Rowan avoided Kazir as much as he could the following day. At breakfast he scoffed his plate down quicker than anyone could say "good morning" and whiled his time away behind the bar. At one point Kazir happened to walk past, a bundle of sheets in his arms. He glanced Rowan's way momentarily, and for a second it seemed he was about to say something, but thought better of it. Goomluga mentioned nothing of the previous night, carrying on with her flirtatious attitude as if nothing had happened. Rowan wasn't sure what to think, he didn't know if Kazir had been watching them purposely or had simply wandered past at the wrong moment. He hoped that it would all be forgotten by the end of the day, however, when returning to his room after cleaning the bar he crossed paths with Kazir.
'Hello,' Kazir said tentatively, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.
'Evening,' Rowan responded, breaking his stride momentarily. This pause must have given Kazir some confidence, as he cleared his throat timidly.
'About last night...'
'I'd rather not talk about that right now,' Rowan sighed, his tone brusque.
'Sorry, I just wanted to explain, I didn't mean to... interrupt anything I was just...'
Rowan strode off before Kazir could finish, swiftly disappearing into his room. The Tiefling stood in the hallway for a moment, before dejectedly ambling to his own quarters.
Rowan slid the latch into place. Pressing himself against the rough wood of the door he let out a loud sigh. The lamp by his bedside had almost burned itself out, and the dying light flickered weakly against the hungry shadows. Rowan struggled to sleep. Part of him felt he should apologise to Kazir for his curt behaviour, but he couldn't pluck up the courage to face him after their exchange in the corridor. He lay awake as the last of the candlelight wavered into wisps of faint smoke. Outside, he could hear the strange calls of whatever wildlife inhabited these floating isles, trilling and hooting piercing the silence as he rolled over once more in his sheets. He wondered if Vornalla was in the kitchen and if it was worth the effort to drag himself out of bed to check. A pale sliver of light eventually began to pierce the shadows. As dawn broke Rowan finally drifted off to sleep.
A loud knock snapped Rowan out of his short slumber. Scrambling into his clothes he opened his door to a disgruntled Vornalla, who was waiting for him with folded arms.
'you weren't at breakfast this morning,'
'Sorry, I overslept,' was the only excuse Rowan could muster as he slipped out of his room in the direction of the bar.
'Oh yes, the sheer volume of customers we had yesterday must have run you ragged,' came her snarky reply. 'Krugga kindly saved you something to eat, she's left it on the bar for you,'
Indeed, Rowan found a plate of eggs and bacon behind the bar as he settled himself in, it was cold but enjoyable. He made a mental note to thank Krugga when he had the opportunity. He had just finished breakfast when something unexpected happened; a customer entered the bar. Rowan hadn't seen anyone enter so soon after opening and the sight of this tall figure caught him off guard. they stood upon the threshold, carefully removing two thick leather gloves from their thick-fingered hands. Beneath an imposing tri-corn hat three piercing eyes glanced about the empty room, Rowan noticed the glint of a weapon within the dark folds of their long, high-collared overcoat. Every step they took was accompanied by a sharp metallic ring of spurs, heralding their approach like tiny bells. Its gaze fell upon Rowan, and he felt a cold chill run down his spine. Hastily, he stuffed his empty plate between the barrels under the counter and greeted them with as much confidence as he could muster.
'Good morning, welcome to the Halfway Inn...'
The customer paused, a grin of amusement playing over jagged teeth.
'you're new,' it said with a voice as cold as permafrost. 'Always a pleasure seeing a new face here,'
something in the stranger's tone rang alarm bells in Rowan's mind, he glanced toward the dining area for Krugga, or Vornalla, or anyone, but it appeared he was alone with this creature. For though it had a human form, the eyes that seemed to stare through Rowan's soul were anything but.
'Can I help you with anything?' Rowan asked, resisting the instinct to bolt out of the bar and into his room.
'Yes actually, I'd like a beer, your finest, if possible,' whatever it was smiled once again, and it seemed to fill the whole air about him as he shakily poured the requested drink and placed it upon the bar. The demon reached into its dark coat and procured a small leather pouch, taking from it a single gold coin and delicately setting it before Rowan as payment.
'So...mortal,' the contempt in its tone as it said those words flooded into Rowan like a rising tide. He felt the breakfast he'd just consumed churn in his stomach.
'You are new to this realm, I can smell your old world upon you still.'
'Yes,' Rowan answered as politely as he could, choosing his words very carefully, 'This is my first time in the Halfway,'
A cold chuckle shook the room.
'Such apt words, "first time" as though that not already evident,' the creature stared through Rowan once again, all three eyes regarding him as a hunter would their prey. 'Another of the succubus's additions, her interest in mortal kind is unbecoming of a demon,'
Rowan did not know how to reply, fearing that any response would only provoke the creature. Much to his relief Vornalla suddenly appeared from the dining area, fearlessly approaching the demonic entity.
'Ronove, you're here earlier than expected.'
'Vornalla Dyr, a pleasure to make your acquaintance once more,' Ronove directed his attention to the Drow, and Rowan felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from him. 'Indeed, I am early, I have business with the succubus,'
'You know she doesn't come here often,' Vornalla responded, 'you've heard we have a new member with us, isn't that it?'
'Quite astute of you. Yes, I wished to regard what new meat she has brought to the shattered realm. Though, that is not the only purpose of my visit. I am sure, Vornalla Dyr, you know well what I speak of?'
'And I am sure you know, Ronove, that she has already made payment to you this month.'
The Demon's eyes flickered at the use of its name, the sharp-toothed grin vanished into shadow. Ronove stood, the peak of his hat brushing the beams above. He took a menacing step toward the dark-elf, but she did not flinch.
'Payment was made, but not in full,' Ronove growled, 'three souls were agreed, yet only two were sent, and now I hear she has a new acquisition in her possession,'
Rowan suddenly realised the demon was talking about him. As though sensing his sudden fear, Ronove turned to address him.
'Yes mortal, I speak of your arrival. This is most displeasing, until now Xeryix had, disappointingly, kept her promise. Yet now...' the demon's three eyes lit up with malicious glee, 'now she has presented an opportunity I will not hesitate to exploit,'
'If I recall, Ronove, you do not have any choice over what souls she chooses to keep and what she gives away,' Vornalla spoke with such a firm tone in the face of this demon that Rowan half believed she had a death wish. The demon too did not appreciate her defiance.
'for too long have I been fed the dregs of whatever mortal filth the succubus deigns to give me,' Ronove spat, flickers of black flame falling from his jaws.
