Having a drink

Chapter eight of ten, I listened to Blinding Lights for at least one hour on repeat while writing this, thank me for it later.

Have a good one and remember, if the novel gets like 100 pps by Friday I will do a triple release on the weekend.

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The sun has set many hours ago now, and yet, the harbor district is still noisy even deep into the night. The reason for that is the feast organized by Olek and his wife at the only tavern in the lower areas.

He had kept his word and, after waiting around while sipping on another foul-tasting brew, the preparations were complete. The drunkards were kicked out and only myself, my guards, henchmen, Olek and the madam, and some servers from her establishment carrying around freshly cooked food around the tables were left inside.

I also got my hands on the famous quality alcohol, not gonna lie it is potato vodka, period, that's about what it is, very clear very strong, and served in a bucket, to me that is, Olek is extremely protective of the stuff, when one of the henchmen tried to drink some he got smacked over the head.

I was quite unwilling to just chug vodka raw, but, when it comes to it, it's either the grog, juice, or vodka, and I ain't drinking kiddy beverages on my first night out in months.

So here I am right now, sitting next to my new armrest with a half-empty bucket of vodka by my side. I quite regret giving this away now, its such a good armrest, quite fluffy and solid feeling, smells quite foul tho, should wash it.

I turn and look at the thing I'm using as support not to fall off the chair, it is a long white shape sitting on top of three stools due to its length, even if I lean onto it, it barely budges.

Vulnog heads are so handy. When they are neatly removed from the body of course.

The revelry has been going on for a while, and I drank enough not to feel the chill in the air anymore, plus, giants are very loud when they want to. Usually, they grumble in a slow low voice, when they get excited both the volume and the pitch change, it is quite unpleasant, even more so with the headache settling in.

Still, I've been feeling quite odd for a while now, there's a tingling feeling going up and down my spine, this is not the alcohol and I feel like I felt it somewhere before, can't quite recall where.

''Boss!''. Ubam walked up to me while carrying his own bucket of what I assume to be grog and a half-chewed bone.

''What is..uhh..it''. I shouldn't have spoken, I swear my stomach just did a front flip.

''What are you doing Boss, it looks dangerous''. Dangerous, not at all.

''It's fine, don't worry about it, I know what I'm doing''. I straighten my back and remove the hand I had on the knife, it was stuck in nicely, right in between the teeth of the Vulngos giant maw.

''I really don't think you should do that Boss, it's not good to play with the remains of stronger beings!''. He's also drunk, judging by the red face and shivering jowls he's a goner, worse than me I swear.

''Bah, I don't believe in any of that stuff anyway, ghosts and monsters don't exist anyway!''. I lean back down and grab the knife again before trying to dislodge it from the monster's teeth, it wouldn't quite budge.

''What are you talking about, ghost and monsters do exist..''. Silly giant, just because I'm playing with a nightmare creature's head doesn't mean others exist, it's preposterous.

While preparing to give a speech to my subordinate the chill on my spine becomes stronger, strong enough to cause my back to twitch and straighten. Must've been the wind, it's quite cold at night, yeah.

''Now listen here Ubam you should know that..''. My words get caught in my throat, for something unexpected happened. The large wooden entrance door swung open and a woman came in, it is hard to perfectly see her features but just looking at her makes my throat feel dry and my limbs lose strength.

Feeling myself start slipping off the chair I use the head as support and straighten myself. Ubam just stood there waiting for me to finish my speech while chewing on a bone.

''Go away Ubam, I've got more important things to do right now''. He stops chewing on the bone, gives me a confused look, shrugs, and goes back to the other dead drunk giants.

As for myself, I prepare, both physically and mentally, a beautiful lady just walked into a bar, it would be rude not to try anything.

First thing first I straighten my cape, the shoulder supports had dislodged themselves in the revelry, I take off my hat and pass a hand through the fuzz on my head, the hairs growing back, it won't be long now old friend.

Smacking the hat a couple of times I put it back on my head, and with the agility of a leopard I almost fall off the large chair, only reason I didn't taste the floor is the armrest acting as a support.

Now on my own two feet, I lock eyes on the woman who still had not moved from the now-closed door. No one seems to pay her any attention as she stands there, good.

Step by step I get closer, when I reach halfway through the room, her eyes twitch and move to match mines, I freeze.

She isn't tall, yet she isn't small either, her whole body is being covered in leathery clothes, yet, oddly enough she has no cape, an absolutely crucial item to resist the cold.

Her long legs are covered by thigh-high leather riding boots. There is a beautiful black belt coiled around her waist, holding in place her trousers.

Yes trousers, she is the first woman not to wear a skirt that I've seen since coming here.

Her upper body is covered in clothing matching her lower outfit, the colors of black and brown being dominant with some silver accents here and there. The only skin visible is present on the hands and face, and what a face it is.

Taking a step closer I lick my dry lips, should've drunk some more.

She has long wavy black hair held using a silver hairband and resting over her shoulder, flowing down from her beautiful neck to her modest yet still impressive breasts.

The more I looked the drier my tongue got and the worse the tingle in my spine became.

Her skin is the color of rich wheat and her eyes remind me of a piece of rusted corrugated iron, oh no, that is rude to say about the eyes of a lady, how about the splendid color of a maple leaf in autumn, yes, much better.

Our eyes locked once again, she must've noticed me ogling her, no matter the dimension it's still considered rude, thankfully her expression does not change, she just stares right at me, does that mean she's interested I wonder.

Encouraged by the idea I take a wobbly step forward, the reason I don't stumble over is due to my sheer unbreakable will and the fear of looking ridiculous in front of the lady.

The closer I get the more nervous I got, it's been months since I've spoken properly with the opposite gender, this is going to be bad.

Now standing a few steps in front of her, our eyes still locked in a staring contest. She is more beautiful up close, must be the alcohol.

Preparing myself I take a deep breath of cold air and say. ''Excuse me'' she does not react. ''Miss?''. This time she moved, her eyes leaving mine for a split second before returning.

Without any further movement, she says. ''Are you talking to me?''. Her voice was low and her tone was not the one of a question, it was more so one of reserved surprise.

''Of course'' I say. ''You are the only lady here are you not?''. Very smooth me, should've had some more liquid courage before opening my mouth.

The tingling is getting worse, is this cowardice I feel.

She looks up and down my body with her eyes before settling them on my face. Not like there much to see, all but my head is covered by my very expensive burgundy cloak.

''Am I truly?'' She has a strong, low voice, if she whispered into my ear my legs would go weak, no question about it.

Here goes nothing. ''But of course. Would you like to accompany me for a drink?'' I gesture to my seat next to the head. It is holding a knife in its mouth like a man would a cigar, made my lips go up in a smile.

She followed my hand movement without saying anything, seeing what I was pointing at her expression finally changes, a light frown now adorns her face.

Seeing this I add ''There is no need to worry, that right there is what remains of a beast haunting the nearby woods, I have taken care of it''. On my own, no joke.

She takes a step towards the head and therefore towards me then stops, her frown growing deeper.

She must feel uncomfortable about a decapitated head, make sense. With her this close I stretch out my right hand from under the cloak and grab her left one, it was very soft and cold, my legs stiffened as I felt the texture.

She didn't move from where she stood, she didn't even add any strength to her grip, the only thing keeping her hand up was my own holding hers. If it was only that it would've been fine, problem is that it was not only that, her lack of movement came accompanied by a sudden change in expression, a much larger, violent change than before, namely her eyes widened and her head spun towards where our hands were connected.

The look in her eyes gave me a bad feeling, which, when accompanied by the ever-increasing chill going down my back partially brought me back to my senses and made me realize I just grabbed a lady I met mere moments ago.

So I let go.

And with a somewhat downcast voice, I say to her. ''My apologies miss, the joyful atmosphere and the alcohol must have gotten to my head, do not mind me and continue on with your night''

As I had let go, her hand fell right back to her side, a sign she truly wasn't expecting the sudden contact and the even more sudden release.

Her eyes narrow slightly and turn to me, this, combined with the frown don't diminish from her beauty, I would even go as far as to say that it adds a certain charm to it.

The chilly air had already started cooling down my head, the buzz that gave me confidence is slowly going away, the worst part is that I am keenly aware of it.

Looking at her face I am stuck waiting for the inevitable, the rebuke, only it never comes. she just gazes at me and says nothing. Well, no words are needed, so I lift a foot and prepare to turn around only for a soft, new sensation on my chest to stop me.

The tingle I kept feeling in my back vanishes only for my whole body to freeze up.

Gazing down I can see that the lady took a step forward and stretched her right hand to touch me in the middle of my chest, her soft fingers making a stark contrast against the burgundy cloak.

With her eyes still locked on me, she lifts her left hand, palm facing upwards, and says in an even tone.

''Hand''.

It did not feel like she ordered me to do anything, but her actions could be considered the universal symbol of 'give me your hand', and as much as I don't want to be ordered around, the lingering softness on my palm and the buzz produced by the alcohol that was quickly returning due to her being close enough to touch made me do it.

Lifting my right hand I am left with one choice, place my palm onto hers or grab her hand from underneath, I most certainly will do the second one.

It takes but a moment for my much larger hand to cover her waiting opened palm from below, she showed no surprise this time, after all, she asked for it.

All this time I did not take my eyes off her, and I can say with full certainty that the moment I took her hand the small frown on her face vanished followed by a full-faced smile showing teeth whiter than mine.

With very little strength she frees her hand from mine before grabbing it once more, this time our palms are touching, and her small, cold fingers were intertwined with my stiff ones.

''You said you wanted to have a drink'' The smile intensified and my face felt oddly hot, she continued

''Let us have a drink then''