Deciding that it was still too early to go home and sleep, Tami nipped across the road to the local bar for some refreshments and jovial company. Argyle had gone back to his place, probably to have a cold shower or sleep it off. Tami was amused at his advances that night, even though they saw each other on a regular basis, that night he had been extra keen on; as he phrased it, "getting into her pants". Sitting down at the wooden bar, Tami looked around the warm and cosy place. It was still decorated with sea faring memorabilia and random stuffed shyrks. Everyone knew that the famous captain, who had lived in Arbo and discovered many interesting and stunning finds in the oceans around, had been a regular at this place. So much so it was named after him. The booths were filled as they always were, everyone loved to sit in the snug, leather crannies. Even though the temperature in Arbo never dropped below a warm, nearly humid air, folks would act like it was cold when it rained. An oddity but a charming trait at the same time.
"Ah Tami," Mr. Lombat bellowed as he approached her from the other side of the bar, "what can I get you?"
He had his regular look about him, an appearance everyone knew and loved. He was never miserable, always jolly and ready to help anyone with just about everything. Even after the passing of his mother, Mr. Lombat remained upbeat and confident in nature. He knew she had suffered greatly after losing a leg to one of those sea snakes in the war, the shock never went away completely and she gave in to her suffering two days before her birthday. In the aftermath, Mr. Lombat, or Enbo to his friends, had said that her long fight was over and she was at peace. Something that Tami took to heart especially after what happened to Tre...
"The usual please, Mr. Lom-"
The hearty man tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at her.
"... Enbo."
"That's better," Enbo laughed heartily and turned away to get her the usual, double gin and lemon. As he waited for the spirit to fill the glass from the dispenser, Enbo scratched his chin with his free hand. Tami watched him and smiled. HIs reddish hair turning grey made for some very interesting patterns on his face, especially seeing as he was, as most people in Arbo, very tanned. Standing straight he was quite tall, maybe just shy of the top shelf of drinks which was very high to most and a belly, growing steadily over the years. Everyone knew he'd been helping himself to the cooking in the pantry, which was usually overflowing with treats from the morning onward. The chef often scolded him for that but Enbo got away with it.
"Yer old man used to call me Mr. Lombat. Day in, day out. Even though I asked him, several times to call me Enbo..." The burly barkeep returned to her with her drink and for fun he put a paper umbrella in it. "He was a funny guy, yer Papa."
"Yes." Tami nodded and smiled at her friend. "Tre is a lot like him."
Enbo grinned and recounted something that her little brother, Tre had done in his bar a long time ago. The young boy had stood on the counter, waving a wooden cutlass around and proclaiming himself to be the great Captain Gaan but had promptly lost his footing and fell on the floor.
"Aw he had cried like a wee babe," Enbo leant back on the other side of the bar from Tami, crossed his arms and looked up as if to picture it in the air around him, "but a brave wee soul too. Even with tears in his eyes, Tre got up and walked-" he laughed and covered his mouth, "ambled more like, out the doors and up to the Lodge to see his Papa."
"I remember," Tami fiddled with the umbrella and smiled as she recalled Tre wandering in, a big bump on his back and tears streaming down his face, "nothing ever phased him."
Enbo looked at her and tried to not look too sympathetic.
"No past tense, my sweet," as he gathered her attention again, Enbo offered a gentle smile, "Tre wouldn't like that."
Tami agreed and shook her head before taking a drink. She shrugged at the sudden, unusual negativity on the situation before turning to the door as a familiar face wandered in.
With one leg bent up towards her face, Iilya lay on her stomach, completely naked on the bed and offered her friend a sleepy smile. Her skin was so pale, even in Arbo when the sun cooked anything all day; she remained as pale as an opal stone. She was so petite too, everything about her was so beautiful and pure. Her hair, flowing blonde locks that when standing, stopped just shy of her thighs. Her eyes, a light purple hue with flecks of silver. Her fingers, delicate and fragile but when used correctly, strong and forceful.
"I was waiting for you."
"So I see."
Iilya grinned as she bit one of those elegant fingertips, tilting her head round a little bit more causing her hair to shift and hide what was available to see of her chest. She knew this position was a favourite of her lover. She knew they would like to explore her body from this difficult stance, how it was not the easiest to access her private parts... They both enjoyed this approach.
"Are you cold, baby?"
Her lover joined her on the bed, removing his boots with a loud clunk as they hit the floor. She giggled at the noise and the feeling of him sitting on the mattress beside her feet. Turning towards her, Argyle ran his warm hand up her right leg as it remained straight and leant over and kissed her left foot. He listened to her sigh in happiness and moved himself up the mattress, his hand not leaving her for a second. Reaching one of his favourite destinations, Argyle placed one soft kiss to her buttock and smiled at her.
"Nope. Aren't you cold?"
Iilya giggled and rested her head on her hands by the pillow. She could feel him ascending her frame and how sweet it felt, how familiar and yet different at the same time. She felt his fingers trace her thighs, his weight on the mattress and his breath on her lower back. She wanted to turn around and let him touch her everywhere but knew that the anticipation was far too delicious to do that. Besides, there was so much more for them to do before that.
"I'm hot..."
Argyle looked up at her as she peeked over her shoulder at him. Resting his hands on the bed on either side of her, the tall man leaned in close to her neck which was covered by her hair and exhaled loudly at her ear.
"That you certainly are."
Their laughter was infectious and many of the other customers found themselves smiling and laughing along with the two friends at the bar. From first glance you could mistake them as siblings, similar hair colour, ears, eye colour but those who knew them were aware of the differences. Even the two of them recognised their similarities and it was often a joke they used in other towns to get deals as siblings were a rarity now in Bahndett. Too many families were torn apart during the war, too many young men sent off to die and too many young women taken by disasters. Jolark often regailed his friends with tales from other places he'd been and the knowing that many siblings had been now separated helped Tami with her own loss. Although she knew she was one of the lucky ones.
"How's Ulo doing?"
Jolark nodded through a mouthful of ale and set the glass back down on the bar.
"He's fine. At first I thought he was missing Clio and was miserable." Picking up a spare coaster, Jolark played with it in his fingers. "But he's very happy with me. We stopped off to see Clio and Kurym recently-"
"Oh!" Tami beamed a smile at him and touched his hand with hers. "How are they?"
Jolark looked at her and judged how to respond to her honest and excited question. Knowing that she knew Kurym from the past, back when she lived in Usheb Valley with her mother and that they had been very close. Her eyes sparkled under the lights over the bar, causing Jolark to change his initial answer.
"They're very well," he took a sip of the ale and nodded again, "still madly in love with each other."
Tami laughed and admitted she knew those two would never break up. Although her and Kurym had been close, he'd only ever had eyes for Clio and that was perfectly fine for Tami. He wasn't her type and she loved him like an older brother.
"No puppies I take it."
Jolark burst out laughing at the thought of either of them but especially Kurym being a parent.
"Definitely not," he swirled the remained of his drink in the glass, "far too busy with each other in the bedroom or shower or kitchen."
Both of them laughed together and enjoyed the merriment. One thing about Bahndett that Jolark enjoyed especially was how so many people knew each other and the links joining the towns and cities. So many stories woven together in their own special ways.
"So, where are you off to next?"
Jolark was subdued suddenly and pondered if he should tell the truth or lie. He knew Tami would not like his answer but he had already hidden something from her that night.
"Lengrat."
Tami froze with her glass at her lips.
"Why," she turned to look at him, "what takes you to that place?"
Her friend looked at the bar and sighed. He had to go there, he had to get answers. His journey demanded that he get those much needed answers for what had happened. But he really did not want to run into him.
"No choice."
Seeing his discomfort and not wanting him to be upset, Tami placed her right hand on his shoulder.
"If you like, I could go with you." She smiled at his head shake. "It's fine, I'll have Adanas look after the Lodge while I'm away."
"No, thank you." Jolark placed his hand over hers. "Besides, I don't have any care for mechia."
Tami glanced at her mechia arm on his shoulder and admitted defeat for joining him in moral support. As a replacement arm, the mechia offered all the things a regular arm did but they did require maintenance on a regular basis. Another reason Tami was happy where she worked, easy access to any repairs her arm needed. Her brother used to tend to it for her but now he was gone, she had to try herself. Argyle was on hand, when he bothered to show up for work, to help if she needed it but overall Tami managed.
"Okay, but please be careful. Lengrat is dangerous still."
In the hotel, Ulo was investigating their room and discovering all breeds of dust. This place was not as clean as the owner would have you believe. Ulo remembered Mr. Yutoh from their last visit. A miserable man with strange pink hair all swirled up on top of his head. He looked like one of those ice cream treats children used to eat in Arbo. Not since the snakes invaded and the residents lost their ability to reap the sea for the weeds needed to make it. That and there were no children here or in the nearby Lengrat. Ulo searched his memory banks for the last time he had seen a child.
****Scanning: Children in Arbo. . . .
Tyliu 472 . . . 89 souls detected
Ulo refreshed the search as he noted a fair number of those would have been visitors to the town.
****Scanning: Local offspring in Arbo. . . .
Tyliu 472 . . . 25 souls detected
Lying down beside Jolark's backpack on the floor, Ulo's eyes flashed as he searched for the last one he saw.
****Scanning: Last child seen in Arbo. . . .
Tyliu 476 . . . 1 soul
Ulo stood up and trotted out of the room that had been left ajar by Jolark in case the little tynko fancied a walk somewhere else. Mr. Yutoh was standing at the reception desk, reading a strange looking magazine when Ulo approached him. The movement of something at ground level caught his eye and he turned to look at what it was.
"Oh it's you." Mr. Yutoh leant on the desk as Ulo sat looking up at him. "Well? What can I do for you?"
Ulo wondered how to get this man to understand him and tilted his head.
"I'm not a mind reader." Another sneer on the thin face, followed by a long sigh as he walked around to the tynko and picked him up. Holding Ulo at arms length, Mr. Yutoh sat him down on the desk and sighed again as the metallic dog trotted over to a pile of papers. Placing his paw on the top sheet, Ulo vibrated as his system allowed him to print out his last scan. The pink-haired man watched and raised an eyebrow.
"What's this?" Picking up the newly printed paper, Mr. Yutoh read the words to himself, mouthing them as he did so. "Children. You'll be lucky if you see another child in this town. Parents keep them away now, it's too dangerous."
Ulo sat down and looked at the man as he leant against the wall behind him.
"You're wondering about that one soul, aren't you?" Mr. Yutoh bit a fingernail as he tried to work out who it might have been on that date. Most of the town's child residents had been sent inland and away from any threats from the sea the year before Tyliu 476. The year that dreaded beast in the sky descended.
"Tyliu 476 was the year the kryken arrived." Brushing his tiny mustache with one finger, Mr. Yutoh took the paper over to the tynko and shook his head. "I would think that whoever that soul is, was killed by the demon and its fire."
Ulo looked down and wondered if this was true. It had to be, why would Mr. Yutoh lie about something so cruel? Deciding on this, Ulo jumped on to the seat beside the desk and down to the floor again. Offering the man a little head nod in thanks, the tynko scampered back to his room leaving Mr. Yutoh reading the paper in his hand again.
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