Aphrodite's Acolyte by J.E. Spatafore Page A

the tavern, the friendly bar keep greeted them. They took their table and checked out the scenery. The tavern was not unlike many taverns. A very long bar carried the length of one wall, then rounded to another. The third wall contained a fireplace and a set of stairs, leading both up and down. The fourth wall, the entrance, had a large window facing the street.
    Behind the bar, close to where the ceiling met the wall, several targets with very small bull's-eyes were on display, with the center of each target containing a hole where an arrow once resided. Each target included a signature, apparently signed by the person who shot the arrow. Up the stairs, they could hear the snaps of bowstrings and arrows whizzing with a final thud into targets.
    The barmaid came over to take their orders. “Haven't seen you around these parts. Welcome to The White Arrow. Will you be dining this evening?”
    Fidel introduced Abby and then himself. They asked about the house specialties then ordered a couple of teas and some food. Before long, Abby tapped Fidel on the shoulder, getting his attention. She commented on how a specific male patron was glancing over at them frequently from the bar. Fidel nonchalantly looked over as he sipped his tea. The man's height was halfway between Abby's and Fidel's, around the right size for an elf. His blue eyes locked on Fidel's green orbs and he quickly averted his stare, confirming his interest in the couple.
    Fidel commented about his dress. A black robe similar to the Archmage of Puldechra, with an additional five-pointed star contained in a circle on the sleeve. Abby got up and headed over to the bar, taking a seat right next to the stranger.
    She struck up conversation with the would-be spy as Fidel smiled from afar. The spy stepped back and took a look at Abby. He grabbed his pointed wizard cap and placed it on his head, his long black hair flowing from underneath. He guzzled down his mead and headed out of the pub with an annoyed expression on his face.
    Abby called out to the departing wizard, “Was it something I said?!” She glanced at Fidel with a wide grin on her face.
    She strolled back to their table with a little bounce of victory in her step. Abby explained to Fidel that in all her years of being a rogue, the best ways to remove a spy from an equation was to approach them directly and make them nervous. Fidel dared ask what she said to him. “I offered to take him downstairs for a roll in the hay." She snickered, "Apparently, I wasn't his type!” Fidel laughed so hard he almost spilled his drink.
    The barmaid returned with their food and asked what Abby said to Venin, the Archmage's assistant. Abby informed her and they all got a good laugh out of the situation. The barmaid informed the couple of Venin's role in the city and how his attitude since donning the robe with the pentagram had appeared to change him recently.
    In the meantime, a less obvious observer was watching them from a corner table, one that did not stand out like the wizard in the archers haven of Puldechra. The blond-haired and blue-eyed elf sat in the corner smoking a pipe with his fedora low on his face. He watched in interest, never holding his eyes on the elf-human couple for more than a second. He continued to observe as the duo completed their meal and left the tavern, refusing to follow them at this time.
    Abby and Fidel left the bar and strolled along the streets as the setting sun cast long shadows throughout the city. Fidel looked toward the residential district and asked Abby if she cared to join him in his search for his parents. Abby declined the offer, stating this was his time. He provided her some coin to take up residence in one of the inns. They agreed to meet up at the mid-day sun of the following day. Abby set off on her own, in search of shelter for the evening. Fidel headed in the opposite direction, in search of his parents.
    He rode for a while, looking to the windows of the hundreds of houses