167 Drinks on me (2/2)
The old man arched a brow. ”Then I bet ye be mad with him, are ye not?”
Arei let out a heavy sigh and took another long drink of the frothy ale. Sitting it down, his focus trained on the froth at the top of the liquid. ”No... I don't blame him... Had he taken all her memories, then maybe... but he only took the past month. If anyone's to blame it would be me for not telling her sooner and for giving into my father's whims and pushing her for a relationship so suddenly.”
He took another long drink, trying to wash away the taste his father's threats had left in his mouth. The threat of taking her for his own had been Arei's undoing. He would have agreed to nearly anything to keep Poseidon from touching Jos in anyway.
”Ye look troubled, boy.” The old man said raising his hand for another round of drinks to be brought over. ”As an ol man who knows his way 'round a fair share of beast and beauties, I'd say ye give her the night to cool down.” He snickered and sent Arei a wink as he added. ”Even the fairest of maids be likely to bite a man's parts off, if he pushes her too far.”
Arei nodded as he finished off his tankard and took another from the maid. ”You may be right.”
Ry chuckled as he emptied another mug. ”You could always call on our uncles for love advice and even father; I'm sure they'd have only the wisest of advice!” His words fell into hysterical laughter again. ”Hell, they'd either suggest ****, kidnapping, or tying her to a rock... hell, more likely kidnap her, tie her to a rock, then **** her.” He nudged the old man causing some of his drink to spill out onto the table. ”Right?!” He pounded the table with his fist as he laughed harder.
”Aye.” The old man said, arching a brow in Ry's direction and rubbing the arm he'd just nudged. He turned his gaze back to Arei. ”Next rounds on me.” He nodded toward the bar. ”Ye help an ol' man out? I'd say we've done ran da maids to death with this one.” He nodded toward Ry.
Arei nodded and stood. He gathered some of the empty mugs and followed the old man. When the drinks were poured, the old man pulled some powder out from his pocket and sprinkled it in one of the mugs. He nodded to Arei. ”Give this to ye brother and he'd sleep through the night.” He glanced back at the table. ”He be a big'en, but wear from days of drink and little else should aid the herbs.”
Arei nodded. ”He's not a bad guy, he just feels too deeply about things... people mostly...”
The old man arched a brow. ”This be a shared trait?”
Arei laughed in surprise. ”Had you asked me that same question a few years back, I wouldn't have hesitated to answer with a resounding 'no'... but now... I'm not so sure.” He carried the mug over and slid it to his brother. ”Drink up, man.”
*** 3 hours later***
Arei and the old man walked out of the bar both out of breath. Arei shook his head as he leaned against the handrails for support. ”I didn't think that powder you gave him would ever work.”
”Aye, he's a strong one... that's the truth of it.” The old man huffed out. ”Wouldn't have thought, he'd be such a heavy one to carry though.” The old man rubbed his back to emphasize the point.
Arei chuckled, ”I could have told you that much! I've been carrying his big ass around for years!”
The old man nodded. ”I should be going now.” He turned his clear steady gaze up to Arei. ”As I wager, you should... Before sleep settles over you as well?”
Arei's smile faded as he narrowed his eyes at the old man. He had drunk too much by any standard but wasn't drunk enough not to catch the old man's meaning. ”Did... Did you drug me as well?” A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, and his eyes widened. ”You did, didn't you? Why?”
The old man smiled. ”You need you're rest as well, do you not?” The old man shrugged, ”Great things come to those who wait and what better form of waiting than sleep?” He patted Arei's back. ”Now off you go before you fall out and I must carry your heavy ass again.” Arei's eyes widened and he tried to force a shift, but the old man shook his head. ”There's no point, unless you simply believe it to be the fastest way home. The drugs will have the same effects whether you shift or not, however.”
Arei's eyes narrowed as he fought to focus. ”I never caught your name... what did you say it was?” His words slurred with the fog of his mind.
The old man smiled. ”This evening you may call me Adad.” He nodded to Arei as he moved past him. ”Now, if you don't mind, I have other things to do.”
Arei watched as the man walked smoothly down the path leading out of town, whistling a tune as he went. Arei stumbled as he tried to make his way down the path toward the cottage, stumbling as he went. He couldn't escape the thought of what the old man had said... what he'd said his name was... Adad... Why did that sound so familiar... He barely made it through the cottage doors before crashing face first onto the large plush mattress there. He couldn't fight it any longer, the sleep from the drug won out and he was lost to dream land. There was nothing in the heavens or many levels of the underworld that could wake him, including the silent turn of the cottage door or the quiet tiptoe of tiny feet as they neared the bed early into the morning way before the break of dawn.