Tales of Lisan, Drakonar, and Skandia

Part 1; Marcy, Tales of Lisan

        Marcy sighed and leaned against the tavern bar. Wiping her arm across her forehead she surveyed the rowdy drunkedn crowd. With it being the weekend and all, the place was packed. But with barbarians in town, and the king's decision still a myster, the crown was all the more large and rowdy.
        "Those scum ridden foreigners! Taking our land and ruining our economy! I say we burn the lot of 'em!"
        "Bunch of savages they are, the whole lot!"
        "Barbarians; every singl one of them!"
        "I say we kill 'em and take back what's ours!"
        "Marcy!" Kris's unmistakable bellow rang out through the tavern. "Come get this drunken sap out of my tavern!"  Marcy grinned. Some unfortunate drunk had just pushed old Kris to him limits. it was a good distraction for the threats being thrown across the room.
        "Coming!" Marcy shouted back. She took one last swig of ale from her own mug for courage before battling her way across the floor to Kris.
        "Here." Before Marcy even had time to blink Kris shoved teh drunk into her arms. "Take him outside and let him empty his stomach." Kris growled. "If he makes a mess on my floors again-"
         "You'll take him out behind the tavern and beat the scum out of him. Yes, I know. I've been working this for five years now. I'm pretty sure I know how things work." Marcy finished for him as she adjusted her grip on the drunk.
        Marcy watched as Kris's hulking figure waded back into the crowd to break up yet another tavern brawl.
         "Mmfffttt." The drunk shifted in Marcy's grip, taking her attention away from Kris. Marcy sighed and slung one of the drunk's arms over her back. Awkwardly, Marcy managed to get both herself and the drunk out of the back of the tavern and into the alleyway behind.
        "Mother of Man! You're a heavy one, aren't you?" Marcy grunted as she leaned the drunk against one of the alley walls. Unsurprisingly, he didn't reply. But he did lean over to empty his stomach all over the back of the alley. Marcy turned away as the poor man retched up the remnants of his last meal. 
        "They fired up 'bout somethin'?" 
        Marcy started and looked down at the drunk. He gazed back up at her with solemn silver eyes. She snorted. 
        "Yeah. You could say that." Marcy crossed her arms and shifted her weight against the wall. "I'll take it you haven't been in town for a while then?" The drunk gave what could pass as a nod. 
        "Haven't been 'ere in 'bout..five years? 's been too long really." The drunk slurred. Marcy snorted. Maybe not long enough she thought to herself. 
        "That would explain it. We'll, you've lucky then. You've missed some of the bloodiest fighting this country's ever seen." Marcy sighed. "You know how we've been at war with the Drakons for the past decade, right?" She asked. 
        The drunk give his almost-nod. Marcy continued. "Yeah. Well, they had the capitol within reach this spring, but when they got to the gates, they suddenly turned back. No one knows why. But now we have two of their ambassador's here in King's Gate, and everyone's on pins and needles. Espically with the new king on the throne. Everyone is waiting to see how this will turn out." 
       The drunk nodded. They stayed like that for a moment, just listening to the sounds of the eveing and the rowdy tavern crowd. 
        "So, do you have a name?" Marcy asked. The drunk chuckled. 
        "I've got a few.." Marcy could make out a smile underneath the dark hood he wore. "But none polite enough to mention in front of a lady." Marcy smiled."I've heard worse; trust me." She chuckled. 
        "Why don't you call me Crow?" the drunk suggested. Marcy nodded. "It suits you. You look just like one." She remarked. 
        He honestly did look like the sooty bird, with his crazy black hair and curious silver eyes. His nose was slightly hooked, giveing it a beakish look, and it added to his bird-like appearence. Not to mention the small scar on his left cheek, which gave him a roguish look. But despite all that, he was a handsome man, somewhere in his late teens or early twenties. 
        Crow grinned in response to her comment. 
        "I'm glad you think so! Now," Crow looked Marcy directly in the eye, and for one moment, he no longer seemed so drunk. "What's your name?" 
        "Marcy." She replied. "And no, it's not short for anything. It's just plain Marcy." she said. Crow cocked his head to one side. "You're far too pretty for such a plain name." he remarked. Marcy's cheeks flamed. "So then, Marcy, I thank you for saving my sorry hide from that beast of a man they call a tavern owner." Crow made a gesture with his arm that must have been his attempt at a salute. "By the way, and I hate ta bug ya like this, but ya wouldn't happen to know of anywhere I could stay for the night, do you?" 
        Marcy sighed, and looked up towards the sky. The moon had a thrid of the way to go before it hit the horizon. Any good inns had already closed, and the streets were no place for him. Marcy sighed and glanced at Crow. 
        A pang of sympathy shot rhoguh her. He looked so pathetic, barely able to keep himself propped against the wall. Marcy made up her mind. He seemed harmless enough, and she had a few tricks up her sleeve if things took a turn for the worst. 
        "Here." Marcy held out her hand to Crow. "There is one plac eyou can stay." She said as she pulled Crow off the ground. 
        "Where?" It took Crow a moment to regain his legs. Marcy grimaced before replying. 
        "Well, it's not exactly the king's palace, but it'll do." In fact, it was just a tiny spare closet they had in the back, but it would work.  
        "As long as it  four walls, a roof, and it's dry; I'm happy." Crow replied, getting a small smile out of Marcy. 
        "Alrightly then. Follow me." Marcy took Crow's hand and set off towards the back of the alley. Crow staggered behind her, and nearly crashed into the wall as Marcy made a sharp turn to the left. 
        There was a niche there, just big enough for a small wooden door. It was invisable from the street, and there was a sturdy padlock on the back. Marcy pulled a leather necklace off her head and inserted the old brass key on it into the lock. The ancient lock squealed in protest as she fiddled with the key, and refused to budge. marcy let out a growl of fusteration and pulled the key out to inspect it. 
        "Stupid lock." Marcy muttered as she studied the device. "One of these day's I'm going to get Kris to fix this cursed thing." Marcy grumbled under her breath as she jammed the key in the lock a second time. Crow watched marcy battle with the lock for a few more seconds before stepping in. 
        "May I?" Crow held out his hand.
        Marcy shrugged and dropped the key into his palm.
        "Be my guest." Marcy replied. "But don't expect it to work." Crow just smiled and inserted the key into the lock.
        With a click, the lock popped, and the door opened. Crow grinned and raised his eyebrows at Marcy. 
        "You were saying?"        
        Marcy began to laugh. 
        "Impressive. You got any other tricks up your sleeve?" She asked with a smile. Crow grinned, a soft smile spreading slowly across his face. 
        "A magician never tells his secrets." He replied. Marcy arched her eyebrows and gave him a skeptical look, but she kept her thoughts to herself. 
        "Alrightly then, magic man, up the stairs! It's getting cold out here." Marcy said as she shooed Crow up the tiny staircase hidden behind the door. 
        At the top of the staircase Crow stopped, uncertain which way to go.        
        "Which way now?" Crow asked.
        "You'll turn to the left and then turn right." Marcy said as she pointed down the dim hallway. "The last door on the left is the one you want."
        Crow nodded, and began to walk down the hallway. Just before he reached the end, he looked back. 
        "Marcy," Crow turned and looked back at the shadowy figure of the tavern maid. 
        "Hm?" Marcy looked up at him. 
        "Thank you." It was too dark for him to see, but Crow could ahve sworn he saw Marcy's cheeks begin to flush.
        "No problem. Anyone in my place would have done it." Marcy replied hurriedly. "Goodnight!" And with that she shot off down the stairs. Crow grinned and shook his head as he opened the door. 
        "Not just anyone." He mumbled ot himselft as he stepped inside. 

        Marcy hurried down the stair steps and didn't stop until she was out in the cool night air. She took a deep breath and let herself relax for a moment before leaning against the wall. In all her years of working at the Laughing Dragon tavern...Marcy began to laugh at the absurdity of it all. 
        With a smile still lingering on her face, Marcy headed back down the alleyway to finish her shift. 
        It was a long night. Typically, Marcy worked from seven in the evening until midnight, but since Jessi, one of the other girls, was off fooling around with one of her men, Marcy took her shift too. So in the end, Marcy ended up working from seven p.m. to 5 a.m. 
        By the time Marcy finally finished Jessi's shift most of the patrons of the Laughing Dragon had either headed home or been sent home by Kris. There were only a few people left in the tavern, and they would head home soon enough. Marcy was exhausted, but she knew taht Kris and Lily often had to work at least an extra hour to clean up after the customers. and so she offered to help, exhasted though she was. of course, Lily would have none of it. 
        "There's no need for you to do that sweetling. We can take it ust fine from here." Lily told Marcy after she offered to help. "Isn't that right Kris?"
        Kris nodded.        
        "Get some sleep before you collapse marcy. You've done more than your fair share of work for today." Kris said as he began to clean the empty tankards. Marcy nodded.        
        "Goodnight." Marcy yawned as she walked into the alley. Without a second thought she opened up the stairway and trudged to her room. Marcy didn't even change her clothes before she collapsed into the bed. Before she even had time to pull the blankets over herself, she fell into a deep sleep.