By the time Augustus made it downstairs, Sarah already had a large, frothy mug of ale in front of her.
Augustus smirked as he slid onto the bench across from her at their table. "Drinking on the job, I see," he said.
"Hey, if I didn't order a drink, people would think it's unusual and know something's up," Sarah said defensively.
"Oh, I wasn't judging anyway, but you do make a good point," he said. "Just try not to drink too much."
"No need to worry, August, I won't. Anyway, cheers!" She raised her drink and began chugging it.
"So, any thoughts on where to go from here?" Augustus asked.
Sarah merely raised a finger as she continued to swill her ale. She slammed the mug down on the table and let out a very unladylike burp. Though Wind Elves were more notorious for their flatulence, some of them like Sarah were also capable of producing louder and longer burps than humans as well.
Augustus could tell Sarah was notorious among the regulars for this as well. "Hey, when'd she come in?" he heard a regular ask. "Good one, Sarah!" a young man at the bar called and raised his mug to her.
Sarah merely giggled once her enormous burp was over. She leaned in and whispered to Augustus, "I kind of wish all that air made its way out the other end." She blushed and covered her mouth when she realized what she said. "Sorry," she said, "it must be the curse talking..."
"Or the ale," Augustus half-joked.
"Anyway," Sarah said, her face still slightly pink, "Just about everyone in here is a regular. Everyone except you and that guy in the corner by himself - don't look!" She quickly added when Augustus started to turn around.
"Perhaps you could work your feminine charms on him?" Augustus suggested.
Sarah blushed. "Feminine charms? I just let out a burp that sounded like a dragon's roar. And even before this curse, I've always been the gassiest person I know."
"That doesn't make you any less of a lady. Look at our own queen and princess."
"I suppose that's true..." Sarah said. In her mind, she started rehearsing things to say to the stranger that wouldn't attract too much attention. For a split second, she even fantasized about farting in his face, but shook this off when she recognized it as the curse's doing.
As she prepared to stand up and talk to him, a barmaid approached with another mug of ale and set it down before her. "From the gentleman in the hood," she said, gesturing to the mysterious patron.
"Oh," Sarah said, unsure of what to say. "At least now I have an icebreaker," she said to Augustus when the lady left. "I'll go over and thank him for the drink. Once I finish it, that is." She lifted her mug and smiled at the stranger. She didn't down it all in one gulp this time. She took her time to discuss things with Augustus.
"Do you think this guy's a friend?" Sarah asked. "You don't exactly buy drinks for your enemies."
"Unless you want to get them drunk," Augustus cautioned suspiciously.
"Well he'll be out a lot of coin if that's his plan. We elves have a high tolerance for alcohol." She took another sip and smiled.
"Either way, don't let your guard down," Augustus said.
"Oh, another?" Sarah asked as the barmaid approached with another frothy mug. "But I haven't even finished this one yet. Let me fix that real quick." She downed the rest of her last beverage, finishing it with a quiet but astonishingly lengthy burp.
"I better go talk to this guy before he buys me any more drinks," Sarah said.
"Good idea," Augustus said. "Should I try to sneak into earshot?"
Sarah shook her head. "He doesn't seem dangerous. And if he is, everyone in here would be on top of anyone who tries to mess with me within seconds. Best not to scare him off." She picked up her new ale and strolled across the bar. A few regulars tried to chat with her along the way but she pretended not to hear them. She sat opposite him at his table.
"Thanks for the drinks," Sarah said.
The stranger said nothing.
"What's your name?" Sarah asked. "I'm Sarah," Sarah said, stretching out a hand for him to shake.
To her surprise, instead of shaking it, he took her hand in his and kissed it.
"My, my, aren't you the gentleman?" Sarah asked.
The stranger hesitated then lowered his hood. To Sarah's surprise, he had pointed ears just like hers. "It's been too long since I've seen another Wind Elf," he said. "Let alone one as gorgeous as yourself."
Sarah blushed. "You think I'm... gorgeous?"
"Perhaps I spoke too much," he said, raising his hood again to cover his blush. "I can tell you have a lot of questions. I'll answer them. But like I said, it's been a while since I've seen another Wind Elf. So first, I would like to celebrate this reunion with my kindred. Will you do the honors of competing against me in a little game?"
"What kind of game?" Sarah asked.
The stranger smirked. "One that celebrates our heritage as Wind Elves," he said. Somehow, without any further explanation, Sarah knew what he was challenging her to...
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