To Friendship

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 26th July 2009

Characters: Zathris, Rikka, Zandreu
Description: Zandreu makes his normal visit to the Tavern, runs into Rikka and he and Zandreu chat.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 5

Zathris

"Lord Holder," the Tavern Master said with a nod as the tall man
completed the crooked path across the great room to the bar. "How are
you today?"

"I am doing well, thank you Zandreu. At least, I will be when you start
calling me by my name." Zathris settled himself on a stool and leaned
onto the bar. "A pint of stout if you would please."

"I'm sure the stout will improve your day, too," Zandreu said, pulling
the handle of the pump to pour the new Lord Holder's drink. "Anything
to eat? A snack? Barthella's been working on a few variations which
are worth sampling. Or are you staying to dinner?"

"Dinner has been reserved." Zathris was going to miss his time with
Benani, but he had a hankering for a beer and he had wanted to catch up
with Zandreu. "But I wouldn't mind a bit of a snack. What sort of
variations?"

"Hot savoury pastries, different fillings. Some fish ones that are very
tasty. I'll just get some organised for you." Zandreu glanced along
the bar as he turned toward the doors leading to the back of the Tavern
and the kitchens, checking that there was still somebody left serving at
the bar.

"Nothing too heavy." Zathris called at Zandreu's back. He leaned into
the bar and waited until the Tavern Master returned. "Going to join me?"

"If you're going to stay loitering at the bar, I can. We're down a
staff member - she has a sick child -," the older man explained, "- so
I'm having to pull my weight for a change."

"Then I shall loiter." There wasn't anyone else at the bar, though the
patrons at the tables cast sidelong glances at the Lord Holder who
visited it. Zathris could feel their eyes upon him, but he paid them no
heed. "I guess since you're on duty you can't partake."

"I don't, anyway," Zandreu said, surprised that the other man hadn't
noticed that, though many didn't.

"Oh that's right, I remember now." They'd had that conversation before.
Zathris lifted his mug. "Then I shall partake for both of us."

"If you partook in the way I used to we'd be delivering you back to the
hold in a wheelbarrow."

Before either man had a chance to say anything the doors from the
kitchen opened and a young woman popped through them, giving their
swinging a distrustful look.

"Er -," Rikka was a little flustered to find the Tavern Master talking
to the new Lord Holder. "I'll call in tomorrow and tell you about the
repairs, Master Zandreu," she said. "It's nothing urgent." She nodded
at the Lord Holder and retreated.

"Well," Zandreu said in surprise. "What's made her scurry off? I
thought you were friends with her?"

"Her?" Zathris' gaze cast toward the door that Rikka had so recently
brushed through. "We've talked before - she seems nice. Why?"

The Tavern Master frowned, wondering where he had gone wrong and then
thinking better of pursuing the subject. "I must have misunderstood.
Now, that food. I'll chase it up -" But before he could move away one
of the serving staff arrived with a platter of hot savoury pastries.
"Well, here they are. Do you need a refill on your drink?"

Zathris eyed his only quarter full glass. "Yes, but no more. I do have
more work I have to do." He plucked a pastry from the plate and popped
it into his mouth, grinding it slowly between his teeth. "This is
excellent!"

"I'll let Barthella know the Lord Holder approves, shall I." Along with
his teasing Zandreu handed the man his refilled glass. "She'll try not
to be impressed, I'm sure."

"Perhaps I should steal Barthella away and make her my personal cook."
Zathris teased in return as he took the proffered glass. He set it
aside, letting it warm a bit while he continued to sample the platter.
"Surely you don't need her."

Zandreu removed the platter from the Lord Holder's reach. "Any more
talk like that and you'll be banned from the Tavern and probably the
entire Hall. Steal Barthella, indeed!"

"Aw, come on, I was just joking." Zathris tried to look sorry but a
laugh escaped without permission. "I wasn't really going to take her away."

"You'd better not," Zandreu said with a wary expression as he returned
the platter to the bar in front of the younger man. "That would be
unforgivable."

"And we wouldn't want bad relations between the Hall and the Hold, now
would we?" Zathris quickly took a couple of pastries as if he feared
Zandreu might snatch the plate away again. "Wouldn't be good for trade
and whatnot."

"Just think what you'd miss out on. Drinking alone just isn't the
same." He spoke from experience, though there had been many Turns when
the whys and with whoms of drinking hadn't bothered him either way.

"Very true my friend." Zathris finished the two bits of food that he
had procured. "And I'd certainly hate to loose your friendship."

"And I'd hate to lose yours. Here, have another pastry. Seal the
bargain." He picked up one himself and held it up as if making a toast.
"To friendship."

Zathris took a pastry and saluted Zandreu with it. "To friendship!"

Last updated on the July 26th 2009

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