Dragon Aster Trilogy

6: UNICORN



Urio’s tavern was crowded as usual, being set in the center of the Harbor, but the number of humans present was enough to unnerve Hain. He put his leather sheath that held his sword down on the table where his old friend sat. “You know I love our date nights and all, but is there some reason you have so many more humans in your tavern?”

“A human’s psi can scream a hefty distance. If the Falls decides to try and snipe us out while we’re here, then it won’t go unnoticed,” Urio replied, looking from the window to his friend.

“Half of these aren’t customers, but starving, abandoned slaves.”

“Did you not learn any charity from the High Priest all these days?”

“Oh, like the kid has something to teach me. That’s funny. And I never want to have to look at another human again after all I’ve been through,” Hain grumbled back, and rested his head on his sheath.

“You’re just exhausted.” Urio set his hand on the glass of beer before Hain could lift it off of the table. “Go upstairs and get some sleep while Kas rests, you’re no use to me half-conscious. The alcohol will still be here when you get back.”

“The world is being murdered, starved, on the brink of an all-out war and ready to be set on fire, and you want me to sleep?” He swatted Urio’s hand off of his cup of momentary salvation.

“When the caels don’t want you to see the future anymore, they can blind you out. What is this Aeger, if not a blindness created by the gods?”

“You’re good at seeing the future, but nowhere close to what I’ve seen.”

“A few other ayame have seen what you have as well, before the blackout as of late. The Vision of the Awls being burned in Atrum City.” Urio sat up straighter.

“Well, as long as Vanir is alive, he won’t burn the ones who make his tyranny easier. That and my kind are the only ones who can take on the dragons, effectively keeping them off of our side of the world. The Falls are taking more of our hospitality than we offered, and eventually they will bite off more than they can chew. Until then, I need another beer.” Hain lifted his arm to summon a server. He was surprised when Feryl came over to the table with another glass.

“Sad how this once-famous Pack of Runners is now serving beer and waiting tables, while our former Boss remains our best drunkard. Good to see that you at least hung onto preaching how life sucks.” Feryl tucked his black and white-streaked hair behind his ear.

“I’m proud of you, Feryl,” Hain mocked, as he took a sip of his beer. “Urio actually found something you can do without screwing up.”

“Ha ha. Enjoy your beer, Boss. The next one I won’t guarantee what I put in it.” Feryl left then to attend to other customers.

Hain only shook his head. He had been poisoned before, and it was interesting in the least.

Urio laughed, as he remembered the rogues taking off terrified at the sight of Hain’s true form that he concealed with his human-weave of Thread. Unless he was unconscious.

“Bunch of dumbasses those guys were. After all the trouble they went through to kidnap me, only to take off and leave me tied up to die.”

“Three days.” Urio chuckled. “It took me and Feryl three days to find you in that gutter of a hole they dragged you into.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Hain replied. “I can’t believe they thought I was still a Custos who they could ransom off. Kas would sooner pay them to kill me.”

“The kid doesn’t hate you, since you’re still useful. We were much the same to you once, and you dropped us when we became useless.”

“I didn’t drop you guys. But it’s just not the same as before,” Hain objected.

“You mean without Kira holding us all together.”

“Yea…” Hain sighed.

“Well, the Sanctus has lots of Callers now. Including the ones from Jasper’s town. Is it true a single kyrie made a mess of the town of Berion?”

“They say it was Kas’ pet kyrie, because whatever did it didn’t leave any trace of its memory behind to blame otherwise. But an Aeger kyrie can’t flatten a town with Thread, or even a stampede of its kind.”

“Who do you think did it?” Urio asked.

“Kas and Sybl were attacked in the Keol by Daath.”

“Daath?” Urio replied, choking his own drink back up. “As in the Eminor of Damek?”

“Yea, that one. Only it didn’t look to have its soul with him. But Daath would have that kind of power. Jasper isn’t a pup, and neither is his ayame.”

“Where is it now?”

“I don’t know. Sybl was the last one to see it, and now…”

“Poor girl.” Urio sighed. “Well, don’t give up hope yet. If she is the reincarnated Caelestis, then I doubt Aragmoth’s Keol would kill her.”

Hain looked out the window, not so sure. A white unicorn stared back at him. He immediately let go of his empty glass, until it clicked into his foggy head that it was just another masked somnus. “You win this one.” He hastily picked up his sword, and pushed his chair back with his legs as he got up. “Let me know if Hell surfaces before I wake up. Better yet, don’t.”

Urio chuckled as he watched Hain walk through the chairs and patrons, before heading upstairs. He looked out the window and pushed his long white ponytail to his back, trying to see what Hain did. But only the colorfully dressed crowd attending the Lunar Festival continuously passed by, in a steady stream of thirsty customers.