The Mehndi Prince

Pensive dragon

“Come on! Let’s get out of here!” Lyra demanded as she grabs hold of my shoulder and pushes me towards the training area after watching Neve leave and head back towards the castle.

“Yeah Nero, let’s grab a beer.” Fennick chimes in.

“Fennick, it’s just after midday.” I sigh. Lyra squinted at me as if she’s never seen me before.

“Who are you?! And what have you done with the prince?!” Lyra exclaimed mockingly. I shake my head with a wry smile and sling an arm over each of their shoulders.

“Where are we going then?” Fennick smiles widely and claps me solidly on the back.

“I thought you’d never ask. There’s a new tavern that’s opened up near the west city gate. I wanna give it a try.”

“Great! Another dive!” Lyra snarks dryly.

“Eh,…” Fennick grunts shrugging his massive shoulders dismissively, unconcerned by Lyra’s tone. “The beer is supposed to taste awesome and the barmaids are comely. What’s not to love?”

I grin. Thank the Gods for these two. “What’s it called?” Fennick chuckles. “Wait and see. You’ll love it!”

*********

The street is filled with people and vendors. The noise almost unbearable. People shout out their wares and others haggling over prices. Despite the noise there is an aura of timeless industriousness. Just normal people going about their everyday lives. A thriving society, father would be proud.

“How much further?!” Shouts Lyra over the din, pushing a staggering drunk jaguar mehndi out of her path.

“Just few more lanes down,” Bellows Fennick waving his arm in the direction of the tavern, barely missing an approaching mother and child. Who clutches the child closer while glaring ominously at Fennick, never breaking eye contact.

“I see you’ve made another friend Fennick,” Lyra lifts her chin in the direction of the mother’s retreating form. “It’s gotta be close now. All I can smell is stale beer, piss, vomit and desperation” she said wrinkling her nose. Fennick looks over his shoulder grinning excitedly “I know, right!” Lifting his nose he inhales deeply. “Also, undertones of women, testosterone and food! The four major necessities starting with F.” I chuckle at Fennick’s antics. “You care to enlighten us?” I ask. Lyra sighs “I don’t want to know” but looks resigned.

“Females, fighting, food and fermented beverages.”he crows.

“Look, there it is,”cries Fennick. I look over the heads of the oncoming pedestrians and see the shingle, hanging from the eves. Lyra looks as well, then cracks into laughter, spluttering as she reads. “The Pensive Dragon” she chortles “Perfect,”

Fennick barges through the tavern door which collided heavily with the wall. The resulting BANG! causes the most of the patrons to turn and look but they quickly lose interest. We make our way over to a table where we can keep our eyes on the exits and make ourselves comfortable. The atmosphere is actually more inviting than I was expecting.

A diminutive barmaid scurries over with a scowl and a defiant hand on her hip. “You can have three of the house stout, for a silver and two grouts, or you can f**k right off!” With a sly, slightly flirtatious grin and honey toned voice I replied “How could we not accept such a gracious offer?” Flushing slightly the barmaid turned and stomped off muttering to herself. “She’s definitely going to spit in your drink Nero,” Lyra predicted. “Nah, she’s going to ask lover boy here to join her for a night of pleasure,”

“How’d you figure that?” Asks Lyra with a puzzled look. Fennick chuckles “She’s a wolverine. They’re always looking for a fight, but lover boy here went for seduction.”

“No I didn’t, it was just some harmless flirting.”

“Might as well have been seduction, as you didn’t continue arguing with her or be rude to her.” From the bar there’s raised male voices and the bartender shouts at the retreating barmaid carrying multiple drinks. “F**k off and die Aurelia, you f*****g harpy.” As the barmaid returns and dumps three of the tankards onto the rough wooden table. Lyra looks at the barmaid slightly concerned. “Does he always talk to you like that?” Aurelia shrugs her shoulders, “Don’t worry about that one,” she snarks “he’s a giver. Hearing his voice gives you a headache, watching him attempt to work gives me stress and just looking at him gives me the shits.” She finishes off over her shoulder as she sauntered off to deliver the rest of the beers. Leaving us chuckling into our tankards.

Several beers later the tavern is definitely getting rowdy. Especially the table next to us, the men keep eyeing Lyra and making off colour remarks. Fennick and I watch the situation over the tops of our tankards, we’ve learnt over time not to step in although it gauls us to do nothing. But Lyra is fully capable of taking care of herself, and hates us spoiling her fun. One of them scrounges up enough liquid courage to stumble over to our table, knocking into it in the process spilling our drinks. “So you like multiple men do you sweetheart?” He slurred as his greasy ashy coloured hair falls into his bloodshot eyes exposing the jackal tattoo on his neck. “How about you give me and my boys a go. I bet we’ll satisfy you better than those two,” I can literally hear Fennick grinding his teeth. A low rumbling growl trickles out Lyra’s mouth as a warning. “Perhaps, the lady isn’t interested?” I can feel my own claws starting to form from my hands under the table, talons curling and scales rippling up my forearms. The tension starts to grow permeating the area like a mist. Conversations around the tavern slow and start to end. The focus shifting to our table. Lyra’s smile is predatory, her fangs blatantly obvious. “You and your boys don’t have what it takes to satisfy me. While you’re a bunch of p*****s, you’re not the type I like to indulge in.” The insult takes a few moments to penetrate his alcohol sodden brain and that of his friends. A chorus of “hey”s sound off as the moron in front of us tries to grab Lyra. “You f*****g c**t,” At that moment, Aurelia swings by, empty tankards in hand, causing the jackal Mehndi to pause.

“Just let me get my dumbrella, it’s f*****g raining idiots in here” she mutters glaring at the jackals. Another jackal grabs at Aurelia’s shoulder spinning her about. “I’ve had enough of mouthy bitches today,” his other hand raised ready to punch the smaller female. Smiling sweetly Aurelia asks “then why don’t you and your friends shut up?” And with a snarl she drops the tankards and launches herself at the Mehndi holding her. Wasting no time Lyra slips the other jackal’s hold and slams him face first into the table, his nose breaking with a sickening crunch, then slides to the floor. Flipping the table Fennick roars and jumps into the resultant melee, myself following at his back.

********

“Well, that was fun,” sighs Aurelia who is slumped with us at the base of the bar, surveying the devastation surrounding us. Fennick swipes at his still bleeding nose. “Oh yes, I haven’t had a good brawl like that in ages” Lyra eyes Fennick incredulously, “Bulls**t! You had one last week.”

“Yeah but this thrashing was superb,”

“Ahh.. here’s a gold for the drink and the damage” i wearily pass the coin over to the barmaid. Aurelia smiles wickedly at us, stuffing the coin between her breasts. “You f*****s can come back, but not for a least another month if it’s going to end up like this. Now kindly f**k off.”