Dining

After signing the paperwork and handing the young man the payment, he bowed with one last crooked smile and left, closing the door behind him.

Welyvyne watched the door a moment, then sighed through her nose. “That one is absolutely going to gossip.”

Lyren snorted. “Of course he is. He looked like he was already halfway through the story in his head.”

Eric chuckled and shook his head. “Why do you assume that? He’s probably just happy to have rented the place.”

Welyvyne gave him a look. “Eric, please. Men like that don’t walk away quietly when they think they’ve seen something interesting.”

Lyren folded her arms. “By sunset, half the district will hear how mysterious you are, how beautiful we are, and how scandalously close we all stood in the entryway.”

Eric laughed. “That is absurd.”

“It is,” Welyvyne said, taking hold of the door handle, “but that does not mean he won’t say it.”

Lyren grinned. “Come on. Let’s go eat before your reputation grows another pair of legs.”

Eric moved toward the door. “We can go somewhere else if you’d like. Honestly, I haven’t tried many other places, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt not to be so predictable.”

Welyvyne stopped and put a hand to her chest. “What? You, Lord Eric Elwyn, the man who builds routine, saying you want to eat somewhere different? Who are you?”

Eric mock-scowled, but the edge in his voice was real. “No. Do not do that. The ‘Lord’ stuff dies now.”

Welyvyne’s expression shifted, the humor fading. Then she opened the door, and the guards outside straightened, ready to follow.

“I was only teasing,” she said.

Eric groaned, rubbing at his face. “I know. Sorry. I just don’t need more fuel added to the fire.”

Lyren patted Eric on the back. “Come on, Eric. Let’s go eat. Have you tried authentic elven food yet?”

Eric paused for a moment, looking to Welyvyne, then to Lyren. “No, but that sounds amazing.”

Eric and Welyvyne followed Lyren to a building that was a bit higher-class than Eric was used to. The outside matched the city around it, white and smooth, but the gold inlay around the doors was meticulously crafted. Red banners hung on the walls, each embroidered in golden stitching with the image of a strange deer-like creature whose spiral horns seemed to blossom like tree branches at the ends. The banners were enchanted as well, shimmering even in the bright daylight.

Eric stepped inside and looked around while Lyren spoke with the host. The interior was clean and oddly quiet. People were talking at their tables, but their voices never quite reached him, softened somehow before they could carry across the room.

Eric frowned, remembering the bag, and a knot tightened in his stomach. He took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay where he was instead of stepping back toward the door.

Then Lyren tugged lightly at his arm. “Come on, we’re being seated.”

Eric waited for Lyren and Welyvyne to sit before he sat down. The place made him feel like he should at least show some class. Everyone here was well dressed and stiff, their posture as polished as the gold around the doors.

He looked down at the menu, and though he could read it, nothing seemed to make sense. He had no context for the food names. Most of it sounded like someone had gone into the woods, picked leaves from important-sounding plants, roasted them, and served them with sauce.

Eric chuckled, pushed the menu away, and looked between Lyren and Welyvyne. “Any suggestions?”

Lyren laughed and pointed to her menu. “Try the steamed Yanaris with grilled Morvello leaves in Vynereen sauce. I think you’d like it. Floral, with a hint of spice.”

After ordering, they fell into a silence before Lyren broke it.

“What is your plan, Eric?”

“Excuse me?” Eric said, surprised by the question.

“Your plan,” she said, a serious look on her face. “You know, what are you thinking? You aren’t just going to sit around and do nothing, blend in with everyone. What is your plan?”

Eric looked at her, confused for a moment before he understood. “You want to know how I intend to recover from my mana burns. I don’t intend to. Well, that is a lie. I intend to learn what I can, but I am not counting on me fixing this one. I will build crutches. I have some ideas to explore.”

Lyren nodded along, but her face said she wasn’t buying it. “Ideas, huh? Tell me. What ideas do you have?”

Eric shook his head and frowned. “Where exactly are you going with this, and why the sudden questions?”

Lyren laughed. “We are going to be living together. I want to know because I don’t want to be inside the blast radius of something dangerous you plan on building.”

Eric smirked, then laughed. “For a minute there, I thought I was being spied on by you, Lyren.”

Lyren shook her head. “Guess you’ll never know.” Then she chuckled. “But seriously, are you planning on building weapons or explosives?”

Eric straightened and looked up, trying to find the words. “I am thinking about building weapons, but not like a bow or a sword. More like a drone I can control. Maybe something that can shoot lasers or something.”

Lyren looked at Welyvyne as if to ask what he was talking about, and Welyvyne only shrugged before turning back to Eric. “Lasers? What in all Nysera is a laser?”

Eric shook his head, and just as he was about to answer, a plate was placed in front of him. The food smelled amazing, like pepper and lilies.

Eric picked up his fork, then answered Lyren’s question. “A laser is directed light energy. Focused enough, it can burn through objects."

Plates made their way around the table, and Lyren nodded slowly. “Yeah, we have spells that do something like what you described.”

Eric took a bite and froze. The flavor shifted as he chewed, floral at first, then warm and peppery, then something bright and sweet that made his eyebrows rise.

“Huh,” he said after swallowing. “That’s like an Everlasting Gobstopper.”

Lyren blinked. “A what?”

Eric waved vaguely. “Old Earth candy. From a movie. It changed flavors the longer you ate it.”

Welyvyne looked down at her plate, then back at him. “Your world made candy that behaved like food enchantment?”

Eric paused. “No. It was fictional.”

Lyren stared at him. “You compared our cuisine to imaginary candy?”

Eric picked up his fork again. “Favorably. I just hope I don’t turn into a blueberry.”

Lyren and Welyvyne looked at each other, and Welyvyne frowned. “I don’t know what a blueberry is, but your world sounds terrifying.”

Eric chuckled. “Fair.”

As Eric turned, he noticed a man with white hair walking toward him. For half a second, he almost thought it was Kaelen, but the man was taller and carried himself differently.

Eric watched him approach before he stopped at their table.

“Excuse me. I apologize for the interruption, but would you perhaps be Eric?”

Eric stood, glanced at the guards who had not even attempted to stop the man, then looked back at him. “I am. Who might you be?”

The man held out a hand and smiled.

For a split second, Eric almost summoned his blade and stabbed him before he forced himself still.

“My name is Jaraunt,” the man said. “Kaelen is my younger brother.”

Eric took a steadying breath and accepted the offered hand. “Kaelen hadn’t mentioned he had a brother.”

Jaraunt frowned, and something like guilt passed over his expression so quickly Eric almost missed it. “I’d imagine he wouldn’t, seeing as what his contract was.” He glanced at the empty seat. “Mind if I sit? I’d love to get to know the man my brother so dearly respects, especially a human.”

Jaraunt frowned more deeply. “I apologize. That sounded insensitive. I mean, hmm, I don’t really know what I mean, honestly.”

Lyren dropped her fork into her plate and laughed. “Subtle, Jaraunt. Pull up a chair. We have a Lowlander here too, and I’d love to see how this goes.”

Welyvyne crossed her arms and stared at him while he pulled up a chair, clearly accepting the sharp-edged invitation.

Eric smiled at Jaraunt and took another bite of his food.

Jaraunt smiled back and nodded. “Kaelen speaks highly of you, Eric, and honestly, I wanted to meet you. I understand that you were kidnapped by mercenaries, and that Kaelen is trying to find out who was responsible. I believe Kaelen’s heart is in the right place, but he could make enemies he does not want.”

His expression sobered slightly. “So I wanted to know if you put him up to it. He seems quite uncharacteristically loyal to you. A human.” He paused, then grimaced. “Again, I mean no disrespect with that statement.”

Lyren scowled and was about to speak, but Eric waved her down.

“I do not feel disrespected by the statement, Jaraunt. I hadn’t known Kaelen was endangering himself by investigating my kidnapping. I’ll speak with him about it.”

Eric set his fork down, his expression turning more thoughtful. “Now, back to the human part. I understand why humans are looked down upon from the angle of the war, but it feels deeper than that. Humans are on the brink of extinction, from what I understand, so why would elves still be so sharp about them if they weren’t a threat?”

Jaraunt sighed and tapped his knuckles on the table. “Humans have a reputation for being rash and, well, impulsive, likely because of their short lives. It is both a threat to our way of life and, ultimately, something many of us envy.” He paused, his expression tightening with reluctant honesty. “If I am being truthful, I fall into the category of envy.”

Eric smiled and chuckled a little. “Yes, that is fair. Also, I may disappoint you on the rash thinking part. I am not very rash or impulsive.”

Welyvyne nearly spit out her water and coughed. Patting herself on the chest, she said between coughs, “Says the guy who nearly killed himself by overextending.”

Eric looked at Welyvyne and sighed. “That wasn’t rash. That was measured. I had good reason.” Then he paused and frowned. “Very good reason.”

Jaraunt looked between Eric, Lyren, and Welyvyne. “I’m sorry. I feel like I am causing more problems than I intended. I only wanted to say that I want to help.”

His gaze settled on Eric. “My brother, like our father and myself, believes that nobility carries a responsibility to help when we can. I could not just sit around and let him do it alone.”

He gave Eric a small, apologetic smile. “I’m glad you didn’t ask him to do it. From what I understand, though, our father wants to meet you as well.”

Eric frowned and shook his head. “I don’t want or need help with this. The Triple A is handling the investigation, right?”

Jaraunt looked confused. He glanced to Lyren and Welyvyne before looking back at Eric. “Excuse me, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what a Triple A even is.”

Both Lyren and Welyvyne sighed at the same time. Eric looked between them, then back to Jaraunt. “You know, Arcane Anomaly Authority.”

Jaraunt’s brow knitted together. “You are abbreviating, yes, but it still doesn’t make sense. None of the words start with an A.”

Eric smacked himself on the forehead and looked at Lyren and Welyvyne. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”

Welyvyne shrugged. “We thought you were just being weird. You are weird a lot, you know.”

Jaraunt laughed. “As strange as it sounds, Kaelen left to find you. I happened to be eating here when I saw a human sitting with two elves, so I thought you might be Eric.”

He gave Eric an apologetic smile. “Again, I’m sorry for the interruption. I only thought you should know that you have people trying to look out for you, whether you want them to or not, and that my father wishes to speak with you. I am not sure what for, only that it is what I heard. Kaelen likely knows more, since he was the one advocating for you.”

He started to rise. “I’ll take my leave now. I look forward to seeing you again, and I apologize. I never did get your names.”

Welyvyne frowned and crossed her arms. “Why hadn’t Kaelen mentioned us at all?”

Jaraunt shook his head. “He seemed focused on getting help for Eric. I don’t think he meant to leave you out.”

Lyren sighed. “Well, we aren’t letting Eric go alone, so if you’re there, you’ll find out who we are soon enough.”

Jaraunt stood and bowed. “Then I look forward to seeing you all at our home. Please, enjoy your meal.”

Eric watched as Jaraunt walked toward the exit. “That wasn’t weird at all. What do you suppose their father wants to talk to me about?

Lyren looked back toward the exit. “I don’t know, but we should find Kaelen. He may be the only way we find out.”

Eric nodded and sighed. “Fair. Let’s go find Kaelen.”