* * * * *
“Ohh… My head. What happened?” Merial rose slowly from her pillow, though her eyes remained half closed.
Carsis was already awake, kneeling by the cave’s entrance and tying the top of his satchel. “You and Javal drank yourselves into a stupor last night.”
“I remember starting…I don’t remember finishing. Who won?”
“You did.”
“I did? The whole night seems as though it fell right out of my head. How did I get down here?”
Carsis smiled and stood, moving to the bed as he handed her his canteen, “I brought you down, of course.”
“Oh…” For a moment, a strange expression surfaced on her face, but it fleeted and she flicked a wink at him, “Thank you. I obviously could not have handled that myself.”
“You’re welcome,” he raised his hand to press it gently against her face. “Everyone is meeting upstairs. Can you walk?” he chuckled.
Merial only glared as she squirmed her way out of the bed, raising her head high with pride and ignoring the hand he held out to help her, she then brought her own up to grip her head.
“Easy…” Carsis wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Why did I drink so much? I think challenging him to a sword fight would have been a better choice…ugh. I feel like I have.”
“But you did good,” Carsis led her slowly out the door with only a gentle grip. When he saw another of his companions by the ladder, it tightened instantly.
“Morning, Jeralyle,” Merial said, still in a haze. “How was your night?” For a brief moment, the memory of a topless Jeralyle carrying her flashed through her mind, and her face tinted pink, thinking it only a remnant of a dream.
“Good morning,” he replied with energy, but when his eyes found Carsis, he visibly tensed, “Carsis.”
“Good morning Jer.”
The Mage clenched his fists and fought back the sneer that was forcing his mouth up. His gaze fell between them before bowing and allowing them upon the ladder before him. The red-haired man gave way for Merial to go first, smiling at Jer the entire time. Once the Sage was safe and on her way up, Carsis’ face hardened, Jeralyle glared right back, but allowed him up the ladder all the same.
Once they all reached the final platform, they made their way to the third chamber where Jeralyle and Merial had spent most of last night. Javal, as well as Gort and the others, were sitting at the table, waiting patiently for them.
“AH! The remaining members of Light’s Awakening!” He hollered, raising both his arms and charging over to them.
“Why…is he yelling?” Merial asked, still holding her head as Jeralyle pulled to her left. “And what… is Light’s Awakening?”
“I think he’s talking about our group…” Jeralyle laughed, “I kind of like it.”
She moved her head, though very little, in agreement when Javal made his way up and hugged her tightly. “Well fought, Ma’ girl. Well fought!” Placing his hand upon her shoulder, he shook her. Mare looked nauseous for a moment but managed to swallow it back long enough to thank the King. Still cheerful he returned to the table, “Yer prize!” he stated, reaching under it and withdrawing a large leather pouch.
Though her headache was fading, she could not help but wince when Javal jingled the bag of coins and then heaved it onto the table. “I think…he’s doing it on purpose…”
“Aye. I am.”
“Why… would you do such a thing?”
“Ha! I can’t let ye get away that easy for beating me. I might lose beard.” He eyed her for a moment before continuing, “But yer punishment will last ye all day. I won’t make it worse any longer.” He went to her once more, though this time more passively. “I’m a dwarf of my word though, and ye did beat me. I will lend ye whatever help I can.” The massive Javal stuck out his huge, calloused hand and Merial slowly but surely gripped it and shook. When she attempted to pull away he didn’t let go, only stepped forward with a leer, “On one condition…”
“No more drinking?”
Javal laughed, shaking both of them as he did, “No. No more.”
“Aye then. What is it?”
“Ya tell me how.”
“How?”
“I’ve out-drank men twice yer size and dwarves three times that. I want to know how a little girl like ye beat me.”
Merial smiled slyly and then turned to Jeralyle with a wink, “A bar, Javal.”
“Eh?”
“I owned a bar for almost six years, King. The first few of them we’d drink like that every night… and I beat anyone who dared to challenge me, men and dwarves alike.” She reached out and patted his shoulder teasingly, “Do not be hard on yourself. Ye didn’t know.”
For a moment they all believed that the Dwarven King would become enraged. When they saw his face erupt with laughter, everyone breathed out slowly. “Come! Ye shall join me for breakfast!” He wrapped a huge arm around her shoulder and led her to the table. Merial, at the mere mention of food, looked again as though she was going to be sick, still she followed, mostly without a choice. Once gone, an empty space formed between Carsis and Jeralyle. As they had both been looking at her, they now found their eyes on each other.
Jeralyle simply turned both gaze and head forward to follow Javal, still attached to Merial. “Going to chastise him as well…Red?”
In A Time Of Darkness Page 81