Boys' Night Out

     Close to the Faerie City Inn, a crash could be heard, and a yell. An air faerie in front of Faerie City Inn immediately shooed an old Grundo and his Kougra companion inside.

     “It’s the Dark General!” she cried.

     “B-Best leave that one to the experts!” a faerie Lenny added, shielding their face with a broom and backing up against a nearby house. “Ohhh, I thought I’d get some sweeping done tonight!”

     “So what if you defeated the Faerie Thief?” a Red Grarrl in a black bemedalled uniform roared, brandishing his sabre. “King Terask still has us! Long live the king!” He rushed forward, clashing blades with a White Blumaroo in gold-washed armour.

     “And Queen Fyora still has us!” A Red Techo clad in light chain armour blasted a Bionic Cybunny off their feet and into the nearest alley with a noisy clatter. Then the Techo trained his staff at the Blumaroo, whispering an incantation and creating a glowing beam like moonlight sprinkled with pinpricks of stars. “Here! Get that Dark General off our backs!”

     “Thanks!” Bracing himself, the Blumaroo grunted as he pushed back against the Grarrl, disengaged, and circled. When the Grarrl moved to strike, the Blumaroo feinted to the side, but had not accounted for the Grarrl kicking out at him, sending him into a stack of empty crates.

     “Rohane, you okay?” The Techo raised his staff again.

     “I’m fine,” said Rohane, reaching for his sword and quickly darting aside as the Dark General lunged toward him. “Your spell is still working, isn’t it?” He blocked the Grarrl’s barrage of slashes before turning one of his parries into a strike that sent the Grarrl’s sabre flying.

     But even disarmed, the Red Grarrl balled his claws into fists and threw a right cross, causing Rohane to stagger back. The White Blumaroo ducked under the Grarrl’s outstretched arm, whirled around and pinned him against the wall.

     “Now, Velm!”

     “Nighty-night, General.” After a mocking salute, Velm grinned mischievously and pointed his staff at the Grarrl’s head. The Dark General went limp, slid down the wall and crumpled on the ground as Rohane let him go. “Time to make a delivery to the Faerie City council office, and after that, what do you want to do?“

     “Huh?” Rohane raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean, what do I want to do? Aren’t you exhausted, tracking down one of Terask’s generals, fighting a Bionic Cybunny, and cleaning up in the city?” He reached up and touched his face, where the Grarrl had punched him. Already the bruise was beginning to fade.

     “Of course I’m exhausted,” said Velm. “But we’re right at Terask’s doorstep. When we enter Faerie Palace, there’ll be no turning back. So, why not have a boys’ night out? Besides, I don’t think the girls will be back yet from their scouting mission – “

     His words trailed off when he heard ominous metallic clicking and scratching. The Bionic Cybunny had staggered out of the alley, their red eye flickering back into malicious life, running their claws against the stone wall and creating a terrible noise that made Rohane wince and clap his sword-free hand to his left ear.

     “Can we talk about a boys’ night later?” he asked as the Bionic Cybunny reared up onto their hind paws and bared fangs of steel that glinted in Kreludor’s gaze.

     “You’re not invited, by the way!” Velm shouted at the Cybunny, twirling his staff. A silvery gossamer curtain shimmered in the air around himself and Rohane. “Let’s see you try and touch us now!”

     * * *

     Despite the dreary and dangerous outside, Faerie City Inn was bustling with energy and music. The air faerie played an upbeat tune on a violin, accompanied by the Grundo on the piano and the Kougra on drums, and complemented by the steps of several Faerielanders who had gotten up to dance. Scattered clinks and clanks and huzzahs marked toasts raised to Queen Fyora, to the Resistance, to Faerie City, to the four adventurers who had defeated the Faerie Thief and who continued to help Faerie City in every way – two of whom were seated at the counter, served eagerly by the earth faerie who poured them tankards of Delicious Faerie Bubbles.

     “Oh, think nothing of the tab, you can eat and drink all you want for free – it’s the least we can do,” the earth faerie said as she also set out two Faerieland Gourmet Burgers and a platter of Extra Cheesy Cheddar Crisps. “Especially after you tracked down that so-called Dark General still lurking about.”

     “Thank you very much, I’m starving.” Velm immediately picked up his burger. “All that spell-casting and running…and keeping you alive.”

     “What did you expect you’d be doing when you joined us? Sightseeing?” said Rohane acidly. “Mipsy told us herself, she really doesn’t do healing spells.”

     “Hey, I expected camaraderie too, at least,” the Red Techo replied with a wink before taking a swig of his tankard. “But don’t worry, we got that in spades.” He lightly punched his companion in the shoulder. “I don’t regret joining up with you as your resident healer, even if I complain about it every now and then. I lost my home to a deadly plague before I entered the Order of King Coltzan I, which became my home for years while I trained, and I’ve been on the road since…but travelling with you and Mipsy and Talinia? That’s the first time I’ve felt like I had a home. Still…I know that when this is over, we might be going our separate ways.”

     Rohane stared at him. “What are you – “

     “I know you and Mipsy have been away from Meridell for years. Talinia has a family, and a special someone, back in Terror Mountain. Khione, was it? I can’t really tear you away from your homes to stay with me, can I? I’ve long accepted that. Besides, you three helped me patch things up with Abiyah, and I’ve long gotten used to the life of a wandering cleric…“ Velm shrugged and smiled ruefully.

     The White Blumaroo sighed, focusing on his half-eaten burger.

     “Even if that’s true, and even if there aren’t any adventures left for us after this one…you know we’ll keep in touch,” he said solemnly. “We’ll write, we’ll visit each other, who knows? We could end up travelling again.”

     “Are you sure about that?” Velm looked him in the eye. “You said your childhood dream was to become a knight. You were about to be knighted back in Meridell when Terror Mountain sent a distress call about the Snowager’s disappearance. Then after that were the storms in the Lost Desert, the sun refusing to go down in the Haunted Woods, and now this. The way your face lights up when you talk about becoming a knight, becoming like your father…I don’t think you’re going to put getting knighted off any longer.”

     For a while, they remained silent. The trio of the air faerie, the Grundo and the Kougra had started up a slower song.

     “I hate when you read me like a book,” said Rohane, groaning softly. “But writing to each other and visiting, those are still on the table. Besides, Meridell does have roving knights and remote missions.”

     “You know, I expected you to push back a little. Say that time is of the essence and we have to get into Faerie Palace right away or something, since the Faerie Queen needs our help.”

     “Well, depending on how long it takes to find Queen Fyora in Faerie Palace and fight Terask, it’ll be a while before we can have a night out like this. After chasing down and defeating the Faerie Thief, it’s nice to relax and…just enjoy this part of our journey before we think about our next battle.”

     At first, Velm didn’t say anything, his expression inscrutable as he polished off the last of his Gourmet Faerie Burger and grabbed a handful of Extra Cheesy Cheddar Crisps.

     Then, he smiled, revealing a stray bit of meat stuck in his teeth along with a bit of cheese. He continued before Rohane could notice, let alone comment or offer a toothpick.

     “See, I told you a boys’ night was a good idea.” He took a long drought from his tankard. “Didn’t expect us to get real serious there, though.” Then, he slid off the stool and sauntered toward the dance floor – or rather, the portion of the inn floor that had been cleared for anyone who wanted to dance as the musicians switched back to an excitable jig that had more inn patrons up on their feet, cheering and clapping and stomping their feet in time with the rhythm. “Now, c’mon, let’s dance!”

     “Just because I said a night out was a good idea doesn’t mean I want to dance!” Rohane called out, swivelling around on his own stool. “You said we were going to the night market after this!” He sighed and shook his head but couldn’t help but smile as he watched a circle of admirers and dancers form around Velm.

     Forget the night market. Why do I feel like I’m going to carry you back to your room after this instead? That’s the one thing I’m definitely not going to miss when this adventure is over!

     The End.