The Way Things Were

Chapter 5

A thick stein slammed against the wooden bar, a belch accompanying the mug. "Another."

The barmaid took the stein without a word and refilled it with the strongest ale the tavern had to offer. She placed it in front of him and moved to tend to other customers.

Andren greedily guzzled his ale and placed it down with half a stein left. He stared at it, as if willing it to constantly refill itself. He was in trouble now, and he knew it. Svartalfheim natives took their bets as serious as the next being. They did, when they were still alive. Bor had wiped out the lot of them long ago. However, he managed to find himself in trouble with one of the elves not wiped out in the war. If he could not keep his end of the bargain, a lot more would be at stake than just money. He was so soaked in alcohol he barely noticed a cloaked figure sitting next to him at the bar. His heart leapt into his throat and the grip on his stein began to waver.

"Andren, I hope you've been well," the masculine voice said from beneath a heavy hood. "I'm surprised you aren't celebrating your Winter Nights festival like the others."

"Malak." He tightened his grip. "I know you're here to collect."

"Not just yet. I still have a day, according to our agreement. I am only here to… check on my winnings."

Andren swallowed hard, remembering just how he had gotten into the agreement. He had been so drunk, so sure of himself. There had been no way he could have lost. He had always heard the dark elves were tricky, but he wasn't aware of how good of a poker face a man with a hood would have.

"She is still in prime condition, I am assuming? This will not work if she is not."

He nodded shakily. He couldn't even move his hand to smother himself in his ale to escape. "Please Malak. Reconsider. She's my only daughter."

"Your only child, if I remember correctly." The voice chuckled and the cloak shook a bit. "I see your life is really planned out." Malak quickly stood and knocked the stool out from under Andren, letting the man's chin smack hard on the bar. Just as quickly he held his arm behind his back, keeping him there with his throat pressed against the bar. "I will be at your home tomorrow to collect. If she is not there, or has been tainted, I will know." He roughly let Andren go, allowing the man to fall to the ground and clutch at his throat.

Andren watched through bleary eyes as the dark elf left the bar as calm as he had entered. He could only hope that Dyre wouldn't brush off his warnings and would remain safe, wherever she had decided to go for the Winter Nights festival.