The third round arrived, cups overflowing with ale that smelled like fermented wheat and bad decisions. Chase gripped the counter, knuckles whitening as Noah smirked across from him. Somewhere behind them, Damian was taking bets from guild members—gold coins clinking onto the bartop in alternating piles.
"Last one," Chase slurred, blinking hard. The room had started tilting like a ship in a storm.
The ale sloshed over Chase's fingers as he lifted the mug, the bitter sting of alcohol hitting his nostrils. Noah mirrored him, both men locking eyes—one pair bloodshot, the other wavering but determined. A hush fell over the crowd as they tipped their heads back.
Chase's throat burned. His vision blurred at the edges, the ceiling lamps stretching into glowing streaks. Somewhere to his left, Damian whooped, "That's three! Blondie's swaying!" Noah wobbled, gripping the bar like it was the only solid thing left in the world. His cup hit the counter with a thud, half-full.
Noah blinked slowly, his face flushed. "I... concede," he muttered, before sliding off his stool and crumpling to the floor with a groan. The guild erupted—coins changed hands, someone started singing off-key, and a tipsy mage accidentally set a tablecloth on fire before Vivian doused it with a pitcher of water.
Chase grinned, victorious, until the room lurched sideways. He grabbed the counter—his fingers slipped—and then the floor rushed up to meet him.
POV: Andrew
Watching chase hit the ground and Damian come to pick him up was quite funny. It was able to take his mind off of a serious issue even if only for a moment.
A few days back when Andrew was at barktown, the night after they had beaten whatever that thing was, Andrew was resting in a tent provided for him.
After almost dying it was taking a moment for him to let his guard down a just rest.
As a person neared, Andrew prepared a water spell strong enough to blow away the tent and alert everyone in the area. A large amount of water pooled in front of his hands, deceptively small. He was on edge tonight.
"State your business."
The tent flapped, revealing a familiar face, but not one that he was the most keen on seeing. The person who passed through was an older man.
He had on a butler outfit.
He had this look about him. The kind of eyes that were deep as a result experience and things hed seen. It makes you feel dumb if you stared long enough.
"Hello young master, its been too long."
Andrew's water spell dissipated instantly, droplets pattering onto the tent floor like sudden rain. His fingers twitched toward his staff—old habits died hard around family. "Cedric." The name tasted like rusted metal. "You shouldn't be here."
The butler's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Your father sends his regards." A pause. "And a warning." From his inner pocket, Cedric produced a sealed letter, its wax emblem the twisting serpent of House Thomas. Andrew stared at it like it might burst into flames.
Andrew took the paper. Looking at it, it read:
"Dear andrew, my boy. You are a blinding radiant light that is needed for this house to prosper. As you are my only son, you must come home. Ill greet you with whatever you desire. And im sure you know what will happen if you cross me. All the people you value on this escapade will be hunted down. I will have their heads on pikes within the week. I have tolerated your ignorance for too long.
Come home so that you might meet your lovely fiancé. Signed Oswald Thomas, your loving father."
Andrew crumpled the letter in his fist, the wax seal cracking like brittle bone. Cedric watched him with the patience of a gravedigger. "He expects you by the next full moon," the butler murmured. "I'd advise packing lightly. Your... companions need not follow."
It took everything for andrew to not knock over something and sent the tent he slept in crumbling.
This was very bad. As harmless as Cedric looked, if he wished to, nobody could stop him from Dragging Andrew out of this place.
Cedric was a powerful knight serving under his family. Even after years without having seen combat Andrew knew in his heart he couldn't beat him.
Andrew pointed to his face. "Im dead either way. Dont act like you didn't see it when you walked in."
Andrew had fully red skin. He wasn't wearing anything to cover his horns up at the moment either. "Im not his son. Im not even a human at the moment. Tell him you cant find me."
Cedric sighed. He had left the life on combat and had been a butler for many years. He remembered watching young Andrew grow up. Their was a time when he was happy to be home.
"He'd kill me if he even found out about this. Ill tell him i need to keep looking, but im not the only one looking for you. He has other skilled professionals on his payroll. He will eventually find you."
Andrew had a scowl on his face. "Then ill be ready when he does." Cedric nodded again, before turning to leave. "It was nice seeing you again young master."
He heard footsteps before turning around. Andrew hugged him. "If i ever did have a father…it was you."
"Then it is a shame i cant do more for my own son."