Chapter Text
“Good luck!” Shelby called as the four climbed back up the ladder. It would be a few days by foot, so they started walking. Chilled was still a little more than miffed about the invisibility wearing off when he was getting the sword, but there wasn’t much he could do about it now. Especially not when Kara seemed so guilty and sorry about it.
They walked for a few days, and the only confirmation that they were getting close was the fact that more stars seemed to appear in the sky at nighttime, which was incredibly cool to be fair. They made it to the town pretty easily, and ended up in a tavern. They paid for some rooms, well two to be exact. Kara wanted her own, but the guys never minded sharing their spaces together.
“I’m so excited to see what that flute can do!” Larry said as he flopped onto the large bed in the room.
“What makes you so sure you get to keep the flute?” Jeremy asked and Larry sat up, sticking his tongue out at the man.
“Uh, I’m the bard. Duh,” Larry said matter of factly. “Besides, I doubt you know how to use the flute anyway,”
“And you do?” Chilled teased. Larry could do a lot of things, but Chilled had never once seen the bard use a flute.
“Duh. Let me prove it to you,” Larry stood up, dug a flute out of his backpack and headed back to the bar area of the tavern. The two boys followed, looking amused as Larry got up on stage.
“Is it bad I really want this to go wrong?” Jeremy asked and Chilled shook his head. They both watched as Larry projected his voice and got the attention of the audience.
“Hello! I’m Larry, the best bard around town. And I’m going to give you a taste of music!” he said and started playing. It was amazing, and Larry seemed right at home on the stage. He eventually finished the song and a girl’s voice echoed from the back of the tavern.
“You think you’re the best, huh?” Chilled swore he recognized her as she walked up onto the stage. She was a half elf, much like himself, and she wore leather armor with a sword on her hip. She brandished a flute. “I care to challenge you, to a flute off!”
“You’re on, and maybe afterwards the loser buys some drinks?”
“Deal,” the girl said.
They started playing, the melodies dancing along in the air together. About halfway through though, Larry stopped playing and just stared at her. He looked so amazed, and then she finished the song. She bowed low and winked to Larry.
“Meet me and my friends at the bar, you owe us drinks,” she said and slipped off the stage. Larry shook his head and climbed down, walking defeated over to Chilled and Jeremy who were laughing.
“She cheated, she charmed me,” Larry said sadly.
“Larry, buddy, it doesn’t take a lot for people to charm you,” Jeremy pointed out that Larry liked to flirt and hook up.
“No, she used the charm person spell,” he said then sighed. “At least come over there with me,” he begged and since the other two wanted to see this go down they agreed. Larry walked over there and Jeremy elbowed Chilled lightly.
“Those are the girls from that vision,” Jeremy whispered and Chilled realized he was right.
“That's why the girl was familiar. I bet that's the flute we’re after,” Chilled whispered back.
“You did good Larry,” The female bard said. “I’m Elaina,”
“You used magic. I wasn’t aware this was a magic duel,”
“I wasn’t aware that we weren’t allowed to use magic. Besides, it was just a little charm person. It wasn’t like I changed your memories or anything,”
“Doesn’t make it better,” Larry said and she shrugged. “This is Chilled and Jeremy,”
“This is Em and that’s Apple,” Apple was an elf, a bow slung across her back and leather armor on her body. A ranger of some sorts. And Em was a human, with a staff nearby. She wore some fancier clothes, nothing like Apple’s, and Chilled would assume she was a sorceress much like Kara.
“It's nice to meet you ladies,” Chilled said and did a small bow. “Listen, we actually came to this town for a reason,”
“Oh did you?” Apple asked and tilted her head. “Well you’re talking to the right people. I’m the mayor around these parts, what can we help you with,”
“What do you know about the Flute of Fishburger?” Jeremy asked them and Em’s eyes seemed to darken a little at the question.
“You mean my flute?” Elaina asked and Larry nodded. “What business do you have with my flute?”
“Is there somewhere more…private we can talk?” Chilled asked and Em signaled them to follow her. They may be leaving Kara alone, but she could handle herself. So the guys followed.
“This is my home, one of the few places away from the king's eyes,” Em said and sat down at a table. “That is, assuming you work for a resistance,”
“We do,” Jeremy answered hesitantly and the other two girls sat down as well.
“Then tell us, why are you looking for my flute?” Elaina asked and Larry stepped forward to speak.
“If we want to stop the king, then we need that flute. It’s the only way we can ever find the rightful heir to the throne,” Larry said and Apple glanced at the other girls before back at the group in front of her.
“Right, and how did you track this down?” Apple asked and Chilled pulled out his sword. The girls all reached for weapons until Chilled lay it down on the table.
“This is how. It granted us a vision with you three in it. Led us here to find the flute,” Chilled explained to them. Em leaned over and gently pulled the sword to her, studying it.
“I’ll be damned. Speedy and Sidearms have got to be the worst guards in existence,” Em said. “It’s the Bread Sword. And we know it wouldn’t have led them here if they weren’t good people,” Em then looked at Elaina.
“Your choice Elaina,” Apple prompted her and Elaina sighed.
“Larry, I present you the Flute of Fishburger,” she said and right as Larry grabbed ahold of it there was a loud explosion from outside.