FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 5

You're now healed enough to leave if you so wish, and make your own way in this world." Eric asked. Cody obviously heard what Eric said about me leaving and showed a face of worry.

"I...I don't really know." I said. "I suppose I'd like to try and find my father...if he's still alive."

"Any ideas about how you're going to do that?" Eric asked.

"Well...if it's not too much trouble...I'd like to keep travelling with you, till I'm able to find any clues of where he, or his family, might be.

"And you're sure that's what you want?" Eric asked in a serious tone. "You want to travel with us? You must know that you may never find anything about your father, so long as you stay with us... would you be happy as a travelling trader?"

"In truth...you guys are closest thing to family I've ever had...even if...even if I never find out anything about my father or his family...this would be a step up from my previous life. I would love to keep travelling with you...if you'd have me." Eric stared at me with an expression that betrayed no emotion and the silence in the hut was deafening. After a few moments the falcons face softened into a smile.

"Of course we'd be happy for you to stay." I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief... I smiled. "But if you're going to live with us, you have to earn your way."

"Not a problem. I've had to fight to survive all my life... I'm not afraid of a bit of hard work." I said with zeal.

"Excellent! Tomorrow you begin your training." The Falcon replied, nodding. Cody cheered and literally bounced across the room to hug me. Aceh merely grunted.

"I'm so glad you're staying!" Cody exclaimed, tightening his grip on me.

"Me too." Cody's enthusiasm must have rubbed off some, because I grinned and squeezed him back.

"Now then, I think it's time for a celebratory drink." Eric stated. "Cody if you'd be so kind as to go and tell Michael and Jason to join us at the Travelling Maiden."

"No problem Eric!" Cody said and rushed to the door. "I'll see you guys there!"

"Come on then Malakye." Eric said, but I hesitated.

"What's the Travelling Maiden?"

"Oh, it's just one of many little establishments that caters to the needs of the travelling merchants that travel through town." Eric explained. The three of us made our way through the market place. The merchants were beginning to pack away their stalls for the night, and the stars had began to peek from their hiding places in the sky. After a few twists and turns, a Stone building, labelled 'The Travelling Maiden' by a hanging sign outside its front door, loomed in front of me. Stone buildings were rare, as it took a lot of time, money and effort to build them. When Eric had said a small establishment this was definitely not what I was expecting.

As we entered, I was pummelled by the noise of laughter and music. The heat was incredible and the stench of all the sweaty bodies, entwined with other smells I couldn't quite place, lay heavy in the air . We forced our way through the crowd and I began to get a bit nervous about anyone noticing me. Thankfully everyone else seemed preoccupied with what they were doing. We made it to the bar where the bartender quickly spotted Eric.

"ERIC!" The bartender, a dark blue coloured dragon, came round to the other side of the bar and shook hands with Eric who gave him a friendly hug. "The twelve be good! It's been too long my friend!" Now that he had come round to this side of the bar I could see he was wearing a pair brown leather trousers and a dirty white shirt.

"It has indeed." Eric agreed. "Do you have any tables available?"

"For you, old friend, there is always a table open... a table for five, as usual?"

"A table for six if you'd be so kind Francis, we have a new member in our family." Eric turned to me. "Francis, this is Malakye our newest addition. Malakye this is Francis, a very good friend of mine." Francis looked at me curiously for a moment before reaching out his talons.

"A pleasure to meet you Malakye." He said with a smile, I took his hand and shook it. Facing me now I could get a good look at him, he had a stripe of white scales on his throat that ran down to his chest only to be hidden under the clothes he wore. Unlike other Dragons I had seen he didn't have any horns.

"Thank you. And you too." I responded.

"Now then, follow me and I'll have you all seated. First round of drinks are on me!" Francis said leading us up a level, where a collection of empty tables stood. I noticed that there seemed to be a couple of Zangarian Dragons guarding the stairs. They were big, very muscular. Towering over even Aceh by several inches.

We were lead to a table that was positioned next to the edge of a balcony, which allowed us to view the floor below. Curiously gazing over the edge, I noticed that there were several other big, burly, Dragon bouncers standing in other places around the building... ten in all... excluding the ones that we passed on the stairs (So there was twelve).

They all seemed to be scanning the crowd looking for something. Turning curiously, I asked Eric about it, and he explained that they were there to stop any fights that might occur as all the drinking went to the guest's heads. I was about to ask exactly what he meant, but stopped as I noticed two familiar white Stallions making their way through the crowd, following a fox I instantly recognised. I shouted out and waved, catching Cody eye. He turned and waved back before leading Michael and Jason in the direction of the stairs. They arrived at our table just as Francis arrived. The platter that he's carrying has six large wooden cups, each filled with a frothy liquid. As we're served, I'd sniffed at mine carefully, screwing up my nose at its bitter smell.

"What's wrong Malakye? Never tried Draconian ale before?" Jason asked as he took a large gulp of his own drink.

"No..." I replied, "What is it?"

"It's alcohol my dear boy! Sweet, sweet Alcohol!"

"It doesn't smell all that sweet to me." I mumble. This made Jason laugh.

"No no... the sweetness isn't in the taste but how it makes you feel."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Try it and see." He urged me on and I took a mouthful... it tasted bitter, and I just stopped myself from spitting it back up. Noticing my disdain, Jason said. "It won't happen right away but give it a little time and you'll learn to love it!" He picked up his own pitcher, and downed the rest of his drink before slamming it down on the table with a satisfied sigh. "I hear you're gonna be staying with us for a while."

"Yeah, hope that's all right with you?" I asked.

"Don't be silly!" Jason exclaimed, "We are all glad you're staying. Well all of us except Aceh. I don't honestly think he cares one way or the other. Damn cat barely says a word. But don't worry, now that you're officially one of us he'll protect you with his life."

"Really? How come?"

"It's the kinda guy he is." Jason explained. "He doesn't talk a lot nor does he even seem that friendly but, when he does speak it is always deep and meaningful. You'd be a fool not to heed his words. He'll protect each and every one of us with his life because that's who he is."

"Really?" I said, glancing sidelong at Aceh, who was at the other end of the table looking down at the crowd below. "What kind of things does he say?" I asked. Jason smiled.

"Last time he spoke was a week back in the last town we were in. You were still bed ridden at the time. We had all been out drinking the night before. Jason and I were the first to wake, and he spoke soon after."

"Well? What did he say?" I asked impatiently.

"He said," Jason paused for dramatic effect. By the Twelve, if he stalled a second longer I would have probably tackled him to the floor and demand answer. "He said, 'I think I'm going to throw up!'"

"What?" I asked, my face betraying confusion and disappointment. "How is that deep and meaningful?!"

"Well it might not be deep but it was certainly meaningful. Jason and I managed to get out of the way before he rushed out! If he'd said nothing he probably would have trampled us to death on his way out!"

"That story sucks!" I object.

"Well they can't all be awe inspiring and action packed!" Jason chuckled. I sighed and turned back to my mug of ale and took another mouthful before screwing up my face at its bitter taste again. As bad as it tasted it the more I seemed to drink of it the better it began to taste, or at least, the less I was able to taste it. I sat in relative silence as the group talked and laughed amongst themselves and let my gaze wander around the establishment. I was amazed at number of bodies this place could hold within its walls. I looked across the way to the other side of the building on the same floor we were on and noticed several Dragons and furs being led away by various females into one of the many rooms that lay over there. Despite my own inexperience it didn't take me long to work out what was going on in those rooms.

"What's up Malakye?" Cody asked as he noticed me staring off into space.

"Uh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking." I'd said sheepishly, taking a moment to finish the last of my ale. No sooner had I placed my empty mug down did a waitress appear with more ale followed by several others carrying platters of food. They placed the food on the table and I muttered my thanks to the one closest to me, a Dragoness with ruby red scales. She smiled and gave me a wink before she scurried off to complete the rest of her duties.

"Well ain't you a stud?" Michael teased, giving me a playful shove.

"What?"

"Come on don't act dumb! She was totally eyeing you!" Michael insisted. "I think she's got the hots for ya!" I'd felt my face flush.

"I don't know what your talking about." I said, grabbing a bread roll from one of the basket that had been placed at the table. I took a bite and vigorously chewed it, hoping that this conversation would come to an end.