Drinking contest

Darla was looking at the foreign face confused. He had gold blond hair in the style of a theatre artiste that crested above an oval face. He was tall though not as tall as Daryn and a slender figure. He had green eyes. Plus a carefree smile on his face that irritated Darla a bit. "Daryn who is he?" She asked.

"Hey love. I'm just an old friend" Eric replied for Daryn who looked stunned speechless.

"Old friend, Daryn knows no one from Azra except me" Darla said challenging the man who claimed to know Daryn.

"Ah_" then Eric looked at Daryn then at Darla. Understanding hit him then. His friend was trying to woo this lady. Well, as a good friend he will not ruin his friends hardwork...

"Oh don't mind me love. Daryn here, bought some things from my shop and we became friends of some sort at that time....two hours ago. But time has passed you know...." Eric said with a hand on Daryn shoulder.

"And that is why you called yourselves old friends?" Darla asked amazed at the man's explanation on old friendship. Eric stilled. Already tensed. Then Daryn finally spoke.

"Eric meet Darla my companion. Darla this is Eric...an old friend"

Darla raised a brow

"Hmm i see. Nice to meet you Eric" Darla said bringing her hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you too miss" Eric accepted the handshake.

"Ok. Daryn lets head back to the inn. We don't have time on our side" Darla said as she started lifting the bundle of the ground.

"Wait. Where are you guys going?"

"We are supposed to go back home today and we don't have much time" Darla said as she strode ahead.

"Home?" Eric looked at Daryn. "Have you married her already?"

Daryn shook his head. "Too many questions Eric" then he carried his own bundle and followed Darla. Eric stood where he was stunned for seconds before he finally followed them.

They reached the inn and by then it was already evening. The sun had set. Daryn and Darla exchanged knowing glances and walked to their seperate rooms with the goods and Eric followed Daryn.

Daryn dropped the bundle at the foot of the bed where he had kept the others. When he was done he looked at Eric who was busy with his wrist button. "How did you find me Eric?"

Eric raised his head to look at him. "The local market," he said it in a manner as if it was obvious.

Daryn scoffed. "Don't give me that shit"

"What shit Daryn?" Eric replied still acting clueless and dumb. This agitated Daryn further. He made three quick strides to Eric and gripped the collar of his shirt and shoved him on the wall lifting him off the ground.

"Being a champion of Apollo, navigation shouldn't be your problem right? Plus its so damned obvious you have been on my trail for a long time now Eric."

"Oh, so just because i am Apollo's champion i cannot look for my friend without having ulterior motives?" It was Eric's turn to be pissed. They stared at each other for a while as Daryn measured him. Then he left his collar and Eric's feet found the wooden floor again. "I see you got stronger eh" Eric said as he arranged his shirt collar.

"I need a drink" was the only response from Daryn. Eric watched as Daryn left the room and walked to the stairs. He sighed and followed him muttering something about a hot head.

When they had reached the busy parts of the inn, Daryn walked straight to the bar. He asked the bartender for a drink and took a seat. Eric scanned the halls for sometime before joining him at the bar.

"I expected you to ask why i came looking for you in the first place" Eric said in a sulken manner

"To be honest Eric, i don't care" the bartender arrived with Daryn's drink and kept the mug next to Daryn on the table. Eric seeing his friend had made an order, quickly ordered for his.

"I'll take what he is having" he said

The bartender nodded at his request and went to brew another mug. While Daryn chugged his down in one go.

"Daryn, the tournament is going to be different this time"

Daryn snorted. "It is always different. Its what makes it thrilling....at least to those organising it." He sipped from his mug but it was empty. Just then the bartender arrived with Eric's mug.

"Another fill please," Daryn asked. His voice deepening.

"Ok sir" the bartender said and took his mug to brew him another.

"Yuck!" Eric exclaimed in disgust. "What is this?"

Daryn looked at him amused. "Its called ALE friend. Have you not had one before?"

"No." Eric said shaking his head. "And its terrible."

"Don't hate the drink just because you can't take it" the bartender arrived with Daryn's drink and he gladly collected it and chugged it down his throat to Eric's horror. When he emptied the mug he dropped it on the table and was about to ask the bartender for another.

"Here, you can drink mine." Eric said passing him his mug.

"Sorry mate that one is on you. I ain't paying for your drink today"

Eric gave him a flat look. "And what made you think i can't pay for my own drink?"

"Histories my friend....Histories" Daryn replied as he collected his third mug from the bartender and chugged it down his throat. Eric grimanced then tried sipping his own mug.

Daryn called the bartender and asked for a fourth mug. The bartender by now was already looking horrified at the man sitting before her but she still left to fill him another mug. Maybe this mug will knock him out.

"Daryn I was serious. Things are changing." He sighed as he noticed Daryn was still the least interested. "For one, we have a champion that refuses to die and has made it his objective to wipe out possible contenders.....fellow god chosen champions"

Daryn stilled when he heard the last part. He turned to Eric to measure if he was saying the truth. Reading no lie from his friend, he turned to his drink that had just arrived. He paused for a few seconds then he took the mug and chugged the brew down his throat.

He dropped the mug on the table with a bang and cleaned his mouth with the back of his palm. Then he arose from his seat.

"Wait you're leaving, i thought you planned to drink the whole evening." Eric asked. Sarcasm dipped in his voice. As he drank what he could from his mug.

Daryn snorted. Slapping his friend on the shoulder he turned for the inn stairs to go to his room but he had not even left his old friend's side when he saw Darla watching him from the edge of the bar table they were sitted with folded arms. Beside her was little Arya.

"Darla," Daryn looked surprised and pleased to see her. If anyone listened properly, adoration was there too.

"I looked for you in your room but you where not there. I wanted to speak to you concerning our journey back home."

Daryn's eyes shot to Anya's face immediately. 'Has she told Darla already? But i didn't agree to anything'

"So what do you plan" he asked as he started walking towards them. Trying not to stare daggers at Anya.

"I suggest we make trip for home tomorrow. Its already late and we will have advantage with the day"

"But we are not disadvantaged at night," Daryn asked a brow raised. Then he wanted to punch himself after. If Darla felt tensed though, she did not show it.

"I just meant with the trails robbers thats all. They rarely rob at daytime."

"Hmm...then its fine. I'll be_"

"Though Daryn i didn't know you could drink that much, and you are still standing?" Darla interjected him.

Daryn paused for a second before he spoke measuring his word properly. "I didn't know either until earlier at noon. Alcohol doesn't affect me."

"What?!" Anya exclaimed. Shock painted across her face. Even Eric that was at hearing distance from them was shocked. He could not believe it either. But he had seen it first hand after his friend gulped four mugs of ale in his system and he is still standing too.

Haa no more drinking competitions with this guy.

Darla was the only one that did not display any shock. Either she suspected because of the mutated blood or she had known all along. Daryn was not sure.

"But still i insist on a drinking contest." Darla said suddenly as she beckoned the bartender to her side. "Bring me the ale his having no extra." She said as she picked a stool to sit on.

"I want to know what other surprise you have for me Daryn" she spoke into his ear in a hushed voice before taking her sit.

Daryn grinned at the invitation and picked another stool right next to her. "I'll like to warn you first though_ you'll loose"

"Is that so, well i can surprise you" she said in her hushed tone again. If she used this new way to talk to him, he was definitely going to get lost in passion for her.

The bartender brought both of them their mugs with newly brewed ale.

"Bring it coming till we ask you to stop" Darla ordered. Then she looked towards Eric who was watching from the sides with Anya. "Oh Eric come join us, hey bartender! get this man another mug."

Seeing Anya, she calmed her voice "Anya love, go to your mother now hmm, I'll come see you later." The pretty young girl nodded and left their gathering.

"Will you be able to go see her though?" Eric asked.

"I will. After pulling Daryn to bed that is" she answered smugly.

"Well, let me surprise you dear" Daryn chuckled and took his mug and chugged the ale down.

Darla smiled and did the same. Gulping the ale in her mug in one go.

"Lets see how long you can keep that up" Daryn said as he ordered for another mug of ale.