War of Sorrows

Chapter 2 The Call of the Grave

As Marcus stirred from his slumber, he found himself amidst the remnants of the night's revelry. The tavern was nearly empty, with only a few patrons still sleeping soundly at their tables or sprawled out on the floor. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Marcus silently thanked his dwarven resilience to alcohol, grateful that his head was clearer than it might have been otherwise.

As he sat up groggily, a barmaid approached him with a plate of food, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she set it down in front of him with a wink. Marcus managed a tired smile of gratitude as she wordlessly turned to attend to other tasks, leaving him to enjoy his breakfast in peace.

The aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly cooked eggs filled the air, tempting Marcus's appetite despite the lingering haze of the previous night's festivities. He tucked into the hearty meal with gusto, savoring the familiar flavors and feeling the warmth of sustenance spread through his weary body.

As he ate, Marcus couldn't help but reflect on the events of the previous evening, the warnings of Morven still echoing in his mind. There was much to be done, much to unravel, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of respite, enjoying the simple pleasure of a good meal in the quiet tranquility of the morning.

As Marcus sat enjoying his breakfast in the quiet of the morning, a sudden commotion shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Before he could react, Astrid fell from one of the tavern's beams above him, landing gracefully on the table where he was seated. Marcus's heart leaped into his throat as he fell back in his chair, his hand instinctively gripping his chest in shock.

Astrid, seemingly unfazed by the dramatic entrance, burst into laughter at Marcus's reaction. "Sorry to drop in unannounced," she quipped, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she straightened up, landing on her feet with practiced ease.

Marcus let out a shaky breath, a mixture of relief and exasperation flooding through him. "By the Golem, Astrid, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with both amusement and annoyance. "One of these days, you're gonna give me a real scare if you keep pulling stunts like that."

Astrid's laughter rang through the tavern as she flashed Marcus a playful grin. "Aw, come on, Marcus," she teased, reaching out to ruffle his hair affectionately.

As Astrid slid off the table and settled into the seat next to Marcus, he pushed his plate towards her, offering her what remained of his breakfast. Despite the generous portion the barmaid had provided him, Marcus had hardly made a dent in the meal, his appetite still recovering from the shock of Astrid's unexpected arrival.

"Here, take the rest," Marcus said, gesturing towards the plate with a smile. His eyes softened as he looked at Astrid, a subtle warmth emanating from his gaze. "I think I've had my fill for the morning."

Astrid accepted the offering with a grateful nod, her stomach rumbling appreciatively as she dug into the remaining food. Marcus watched with amusement as she devoured the meal with gusto.

The two watched in amusement as Helga descended the stairs, her smile radiant and infectious. Marcus's eyes twinkled with affection as he greeted her with a teasing remark. "And where is your princess?" he quipped, a playful glint in his eye as he observed his sister's joyous demeanor. Marcus's teasing remark was lost in the hum of her tune, but he couldn't help but chuckle softly as he exchanged a knowing glance with Astrid.

As Marcus took a sip of his drink, savoring the comforting warmth as it trickled down his throat, Astrid's unexpected remark caught him off guard. "I bet Peregrin appreciates that," she quipped with a mischievous grin. Marcus sputtered in shock, the liquid he had just swallowed spraying from his mouth as he coughed and hacked, caught off guard by Astrid's unexpected comment. His face flushed with embarrassment as he struggled to regain his composure, shooting Astrid a reproachful glare before composing himself with a forced cough.