As Snatch, Ignatius and Magpie entered the "Golden Pig" tavern, a cloud of spice beer, various exotic liqueurs and meat roasting over an open fire penetrated their nostrils. The air was filled with men murmuring and guffawing, glass and metal jugs clinking for a hearty toast, and near the fireplace played a small band a merry tune. Over the fire sizzled a large piece of meat; a young boy with a large white smudged apron kept an eye on the meat and turned it to avoid getting it burnt. On the other side of the tavern stood the bar with its wall covered shelves of bottles and special containers holding the drinks and liqueurs. The barkeeper washed peacefully on a few drink glasses while eyeing the fireplace and the customers at tables drinking, eating, talking, playing card games or a little game of strength with the arm-wrestle.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRezYMB5EA
Snatch walked ahead, squeezing his way through towards an empty table. The barmaid caught with them as everyone took their seat, ready to take orders. "I'll pay first round. Three of your finest spice beer, madame." Smiled Snatch and held up three fingers as he faced the barmaid. Noticing her youth, her rosy cheeks and long curly blonde hair spilling over her slim shoulders. "I bet they taste just as fine as you are, milady." Snatch gave a wink and sniggered as he saw how she blushed. Barmaid gave a shy nod and paced off.
"What brought you to Aerik? What are you up to nowadays?" Asked Ignatius before Snatch could.
Snatch smiled at his question. "I never really left the city. Good businesses and trades always lead me back here. You can say home keeps calling for me." Soon the spice beers were served at the table. "Among other things." Snatch grinned and held out four silver Lis coins. His glance met with a pair of angered and annoyed dark eyes of the barkeeper, a stout built middle-aged man with a bushy beard. He grunted, angered, took the coins and walked off.
Snatch cringed at his presence since he expected the young and pretty barmaid but quickly shook it off. Ignatius and Magpie sensed what sort of business Snatch does since his clothes resemble nothing of a tradesman or merchant. They were dark and made for stealth, along with his long dark cape and oversized hood. A well-cared sword resting at his belt and a handful of round glass vials that Ignatius recognised some are smoke-casts and other magical objects.
"Indeed," laughed Ignatius. "You mean the sort of trade when one's pocket needs to be lightened."
"Ha, what better trade is there?" Chuckled Snatch and took a large gulp of the spiced beer. The ginger and cinnamon gave the beer its unique amber colour and warmth to the taste. Every brewer has their own secret recipe and mix of spices. Yet, this tavern is known for its best spice beer because there are hints of other spices such as cardamom, aniseed, clover and some honey. Many customers love the beer but have difficulty tasting the spices individually. Yet, Snatch recognised from the first time he took a sip as a boy. He gave a satisfied peel.
Ignatius smiled. "You haven't changed a bit, Snatch."
"Same can be said of you, Ig. So regale me, what brought you and your beloved here to Aerik?" His blue eyes panned to Magpie for a moment before facing Ignatius.
"To make a long story short." Ignatius looked around to be sure no one near was eavesdropping. "We are on the run." He whispered.
"For Mage's sake!" Exclaimed Snatch in wide-eyed surprise. "You didn't-"
Ignatius gave a grave nod. "Both Magpie and I are tainted with dark magic. An evil spirit by the name Shadow possessed us and used our magic for his own gain. With some help of friends, we defeated him, and he is now well restricted and under my watch."
Snatch blinked and raised an eyebrow of doubt. "How so under your watch?"
"Let's say one with a cutting edge and smaller than that at your belt." Ignatius eyed Snatch's sword.
Snatch leaned over the table. "You don't mean a magical dagger?" He whispered.
"Aye." Ignatius remained grave. "But that is not the only reason why we're on the run. We're trying to find a way to undo the tainted magic within us. Many say it's impossible, but I beg to differ and can feel the answer lies somewhere out there."
Snatch stared at Ignatius and Magpie for a long moment. "But-" Snatch blinked as he processed Ignatius' words. "But surely bounty hunters will be at your heel, and that's not exactly what I call life." Snatch looked to his surrounding to ensure no one near was eavesdropping. "Why do you have a feeling that you can undo it?"
"Is it wrong to have such hopes?" Hissed Magpie. "We had no choice as it happened and vowed never to do it again, but you know the penalty here for any form of dark magic or necromancy." She paused and glared. "Death without mercy or trial."
Snatch was well aware of the penalty when one used dark magic or necromancy, but Magpie's intense glare and sharp voice made him blink and swallow. But he quickly collected himself and chuckled. "Tell me something I don't know."
For a moment, silence fell among the three before Ignatius cuts in with a sigh and forced a smile. "Upon a different topic, do you know what turned out of Hemin and Fetch?"
Snatch grinned and exed the rest of his spice beer. "Can't say much. Soon after you left, they got the courage to explore beyond the city and never returned since. I wouldn't be surprised if they are stealing in a different city."
Ignatius gave a thoughtful hum and looked down at his pewter ale mug with spice beer while recalling the memories of young Hemin and Fetch. "I hope they are in a better place." Ignatius smiled and held up his mug to clink with the others. Magpie and Snatch followed. "To better places." They gave in a chorus and took a generous sip of the beer.
"Speaking of places, do you know where we can get good accommodation for a night or two without too much attention?" Asked Magpie.
Snatch grinned. "For old friends, I know just the place and free of charge if you give me a smile. I bet it's lovely, or Ig wouldn't be with you."
"Snatch." Growled Ignatius annoyed and amused.
Magpie raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, really?" She gave softly, concealing her smile from Snatch's tease. She held out her right hand across the table. "Then it's a deal and no stealing from each other during our stay."
Snatch laughed to his surprise. "You drive a hard bargain." He reached out and shook her hand firmly. "Done."
Immediately Magpie began to smile, and it was her natural smile. His teasing is different then what she got from other men.
Snatch sat back and smiled. "Now that's a magical smile."
"Watch it." Smirked Ignatius.
"No worries, just jerking the chains, Ig. I don't go with ladies that have a partner already."
Ignatius gave Snatch a doubtful look whilst smirking. "Then what about the barmaid before? How can you be sure she has no partner?"
Before Snatch could remark, he received a firm kick in the shin. Ignatius grimaced in pain along with Snatch. "Both of you, really!" Magpie huffed and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "If I hadn't known you two better, you would have been boys instead of men talking about girls and women."
Ignatius sucked through his teeth. "Why giving me a firm kick in the shin?"
Magpie smirked at him. "You know why."
"Well, a deal's a deal." Sighed Snatch and held up his ale mug but quickly realised he emptied it before. "Another round before we leave?" He asked.
"Round's on me." Grinned Magpie and placed a gold Lis coin on the table. "I'll take a dew wine instead of beer."
"I'll be damned; I should have bargained with you over coin instead." Gave Snatch baffled as he stared at the shimmering golden coin. Quickly he shook his head and held up a hand to signal the barman or maid for another order. The blushing young barmaid approached shyly. "Yes?" She nearly murmured, trying to hide within her long blonde hair.
"A glass of dew wine, a spice beer for me fair lady and-" Snatch faced Ignatius. "A spice beer." Cut in Ignatius.
Snatch turned to the barmaid, smiled and handed the golden Lis coin. She gasped at the sight. "You may keep the change if you are willing to meet me after work." He whispered. As she gently took it with a shy smile and paced off.
"What about the change?" Wondered Ignatius smirkingly.
"Simple, you'll pay if she won't have second thoughts of meeting you." Magpie gave Snatch another kick in the shin.
Snatch sighed and pulled out from his coin pouch five silver coins. "This should do it. You really do live up to your name."
Magpie chuckled. "So I've been told." She gathered the coins to her black leathered pouch.
Soon returned the barmaid with the drinks as Snatch ordered and placed out the two ale mugs and an extensive wine glass with aqua-marine blue bubbling liquid known as dew wine. She quickly slipped into Snatch's hand a piece of paper before retreating. He winked at her before she left. As he turned to Ignatius and Magpie, they both looked at him with the curiosity of the piece of paper, no words needed to be said of their thoughts.
Snatch gave an amused scoff and unfolded the piece of paper. A broad smirk split across his face as he rapidly folded it and placed it in his sleeve.
Magpie gave an annoyed sigh, rolled her eyes and took a sip of her dew wine. "You better tell us the location of our accommodation before you're off seeing her."
"No worries, there's plenty of time. I'll show you before I'm off." Smirked Snatch and took a large gulp of the spiced beer.
As soon all three finished their drinks in time. Snatch led them across the deserted market square to a particular district where many houses are built close to another and on top as if to use every nook and cranny for a living space. Some windows were alight in the late hours of the night; there was a couple nearby arguing loudly, a handful of men singing and guffawing drunkenly out of tone and a few stray cats sulking in dark corners. Snatch walked up the first few steps at one tall building, pulled out a loose brick at the height of his waist next to the door, and within the brick revealed a key.
Magpie and Ignatius halted at the steps and looked up to the tall building. It was slightly nodding to the dark alley beside it. They wondered how soon the roof of the building would meet its neighbour?
"Don't tell me you were expecting the home like the merchant's house? You said you wanted something undercover." Snatch unlocked the door and waved a hand to them to follow.
Magpie bit her lower lip in hesitation while Ignatius gave a silent scoff before they entered. A large wooden staircase greeted them, but some of its surfaces were chipped, splintered and scratched. The steps creaked and moaned under their weight as they followed Snatch upward to the second, which is also the top floor. He halted at a brown sunburnt wooden door with a scratched golden brass knob. Magpie blinked to be sure she saw it right; there was no keyhole on sight, nor did Snatch pull out a different key.
"Hiya Snatch, I see you've brought a larger company than usual. Trying out fun in larger numbers now?" Spoke a man's voice from the door. Suddenly a face emerged from the wooden surface above the knob, grinning at Snatch.
Magpie gasped, surprised, while Ignatius crossed his arms and shook his head with a smirk.
"Shut it, Plank!" Hissed Snatch, annoyed. "They're old friends, nothing of the usual."
"Indeed. Password?" Smiled Plank.
"Ginger." Whispered Snatch.
Immediately the door unlocked itself and swung inwardly open.
As soon everyone stepped in, and the door closed, Magpie and Ignatius looked to their new surrounding.
"The password to the door is Ginger. Make yourself at home. I'm afraid I must dash, as you already know. If all turns well, I shall be back around noon." Snatch paced off to another room and soon returned with a different dark cape and hood.
"Right." Gave Ignatius smirkingly.
Snatch gave a wave with a smile and walked out.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs0gspOZsn
