was there?"

"No," Peter finished. He tossed the old rag and pulled out a new one to begin washing the glass.

"That son of a bitch." Elenora sat down. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that. She guessed he really was an eccentric. Then as if to say 'fuck it', she chugged the rest of her drink. "Another one!" She slammed the drink down on the counter.

Just then, four noisy tattooed elves walked into the tavern dripping wet.

"Hey Peter! Thought you'd be busier with the rain." The handsome one said as if speaking for the group.

"Nah, Don. Around this time, most just want to be home." The tavern owner Peter responded.

The men were Dravenkin, it made sense. They were officially allied with the city there was no reason they'd be around. She fought their kind only once or twice before, but they were crazy strong.

Someone next to her cleared her throat.

The men shut up and stood at attention.

Elenora scrunched her eyebrows at the scene. The Dravenkin looked like they had seen a ghost. She checked the source next to her and found a raven-haired elf in a maid uniform drinking something so strong she could smell it from her seat.

"People are trying to sleep." The elf maid said.

"Yes ma'am of course." The group of men bowed and then silently made their way up the stairs to the taverns rooms.

That was weird. She looked the maid up and down. She wasn't their mom, she was wearing a maid's outfit so there was no way she was their boss. Who was this woman who commanded hardened warriors like they were rowdy children?

"You're too hard on them, Wendy. They are just having a good time." Peter said.

"And you're too easy on them. Without any discipline, they'd be running wild through the streets." Wendy's cool gaze actually sent shivers down Elenora's spine.

Elenora decided it was too much to process and began eating the tavern food set in front of her. It was only the standard fair; meat, potatoes and other vegetables covered in gravy. But it was way better than what she was used to.

The jackass in the eyepatch returned when she finished eating. He sat between Elenora and the maid. He propped his face in both his hand but slipped through them slamming his face into the counter. "Damn it, I don't need this right now." He held up a finger to order another 'non-alcoholic' drink.

"Lovers quarrel?" Elenora teased.

"You have no idea." The elf sighed. Served him right for being such a Jackass.

"It's their first fight." Peter set down another glass.

"Only their first?"

"We expect many more in the future, knowing master." The elf sipped her drink. She was halfway through it and showed no signs of being drunk.

"Shut up, Wendy." The elf looked defeated as he poked at his glass like a child pouting.

Elenora giggled at his expense.

"Tell me girl." The elf looked oddly serious. "How much do you know about the Dread Pirates?"

"And why should I tell you anything, jackass?"

"If you truly knew anything, you wouldn't be asking a dread pirate to save the world."

"Hmph, shows what you know. Captain Scourge was the reason I became an adventurer."

Elenora saw the elf twitch.

"Captain Scourge, now there is a name I haven't heard in a long time." He said.

Ho ho, he knows something. Elenora thought.