by Wolfe Locke
Sven being far more pragmatic and caring almost nothing for nothing except what it took to pay his debts, felt it was excessive to decorate so much, but Ash seemed to be loving it. He let it go. It was her party, after all. And if that makes her happy, it makes me happy too. Sven wouldn’t admit it, but the mage was quickly becoming very important to him.
The door flew open, and Lloyd staggered in, gasping for air as his back bowed under the immense strain of the load he was carrying. Strapped to him was a bouquet of Lamplighter Flowers that was a head and a half taller than he was.
"Where do you want this, Ash?" he breathlessly asked as he body shaking. "There must be at least a thousand flowers in this. I need to set it down somewhere. It’s heavier than a full cask of ale."
"Ooh!" Ash said, clapping her hands as she almost fell off the chair. "Those are so pretty, Lloyd! Thank you so much. You can put it right there. On the biggest table, right at the center!"
Lloyd heaved the bouquet onto the table and collapsed in a chair, panting for breath. Sven rushed over to check on the older bartender and offered him a glass of water for his efforts. Ash on the other seemed unbothered as she finished up her task and got off the chair to set about fluffing and arranging the flowers to ensure an impressive view from all sides. The arrangement was an aggressively colorful mix of pink, purple, and orange. It made Sven’s eyes hurt. Maybe I don’t understand girls that well. That looks horrible.
"And wait until you guys hear about the special surprise I’ve prepared," she said teasingly as she inspected her handiwork.
"What is it, Ash?" Sven said suspiciously, wondering if he had signed up for more than he bargained for by agreeing to this.
"Remember your suggestion? That I play a show here with my violin? Party of Illusion agreed to bring me on as a special guest star! We’ll be playing all the old songs I grew up with, but remixed and rearranged so it’ll sound more… modern." She explained, beaming.
"That’s great!" Sven chuckled. He was happy for her. He wondered, not for the first time, where exactly Ash had grown up. He had never encountered somebody quite like her before. Not even among his old companions. I wonder what they’re up to these days. I feel like it’s been years since the last time I saw them. They would have liked this, though, taking time to just enjoy the spring and planning a party.
Ash grabbed the chair and moved it towards the fireplace to put up the last of the decorations. "Just a little more."
This is a good life. I’m happy. Unexpectedly, things seemed to be going well for Sven and The Adventurer’s Rest. He had, at least temporarily, solved his financial problems. The first payment was due soon, and Sven was fairly confident he’d be able to pay it without issue.
Ash, Lloyd, and him made an excellent team. Business was picking up, and he expected soon it would be booming. Word about the Adventurer’s Rest was getting out. People and adventurers alike were coming to fill the tavern every night. Though they initially claimed they’d wanted to see the S-Ranker, most ended up staying for Ash’s antics and Lloyd’s collections of different ales. Sven was ok with that. More and more the tavern was feeling like home.
Speaking of which… Galen’s idea of starting a training program was a good one. No matter what the motivation might have been for the suggestion. Teaching the lower rankers and new recruits how to fight, travel, and think on their feet might be fulfilling—and it would still let him run dungeons when he wanted to. He could bring the younger adventurers along and show them how an S-Ranker did things.
Sven’s thoughts turned to the flower girl and her team. I need to learn from that. I got caught up enjoying myself diving with Ash. It was selfish of me. I should have taken the time to teach them how to clear it, rather than clear it myself. I’ll offer them a training slot to try to make up for it. Especially Maddie, she needs training, and that dark elf in charge of the team isn’t long for this world with that brother of his trying to set him up for failure.
The thoughts came and went.
All in all, Sven was happy and at peace. His life was coming together, and they had some semblance of family between the three of them. Even though Krivor’s visit, the undead, and Galen’s warning had given him something to worry about in the future, Sven’s spirits were still high. This is the life I always wanted to have.
Temporary peace that intersected with moments of extreme danger was typical of the life of an adventurer. Threats that lingered in the future were much the same. If there was one thing Sven had learned, it was to savor the good moments when they came and not question providence too much. One day these moments too will be cherished memories.
"And done." Ash said grumpily as she climbed down from the chair, freeing Sven up to walk over to the bar where a mug of ale was waiting.
He looked around the flower-filled tavern and listened to the chatter of the handful of happy patrons who had milled in early. Sven took a deep draught from the mug. A honey mead, Lloyd is spoiling me. Life was good.
"Ash!" he called out, maybe it’s ok to go overboard. I should enjoy this too. "Do you still need help with the flowers? Let’s see what else we can add before everyone arrives."
Chapter 22: Razzle Dazzle Spring Fling Soiree
The party was a huge success, and the tavern was packed with young and old adventurers alike. As well as curious villagers and even a few off duty guards from the nearby city of Woodward. Ash had tried to enchant her glowing stones to float gently around the room like stars. A nice idea if it had worked. But she had put a little too much power into the spell and not enough finesse and they zoomed through the tavern like brightly-colored missiles.
"Ow!" Sven said as a rock hit him in the face. He reached out and grabbed it, throwing it with all the force he could muster out the door. It disappeared in a twinkle against the night sky.
"Ash! Can you control these?" Sven bellowed pretending to be upset.
"I’m busy!" she shouted from behind the storeroom door. "I’m putting the last touches on my dress!"
Sven smiled in her direction, but she couldn’t see him. Its time for me to step out for some air. The atmosphere inside the inn was stifling. It’s good to see so many people having a good time, but it’s a little much for me.
It was a cool, crisp spring night, and Sven instantly felt better as soon as the door closed behind him. He leaned against the tavern wall and inhaled. The scent of new grass and fresh flowers floated toward him on the breeze. It smelled like new life.
Nights like this are what I always wanted, but why do I feel on edge? Sven wondered as he looked up at the stars and thought of all the wishes he had made as a child.
"Great minds think alike," a voice boomed from behind him.
Sven jumped. "Galen! I didn’t see you there. Not many people can sneak up on me."
"I didn’t really sneak up, so much as it’s really loud, and you seem preoccupied. Some party you’re throwing," the Guildmaster remarked with a smile.
He had dressed for the occasion. His suit was red velvet with blue slashes at the arms. A plumed cap set jauntily on his head.
"Didn’t think I’d see you here," Sven said stiffly. Galen always made him feel underdressed.
"Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve never been to a ‘Razzle Dazzle Spring Fling Soiree’ before." Galen answered with a tone of amusement.
"It was Ash’s idea. She thought it would be good for business." Sven explained suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
Galen chuckled. "She might be right. She’s something else, you know. Been a while since I’ve seen a good couple. It looks like she’s been good for you."
A good couple?
"What do you mean?" Sven asked, his interest piqued and an edge creeping in. "Do you know where she’s from? Every time I ask her how old she is, or what her real name is, or who her people are, she changes the subject."
"Yeah," Galen said. "That sounds about right. Anyways, you give any more thought to my training program idea?"
Sven felt a fla
sh of irritation. Why was Galen like this? Why couldn’t he just answer Sven’s question? He’d always been unnecessarily secretive when he was up to something—like he was trying to put some kind of cunning plan into action. But he was so damn obvious about it that it was just annoying. It was as if he wanted Sven to ask just so he could have the pleasure of refusing to answer.
He swallowed his annoyance and smiled tightly. Galen was still a customer. "I did, actually. I think I’ll do it. I don’t see any downsides to trying it out."
Galen clapped his big hands together. "Excellent. The Guild has some candidates for you, then. This is a bit more intensive than the dungeon escorts you were doing."
"Wait a minute," Sven said. "I’m not working for the Guild. I’m working for myself. I’ll take your people, but I want a say. I need to be able to reject anyone who’s obviously a bad fit, and I’ll reserve up to half the slots for my own students if I recruit any, rather than Guild-supplied heroes in training."
"Hm," Galen said, frowning. "All right. If that’s how you want it, we can agree to those terms. When can you start?"
"Next week?" Sven threw the first date that came to his mind.
"Deal." Galen responded, happy that Sven agreed.
They shook hands just as the band struck up inside. They were playing a song Sven hadn’t heard before. It had a bouncy melody, with a violin taking the lead.
"Ash’s concert!" Sven said. He’d almost forgotten. "I have to go inside. I’ve been looking forward to his. Good talking to you, Galen."
"And you," the Guildmaster said solemnly. "I’ll be in in a bit."
The Adventurer’s Rest was raucous and rowdy with cheers when Sven walked back inside. Everyone was clustered around Party of Illusion, and Ash was playing her heart out. She looked fantastic in a high-necked pink dress that sparkled whenever it caught the light.
Sven had never particularly liked the violin, but he had to admit that the mage was good at it.
The song ended, and Ash curtseyed gracefully.
"Thank you, everyone!" she beamed. "That was ‘Lady of the Fjolds’. It’s an old song my parents used to sing to me when I was a baby. Very traditional, but we jazzed it up a little bit and added some notes of a jig to it!"
Sven noted the name of the song and decided to look it up next time he was in the city. Maybe he could use it to figure out where Ash had come from and what she was doing here.
The rest of the concert was just as good although Galen never came back inside.
Every song was met with thunderous applause, and the customers screamed for more when Ash was done. They played three encores, and Party of Illusion agreed to bring her on again once a month for a regular engagement.
Party of Illusion called it a night the lead singer called out, "Last one by request guys. This ones called a Sadie Hawk Kin in our special guest’s homeland. Ladies, ask somebody you’re sweet on to the floor, its time for one last dance."
Sven leaned against the bar and felt happy for everyone regardless of the awkward partnerships that followed. He sipped his drink and didn’t hardly notice until she repeated herself when Ash put out a hand and asked, "Dance with me, Sven."
He took her hand and was practically dragged to the dance floor. Everyone made room, and those who had come to know them smiled approvingly.
He put a hand on the flat of her back and Party of Illusion played a soulful melody that was soft like a spring day. Sven couldn’t resist looking into Ash's crimson eyes and every time he did, he felt something stirring within him. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She smells like cinnamon and clove.
All too soon the music ended, but they didn't part. Ash refused. "I’ve missed this Sven. Just hold me for a minute."
Just like the music, the moment didn't last long and when it was over Ash excused herself. "I need to go get changed." Sven wasn’t sure what had happened, but he did notice a tremble in her voice like she was upset. I’m over 40 years old and I still hardly understand women.
A few hours later the party started to die down as drinks ran out and people went to sleep it off, or keep the celebration going elsewhere. Ash returned in her normal clothes and nothing more was said about what had happened. "Let's start closing up." She murmured, grabbing a rag from behind the bar, and started wiping down the tables.
The tavern’s income that night had been substantial, too. The money bags under the counter were overflowing—fuller than Sven had ever seen them. As the bar began to empty out, Sven, Ash and Lloyd gathered at a corner table to tally up their earnings
"Wow!" Ash said, scooping up a handful of gold and letting it fall through her fingers. "This is crazy, guys! We should do a soiree every week!"
"Maybe not every week," Sven said, looking around nervously at Ash’s over-the-top decorations. "But we could make it a regular event. Maybe once a season?"
Ash beamed. "Sold! I’m totally down for that."
All told, they had made over three thousand gold pieces in one night. It was an enormous sum, even for them. It was enough to cover the cost Sven had incurred to build the inn in the first place. They toasted their success as Ash gathered the gold into bags to take into the city with Sven and pay off the debt in the morning.
Alone behind the bar later that night, Sven let some of the stress he'd been carrying go. After months of trials and adjustments, he could finally start to relax. The tavern was in the black, for now.
But barely. We will need to keep doing stuff like these as good ideas hit.
"Are you coming, Mister?" Ash called out from the top of the stairs.
"It’s late, and we’ve got an early day tomorrow. Follow me. We don’t have a lot of time."
Chapter 23: In the Halls of the Deep Dwarves
A few weeks after the Razzle Dazzle Spring Fling Soiree, a familiar face walked into the tavern. Sven noticed her as soon as she stepped through the door and went behind the counter to help her out.
Maggie, the flower girl sat down at the bar, took off her helmet, and shook out her long blonde hair. "I’ll take one of your bitters please," she said, looking Sven right in the eye. "Just half a pint though."
"I feel like I’ve seen you recently," Sven challenged, pouring the sour ale. "In this tavern and somewhere else."
Maggie closed her eyes and sighed. "You mean in The Dungeon of Infinite Sorrow?"
Sven raised an eyebrow. "That one was obvious. But not exactly what I meant.”
"Okay, I’ll come clean," Maggie said. "I recognized you in the tavern that night. But I was embarrassed. You really helped me out with the flowers back in Woodward I would’ve been out all night otherwise. And I overcharged you for the flowers. It should have just been a handful of coppers, but I basically charged you at least ten times that amount."
"It’s not a big deal," Sven said kindly. "Seriously. I have more money than I know what to do with."
"Wait? Really? But don’t they call you the Pauper hero?" she asked leaning close as she cocked her head.
"Really," Sven responded, shrugging it off. "I’ve always been a Cobbles boy, that won’t change. Just another poor commoner, I won’t dress myself up as something else. But yes. I’ve money. I’ve been adventuring for years and what loot I didn’t send back to my ma, or need to spend to keep myself alive was sent off to be stored in the Bank of Varus with the Deep Dwarves. They've been good with their returns for me in the past."
"But… but why? Bank of Varus? Just how rich are you? If you’re rich. Why live like this? Rumor has it you owe the city a hefty sum for this place. Why? If you could have bought it outright?” she asked seeming to be taken back by his admission.
Sven poured himself a drink and walked around to the other side of the bar and sat down on one of the stools and leaned back, looking at the ceiling. "It’s complicated. But I don’t think of it so much as mine. I’ve lost a lot of friends throughout the years on dives that made me rich. I refused to spend their share. I’ve saved it in hopes I’d find their next of kin to
pass it on to. Like even this bar, I wasn't sure if I was into it at first, and if it went under, it went under. But now... if needed, it would be a bit of a journey to get there, but a single withdrawal of some coin would handle it."
He took a deep drink, enjoying the look of shock on her face. "As for my share, I’ve kept it. A fund I saved so if I ever have kids they won’t have to live like I did. Anyone can reach S-Rank if you’re lucky enough, and I was lucky. I wasn’t the one who caught an arrow to the throat, or triggered a trap mimic, or got dysentery out on the open road away from any healers. Besides, money doesn’t matter much to me. It won’t buy me more time, or give me back my friends. Besides, if I ever really needed it, if I ever hit actual bottom, a pile of gold is always just one adventure away. Money really just doesn’t have any value to me."
She shook her head emphatically. "I guess good on you? But I still feel bad about overcharging you. I need to make it right and I don’t want any charity, not from you or anyone. If I’m going to make it out here outside of Woodward, I want to make it on my own terms."
Sven felt a rush of affection for the flower girl. He remembered that Cobbles pride. As a boy, he wouldn’t have accepted money from a big-time adventurer either. Or anyone for that matter.
"I get it. Not wanting charity, not wanting to owe anyone. Not wanting strings." he said. "Trust me. I got out of that life."