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“So, we’re going to meet the lady who supposedly looks like an angel?” Trix asked, flicking his tail as he walked.
“Yep.” Garth said.
Trix wrapped his tail around Garth’s arm before letting go. He did that when he was nervous. “And you’re sure she’s gonna be here?”
Garth shrugged. “This is where everyone says to go.”
“Okay. I trust you.” Trix sighed for a moment. “But… how much walking do we still have to—?”
Garth knelt down. “Get on my shoulders.”
“Yay! Thank you, Garth!” Trix squealed
—
They arrived at the tavern that they had been pointed to in an amount of time that Trix certainly could’ve walked for, but Garth didn’t mind.
Apparently, Vyctoria was some kind of legend around here. Garth knew that she did vigilante-like things before she was imprisoned, but he didn’t understand the scope of it at the time. When he was released, and he had been dragged out of his weeks-long depression, he asked around to see where he could find her, and plenty of people knew who she was.
They seemed sure that she was in this town, and even more sure that she was often found in one of the local bars in the evening. The Salty Dog’s Festering Wound was the name of the bar. Charming, Garth thought.
It was early in the evening, but they pushed their way in anyways.
It was like being transported into a different world. Outside it had been cold and wet in the air, but here it was warm and lively. Soft candles illuminated the tables and bar setting, casting a warm glow on all the customers.
It wasn’t what he expected, as there were actual tables and booths like a regular tavern or inn. There was, of course, a bar counter, but there were less drunkards milling about than he expected. That being said, it was still early in the evening. The bar was against the back of the place when they entered, tables in front of it, and booths along the right-hand wall.
He felt a tug at his sleeve, and looked down to Trix’s shining eyes. “Look! Is that her?”
He followed where Trix’s finger was pointing with his eyes until they landed on the booth in the very back of the tavern.
An angel was sitting there. Then he blinked, eyes adjusting to the brightness, and Vyctoria was sitting there instead. Maybe not instead, but as well as.
She had aged, but so had Garth.
Trix ran up to her before Garth could do anything.
“Hello, Vyctoria!” He said, waving.
Vyctoria glanced up from her meal — mashed potatoes and stew — alert in her movements. Her eyes landed on the culprit, and then on the goliath figure behind him.
“Garth.” She said, although he didn’t hear it from how far away she was.
Trix hopped into the seat across from Vyctoria. “Hiya!”
Vyctoria didn’t spare him a glance, not until Garth started to walk closer.
“It’s you.” She whispered. “You got out.”
Garth nodded. “Yeah. I told you I would.”
She stood up from her seat.
“Woah, you’re tall too.”
They both ignored Trix as she stepped forward and flung her arms around Garth’s waist. He wasn’t hobbled this time, so she had to go on the tips of her toes to reach.
“For the record, I did miss you.” Vyctoria said, pulling back and holding Garth’s elbows in her palms.
“So did I.”
Trix made a fake gagging motion.
Vyctoria looked almost the same as before, but scars and marks of experience were now littered more frequently across her body.
Vyctoria reached up and touched one of the small scars on his cheek. “Was this from me?”
Garth knew the one she was talking about. He had first noticed it a couple days after her escape. It had come from a particularly hard punch when one of Vyctoria’s rings caught on his skin the wrong way. It was his favourite scar.
“Yeah.” He nodded.
Vyctoria shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. If you took it back, I’d be dead.” Garth said, trying to muster up a smile.
“Sit down. Let me order you dinner. You too, uh, what’s the cat’s name?”
Trix made an indignant sound. “The cat can answer that. His name is Trix.”
“Right. Sorry, Trix. What would you two like?”
Trix tapped his chin. “Hmm… some chicken skewers, please!”
Vyctoria nodded. “And you, Garth?”
“Do they have salad?”
Vyctoria sat back in surprise. “Not what I expected a big, tough guy like you to order.”
Garth blushed. “I grew up on a farm. I don’t like eating animals.”
“Fair enough.” She waved down the waiter and relayed their order, tacking on two lemonades when Trix asked.
“So, what brings you two around here?” Vyctoria asked, chewing on one of the skewers she had taken from Trix as ‘tax’.
“Oh, uh…”
“We were looking for you!” Trix said with his mouth full of chicken. “Garth told me that he told you that he would come find you when he was allowed out, so that’s what we did!”
“This wasn’t a chance meeting, then.”
Trix laughed nervously. “No. But we do have some ulterior motives.”
Vyctoria quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Mhm!” Trix elbowed Garth in the side. “Wanna tell her?”
“Uh. Me, Trix, and our other friends are in an adventuring party for quests. Sort of like what you’re doing now.” He cleared his throat. “We were wondering if you’d like to join?”
Vyctoria brightened at that. “Yeah! I’ve been wanting some extra help around anyways. I’d be happy to join and smash bad guys for you.”
“Our priority is saving innocent people, not killing bad guys.” Trix said, holding up a finger.
Vyctoria nodded. “Of course, of course. You just let me know when you need a heavy hitter. Someone to carry out justice.”
Garth shuddered at the word. That’s what the leader called him. Justice. When he was holding that axe and swinging it down. Justice. But Vyctoria didn’t mean it like that. She wouldn’t have known, either.
He noticed for the first time a long object resting against the back of Vyctoria’s seat. He followed it to the ground. A greataxe. She wouldn’t have known that either. He swallowed harshly.
“Are you alright, Garth?” Vyctoria and Trix asked at the same time.
He nodded, managing a smile. “Yeah. I’m all good. Glad to have you on the team, Vyc.”
“Glad to be invited, Gar.”
She smiled warmly, angelic, and Garth managed to turn his smile into a real one. Vyctoria wasn’t like that. She was staunchly against what the prison was for. They had both escaped the clutches of that place. Neither of them were planning on going back. He wouldn’t let that happen, and surely neither would she.
“So, what are you good at, Vyc?” Trix asked.
Her eyes sharpened with delight. “Cutting baddies heads off with my axe.”