The voices crashed in on him, hands clawing at his shoulders, mugs thrust towards his face, the scent of stale honey and scorched grain burning up his nose while questions came at him from all sides at once:
"How scary was it, kid? Don't lie. I'll know if you lie."
"Did it try to eat your head off first or claw you open?"
"You go for the eyes? Always the eyes. That's what I do."
"Where'd you stab it? Show me! Show me!"
Brill's grin stretched wider and wider every time one of them leaned closer, instead of pulling back. He talked over them, stumbling over words in his attempt to explain everything at once while his hands jerked around as though the Crowbear still stood there:
"And it was right, and it lunged at me, see, and I thought I was going to be crushed, and then I ducked under it and I came up right under its neck, and then it tried to bite at me, but I jumped off a rock and I got on top of it, and-- no, wait, before that its tail smashed against a tree right where I was standing! I nearly hit the front of it, you should have seen the blood, just blood everywhere, and it was still trying to get me even after I stabbed it--!"
The tavern erupted with excited shouts. Some of the older men slammed their mugs together, nearly toasting the ceiling and one almost coughed himself to death.
Across the room the bard tucked his instrument under his chin, his fingers continuing to move across the strings. Then his voice rang out over the din, taking Brill's jumbled story and turning it into something much bigger, and far more ridiculous, in its praise.
"There once was a boy named Brill Alpam,"
"Who faced down a beast none dared to damn,"
"With blade in his hand and fire in his chest,"
"He danced with the Crowbear and conquered its crest!"
The crowd picked up the rhythm, stamping boots on the wooden floors while Brill flushed red, his ears burning from the sound. He continued talking anyway, because to stop now seemed worse than death. This was that serious to him.
From the door one burly looking man tilted his head to Idemay, squinting over at Hellfrit.
"That little mutt your Divine Beast?"
Without a beat, Idemay answered, "Nope. Want him? Ten thousand gold."
Hellfrit's head snapped around so fast that his ears flopped over his eyes. "Huh?! N-no! I'm not for sale!"
A few patrons chuckled over their drinks, one muttering that was one of the most expensive rats he had ever seen.
The door of the tavern burst open, and the din dropped a fraction when a booming, booming voice cut across the room with all the tact of a thrown hammer.
"Alright! Knight Captain Galahad has arrived on the scene! Where is the kid who took on the Crowbear?"
Every head turned instantly, some with curiosity, others with that certain kind of calculated appraisal people reserve for someone that important, many straightening up automatically without realizing it.
"Galahad..." Idemay breathed and immediately started rubbing her temple, a familiar expression already settling on her face, as though she knew precisely what was about to happen.
Alfiindr was at his side too, padding forward, and he approached Hellfrit curiously. It sniffed once, twice, then once again as though trying to process the sheer ridiculousness that it could sense radiating off of him.
Hellfrit jumped back and wrinkled his nose. "Eugh. Gross. Divine beast... I smell the Caretakers all over you."
Alfiindr didn't speak but cocked its head one way, then another. Its bright and intelligent eyes lingered on Hellfrit for a moment longer before it pulled back, but clearly not enough to turn away.
Brill looked up at the mention of Galahad's name and his face instantly brightened. "Captain Galahad!"
A chorus of gossip ran through the tavern:
"Knight Captain Galahad?!"
"What's he doing here?"
"He must have heard already. Word gets around fast..."
Galahad strode to the table, dropping into a seat opposite Brill. His grin was the kind of grin that promised trouble was not only invited but actively encouraged.
"Young brave warrior," he boomed, slamming his elbow on the table, and planting his fist. "I challenge you to an arm wrestling match--."
He didn't get to finish, Brill instantly grabbed his hand and shoved. His teeth bared in an intense grin and Galahad actually jumped slightly, the table groaning under the sudden pressure.
"Oh?" Galahad breathed and let out a short burst of laughter, and his eyes gleamed with interest. "A head start. That's Idemay's influence if I ever saw it, kid. But you actually have something behind it."
The tavern erupted with shouts and bangs against the tables as Orac began to bray out bets, piling silver coins high.
"Place your bets! Don't cry to me when you lose!"
Someone yelled, "Galahad's got this!"
Before the words were fully out of his mouth Idemay stood up behind the man that cheered for Galahad, her voice lowering into a menacing tone that instantly made him stiffen.
"Cheer for my son," she said, a flicker of red lightning sparking along her fingertips, "or you die."
The man gulped and instantly changed his tune. "BRILL! Y-YEAH, BRILL'S GOT THIS!"
The chant picked up instantly, everyone joining in with Brill's name whether they had been expecting it or not.
Hellfrit scrambled up onto Brill's shoulder, his claws digging lightly into the cloth of Brill's tunic, his eyes locked on Galahad. "End him, kid. I don't like his Divine Beast, therefore you must end him. Rip his arm off and beat him with it!"
Brill nodded, breathing a little quicker but with that same intense grin on his face. "I'm gonna win, Hellfrit!"
On the other side Alfiindr perched on Galahad's shoulder, feathers ruffling slightly as it chirped and watched, its eyes looking at the struggle.
The table creaked and groaned under the strain as their arms met with neither of them budging. The tavern was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who would give first.
Brill's arm trembled from the simple fact his body had already given everything it had earlier and was now being asked for more.
Idemay's voice cut through the noise, loud enough to make a few nearby mugs rattle. "Come on, Brill! Don't you dare lose to him!"
Galahad barked out a laugh, pushing back just enough to test the boy's strength again, his grin widening as he felt the resistance. "You hear that? Your ma's got high expectations, kid!"
Brill didn't answer right away, he was way too focused, his teeth stayed pressed together, eyes looking upon their locked hands like if he looked away for even a moment, he'd lose everything he'd just gained tonight. The cheers around him blended together into a mess of voices, but he clung to them anyway, because they were loud and right in his face and for once nobody looked like they wanted to leave or move away from him.
His arm pushed, and it held, then it shook…until it didn't anymore.
The strength left him all at once, like something inside him had been cut loose. His head dipped forward, his hand loosened, and before anyone could react, he slumped sideways, still half-smiling as sleep took him without warning.
The noise died in a strange and confused silence.
Galahad blinked, then let out a small breath, easing his arm back as he looked at the boy slumped over the table. "Ah. He's drained."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his wrist once as he studied Brill's face, the marks along his cheek standing out even more now that he was still.
'I didn't go all out against him. Was planning to let him win anyway… but that strength… for an eight-year-old? That's not normal. Not even close. It's definitely something with those marks.'
Brill's face stayed relaxed, the faintest trace of a smile still there like he hadn't even noticed he'd lost consciousness.
Idemay pushed through the crowd immediately, her hand already reaching for him. "Coming through, coming through."
She bent down, trying to lift him, but Galahad stepped in before she could get a proper hold, scooping Brill up with ease and settling him against his shoulder.
"I got him, ya brute."
Idemay paused for a second, then let out a quiet breath she didn't bother hiding. "…Thanks."
They started toward the door, the noise of the tavern slowly creeping back in behind them as people realized the show was over.
"There's also some things I need to talk to you about," Idemay said to Galahad, glancing toward Hellfrit. "And about his puppy here."
Galahad looked down at the small creature trotting alongside them, one brow lifting. "Who's wee one is this?"
Hellfrit puffed his chest out, voice full of self-importance. "The greatest calamity to ever live."
Idemay replied, "Don't mind him Galahad, he's a bit screwed up in the head."
"I'm not!" Hellfrit responded.
Idemay didn't even break stride, she grabbed Galahad by the ear and dragged him forward. "Follow."
"Agh! Okay! Okay!"
Behind them, Alfiindr padded along, occasionally leaning closer to sniff Hellfrit again, curiosity getting the better of it every few steps. Hellfrit kept glancing back, clearly annoyed, his ears twitching each time the griffon got too close.
The tavern door shut behind them, and the entire room seemed to release a breath at once.
"Finally… she's gone… thought she was gonna rip us apart…"
"You don't fucking say! Idemay always has that look in her eye. And that power of hers… wasn't she at like eight thousand confirmed kills back when she was still a Knight Captain?"
"I had fun though, her son Brill really is something. An 8 year old fighting a Crowbear. And the way the kid described how he fought it, that Crowbear might be dead…"
Orac didn't even look up from his counter as he slammed a mug down. "Hmm. Two important people walk into my tavern? My tavern? Idemay and Galahad? That's premium company. Prices just went up. One gold per drink. If you don't like it, go ahead and off yourselves."
The entire tavern erupted immediately.
"One gold?! Are you insane?!"
"I'd rather drink river water!"
"You greedy little fucking rock!"
Orac snorted while being completely unfazed, already stacking coins like he had won something.
….
Night settled deeper over Cassady by the time they reached the house, the noise of the tavern fading out while the quiet of the town streets wrapped around them.
Galahad carried Brill inside and laid him carefully onto his bed, adjusting him just enough so he didn't roll off.
Hellfrit hopped up onto the bed without asking, circling once before settling near Brill's side. "Now then, talking time?"
Idemay leaned down and pressed a kiss to Brill's forehead, her voice dropping softer than anything she'd used all night. "I love you, son."
Galahad gave a small nod, arms crossing as he looked between her and the strange little beast. "Damn straight. What's this about, Idemay?"
Idemay straightened, exhaling through her nose. "A lot of things, actually. Brill wasn't chosen by any Divine Beast at the Ephilm Gate. He walked out with nothing. But this one," she jerked her thumb toward Hellfrit, "followed him out."
Galahad's eyes dropped to Hellfrit again. "This one here?"
"He claims he was brought here to devour the Holy Land."
Galahad's expression changed immediately. "Devour the Holy Land?!"
Hellfrit lifted his head, annoyed at the reaction. "I don't know anything about it besides its name, if that's what you're about to ask. I just know I was given orders to find the boy with the black marks on his face… and devour whatever Holy Land is coming."
Galahad started pacing as his thoughts ran ahead of his words. Alfiindr picked up on it immediately, feeling the anxiety, pressing against Galahad's leg, feathers brushing along his side as if trying to settle something it didn't understand but could still feel.
"When we were Knight Captains together," Galahad began, looking between Idemay and Hellfrit, "King Camelot and Queen Kleophan tried everything they could to help Prince Judess. That was over ten years ago. He's been in a coma ever since… until recently."
He stopped, jaw setting for a moment.
"He woke up, and as everyone knows, he's not right. Keeps talking about a Holy Land. About some goddess coming with it."
Hellfrit flinched without meaning to, his ears flattening as something flickered through his head, faces of mysterious entities he couldn't fully grasp, figures standing somewhere far away and watching.
Galahad continued, quieter now but more certain. "It might sound like nonsense, but if there's even a chance this connects… we can't ignore it. Especially now."
He glanced toward the window and toward the unseen edges of the kingdom.
"The Kingdom of Ormegard isn't waiting around either. They saw weakness when the prince fell, and now that he's back like this, they're pushing harder. A kingdom's morale keeps soldiers standing when they should be running. It keeps kingdoms from falling apart when things start going bad. When people believe they're losing… they start losing for real. And the kingdom's morale has dropped since King Camelot isn't like he used to be. And the enemy wants to take advantage of that."
Idemay folded her arms. "So I'm guessing you want to take my son to the capital. Sit him in front of Prince Judess and hope something happens?"
"You don't have to," Galahad replied immediately. "I know how you feel about the capital…and about the palace."
She sighed, pacing a few steps before stopping again. "Yeah. I tend to avoid places and locations that piss me off. That's why I moved AWAY from the capital. I might be popular there, but not the most loved because of how ruthless I was. People thought I was too chaotic or bloodthirsty. But I don't owe that kingdom anything anymore. Not the Queen. Not anyone. Camelot let me leave with honor, and I respect that, but Queen Kleophan… she made it very clear what she thought of me."
Galahad scratched the back of his head, letting out a short laugh. "Yeah… she didn't take it well when you left. At all."
"And Brill doesn't gain anything from this either."
Hellfrit flicked his tail, cutting in. "Nothing gets done if I don't make a contract with the boy, by the way. And there's no guarantee I can help your prince even if I do. Nothing about this screams 'cure'. Your Prince isn't really my top priority anyway."
Galahad stopped pacing, looking between the sleeping child, the strange creature on his bed, and the woman standing beside them.
"But you're all connected somehow," he said. "You, Brill, and Prince Judess. And it's the only lead this kingdom has connected to that Holy Land and ascending goddess crap he keeps spouting."