Xander beckons a fae over and orders a round of nymph nectars and faerywine. 'You're already tipsy,' Janie remarks, grasping Xander's hand. 'Do you really need more?' she questions.
'Yes,' Xander responds gloomily.
'At least order a meal to go with it,' Janie insists, a frown forming.
'Fine, I'll have whatever you choose,' Xander concedes.
Warrick gazes at him intently. 'You can't drink away what has already happened,' he states firmly.
'No, but I can drink away the guilt of what I've done,' Xander counters.
Warrick shakes his head with exasperation and understanding. 'Fine, I forgive you,' he conveys.
Xander's head jerks up, surprise evident in his widened eyes. 'You do?' he utters cautiously, unsure if Warrick's forgiveness is genuine.
'Yes, now can we order something to eat? I'm starving,' Warrick replies, his hunger outweighing any lingering resentment.
Half a dozen nymph nectars and half a dozen faerywines float to our table. Mister Kal jumps onto a nearby wooden rail, paying no attention to us. He sits quietly and watches the bustling tavern. The pixeleon flies from my shoulder onto the table, sits, and contently watches us.
I take a chalice and sip the nymph nectars. It tastes like apricot nectar but with a strong taste of vodka. ‘This is delicious. I think I like it more than the faerywine,’ I say, sharing my thoughts with everyone.
'Just be sure to drink it slowly,' Warrick cautions, a hint of concern in his voice. 'They're twice as strong as the faerywine. We don't need everyone nursing hangovers as we embark on our journey toward Arcanwood tomorrow morning,' he advises.
Xander orders the Mermaid's Serenade Seafood Platter, which has an exquisite assortment of delicacies from the depths of the sea—including grilled kraken tentacles and butter-poached mermaid lobster tail, served with seaweed salad and a side of enchanting sea foam dip.
Imogen orders the Phoenix Flame Pasta, its pasta tossed in a spicy phoenix pepper sauce garnished with shredded phoenix feathers and a sprinkle of phoenix ashes for an added kick. Warrick goes for the Mystic Meaty Moon Pie, which is a pastry filled with mysterious meat and also orders the Basilisk Stuffed Fin Bird, which is the breasts of a fin bird stuffed with basilisk meat and an added drizzle of basilisk blood. I order the mighty meat burger. The thick and juicy patty is made from a blend of mystical meats sourced from across the realm. The patty is expertly seasoned with a secret blend of magical herbs and spices, imparting a tantalizing aroma that entices my senses. It’s been flame-grilled to perfection, ensuring a smoky char on the outside while maintaining a succulent and tender interior. The burger is accompanied by enchanted fries, lightly dusted with pixie dust for a magical sparkle.
Afterwards, Imogen, Janie and I order a Unicorn Dream Sundae each. The whimsical creation features layers of rainbow-coloured ice cream, with puffy cloud-like marshmallows, garnished with unicorn-shaped sprinkles, pixie dust, and a golden horn wafer. It's a truly enchanting dessert. We smile with joy and wonder with every spoonful we each devour.
With our meals devoured and our satisfied stomachs settled, I am captivated by the moon's allure, its silver glow beckoning to my primal instincts. I take a sip of my third nymph nectar, and suddenly the moon appears slightly hazy, the potent effects of the drink blurring my vision. I resist the urge to unleash a howl, instead observing Xander and Warrick as they settle at the adjacent table, preparing for an arm-wrestling match.
'Ready to lose, just like old times?' Warrick taunts, a mischievous smirk adorning his face.
Xander's smile quirks slightly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. 'You've probably gone rusty from all those years in the witching woods,' he retorts playfully.
'Wanna bet?' Warrick replies, his tone taking on a deep, menacing quality.
'Yep, five gold coins,' Xander agrees, placing the coins confidently on the table.
'Deal,' Warrick responds, matching Xander's bet with his own set of gold coins.
Elbows firmly planted on the table, their hands interlocked, an onlooker readies them. 'And go!' he exclaims, prompting the spectators to also place bets on the outcome.
I watch their hands redden and the muscles in their arms tense as they exert force against each other, vying for dominance. Warrick initially gains the upper hand, but suddenly, a surge of pain courses through his arm as a bolt of magic shoots down it, allowing Xander to slam Warrick's hand onto the table.
'You cheated!' Warrick growls angrily.
'Did I?' Xander smirks, tapping his chin playfully.
'You used magic!' Warrick shouts, his frustration evident.
'You forgot to stipulate at the start that magic wasn't allowed,' Xander shrugs nonchalantly.
'It's always been the rules! It's a battle of strength, not magic,' Warrick grumbles, his disappointment apparent.
'Oh well,' Xander says, collecting the gold coins and deftly slipping them into his pocket before glancing in my direction. 'You better not be thinking of starting a howling session again,' he warns.
'How did you know I have urges to howl?' I ask, surprised by his insight.
'Because you had that same look on your face the last time you ended up howling throughout the night,' he reveals knowingly.
The pixeleon takes flight, seeking refuge under my hair, as Warrick rises from the table, extending his hand toward me with a wide grin. I raise an eyebrow sceptically at him.
'Your inner wolf is yearning to howl, and I need to release my own wolf and pay homage to the moon goddess. So, what better way to annoy Xander than to howl at the moon together,' he chuckles.
Xander rolls his eyes, resigned to the prospect. 'Of course, just like the old days, howling all night to ruffle me up,' he remarks.
Taking Warrick's hand, I swiftly gulp the remainder of my drink before placing the chalice down.
'Just like the old times,' Warrick tells Xander, leading me outside.
Slightly unsteady on my feet, I sway as we step out of the tavern. 'You know, it's not fair that Xander used magic. You should at least go and retrieve your five gold coins,' I suggest to Warrick.
Warrick smirks, producing a pouch with a gleam in his eye.
'Isn't this Xander's coin pouch?' I question, bewildered yet amused.
'Yep,' Warrick confirms, his smile widening.
'Did you just pickpocket him?' I exclaim in disbelief, bursting into laughter as the realization sinks in.
'He got what he deserved,' Warrick chuckles, revelling in the mischief.
'You two must have been like brothers before...' I trail off, a touch of sadness colouring my voice.
'Let's not talk about it,' Warrick interjects, his hand wrapping around my waist as he notices my waning balance.
'Oh, we're going moon howling, right?' I inquire, punctuating my question with an involuntary hiccup.