The Fall of Rho-Torkis (Chimera Company Book 1) by Tim C. Taylor

Author:Tim C. Taylor [Taylor, Tim C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theogony Books
Published: 2021-02-01T22:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 35: Vetch Arunsen

Inside, the bar was eerily unchanged since Vetch had rounded up the troopers and made them accessories to mutiny.

Crumbled pastry was still scattered around Darant’s plate next to his empty tankard. His own table was being cleaned by the waiter.

It looked so normal, but it was not. His heart was pounding, and his hand was sweating as it gripped the hidden weapon that would be the means of his murderous intent.

But he saw no other choice.

He advanced on the door behind which Julius Shen was tucking in to a rich dinner, oblivious to his fate.

“I ordered heated pies to be delivered to the stables,” said Lily.

She was standing at the bar. He hadn’t even realized she was here.

“Figured we’d be needing them,” she explained. “As for you, Vetch Arunsen, come sit next to me and spend a moment before you do something you’ll regret.”

The waiter cleaning Vetch’s table froze.

“Sometimes you have to make a choice,” Vetch told her. “I don’t like either option, but my people need me to make a decision, and that’s what I’ve done.”

Earlier, Vetch had ordered the food and drink via the archaic standard tongue of the ancient Exiles, combined with a lot of pointing and miming. His words to Lily should be gibberish to the waiter, but the Littorane set down the stack of dirty plates and his cleaning cloth and tiptoed away in the direction of the kitchens. Literally tiptoed on all six feet as if doing so waved an impenetrable shroud of invisibility around him. If they were gonna get through this alive, Vetch wanted to understand the Littoranes a whole lot more. First, they had to get through today.

“You’re right,” said Lily, “but a good leader knows how to get themselves informed first. Then they make the big calls. So come here, big fella, and let me inform you. It’ll take three minutes, tops.”

Vetch looked at the Reserved for private use sign, then at the tail of the tiptoeing waiter as it disappeared into the sanctuary of the kitchens.

“Make it quick,” he said, and joined her on a humanoid-compatible stool.

“Already ahead of you.” She pushed a shot glass of dark liquid across the bar top and revealed an identical glass in front of her.

“Can’t let you go ahead with what you planned,” she said. “I’ve let you take on too much of a burden already. You can’t have something like this on your conscience. Not yet. It’ll eat away at you more than you realize. Besides, you’re an ignorant arse, Vetch. There are easier ways. Drink up and follow me!”

He made the mistake of sniffing the drink as he brought his heated glass closer. It looked like whiskey but had the aroma of bitter herbs steeped in hot urine. He tipped it down his throat and slammed the glass down. It tasted as bad as it smelt, but as the warm liquid slipped down his throat, it developed a delicious aftertaste of spicy honey.

“Not bad,” he said.

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