Chương 156: Chapter 155 [Dinner And Dragons]

Leo and Shai walked back into the flat, hand in hand with smiles on their faces. He held the key up and gave it a shake.

"Done. Mike was happy for us but he seemed busy so it didn't take as long as I thought it might. Apparently he already had keys cut for the houses on this street in case more guards needed housing."

"Makes sense. They're all in the same area," said Sam.

"Congratulations again."

"Thank you," said Shai. She sat down beside Rika who looked at the key, then smiled.

"It's going to be weird just me and Torren. It's been like one big sleepover since we got here."

"I know. I'm only down the road though and I can't imagine we'll be separating other than when we go home so it's not like I'll be going anywhere."

"That's true." Leo smiled at everyone.

"Now that that's all sorted, want to go grab some food?"

"Sounds good to me," said Parmo. Their corner of the King John's was already occupied when they got there, familiar faces spread across the tables. Mars had his elbows on the table mid conversation with Aldric. Nessa was beside him picking at something. Bram sat at the end with a drink, unhurried. Sasha was with Sara and Davan. She noticed Phil the moment the group came through the door.

"Phil!"

"Settle down, don't go shouting my name in the middle of the pub."

"Sorry," she said with a grin.

"Can't I be excited to see you?"

"It's been what? An hour?"

"I have no idea how long that is. I was just telling my sister here all about you. Have you met Sara?"

"I have. It's weird seeing them sit here quietly without biting each other's heads off though. You two finally ca—""No. Stop talking. Please," said Sara, casting side-eye glances at her sister. Sasha didn't notice, her eyes still locked on Phil as he and the rest of the group reached the usual table and sat down. As they found seats, Mars looked up.

"There they are. Nicely done with the tournaments guys." He looked at Shai.

"Nice try on beating Kai. You got closer this year at least. I wouldn't be able to land a hit on him so well fought."

"Cheers, man," said Leo, echoed by the rest of the lads.

"Thanks Mars," said Shai with a smile. Aldric looked between Leo and Shai for a moment.

"So I've been hearing rumours." He looked at Nessa then back at the pair.

"Are they true?" Shai looked at him.

"If it's about me and Leo then yes." Aldric nodded. Congratulations moved round the table, warm. Bram raised his drink.

"So," Sam said, turning to Mars.

"Any luck with Victoria?" Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Mars sighed.

"Sadly not yet. She's a tough nut to crack."

"Right. Why not just cut your losses and just get with Nessa already. It's going to happen eventually. Might as well save some time." Mars laughed, loud enough that the nearest table looked over. Nessa turned to Sam.

"You are an idiot and I'm going to kill you."

"She was obviously missing you at the dance dude. I tried to get her to dance with me to take her mind off you but she wasn't having any of it," said Sam, a grin plastered across his face.

"I'm serious. I'm going to make training a living nightmare for you."

"And it'll be worth it to finally see my lonely trainer happy."

"Jesus dude, talk about asking for it. She looks like she's about to throw her fork at you," said Luka, while trying not to laugh. Sasha watched Nessa and Sam with interest.

"You sure it's Nessa who's after Mars and not you after Nessa?" Sam laughed.

"She wishes." Nessa rolled her eyes.

"I wish you'd shut up already. I can see why Diane is the way she is now." Sara, deciding this was her moment, looked at Phil.

"Speaking of. I hear you promised Sasha a date. You better treat my little sister well or I'll be paying you a visit."

"I'll show her round tomorrow, no need for the threats. Don't you have your own relationship issues to deal with?"

"I'm sorry, what?" said Sasha, excitement growing in her eyes.

"What does he mean sis? Have you finally found a man?"

"Nothing for you to worry about. He doesn't know what he's talking about," said Sara, throwing Phil a glare. Rika was grinning at the exchange and caught Sara's eyes. She pulled her phone out and started looking through it.

"Oh I got some nice pictures from the festival. Want to see, Sara?"

"No, no. I'm fine. Thank you, Rika." Sasha opened her mouth to speak when Lauren walked over. She set down a fresh round of drinks for Mars and the others before nodding to Leo and the rest of the group.

"The usual?" Lauren asked.

"Aye, please," Leo said. Lauren scribbled a quick note, tucked her pad away, and paused before heading back to the bar.

"D&D group's more or less ready to go, by the way," Lauren said, looking at the lads.

"Whenever you lot have a spare evening let me know and I'll set it up."

"We'll let you know," Sam said.

"Cheers, Lauren." She headed back toward the bar.

"While we're all here," Leo said.

"We've got some items we've been meaning to get your opinions on. You guys mind?"

"Not at all. We'll try to help as best we can," said Aldric. Phil's swords came out first, both of them laid flat on the table. Mars leaned forward. Aldric picked one up, turned it over, handed it back.

"Good steel," Aldric said.

"Those runes are unusual though. I don't recognise the script."

"Neither do I," Mars said.

"Whatever they do it's not the same as Marcus's work."

"Thought so. He said the same thing more or less when we spoke to him in Stonehall," said Phil. Parmo held up the quiver next, pulling an arrow that shifted as it cleared the fletching. Bram studied it without touching it. Sam placed the disk on the table. He'd had no luck figuring it out in the day or so since he'd received it. Aldric turned it over once and came up empty. Mars looked at it for a while, but had no idea either.

"I don't even know where to start with this thing," Sam said.

"Something to go off of would be nice. At the minute it could be anything. I don't know the first thing about runes so it's like trying to figure out an algebra without knowing anything about numbers or maths." Then Luka reached into his inventory and the egg appeared in his hands. The table froze. Weird weapons and runes was one thing, but the egg was another entirely. Mars stared at it, then sat back.

"Well now," he said.

"That is a beautiful egg." He looked at Luka.

"I have never seen one that colour. It's pretty big as well. Growlie's was like half the size of this one." Growlie raised his head from where he'd been sitting beside Mars. His nostrils moved. He looked at the egg, climbed carefully across the table and pressed his nose against the shell. Then settled down next to it. Mars watched the little dragon.

"He ignores other dragons completely. Acts like they don't exist." He looked at the egg again.

"Whatever's in there, must be special." Luka looked at Growlie tucked against the egg.

"So," he said.

"What do I need? When it hatches."

"Meat as soon as it'll take it," Mars said.

"Water nearby always. A space it can call its own, somewhere it feels safe. For Growlie that was somewhere dark and enclosed, under my bed for the first month." He paused.

"Gold dragon though, I genuinely don't know. Could be light. Could be warmth. Could be something stranger. Might even be actual gold."

"That'd get expensive really quick," Aldric said.

"Best thing I can tell you is get a few different things together before it hatches and see what it goes to. Dragons tell you what they need pretty quickly when they're young." Luka nodded, looking at Growlie pressed against the egg. Whatever it needs, I'll get it. Mars looked at him.

"Good. When the little one comes along, we'll help however we can."

"Thanks man. I appreciate it."