The Great Serpent

The sounds of laughter, conversation, and men singing along with tunes they barely knew permeated the tavern area of the Chalice Inn.

After the incident earlier that day, I didn’t dare let Zac out of my sight just yet. So, while I helped serve drinks to the Tagrosi soldiers who’d come to patronize our establishment, Zac sat behind the bar, next to Benji, playing with his wooden dragons.

I found that the Tagrosi were far less patient than our usual customers, shouting, “What’s the hold-up? Beer here!” At least, this was true with regards to their first drink. After they’d had a few, the spirits warped their perception of time, and they were far too engaged in conversations about politics and the parts of women they found attractive to be concerned with “lazy” serving staff.

These same men who had marched in perfect step with one another early that morning now wore their uniforms unbuttoned, exposing the black shirts underneath, and cursed at each other regularly before breaking into obnoxious laughter.

Across the room, in one of the chairs by the fireplace, I spotted Elora watching the scene with contemplative amusement. She held her hands with her fingertips pressed together, forming a triangle and pursed her lips while her white eyes squinted.

“Ahv!” I heard a voice call from one of the tables.

Piers sat nearby and waved me over to him.

I gave the room a quick once-over to make sure I didn’t have anyone else trying to signal me to take their order. When I was satisfied that I wasn’t neglecting anyone, I sidled over to Piers’ table, pulled out the opposite chair, and sat in it with the backrest against my chest. “Yes, what is it, Piers?”

He leaned in closer and brought his voice a little lower. “I thought you’d want to know what happened to Avery, the soldier who hurt Zac.”

“I know exactly who Avery is,” I grunted. “Yes, by all means, what happened to that bastard?”

“He died about an hour ago,” said Piers.

Truth be told, I knew the answer before the words left Piers’ lips. Zac’s cryptic comment about Avery never hurting anyone again repeated in my mind, as did the dark look on Zac’s face as he said it. I shuddered at the memory, and tried to put the implications out of my mind.

“I heard he was sick,” I said with a shake of my head. “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

“He wasn’t sick.” Piers’ eyes darted back and forth and he turned his body slightly away from the nearest table full of patrons. “I talked with the physicians. They said the symptoms were like those from a snake-bite, but they couldn’t find teeth-marks anywhere on his body. They think he was poisoned. Captain Marth’s launching an investigation, and I’m sure you can guess who she suspects.”

I chuckled. “If she suspects me of poisoning one of her comrades, why didn’t she stop so many from drinking here?”

“A few of her investigators are here right now,” said Piers. “They’re watching to see if you poison anyone else. Frankly, I don’t care if you did kill Avery.” He rubbed his jaw, as if recalling an old injury. “He’s had it coming for a long time. But Captain Marth cares, and, when word reaches him, so will Avery’s brother, Clive.”

“Clive…” I repeated the name in an attempt to ensure I’d remember it.

Piers nodded. “Clive’s a member of the Masked Legion. They’ve not arrived yet, but we expect to see them tomorrow. Be on your guard…” he cringed, “The men in the Masked Legion wear masks because the anonymity helps relieve them of all conscience.”

“Hey! Four shots of whiskey over here!” called out a gruff voice from a table nearby.

I looked up and saw that Jeseka had her hands full, so it was my job to bring them their drinks. “Thank you, Piers,” I said, just before hurrying off to the bar to tell Benji about the new order.

While Benji poured the four shot-glasses, I peered over at Zac, whose inquisitive eyes searched every person in the room, as if he were trying to memorize their features. He took a brief break from his foreign studies to return my gaze and give me an affectionate smile, waving at me with a wooden dragon in his hand.

The Shoshan, the Accuser of Kings, the Harvester of Ages, the Great Serpent.

Zahac’s multitude of titles ran through my mind again as I looked upon my son’s innocent face. It was hard to imagine that this little boy would be capable of the sorts of things spoken of in the Ancients’ legends, but it occurred to me that every cruel and wicked man had once been a child. Most probably even had parents who loved them and never would have suspected they’d be capable of wickedness.

But rather than allow myself to obsess over what Zac might grow up to be, I focused my thoughts on a more immediate fear: Captain Marth’s agents, whom Piers said were in the inn right now.

“Here ya go,” said Benji, sliding the shot glasses across the counter to me.

I picked the four glasses up and hurried over to the table that had ordered the drinks. For a brief moment, as I handed those soldiers their whiskey, I wondered if they might be the agents Captain Marth had sent to watch me. My fears about these four immediately dissipated when they downed their drinks in one gulp, banged their fists on the table, and laughed out loud.

No one suspecting their server of being a poisoner would be so quick to drink what they were given.

My eyes caught a man and a woman in uniform at one of the tables, both of whom sat not facing each other, but instead facing out at the crowd as they conversed. Odd. Did they not find each other’s company captivating enough?

The front doors burst open and in walked a group of young women wearing, shall we say, less than modest attire. They immediately broke into groups of two and seated themselves at tables with the handsomer (and drunker) soldiers. Batting eyes and tittering laughter ensued as these young ladies tempted the amorous fellows with some of the things which had drawn me to the town myself. Their subtle actions, winking eyes, and dirty dialogue suggested activities ranging from appealing to appalling.

Distracted by this display, I didn’t see Elora approaching me until she was but inches away and her fingers slipped a piece of paper into the palm of my hand. No sooner was her note deposited then she glided up the stairs, as if she were floating not walking.

Curious at what my former business partner might be up to, I opened the paper and read what she’d scrawled there.

“Meet me at my door when your shift is over.”

My ears burned hot.

Elora had just invited me up to her room. While it was certainly possible that she was inviting me up there for an intimate moment (which was reason enough to be nervous), it was far more likely that she suspected something. Maybe she too had heard about Avery’s poisoning.

As soon as I could take a breather from serving the inn’s patrons, I slipped over to Benji and said, “I need to talk to Elora after my shift is over. Can you watch Zac for a bit longer?”

He raised an eyebrow at me, as did Zac from the seat behind him. “A talk with Miss Elora, hmm? A private talk, perchance? That would explain your tomato-like complexion.”

“I don’t know what it’s about, she just asked me to meet her. Can you watch Zac for me?”

“I’d love to spend a little more time with Mr. Zac,” he said, ruffling my son’s hair. “But, remember what I say.”

“Be a gentleman in all things,” I recited.

“And don’t trust anyone with your body you wouldn’t trust with your savings,” he added.

We finished his cliche proverb in one voice, “After all, your body’s far more precious than your money.”