The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 62 (278) - To My Beautiful Wives
An hour later, after Blanc and his companions finished picking up the clothes they needed, they left the store without much of an exchange.
With the only ones talking being Tahreni, Lendros, and Velakia in their foreign language.
Blanc didn’t mind them, looking instead for a nice spot where all of them could eat. But the reality was that, besides the letter he planned to write to his wives, his mood was completely ruined by Velakia and her mood swings.
It reminded him of how she was right after they left the Domain of Blood Maroux.
Defensive. Uninterested. Distant.
It was a far cry from her mood as of late, and an even bigger far cry from the woman he slept with. Especially since she showed her mood clearly, yet never the reason.
He could only shake his head at the annoyance of it.
Still, once he found a nice-looking tavern, he decided to go inside, while the other three followed closely behind.
“A pleasant evening to you,” said a woman as she approached Blanc and his companions.
“And to you, madame,” Blanc replied, “Are there any free tables?”
The woman nodded, a warm smile on her face, “Follow me.”
It was surprising to see such a pleasant reception, especially since they did not get to bathe or change into proper clothes. Actions that made Blanc even more pleased with the pick, his mood somewhat improving at the sight.
“Feel free to sit here,” the woman began, moving aside to reveal a circular table with four seats surrounding it. “I will return soon to explain the options available.”
With a nod from Blanc, the waitress turned on her heel and went behind a door. From the smell that attacked Blanc’s nostrils, it was clearly the kitchen.
Still, they sat down with Tahreni and Lendros to his left and right, and Velakia face-to-face with him.
And as the three of them began talking again, Blanc closed his eyes for a while, letting his mind drift away, as perhaps yet another distraction, towards the paths they could take once they were to leave the city.
In the best-case scenario he had in his head, they could be in Blood Seraph’s Domain by day seventy of their journey. If all went well, that is. A probability too low in these last few Domains.
Then came the negotiations with Blood Seraph.
If, by the grace of the Vita, all went well again, he expected to be on his way out of the Domain, with Sera in tow, in three days afterwards. With another two weeks to get Velakia, Tahreni, and Lendros to the place where the boat awaited.
Stolen story; please .
Then came the road back home.
But he stopped there for now.
Not only because it was a headache to really believe all would go well, but also because the waitress was heading their way.
He slowly opened his eyes, only for him to make eye contact with Velakia, who looked at him with an unreadable face for the slightest of moments before she looked away.
A sigh built up in his chest, but he held it in, and instead painted a gentle smile on his face as the waitress got near.
“Sorry for making you wait,” she began, “What should we start the evening with?”
“What would you recommend, madame?” Blanc asked curiously.
“A full stomach,” the woman giggled, “But in terms of food, rabbit stew with sweet potatoes, since the food originated from this city.”
“Really?” Blanc’s eyes widened, “That I did not know.”
“It’s best made here,” the waitress smiled, “Would you like four bowls?”
“You surely convinced me,” Blanc chuckled before turning to his companions, “But I can’t speak for them.”
“Is there fish available?” Velakia asked, looking at the woman who stood behind Tahreni.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t received any fish since trade stopped from the northwest of the Empire due to Blood Seraph,” the woman explained apologetically.
“Rabbit stew is fine then,” Velakia replied.
“Wonderful,” the waitress nodded, “Anything else? Something to drink, maybe?”
“Two questions, and perhaps some water,” Blanc said.
The woman turned to face him, “Should I bring the water first or after?”
“After is fine,” Blanc replied, before asking his first question, “Do you know of a place where I can find more info on what is happening on that northwestern side of the Empire?”
“May I ask why?” the woman wondered, curiosity in her voice.
“I was born there,” Blanc lied, “And I surely would like to know if the place of my birth still stands or is getting destroyed as we speak.”
“Unfortunately, we do not, but I assume the Lord of the Domain would know more about it, although…” the woman muttered, looking at the holes in Blanc’s tunic, “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“I see…” Blanc sighed, “Let’s leave that one at that. But do you know of a place where I could write and send a letter?”
“Of course I do,” the waitress replied, a wide smile on her face.
“Where?” Blanc asked, somewhat annoyed.
The woman giggled, seeing the impatience of the man she was talking with, “Here.”
“I can write one here?” Blanc looked surprised.
“We are part of a Merchant Company, so of course you could,” she explained casually as she moved to a small drawer and pulled out an ink bottle, parchment, and a quill before offering them to Blanc.
Blanc took them, his eyes still wide in surprise, as he could only thank the Vita for this small, convenient blessing.
He placed the parchment on the table, looking at the empty paper, anxious to start writing.
Only then did panic slowly increase his heartbeat, making him freeze for a few moments.
Long enough for the waitress to assume, “If you do not know how to write, we can write it for you without issues.”
“No need, I know how to write,” Blanc sighed as he played with the quill between his fingers, “It’s just…”
His eyes moved towards Velakia, looking eyes for too long a second before he turned his face to the waitress.
“Do not mind me,” he smiled, “Could you bring us that water?”
“Certainly,” the woman nodded, before turning around and entering the door towards the kitchen.
Blanc closed his eyes for a moment, remembering all he wanted to put on paper.
He dipped the quill in ink.
Opened his eyes.
And with a deep inhale, he began writing the first words on the parchment.
‘To my beautiful wives.’
.
!
Volume Two ; Chapter 62 (278) - To My Beautiful Wives
Comments