Born in the Flame

Chapter 28

   
    The lounge wasn't busy. In fact, it was nearly dead. The full band that had been there the last time I was here was reduced to a lone guitarist. Lautauis said staff is reduced during the weekdays. The atmosphere was the same as it had been that night. The skylight showed the growing amounts of stars in the sky as night descended on the city.

    In the centermost table, sat the only person I could fathom being Gabris. His head was turned away from us, showing us the length of his luminescent sea-foam green hair. He was heavily armored, far more than for a friendly meeting, but Lautauis had cautioned us that he was very protective of Chither. Under the hair, hid gills along his pale green skin. Gabris' fin-like pointed ears twitched in the direction of us, but did not move his head.

    "Gabris! It's been too long. I would have made sure Moonlight was as lively for your arrival if I had known sooner that you'd be here." Lautauis called to the god. His jabs were more passive than he gave to us, but they were jabs nonetheless.

    "I wouldn't have stepped foot in this building if it had been." His smooth voice said, finally turning his head to meet our stares. Gabris' eyes were a solid teal and slightly larger than ours were. It was my first time meeting a cholarian, but my third time meeting a god. He had the high cheekbones and the condescending look of any dawn elf, but all the looks of a cholarian capable of living beneath the waves. "I assume these are the people trying to meet with Chither."

    He gave each of us a look of disdain. Uzlos was the only one who could match the look he gave. It was the stare of a nobleman; the look neither Kirdan nor I could possess.

    "And one of you is an heir. I smell it on you." He still had to look up to meet Uzlos' gaze but was unafraid. Both of these gods were immensely powerful in their own right, but Gabris would be arrogant to think he could take Uzlos here on land. Just as Uzlos would be if he thought we could get away with trespassing in his waters.

    "That is correct." Uzlos said, not letting his chin down in the slightest.

    "Now, why should I let the son of another god come see my uncle?" He asked coldly, with an unfamiliar lilt in his voice.

    "My companion here shares a gift with him. Gifted to her by Mird." He said, motioning to me. Gabris flicked his head in my direction, almost like a reptile narrowing its gaze on an insect.

    "A fire mage..." he paused, taking a step closer, "with the mark of death... How did you die?"

    "I had been forced to connect a mating bond I didn't want using dark magic. The magic killed me." I replied bluntly. At this point, I had explained the matter of my death so many times that it didn't bother me. Just as being here didn't faze me as much as I anticipated it would.

    "Hm." He merely murmured. "My uncle would be interested. He has not seen one of you since... Reeyar."

    "Reeyar?" Lautauis asked. I assumed that like Uzlos, he had not heard of Reeyar.

    "The former heir to earth. Before our time. Far before our time." Gabris told the god but turned his cold gaze back to me. "I can take you, elf. Not your companions."

    "Out of the question." Uzlos said quickly.

    I thought for a moment. Were we in a position to be negotiating terms of travel? Not really. Did I want to go to the Isles with an unfamiliar, yet powerful, godly heir? Absolutely not. I weighed my options and decided what I needed to do.

    "I can trade you valuable information in exchange for your trust." I told the god, holding my chin high.

    "What can an elf with the accent of dwarves tell a god, who has lived four of your lifetimes, like me?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at me. Lautauis looked at me as if I were insane, as did the other two males I lived with.