Robin's Blood

Page 6, Ch. II

The pub was at ground level, and as Robin walked with Renata, she gawked at the tall trees; they looked taller than coast redwoods with thick trunks and voluminous green leafy tops, the sun shining down in rays through the lush cover, leaving an incredible pattern of sun splotches on the ground. The pub was built into the base of one of the tree trunks, the front door was arched and was made out of what looked like rough dark oak planks, and a small circular window sat in the middle of the curve at the top of the door with two twigs cutting the circle into four pieces. Renata pulled the door open and gestured for Robin to step inside. The scent of fresh bread instantly overwhelmed Robin's nostrils, giving her a warm, homey feeling. She looked around the pub; everyone was staring at her. She heard the words "is she an elf?!" and "why do her ears look like that?!" whispered throughout the crowd. Her face heated up in embarrassment, and she looked down at the ground. A second set of feet lined up next to hers, Renata's arm wrapped around the back of Robin's neck, and with her booming voice, Renata ordered, "Come on, everyone! Our guest deserves a warm welcome!" and almost like Renata had put a spell on the pub crowd, they all stood and surrounded the two of them. The room's atmosphere drastically changed as everyone pushed through just to glance at Robin. Children stood behind their parents' legs, clinging to them while staring at her in awe. All Robin could muster in front of the crowd was a pathetic "Hello..." there was an awkward silence afterward; it was eventually filled by the voice of Renata, "Eileen! let's get this girl some food." Robin turned to face the pub's bar.

As her head bowed, a pair of swinging french wooden doors flipped open, revealing another very tall elven woman. She looked about 6 feet tall with bright red hair stretching down just past her waist; it was up in a ponytail with a silver metal band, identical to Faye's. She was wearing a white dress with puffed short sleeves; over the dress was a second layer that looked like a thin leather vest with extra fabric sewn to the edge going over the skirt of her dress. There was a leather belt with a gold hoop hanging around her waist, purely for decoration. Hanging from the belt was a brown pouch with a yellow flower stitched onto the front flap. Eileen came out from behind the bar and shooed the crowd from robin and back to their tables. She had brown silky-looking heeled boots tightened up in the front with a glossy caramel-colored ribbon tied into a bow at the top; they made a distinct clacking sound as she walked.