𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙄𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙎 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 • caspian

part one

𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍 𝘾𝙍𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙀𝘿

𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘾𝘼𝙎𝙋𝙄𝘼𝙉 𝙓 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙀𝘿 𝘼 𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙂𝙍𝙄𝙈 𝙋𝙐𝘽 with his excited crew, all of whom ready for a drink.
As he glanced around, he noted the creaky chairs, rotten tables, and dim lighting. Even being in the open sea for three months, he was still a king and still aware of the threat to his life, so he always kept his guard up in unfamiliar places. Especially ones like this.
The pub wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either, with few groups of people here and there lingering around for more drinks.
Walking up to the bar, Caspian leaned his forearms against the ghastly thing and waited. After his crew settled, a woman came bursting in through the back door.
"Get off my porch!" She yelled to an unnamed person. Caspian's back straightened in wonder at the enraged woman.
"No, I don't want to help you," She paused. "Relieve yourself. Now get going before I call the coppers!" She huffed and slammed the back door, making use of the large lock above the handle.
When she turned, she finally noticed the new customer. Brushing the nonexistent dirt from her skirt, she walked forward swiftly.
"What can I get you?" She asked, flashing a small, fake smile. One that didn't reach her eyes.
"A round of beers please." Caspian glanced at his anxious crew. The woman glanced at her shaking hands for a fleeting second then slammed them onto the bar top. Caspian was shocked she didn't cry out in pain of a splinter, but she was probably used to them.
"Alright," She trailed off counting the crew. "That's 17 humans and 5 miscellaneous animals. Would they not want anything different?" She asked, a bored expression written on her face.
"No, they have acquired the taste of barrel beer." Caspian chuckled. A smirk bounced on her face for such a short time Caspian was sure it never happened. She nodded and Caspian walked back to his table.

𝘿𝘼𝙍𝙄𝘼 𝙇𝙔𝙉𝙓 𝙒𝘼𝙎 𝙉𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙔𝙀𝙇𝙇, but Cor had been getting on her nerves more recently. Ever sense his lady was taken by slavers, he has been asking - no, begging - for Daria to bed him just once. She had told him 'No' about 100 times, he just doesn't understand the word. Aravis, his lost wife and Daria's closest friend, was an obedient woman who feared raised voices. Some in this dreadful village liked to rumor she had just had enough of Cor and ran off with an old affair after her disappearance. Daria, however, did not believe this. She would have told her, right? Stop it, Daria scolded herself. You have customers.
Grabbing the heavy barrel, she waddled to the bar once more. With a grunt, she dropped the thing to the ground, her hands tingling in relief. She then grabbed as many cups she could hold, and scooped up the beer.
Walking over to the table, Daria tried not to listen to their excited conversation, but it was too difficult.
"Come on, we found one!" A young man - though no younger than one or two years - cheered, raising his new found drink.
"Rian, we found one and there are seven in total. Moron." A bald, older man said, mumbling the last bit.
"Ease up Drinian, he's just a young lad." The pretty man from the bar chuckled, slapping his hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Oi! Barmaid!" The young man - Rian - called. Daria ignored him and began wiping the bar top to pass the time.
"Barmaid, I'm talking to ya!" Rian tried again. The room grew quiet, as the regulars and locals knew how Daria Lynx was with unruly costumers, men in particular.
Only after the chattered died down, did Daria look up.
"Me?" She asked innocently.
"Obviously," Rian rolled his eyes. "Listen lady, I'm here for drinks. So, if you want a tip you'd best be spiffy with it."
A light gasp ran amongst the regulars as then mumbled in shock to their companions. Daria smiled sweetly and raise her hands in surrender. She glanced at her bodice innocently as the men watched in confusion. And in the blink of an eye, a sharp dagger was tossed at the young man. Luckily for him, it just barley missed his groin and embedded into the rotten chair instead. Other men in the group stood quickly, grabbing for their pistols when the pretty man stopped them. Daria ignored this interaction, walking slowly towards the table, all eyes on her. She rested her hand on the back of the chair, leaning in close and keeping eye contact as she tugged her dagger for the seat. The young man was now a ghostly white as he tried his best to lean away from her face.
"You watch how you address me in my establishment. I will not stand for your nonsense." She seethed. And just as quick as it happened, the anger was gone. Straightening up, Daria looked around.
"What? Is something wrong?" She asked the silent onlookers. A collective 'Nope' sounded and everyone went back to their own business.
"Now, you wanted another beer?" She innocently asked Rian. He nodded rapidly and gulped his spit. "All you had to do was ask." She bit the last word as if it was bitter on her tongue. Turning, she briefly locked eyes with the supposed leader of the group before strutting back around the bar.
"Well, that's a lass right there." Drinian nodded and took a long sip from his cup.
"She's a bar woman, that's for sure." Caspian agreed, watching her work with analyzing eyes.