JP - The Keep - Main Hall - Bai can't eat in peace

Now that the Main Hall was starting to be less crowded, Xo entered. She hung back at the doorway until she spotted Bai and made a beeline to him.

Bjorn nodded and almost tripped over his own feet when Xo sidled up next to them. Was everyone here just going to pop up out of nowhere? Keeping his thoughts to himself, he went to get that food.

“Alex told me that it’s true that the Black Raven was rebuilt!” Xo said angrily.

Bai nodded. “I saw it myself yesterday.”

“Then what are you doing here? Why aren’t you there figuring it out, getting rid of the damned place?” Xo asked accusingly.

“Unfortunately I have more on my plate than just the tavern.” Bai said stiffly. I’m also needed here.”

Xo rolled her eyes. “You’re just afraid of it!” She snapped and left the Main Hall.

“She’s…eccentric.” Bjorn said as he returned with a plate of food. He was trying to be nice.

Bai shook his head. “No, she has been through a lot. She knows more than anyone firsthand how bad the Black Raven being back is a bad thing.”

“What exactly is the Black Raven?” The unicorn asked before nibbling on some bread. “Hm, whoever cooks here is pretty good.”

“An evil, magical tavern.” Bai said, frowning as he saw Sileas hurrying over to him.

“That dwarf, Rook, he made a brace for Yehudit’s ankle.” Sileas started.

“It did not work?” Bai guessed.

“Her good ankle crumpled.” Sileas said.

Damn, it would have been nice if Yehudit’s ankle could be fixed with something as mundane as a brace. It was a good idea though. Too bad Yehudit was a so-called child of Molech and the guy who broke her ankle was one of Galina’s men and her ankle refused to heal.

“It’s my fault, right?” Sileas’s eyes shined with held back tears. “Andy hurt her to get at me.”

“Blame the bastard who actually broke her ankle.” Bai said. He had thought about trying to heal Yehudit’s ankle with magic, but he was not very skilled at healing, and was afraid of what might get released if the girl’s ankle was healed. “Where’s Yehudit now?”

“In the healing room, waiting for Difyr. I went to find you.” Sileas answered, but circled right back around. “If she wasn’t my friend Andy never would have bothered her.”

Bai rolled her eyes. “Yehudit’s mother is Aislyn’s best friend, and you already know where Yehudit came from. You know Galina would never have just left her alone forever.”

“Still, Andy…”

“And you killed Andy and saved her before Andy could do everything he wanted to do. Now knock it off, I’m too busy to argue with you about feeling guilty for your friend’s damned ankle.” Bai said impatiently.

Sileas glared at Bai, but did shut up about it. “Is there anything you can do for her ankle?”

“I don’t know. Probably not. You’d probably have better luck with Alex or Aalyssa.”

“Aalyssa couldn’t do anything.” Sileas said.

“Then try Alex.” Bai said, turning back to his food.

Sileas sighed.

Feeling like a third wheel, Bjorn made his way outside. Everyone seemed on edge and he really didn’t want to be the cause of trouble.

Difyr spotted Bai and strode across the hall to the little man. “Bai, Bella found this in Alex’s room.”

Bai was annoyed to be interrupted yet again, but he recognized the concoction right away. He cursed. “Where is Alex?”

“Bella says he went to the Black Raven.”

Bai started to curse again, but paused. “How did she tell you that?” He asked, staring at the dog girl.

“She can spell.” Difyr said.

Bai continued to stare at Bella, forgetting that she is naked for a change. “How the hell are you able to spell?”

Bella just stared back at Bai, holding the box of poison in her arms. She barked at him once and looked away, still miffed at being kicked out earlier.

Bai sighed. “Great. I have newborn twins that I’m pretty sure some evil demon wants to get her claws on, a unicorn man with amnesia that I’m pretty sure was caused by that same demon. But I also have Alex taking poison and going into a cursed magical tavern… It never rains but it pours.” He shoved his breakfast away from himself.

Bella set aside the box to steal Bai’s breakfast.

“I am not surprised.” Bai got up from the table. “Can someone saddle my damned horse? I need to grab some things.”

Bella blinked and looked up at Bai, grabbing his sleeve and whimpering. It was as if she was telling him to be careful.

Bai awkwardly patted her on her head, then hurried to his room to get some stuff to help him in the Black Raven Tavern and hopefully save Alex after drinking poison.