Before they could get comfortable, a shroud of black mist swirled in front of them. Slowly, the mist coalesced into the form of a tall, slender figure. This made Teryn and Valeria gasp, but Talon was unfazed. Then, all at once, the mist dissipated to reveal a refined, middle-aged gentleman wearing a large, black cloak.
The enigmatic man took a few steps toward them, his movements completely silent. Teryn started to prepare a spell in defense, but Talon waved him off. The man stepped into the light and threw off his hood, revealing his face. He had boyish features that belied his age. Long, blond hair fell soft onto his shoulders, and he sported a small goatee that he mindlessly scratched with one hand. Around his neck hung an ancient-looking, ornate medallion.
Teryn thought the strange man looked somehow familiar, like he’d seen him before. Although where, he couldn’t tell.
“Greetings, mortals,” the man said after a few seconds. He spoke with a thick yet luxurious, unrecognizable accent.
“And just who are you?” Valeria asked at once, seemingly the only one of the three capable of speech.
“Ah, I am truly sorry, madam. Please excuse my rudeness. I am Xanatos, Xanatos Kavanagh, at your service,” the man replied with a grand bow and a flick of his wrist.
“Am I supposed to be impressed?” Valeria said casually, rolling her head like she could care less and just wanted to get the meeting over with.
“Why do you ask, my lovely?” Xanatos batted his eyes at her. “Are you?”
Talon snickered. “Enough prattling, barkeep.”
Teryn looked at him, eyes wide and mouth agape.
“That’s right, this here is your barkeep. He doesn’t normally go through all this trouble just to take a drink order.” He flashed him a toothy grin. “He must like you.”
“How cruel of you to ruin a perfectly good entrance, my dear Talon,” Xanatos replied, seemingly unfazed. “Anyway, on with the introductions. You, my love, are Valeria Faire, and you sir, must be Teryn Auroch. Pleased to make your acquaintances.”
Teryn’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know our names?” He gave this Xanatos figure a sideways glance. “Who are you really?”
“Don’t beat around the bush much, do you?” Xanatos replied.
Teryn shook his head. “What does that even mean?”
“Oh, forgive me,” Xanatos pleaded, placing a hand gingerly on his chest. “It means, ‘You don’t waste time while cleaning the fish, do you?’”
Teryn nodded. He at least understood that expression.
“In response to your second question, I am simply Xanatos Kavanagh, a humble barkeep and lowly magician.” His words were humble, but spoken in a tone that belied an intense confidence.
All three companions stared at each other in disbelief.
Xanatos continued like nothing happened. “As to the first question, I’m sure the answer will come to you if you think about it long enough. At any rate, let’s get down to business. What would you like to drink? My treat.”
Talon started to list off an order but Xanatos cut him off and kept talking. “How about you, my dear Valeria? You look like you could use something . . . stiff,” he said, lips curling upward as he leaned in close.
Valeria reared backward and shoved him slightly away. “Call me 'my dear' again, and there'll be nothing left of you other than a bunch of black smoke,” she replied with a huff.
“Ha, ha, ha, very well then, dearest Valeria, I promise with a solemn oath, that from this day forth, I will not call you 'my dear' again until you ask me to.”
“Should you consider yourself so lucky,” she said with an evil scowl.
“I do so love a girl with spunk.”
Valeria made a face at Xanatos and he finally backed off.
“Only the best for my guests of honor this evening, I see,” he said in a jovial tone. “My servants shall attend to your every need.” With that, he clapped his hands and disappeared in a billow of black smoke, much the way he had come.
A few moments later, a server came by with some appetizers and glasses of wine. Teryn eyed his goblet anxiously and sniffed it before taking a drink. It smelled quite good, so he partook.
The three ate their meal and drank their wine in silence for a few minutes, relaxing and listening to the band play. They were playing a rather spirited rendition of Wind Through the Treetops. It was an unusual tune, but it came from Teryn’s homeland of Wipf so he quite liked it.
As he sat there listening to the music and enjoying their meal, Teryn looked at Valeria intently, worry plainly in his eyes.
Valeria looked so peaceful and happy, which was everything Teryn wanted for her, but he knew it couldn’t last. The Guild Leader was intent on using her for his own dark purposes, and as long as there was even one wizard left standing in the Guild, he knew the two of them would never be truly safe. He had to come up with a plan to protect them, and fast. This little diversion wouldn’t last forever.
There’s always the Fhyrrstorm, Terwain said at that moment, unbidden. As he did so, thoughts and images of the havoc the spell could wreak flooded Teryn’s mind. It was enough to make him recoil in horror.
How do you always know what I’m thinking? Teryn asked in an annoyed tone.
Well, I am in your mind. It’s not that hard to read your thoughts.
Teryn had to admit Terwain had a point. But the Fhyrrstorm is dark magic. And much more powerful than anything I’ve attempted. There’s no good way to contain its powers once I’ve cast it. Assuming I even survive it. Countless innocents could be hurt, Teryn argued.
Nonsense. An image of a man in a fine suit waved a hand dismissively. I’ll teach you how to control it. And you won’t die, that’s an old tale the Sages used to use to keep young trainees from pursuing it. Besides, you would only use it for good. Only to protect the one you
