subplotkudzu | Emirikol, Part IV scene 8

The streets of Scornbul proved as confusing as ever, but the Lady Floriane's instincts were good - perhaps because the serpentine part of her soul possessed a talent for locating rat holes, she thought uncharitably - and she had little difficulty locating the Cock Robin. The entrance to the bar was a flight of steps concealed in a narrow ally, with the remainder of the alley being blocked by a blind beggar and his urchin assistant. Not wanting to risk the exposure that a snub might bring she handed the pair a copper or two as she walked by, receiving their useless blessings even as the urchin took a moment to describe their benefactor to his blind companion.

To Cybele's dismay the Halden Dapper shouted out a welcome to the Lady Florane when she entered - loud enough that no doubt even the sightless seaman outside now had a name to go with that description - and that dismay spread when it was confirmed that this was indeed a halfling bar, with little to no accommodation for tallfolk. She stooped and made her way to the empty chair at the Dapper's table, squeezing herself into it and hoping that she could conclude this embarrassing affair as quickly as possible.

Such was not to be, as the Dappers already had a flagon of stout waiting for her, and they began urging her to catch up with their previous consumption. A plate full of heavy, peppery sausages also appeared in front of her, which Haiden pushed upon her with monosyllabic enthusiasm. Forced by circumstance to share a drink with these men she did her best to down the stout (which, to be fair, was of an exceptional quality, and a brew that she would not mind spending more time becoming acquainted with - just not now, with these people). She hands over the pouch of coin to Halden, who hands it to Haiden, who pockets it with a quick assessment of weight and coinage.

"Now that the official business of our evening has been concluded to what I hope is everyone's satisfaction please allow us to spend some of this coin on you, as to fine away any rough edges of this new joined relationship," Halden stated with a flourish that called for an additional round of stouts. Pleading a previous engagement that precludes her spending all night in a bar Cybele fairly slithers out of the cramped chair and, her balance a little worse for the drink, banging her head on the door in her polite escape.

Circumstances prove the Lady Floriane to be a liar - she does indeed spend all night in a bar. It's just a different bar with the sort of company that lets a depressed noblewoman spend her time alone, sinking coin into bottle upon bottle of fine local wine. When she wakes up in the morning a delicate assessment of her state confirms that she indeed made it back home, into her own bed, alone. All to the good. The incessant pounding she eventually ties to the sodden condition of the clothes piled beside the bed in the realization that the threatening skies had stopped saber rattling and produced another invasive rain.

To be continued