Zerua Unchained

Chapter Five

 The group of four head over to the tavern to drop off Lady Cordelia with her cousin. Many people are wandering around the camp as usual. As they walk, they notice a crowd gathered in front of the Donut Building. Continuing towards the tavern, they notice the doors are wide open and those working there are taking the opportunity to clean while the tavern is empty.

"Excuse me!" Mikaela called out.

One of the ladies sweeping the floor looks up and smiles.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"We're looking for her cousin," Mikaela says as she points towards Cordelia in FRIEND's arms.

Everyone turns to look at Cordelia and she begins to moan and whine as if she were injured and in complete discomfort. The woman stops from her sweeping and thinks about it carefully.

"Ah, yes! Lady Delphine! She's upstairs, I believe. The second door on the right."

"Thank you!" Mikaela says as they head into the tavern.

FRIEND gently tries to stand Cordelia up on her own two feet, but she loops her arms around FRIEND's neck and doesn't allow her feet to catch her.

"Oh, Sir Knight, please! Do carry me up the stairs, I can barely hold myself upright!" Cordelia pleaded.

FRIEND looks at her, sighs, and huffs her over his shoulder.

"Oh! Sir Knight!" Cordelia cries out in surprise.

The group heads up the stairs and reaches the second door on the right. FRIEND knocks on the door.

"Just a minute!" they hear a woman's voice call out.

After a minute, the door opens and the woman Selro and Orielle met the previous night with Tarryn appears. This time, however, she was wearing form-fitting leather armor and her hair was pulled back into a bun. Delphine looks at the group and quickly sheaths her dagger back in place.

"Yes? What can I do for you?" she questions.

"Are you Miss Cordelia's cousin?" FRIEND asks as he turns so the woman could see Cordelia's face.

"Cordelia?!" Delphine cries out in relief.

"Y-Yes? Oh, cousin!" Cordelia exclaims as she sees Delphine at the doorway. "Hello! I just had the most wondrous time!"

Delphine sighs.

"Good Lord, I didn't want to explain to your father how you died out here. Come here."

Delphine reaches for Cordelia as FRIEND helps put her down. The two women embrace.

"Cousin, I'm going to need you to wait here for a moment," Delphine says to Cordelia.

Cordelia groaned.

"I'm ready to go home! I'm done being here. I've spent all the money I have. By the way, these people need 500 gold."

Delphine sighed and nodded her head.

"We can work that out. 500 gold? Fine, fine. Cordelia, wait here. I need to speak with them anyways."

Cordelia scoffs.

"You can't leave me behind-"

Delphine shuts the door in Cordelia's face and beckons the group to follow her down the stairs.

"Ah the more sensible one," whispered Mikaela in Orielle's ear.

"So, while you guys were off saving my erred cousin, I did happen to find out that they're taking the nobles' barges," Delphine explains. "Apparently, the families have requested they be returned to the homeland. Later this afternoon, they're taking the big barges that you see out there back across the Serpent's Spine."