Taverns have been a staple of the aphuanian people for as long as there have been aphuanians, and while they’ve slowly changed over the years, they all share some consistencies. First, every aphuanian tavern features a long bar behind which a young bartender, often wearing an apron, can be found polishing a glass that has no business being polished. Second, each features round tables in its center, with smaller square tables along the sides for those who hate circles. Finally, and most importantly, every tavern has a corner that is impossible to keep well-lit. This is where the brooders gather, generally one at first, but soon several. They all huddle together in the corner, doing their best to look as threatening and mysterious as possible. This is very difficult to do however, as there’s only so much room for them all to work with, and it gets ridiculous once there’s more than three brooders in the same corner. This tavern was no different, but it did have the added bonus of being nautically themed - a popular choice for seaside bars.

Cheri took a cursory glance at the shell-shaped clock on the wall, and the ship’s wheel that was anchored beside it before taking a seat on the barrel that served as a barstool. She tapped the counter while Takir sat beside her, and the bartender stepped over, still polishing his glass.

“Can I help you?” he pressed.

“Yeah, I’ll take whatever I can get with this that isn’t watered down,” Cheri answered, plopping the two coins on the table.

“One ale, coming up,” the bartender hummed, taking the coin.

“Thanks,” Cheri waved him off, and the bartender stepped away to fulfill her order. “Well Takir, that’s it. We’re officially broke.”

“Nonsense,” Takir gave an assuring smile, “We’re just temporarily embarrassed.”

“Would it kill you to be a pessimist for once?” Cheri gave an amused huff as the bartender returned with her drink, “Thanks.”

“If it did, would you find happiness?” Takir smirked slightly.

“You kiddin’?” Cheri laughed, “With my luck you’d be hounding my ass from the grave.”

“I don’t expect a grave,” Takir snickered, and Cheri glanced at him, “You haven’t a shovel to dig one.”

“Very funny,” Cheri sighed, taking a sip, “We’d better find work soon though. I can only eat fish for so long,” she looked to the bartender, “Hey, any good rumors?”

“My memory’s a bit fuzzy,” the bartender hummed, “Unless you have the coin to jog my memory...”

“Nevermind,” Cheri waved him off, and Takir shook his head, “I’ll just eavesdrop.”

“Suit yourself,” the bartender shrugged.

“Would you exchange a rumor for a short song?” Takir offered, and the bartender glanced at him.

“Are you a bard or something?” he asked.

“I could be,” Takir smirked slightly, “I have been told I have a good voice for my songs.”

“Alright. I’ll bite,” the bartender pounded on the table, earning the attention of the other patrons. “Listen up! We’ve got a song for you!” he turned to Takir, “Go ahead.”

“Thank you,” Takir stood, and cleared his throat.

Thiiiiiis is a very short soooooooong!

Takir sat unceremoniously, earning several laughs throughout the tavern as the bartender shook his head, and several patrons clapped. Cheri held her head in her hand, but amusement was evident in her smile as pride filled Takir’s.

“I’ll admit, I haven’t heard that one,” the bartender gave an amused huff, “What do you want to know?”

“We are searching for work,” Takir hummed, “Something befitting a shalgras with... ambitious standards,” he couldn’t help the slight smirk.

“Hmm...” the bartender tapped his chin, “I heard there’s a band of knights forming up north, separate from The Jurors.”

“Oh?" Takir’s smile grew.

“Yeah,” the bartender nodded, “Might not be the largest operation, but someone was trying to spread the word yesterday. If that’s not enough for you, you could always try the warehouse on the other end of town,” he added as Cheri frowned, “It’s not the most luxurious work, but-”

“Let’s stick with jobs that sound like they’re worth somethin’,” Cheri took a sip.

“Are you really in a position to be picky?” the bartender raised an eyebrow.

“Honey, that’s the only position I’m in,” Cheri retorted, and Takir raised a finger, “Shut up, Takir.”

“Very well.” Takir shrugged.

“We’ll head up north, find these knights.” Cheri decided before looking to her brother, “Does that sound good to you?”

“I do enjoy swordplay," Takir smiled, and Cheri returned it.

“Then we’re in agreement,” she announced, “We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” a voice from behind stated.

“Fuck,” Cheri spat, spinning to find the guard from before, with the captain of the luxury ship standing beside him with some of his crew.

“Ah, friends of yours?” Takir smiled innocently, but the men drew their swords, “Ah... I see.”

“You’re under arrest, shalgras,” the guard declared as Cheri stood, “You’re charged with aggravated assault, on two counts.”

“Oh, I’m about to make it three,” Cheri gritted her teeth as she drew her sword, and Takir reluctantly did the same.

“Resisting arrest?" the guard frowned, “You’re making a big mistake.”

“I’m not letting this city take me.” Cheri warned, and the bartender calmly took cover as several of the patrons backed away, save for a hooded woman at the bar a few seats away.

With those final words, the fight had begun, and the guard stepped forward, slashing his sword at Cheri who blocked it with hers. The captain moved to flank her but was forced to block as Takir closed in to attack. He was quick to get put on the defensive, however, as the first mate pushed forward, stabbing at Takir who quickly stepped to the side. The guard gritted his teeth as he and Cheri clashed again, but she pushed him back, and he nearly tripped over the chair behind him as he stumbled. Quickly Cheri closed the gap between them, but another blade caught her own as she slashed at the guard, with eyes of hunger lingering on her from behind bandages.

“I told you you’d pay us back, you bitch," the man growled, and Cheri let out a pained grunt as he planted his boot in her stomach, sending her to her knees. “You’d better get used to being down- ACK!” a pained cry left his lips as Cheri drove a knife into his boot, pinning it to the floor before she forced herself to her feet.

“You don’t get to tell me where I belong!" Cheri snapped, and she drove her sword through the sailor, earning terrified cries from the tavern’s patrons.

“Celran!” the captain cried, breaking off from Takir to focus on Cheri.

“Cheri!” Takir shouted, blocking an attack as Cheri spun to meet the captain’s blade with her own.

“You’ll pay for this, sand-woman!” the captain snapped, striking again as Cheri was forced to block.

“What the hell’s going on here?!” a knight shouted as he burst into the tavern, and Cheri’s eyes widened.

“Sir!” the guard cried out, “These shalgras are destroying the place!”

“Is that so?” the knight frowned, and he drew his heavy claymore from his hip as Takir knocked the first mate back, “Enough of these games. You’re both under arrest, in the name of his holy light.” he declared, stepping forward into the fray as the woman at the bar turned to face the group.

“Sister... this is bad,” Takir stepped back, and Cheri did the same.

“We’ll get out of this Takir,” Cheri breathed, her heart pounding in her chest, “We’ll... we’ll make it.”

“She killed one of my men,” the captain panted, trying to catch his breath, “I want her head, Sir Knight.”

“So I see...” the knight growled, gripping his hilt tighter, “Very well.”

“Run!” Takir shouted, and he forced himself forward, slashing at the knight, who blocked his attack with ease.

“Takir!” Cheri cried, and the knight knocked Takir back.

“Don’t think you can toy with me!" the knight snapped as Takir stumbled, falling on his back as Cheri rushed to his side.

“Get up!" Cheri cried out, but a yipe escaped her as the knight caught a fistful of her hair, forcing her to her feet.

“Are you sure you want her head?" the knight pressed as Cheri struggled, “She took someone from you, didn’t she? Surely she should be forced to pay the same price,” he offered, and a twisted grin found the captain’s lips.

“Let it be so,” the captain cooed, and Cheri’s eyes widened.

“No... don’t take him!” Cheri scratched at the knight’s armor, but he threw her to the side.

“Cheri!” Takir reached for her, but the knight stepped between them.

“Your story ends here, shalgras,” the knight vowed, raising his sword, “May your sins be cleansed by my holy blade,” he breathed, but as he brought the blade down, a shot rang through the air, and a pained cry left him as his eyes darted to the seated woman, his sword falling to the floor with a heavy thud.

“You know, all I wanted was a nice fuckin’ drink," the woman sighed, smoke gently rising from her wheellock pistol as the knight gripped his bleeding hand. “But you assholes just had to make a scene," she shook her head, slowly rising to her feet as she holstered her gun.

“Who the hell do you think you are?" the knight growled as Takir crawled to Cheri’s side, the men thoroughly distracted by the interloper.

“A cocky bitch," the woman smirked, and as she let down her hood, the color drained from their faces.

Crimson locks cascaded over the woman’s shoulders, with a streak of pure white hanging over the right side of her face, which was covered in burns. She threw off her cloak, revealing the lavish black coat beneath it, and the cutlass that hung from her belt, which was quickly freed of its leather prison. The men stepped back, but the knight gritted his teeth, clutching his sword as Cheri helped Takir to his feet.

“You..." the knight hissed, “I’d heard your kind were seen in these parts.”

“Yeah, I can’t go anywhere without some asshole ruining the surprise," the woman winked at the knight, “So what are you waiting for? I just assaulted a knight. That’s got to be worth at least three assault charges, right?” the knight scowled as a small flame appeared in the woman’s hand, and Cheri’s eyes widened, “Oh, and use of magic. That’s illegal in Sevis, isn’t it? I’m a real naughty girl today. So, am I under arrest yet?”

“S-sir?" the guard pressed, and the knight stepped forward.

“Cocky indeed," the knight growled, and the woman’s smirk grew, “They’ll give me a new title when I claim your head, sea-witch!" he snapped, and he charged the crimson stranger.

The woman blocked with the same ease the knight had shown against Takir, forcing the knight back before she ran her hand over the blade, setting it ablaze. The guard intervened, rushing the woman, and her blade caught his as they locked in place. Without a second thought, she gripped the guard’s armor, and a bright flash blinded the onlookers as the guard was blasted back, his armor singed with a gaping hole in his burnt chest. The first mate went pale as he held his mouth, and the captain took a cautious step back as the knight gritted his teeth.

“She’s a monster!" a merchant cried as those left in the tavern rushed for the door.

“Give me more credit than that," the woman huffed, circling around the knight but stopping between him and the siblings, “I’m not the one that’s outnumbered. Really, you’re the sick fucks fighting these two with five.”

“It figures you’d side with them," the knight spat, “Criminals keeping criminals.”

“We were both just trying to enjoy a drink," the woman held out her arms, “Besides, sounds to me like she’s trying to get on the straight and narrow," she glanced back to Cheri who blinked at her, “It’s a shame. She’d make a pretty good pirate.”

“I- excuse me?" Cheri pressed.

“Later, hun," the woman waved her off before addressing the knight, “So... are you gonna make this interesting, or should I just wait for you to bleed to death?”

“I’ll cut that tongue from your mouth!" the knight snapped, and he pushed forward.

The two clashed, and the woman grinned as she parried the knight’s attacks. The two seemed to dance as they dueled, with the woman showing no signs of slowing down as the knight struggled against her. Every moment of their dance filled Cheri with awe, and every moment filled the knight with further exhaustion. All Cheri and the captain could do was watch as the woman made an example of the knight, but as Cheri’s excitement grew, the captain filled with dread. His skin went pale as he took a step back, towards the door, but the woman’s eyes darted to him as the knight made a final effort, thrusting his blade forward.

“Don’t leave so soon, captain!” the woman taunted, twirling around the knight’s sword before wrapping her arm around him, her blade pressed to his throat, “I want you to send a message to your crew.”

“I- Wh-what is it?” the captain gulped, and the knight struggled against the woman.

“Tell ‘em they’ve got one night." the woman warned, “The Tempest likes a chase,” she cooed, and her blade slipped, cutting across the knight’s throat as the captain’s legs took a life of their own, “What a bitch,” she huffed in amusement as the door slammed shut, and she looked around to the result of the chaos.

“I-... holy shit," Cheri breathed, earning the woman’s attention.

“You weren’t too bad yourself," she smirked at her, “Neither of you. Now come on." she gestured for them to follow.

“I- where-”

“Anywhere but here, dumbass,” the woman stated, “You think they’re gonna let us get away from this shit? Come on!”

“Right!" Cheri nearly chirped, but she grabbed her drink off the bar as she and Takir hurried after the woman, disappearing into the night as alarm bells filled the air.