Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp: 19 The Captain and His Wards

The men pondered the offer, finally taking a sip of their drinks. As they drank, their brows would raise, exchanging glances before looking to Mordecai. Their drinks were robust and sweet with hints of spice. "What's this you have in here? I've never tasted anything like it." From the tone, they didn't seem to be complaining.

"Urushian Spiced Mead my good man, with a little experimentation from yours truly. While your local drinks ferment with fruits, I've had to improvise with the vegetables we grow here. You two came around just in time for the aging of this batch."

Fascinated by the flavors, they soon finished their tankards, with Mordecai helping Marlina with another round for them. As Marlina stood nearby in silence, the mead and Mordecai's charisma had the Colonials ease more and more. Soon they were exchanging combat victories and jesting over blunders in battle, telling tales of scars delivered to them over the years, having time fly well past sunset. The men had become quite drunk, slurring their words and spilling their drinks during conversation.

"You're an... interesting man... Mordecai... For an Urushian. But it's weird... your name doesn't sound like you are."

"I think we'll..." The man would pause as his body swayed a little before regaining himself. "We'll take that... deal of yours. I'll take a pay cut... so I'm no beastie's lunch."

Both of them bursting with laughter, they were about to ask for more when Mordecai took their tankards from them. "Think you two should get some rest. I'll make something so you two aren't hungover in the morning. Marlina can show you to your rooms and I'll bring your aids soon. Marlina, take them to their rooms."

Marlina did as she was told, she'd meander for the men to follow her, having to use their halberds as walking sticks with additional stability of the walls to the underground chambers modified for rooms.

Like she couldn't understand them, the men began speaking about her again.

"It had to be owned by one of the Five..." One of them muttered, speaking to himself.

"What're you yammering about..."

"The construct... what else? Only they could afford it... You think one got eaten?"

"Maybe? But they're a..." The man would stagger a moment, taking a breath to fight a wave of nausea, letting out a burp. "... dying breed anyway... Don't think they'd be dumb enough to come here just to get eaten..."

"I guess so..."

As much as Marlina wanted to inquire more about what they were discussing, she resisted and kept up the facade. They seemed too drunk to get into much depth anyway.

Finding the two nearest rooms, she'd let them go inside to rest. It wasn't long until Mordecai entered their rooms with some tea and bid them goodnight. The two returned to the tavern, cleaning the table and stowing away their guest's packs for safekeeping. "I'm sorry for speaking to you in such a way, Marlina." He spoke lowly, just above a whisper, probably so the two below would not overhear them.

Though Marlina caught onto why he did, it showed on her face how much it bothered her. "It was to put them at ease, I understand. But I wonder... if all Colonials would address me like they do..."

The last thing Mordecai wanted to do was instill pessimism toward her goals, but he was never a man to lie. It just ends up causing more pain in the end.

"It's very possible. I'm glad Elek doesn't from his upbringing, otherwise, Tessa would knock some sense into him. Natashia never would, I can't say for Neterion. Well, maybe I could phrase myself better, he won't be as friendly. It's nothing to do with you, he's just mistrusting of people."

"Is it from those scars on his face?"

Mordecai was silent for a moment, his posture slumping slightly. "I suppose you could say they're part of it."

"If it's not too bold of me to ask, how did the two of them end up in your care?"

Mordecai's hand reached for the eyepatch he wore, then shook his head. "It's a long story. Perhaps another time." With the smell of dinner enticing in the time it's been simmering, Mordecai takes a few large bowls from the cupboard and gives them each a hefty serving. Giving Marlina one to help him carry with care, she'd follow him to the barracks where he'd tap on the twins' room with his boot. "You two awake? Dinner is ready." 

It was a few moments before Natashia opened the door, smiling at the sight of the bowls. Despite her hair in a high, messy bun and her desert armor being gone, her ensemble still resembled some protection with lightly sewn leather straps covering most of her torso. "Finally, I've been dying for this." She'd soon notice Marlina, and how still she stood from holding the bowl by cradling it by the holes in her wrists so it didn't spill. "Here, let me take that for you..." Her face showed frustration and embarrassment as she held the bowl. "I'm so sorry, but I forgot your name."

"You didn't forget, we never learned it." Neterion's voice could be heard from inside the room behind Natashia.

"He's correct, we didn't have the chance for proper introductions. I'm Marlina." As she introduced herself, she bowed.

Natashia felt some relief, smiling at Marlina. "Natashia Ryder, I'm glad you seem okay for the most part."

Mordecai stepped in and pushed the door open more, Neterion was hunched over an inclined table as he sat in a tall chair. His clothing was casual as well but with a long leather vest, his wavy shoulder-length hair peeking out beneath a leather bandana that kept it out of his face as he drew. It made sense for them as guards to always wear protection, but unfortunately, they couldn't completely relax in case something happened. It made it even more fortunate that they were already dawned in their full gear when they had to rescue her.

Not glancing over, Neterion seemed more engrossed with the paper he was drawing on with a stick of lead. Beside him on a stool was a skull, its face covered in pegs of various lengths, taking peeks at it before he resumed drawing.

Mordecai then walks over to Neterion, holding out a bowl. "Did you even get any rest? Or did Elek toss that skull your way as soon as I wasn't around?"

"He asked, but I'm not tired." Though he said he wasn't tired, his stomach did rumble from the smell of dinner.

"But you are hungry, so how about you take a break and eat, maybe properly introduce yourself to our new friend?" Mordecai tried to coax him.

Only glancing over his shoulder at Marlina showed he wasn't fond of the idea. Natashia shook her head before putting her bowl on a nearby table covered in their armor. Taking the lead from his hand and putting it down before she grabbed the back of his chair, Neterion grasped the seat so he wouldn't fall out while she pulled him to the table. Then she scooped their armor into her arms and tossed it into her hammock before sitting down. Mordecai chuckles as he takes a seat as well. Since there were only three chairs, Marlina was left standing. 

"Now we can't chat properly with you standing like that, give me a moment." Heading to his room to get a spare chair, the others were left in awkward silence.