The Red Leaf was a riot of noise, color; the low hum of creatures making idle chatter, or shouting and cursing, fighting with each other. Cloaks, skirts and capes swirled in bright shades, green, red, blue, yellow, all blindingly bright. A fire burned cheerfully in a hearth at one end, where a couple of creatures were toasting chicken legs, seated on low stools around it, warming their hands as well. It was chilly outside, but inside the Leaf was a completely different story. A glow lit the entire room, provided by a few torches in plain sconces on the wall. The ceiling was flat, there was another floor- stairs began in one corner, leading up. The bar ran the entire length of the back wall, a span of cracked, tarnished mirror behind it. A few barmaids were constantly moving in and out from behind it, serving the rowdy customers, while a bartender carefully polished a used mug, placing it in its proper spot one he was finished.
Besides bar stools set up in front of the counter, there were a number of round tables, most filled with beasts reclining in the plain chairs that surrounded them. Drinking, eating, making business deals.. Every creature had something to do. Except for one. The silver furred mousemaid was slumped in a chair, by herself, not quite drunk, but obviously very near it. A half-filled mug of amber ale was clutched tightly in her paw and she glared into it, frowning at her watery reflection. Lifting it to her lips, she let the bitter liquid slide its way down her throat.
Thoughts just as bitter as her drink filled her head. Getting drunk doesn’t do any good.. I should be trying to find a job.. Find a job, yeah, who the hell’d hire you? Do something.. The confused thoughts were fragmented by the drink and she blinked, pushing a paw across her eyes as she tried to clear her head. Do something. She stared down at the table now, examining her paw. It was callused, dirty. Hadn’t been able to stop for quite a while. A sigh heaved its way out of her throat, unbidden. Ever since the new Queen had taken power, her and her hired thugs, raiding villages.. She blocked the memory from her mind with a shudder. Violet and blue-gray eyes blinked again, clouded now not with drink, but hatred.
A trembling paw brought the ale to her mouth again, a deeper swig this time, burning the back of her throat. Good, she thought grimly, I won’t remember now.. Suddenly, her slightly blurred vision was filled by a creature in front of her. Glaring, she snapped at whoever it was: “Get th’ ‘ell ‘way from me. Leame alone.” Her words sounded slurred even to her own ears, and she winced mentally; she was never one to be happy about sounding like an idiot.
The other answered her lightly, “It ain’t no fun t’ drink alone.” He was a mouse, about her age, perhaps older, perhaps younger. Pale sandy fur covered him, contrasting sharply with dark brown eyes, almost onyx, startling in that bleached face. Not muscular by any means, he gave a lean appearance nonetheless. “Leame ‘lone,” the mouse femme repeated, slumping and leaning her arms on the table. “Jus’ leame ‘lone. Don’ feel like talking to any’un.” Glaring, she wondered idly why he wasn’t going. Most people left her alone, with those looks.
“Shame t’ see someone this incapacitated like that.” Tracing his paw along the table, the other mouse examined her with almost amused eyes. “I’m Raen.. You are..?” Glaring again, the femme took a quick swig of ale, wiped her mouth with the back of her paw, and snorted. “Some’un ‘s best t’ leave alone,” she grunted, annoyed, now. But still, Raen persisted. Not loudly, he just remained where he was.
Maybe if I give him my name he’ll leave me alone, she thought, then sighed, rolling her eyes up to the ceiling. “I’m Steelshine. Now will you go away?” He shook his head, then eyed her, a disconcerting sideways glance, like a bird of prey. A few more questions, prodding questions, about why she was here, where she was from.. Steel’s ale loosened tongue held out for a while, but she found herself telling him that she had nowhere else to go, and that she hated the Queen. Dusky chocolate eyes lit at this last. “How’d you like a job?” he inquired, examining her intently now. “..Just.. You won’t be able to drink. We can’t afford screwups.”
“B’lieve me,” Steelshine said dryly, pushing the drink away. “’M not fond o’ i’, no matter what i’ looks li’..”
Raen grinned at her, then glanced towards the stairs. “We have to keep this stuff a secret, a’ course.. Follow me. I’ll take you to meet ‘Steelrose.’” Pushing the chair back, Steel quirked an eyebrow at him, following with steps ever-so-slightly unsteady. ~*~*~*~
Queen Tsarmina Greeneyes the Second, Her Majesty the Ruler of all Agryphia, Chosen by the People to Lead, flopped onto her bed. It was incredibly frustrating, running a kingdom. Of course, some of her titles were mere formalities. The people didn’t choose her to rule them any more than the previous ruler had chosen for her to kill him. But those were mere trivialities. She was now the ruler of the people, she was leader of Agryphia. Wretched citizens. So ungrateful.
There were perks to ruling, even though the citizens were most ungrateful. Such as this room. It was luxuriantly hung in tapestries, with the finest gold, silver, red, and purple embroideries, dressing the plain stone walls in a wash of rainbow. And the bed, of soft goose down, most comfortable to lie on. Rolling onto her back, she stared at the ceiling, absentmindedly counting the stones. One, two.. Thoughts of the mouse sprang unbidden into her mind, and her claws slid from her paws, digging into the embroidered quilt and tearing it. Damn rebels! Look what they made her do!
Most un-Queenlike curses burst from Tsar’s lips. My, she was glad that the guards she had posted outside the door couldn’t hear. At least, she hoped. Sighing, she continued to stare at the ceiling, trying to think of what to do with those damn rebels..