Rise of Fire: Dragons Reborn [COMPLETED]

Chapter 16

The city was as boisterous as Talia remembered. More than that it was an array of colors she could never find anywhere else. The people of Amethyst cove threw away the social norms of humanity. There were no dull browns or grays to be found amongst the clothing of the people. Blue, purple, yellow, green, there was every color imaginable. It was almost enough to give her sensory overload.

"So this is a coastal city... I like it." Bromyr mumbled behind her. All the dwarves were looking around them in a mixture of awe and wonder. Fluttering robes passed them at every turn, no one wore tight fitting clothes. Talia was half afraid the women who would dance past would flash her with how loose their fabrics clung to them.

"There's a lot of energy here. Everyone's so happy." Grimor moaned as he tried to keep up through the crowded streets.

"Keep your hand on your money pouch, this is a city of pirates after all." Talia warned darkly. Sure the women were pretty, the men were charming, and the music was beautiful but underneath all that was the true nature. It took a creature of darkness to recognize creatures of darkness and Talia could see the rot hiding beneath every friendly façade that passed them by.

"Where were we going again?" Bromyr sidled up to Talia and pressed himself into her side. She growled at him but he didn't seem phased.

"It's just up ahead, the Opalescent Queen's Inn. A retired agent of Hephatus runs it and he does quite well. His name is Mino, but we always refer to him as Minnow. It's a house of sin." She smiled at the memories. If one was after whores there were women and men aplenty there selling their services. Booze? The barrels he had were innumerable, and the wide range was immeasurable. Ales, meads, beers, wines, he had it all. High quality, low quality, he had anything for any patron. And the food? To die for. And she didn't say that lightly.

"Classy." Floki pierced her with a cold look but she only smiled at him. If he didn't want to partake he didn't have to. It certainly wasn't going to stop her. She kept her eye peeled for the painted sign of a beautifully clad woman steering a ship, Minnow's own creation for his Inn. His opalescent queen, the pirate woman he had fallen in love with and ultimately married. She wore a glittering blue dress to match her sea-blue eyes. Even her hair was tinged in blue, perhaps the years in the glittering ocean waters painted her in their beauty.

"Talia!" She paused and watched as Nico came flying down the brick road, arms waving wildly as he streaked through the bustling crowd. In his black robe he stuck out sorely and everyone around him knew it. Every person near him would jerk away and watch him warily as if they knew he was a harbinger of death and woe. Yet his smile threw the whole vibe off, he was more of a softie than most of their brothers and sisters under Hephatus.

"I got our rooms, do you want to grab something to eat with me before darkness falls?" He asked her eagerly as he spun around and started to lead. She rolled her eyes, all that excitement for a dinner invitation? Though she had to admit the thought of a hot cut of meat and some potatoes had her stomach aching in anticipation. Real food. Just the thought had her practically drooling in her mouth.

"That works well, boys we'll head to the market and see what we can find for victuals and travelling supplies to restore what we lost. We'll come back to the Inn after dark I suspect, then we could meet in the morn?" Bromyr paused pulling the whole group to a stop. Talia hummed, mornings as usual were not her time. But then again breakfast sounded appealing. She could make it work.

"Sure, mid-morning though. And be sure to have a table full of food ready." She turned her back to the dwarves as they all burst out laughing. She hoped they knew she was far from kidding. If they didn't greet her with a heaping plate full of eggs and hash-browns she'd start murdering people.