The Tavern of the Hall
Benjamin Crossworthy sighed and scratched his head. The chessboard in front of him had the majority of the pieces on the board for both sides, with only the Black Knight menacing the White Bishop and the White King huddling between his bishop and a pawn.
“Checkmate in one, Benjamin, mon ami.” The elderly woman on the other side of the table said, sipping from a clear crystalline goblet filled with deep red wine.
“Madame Gillee, you have beaten me once more… how you do it, I do not know.” Benjamin laid the white king on its side, conceding the game.
“I have had much practise. Aderyn loves to play chess when he visits me… amongst other things.” Madame Gillee pushed the high-backed chair away from the table. “I must make ready for your guest. Please forgive me.”
Benjamin stretched and looked around. “How do you know that he’s on his way?”
“Just a hunch.” The proprietess moved away, leaving the young man to put the pieces away in their carved wooden box. “Put that behind the bar, if you wouldn’t mind. You will soon be far too busy to play.”
Benjamin did as he was told, then put his jacket back on and straightened his tie and waistcoat.
Madame Gillee bustled around the empty common room, directing her automatons in their tasks. The tavern was quiet at this time of night, with all the guests asleep, so the mechanical marvels were careful and quiet as they completed their orders.
No sooner than Benjamin had put the chess set away behind the bar, than the door opened and a small purple dragon shot through, executed a perfect loop de loop and landed with an oof of expelled breath on the table Benjamin had cleared.
A small cloud of green smoke floated toward the ceiling, having been set free from the dragon’s throat by his landing.
“Thirrin!” Madame Gillee called out as she re-entered the common room from the kitchen. “You know how I feel about acrobatics in the Tavern.”
The dragon managed to look shamefaced. “I couldn’t help it. I just love flying in here.” His voice sounded inside both humans minds and carried a hint of mischief as Madame Gillee came over to greet him.
“You could at least try to remember the rules, Thirrin.” Benjamin said, extending one hand out to stroke the tiny reptile. “After all, Madame Gillee is possibly the only human that knows exactly how you like your steak and tea.”
An automaton entered bearing a tray. “Seared Steak, a bowl of Earl Grey with lemon, and a portion of Llanirstyri Strawberries and whipped cream for Master Thirrin.” It buzzed, its voice reminiscent of a giant bee, an impression aided by the black and yellow striped uniform it wore.
“I’d prefer you to call me Teacup the way she does.” The dragon reared back onto his hind legs, making room for the tray on the table top. The automaton placed it in front of him.
“Now, now, mon ami.” Madame Gillee stroked Thirrin’s wing ridge soothingly and he purred, sending more puffs of green smoke into the air. “You know I always call my guests by their full names. My automatons merely do as they are programmed.”
Thirrin shrugged his wings into a more settled position. “Now can you tell me why I’ve been summoned? I appreciate the food here, but the journey from the other side of Dracisealm to the Hall Door is particularly rough flying in the winter.”
Benjamin nodded and sat back down. “May I have some tea also, Madame Gillee. This is going to be thirsty work.”
“Of course, Benjamin.” Madame Gillee walked over to the bar where she tapped out the request on the console there.
Thirrin ate the steak in three or four neat bites, blood dripping down his jaw. “One of the beauties of mind to mind conversation; no need to clear your mouth to talk.” He looked at Benjamin. “What is going on?”
“The League of Time Correction have actually managed to get a Time Traveller on their side.” Benjamin said. “I don’t need to tell you how much danger that puts the Arkingvale corridor in.”
“So you want me to retrieve her?” Thirrin’s sigh splattered mashed strawberry across the table, “why?”
“Manners, Thirrin.” Madame Gillee said as she returned to the table with another automaton. “Just because you can speak with your mind, does not absolve you of being mindful of your tablemates.”
The automaton poured the tea for Benjamin and Madame Gillee before retreating to the bar.
“It may change the history of Arkingvale Nexus, but all it will do is create Arkingvale Q. I saw the door forming the last time I checked down there.” Thirrin said.
“I think we have a bigger problem than just Arkingvale.” Benjamin sipped his tea, grimaced and put a spoonful of sugar into it.
Madame Gillee rolled her eyes as he stirred it. “The balance in Arkingvale Nexus is very delicate.” She said. “Like all of the Nexus worlds, it is metaphorically close to Earth Nexus, but in Arkingvale’s case, the difference was an incredibly small change. You’ve not been a Hall Walker for long enough to feel the danger, Thirrin.”
“If the League succeed in their aim, they will disrupt the difference between Earth Nexus and Arkingvale…” Benjamin said, trailing away as Thirrin left off eating and sat up.
“…and set off a chain reaction that will make all the worlds will become one. So you need to take her back to Arkingvale to stop them.” He sounded dubious. “I’ll go find her, but I can’t guarantee that she’ll come back with me.” After slurping up the last of the tea Thirrin burped, producing a chain of smoke filled bubbles.
“Just do your best, Thirrin.” Madame Gillee said, gesturing for an automaton to retrieve the empty tray. “Bring her here at the very least, ma petite.”
“Yes, just get her here and I’ll talk to her.” Benjamin echoed, flinching as one of the bubbles popped over his head and he was showered with lemon scented tea
***
The Hall of Worlds stretched out forever in front of him, archways leading off of it at measured intervals, with the occasional solid door secured with a silvery lock.
Why did she have to go so far down the Hall? I know she was upset, but how far do you have to run to get away from your memories? Thirrin landed for a moment on the cool grey paving, stretching out his wings and tail until he could hear the individual joints crackling.
Around his neck, a golden chain bearing a matching watch, swung against the sea green scales of his chest. He leaned back on his haunches so he could use a forepaw to catch the watch and turn it so he could see its face.
Three sets of different coloured hands ticked round the dial, the quiet noise reassuring in the chill silence of the Hall.
Red for my personal timeline, Blue for Her timeline and Silver for the Tavern. He let loose a waft of green smoke as he sighed. I wish I didn’t have to do this; it isn’t fair.
Looking down the Hall again, Thirrin calculated how many entrances he had left to pass before he reached the one she had settled in. Another hour’s flight. Then I have to find her and then I have to bring her out to the Tavern.
With a thrust of his strong hindquarters, he lifted himself into the air high enough to get a decent down sweep with his wings and flew forward for twenty or so minutes, when something occurred to him. Hang on, what if there isn’t a door to the Tavern near her sanctuary world?
He turned his head to the nearest “wall” space between entrances and sniffed. Not here. We’d fall forever if we went through there. He paced forward for a while, his tail dragging on the stone and making a slithery, rasping noise. Was that… he sniffed the wall space again, No. But I’m close to one. I can smell steak searing over charcoal; how does Madame Gillee know when I’m around? His mouth watered.
His head slid through and he saw a glimpse of a wide cavern, large comfortable rock beds and a large roaring fire. Yup, that’s the Tavern. He pulled his head back out before anyone saw him and looked around. She should be just down here, if I remember correctly.
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