In a dark backroom of a seedy tavern, Evandris sat at the head of a rather large round table. His blue gaze flickered between a hand of cards and the other faces sat in the circle, their expressions barely lit by orange candle glow. He had not ventured past Moira very much since their return, but a curious letter had made its way to his study after long, with it an invitation he did not exactly have the right to refuse. Evandris was no stranger to the backwater routes and establishments that dotted even the extravagant cities of Morkhul. In fact, he was a constant patron to these places, always seeking something whether it be revelry, distractions, lovers or pertinent information towards a secret hunt he'd been engaged in for some time. And he was told that such information he had long been searching for was possibly awaiting him. That is, if he joined in a round of cards and earned it.
His gaze lingered then on a man seated directly across from him, with an impressive black beard and meaty hands which swiped moisture away from his bald head. His clothes were dusty and worn from nights spent on the road, traveling from tavern to tavern. According to the tip Evandris had been given, this man was some sort of merchant who ferried goods between Morkhul and its neighboring hollows. In no normal circumstance would Evandris feel obliged to seek the counsel of such a man, but the tavern owner had informed him that this man had traveled further than most Morkhul merchants, and had a good memory of all the faces he’d seen in the road. Which had come with the belief that this man may have had information about a woman who had passed through the main road out of Morkhul several years ago. This was enough to get Evandris out of his study and riding down a winding path towards the tavern in question.
This had been his favorite seedy establishment to loiter in, one where it was not uncommon to see Evandris's face among the crowd. Normally when he was there he would occupy the small and worn stage that they built into the corner, serenade the drunkards with songs of revelry and adventure first before taking a drink and engaging the other barflies with conversation. Only after a couple hours of this would he then whisk away into this very back room to join in on some gambling, cleverly winning loot that he could have easily purchased otherwise. Tonight had been a great departure from his normal nights in town. Instead of wasting away with his comrades, Evandris marched in, steely eyed and determined, going directly for that card table in the back. He had a plan, and needed no other distractions. Tonight he would best this merchant and then he would get to his real purpose for being there, and only if this tip proved to be true would any ounce of merriment return to his moody disposition.
Another in the circle folded, the pressure of the round getting to him. One by one, other patrons were pulling out of the game, unable to bluff about their abysmal hands. Evandris stayed silent and still as stone in his spot, expression devoid of any hint at what cards he possessed. The Royal Flush he held had him confident, assured that nothing would deter his win. He was watching that man across the way, with his bushy brows and matching unkempt beard, sweating under the glow of the fire and yet not giving away his stance. It hadn't mattered, when they revealed their hands Evandris would win and he would shove the plentiful pile of goods that had accumulated in the middle throughout the night in the merchant's direction. I don't want the gold, just tell me about the girl, he would say. They said you knew something about the girl. His heartrate was picking up, not from the excitement of his impending win. It had been years of no answers, of no hints and here he stood at the possible precipice of something. Something to finally bring his curiosities to light, to possibly end the torment of not knowing that which had riddled his mind the past ten years. He felt so close to finding a peace he never imagined he would know, and only one round of cards stood between him and that potential. Nothing could deter him in this moment. Positively nothing.
" Lord Vander, my apologies for interruptin', sir, but... Someone has wandered into the dinin' hall which we think you may wish to see. "
Irritation rose within him, Evandris gripping his cards so hard he almost bent them in his grasp. He did not turn his gaze onto the ginger haired barmaid who had thought to interrupt, leaning over his shoulder and trying to grab his attention. He waved a hand at her, dismissive and curt, not even bothering to look at her or speak to her. It wasn't until she began hastily tugging at his sleeve that Evandris pulled his eyes off his unsuspecting prey and onto the woman. " What could possibly be so important as to interrupt me while in the middle of a game? " he bellowed, causing the others at the table to jolt in their seats. It was rare that he raised his voice to any of them, that he was so outwardly angry with or irritated by another. He was always so kind to his friends at the tavern, deemed they call him Vander as though they were his dearest companions. He never mistreated them. In that moment it seemed as though this card game had taken such precedence with him that it caused him to act so uncharacteristic of himself, but then two words were whispered to him which had Evandris abandoning everything right then and there. Even the hope that a decade long mystery was close to being brought to light.
When the cold air greeted him, his shoulders drooped at the sight of a familiar orange coated mare, grazing in the grass beside his midnight colored stallion. He had hoped the barmaid was misinformed, and that he would not have seen a sign of it but there was no mistaking it. He knew that horse well. " Zinnia.... What are you doing so far away from home? " Evandris's voice was gentle as he stroked the neck of the horse, the beast calm as she recognized the other Elarion. How often had he been beside Aeliana when she went riding on this very horse, himself upon Galahad racing after a beloved younger sister and giving her guidance with her own riding? A beloved sister he had not seen in the immediate vicinity. " And where is your rider, hm? " When he emerged from the back room and into the large dining hall, he did not immediately see Aeliana among the crowd filling the tavern. For a moment he thought this was some trick to get him out of the game before he could win, but the barmaid assured him that the middle Elarion was seen in the dining hall. And more worrying, she had plenty of ale before the maid thought to seek him out. He'd gone outside to confirm the worst; Aeliana's horse was there, which meant she was also somewhere nearby. But where?
The tavern was large, had a number of exits along the perimeter. Securing Zinnia to the same post where Galahad had been, Evandris decided to follow along the side of the building in hopes of running into his sister. Perhaps she stepped out another side to get some air. Or maybe she was already back within, where it was not the kindest place but at least a little more safe than it was outside on this side of town. With his cloak drawn around him, hiding his fine clothes and the rapier he had strapped to his hip before leaving the castle, Evandris rounded a corner and stopped immediately in his tracks. A man was loitering there, one of the ruffians that were common in this part of town and in this sort of establishment.
He was ready to shoulder past him, continue onwards on his search, but then Evandris heard a familiar voice, one so unmistakable that he was already grasping the hilt of his sword before fully registering the conversation. It was Aeliana, and she was searching for her horse. " I dinnae ken anythin' about yer misplaced friend, lass, but I can be yer friend tonight if ye like, " the man's words were just as slurred, inebriated and clearly eager for a prospect which had Evandris's skin crawling. He knew this type well, knew what must have been going through his mind at the sight of the young woman. It instantly awakened something within him, a deeply protective instinct that immediately had him envisioning red.
In two swift strides he emerged from the shadows, stepping between Aeliana and the broad figure looming before her. His sword sliced through the air, elegant and refined, the sharp point pressing into the man's jugular as Evandris set himself up as a wall between his dear sister and the ruffian who had stumbled upon her. " I'm sorry to say, sir, but you are not an adequate companion for my friend here. Now seeing as we have been reunited, I suggest you turn around and return within to whatever party of heathens and miscreants you belong to, and forget that you ever stumbled upon this young woman. Do I make myself clear? "
He pressed forward, the tip of his rapier digging into the soft skin beneath the man's scraggly beard. In the moonlight he saw a ribbon of scarlet unfold at the spot. When the man did not go immediately, Evandris twisted his wrist, digging the sword against his skin and earning a distressed yelp in response before the man scurried away, leaving just Evandris and Aeliana alone. Only once he heard the heavy thud of the tavern door closing behind the other did Evandris turn then, brows pulled tight over his blue eyes as he turned a rather angry gaze onto Aeliana. " What in the hells are you doing here, Aeliana? "
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