[ Revisions 3 ]
âThere was a delivery for you madam,â Fleur Devaraux explained, pointing out the lineup of three bottles near the appointment ledger. The nightborne had a smug grin as she worked on the daily preparation tasks, juicing sunfruit, brewing the tea, slicing garnishes and a few other things for the food menu.
âI wasnât expecting any deliveries, who brought them?â Chaszmyre asked, crossing the room to the bar itself. She picked up the appointment book first, opening it to the marked page to review. When she looked up from the book, her bartender was smiling even wider, barely holding in a snort of laughter.
âWhat is so damn funny?â Scowling, Chaszmyre shut the book and turned her attention to the mysterious delivery. The three bottles lined up at the end of the bar couldnât be more different from each other. The one most out of place looked heavy, made of stone or clay with several large runes painted on it. Another was a tall and elegant crystal wine bottle with a crimson label that boasted flowing magical script. The third bottle which the artist actually picked up from the bar was the most fitting for the Peacock Lounge. A thin layer of gold leaf covered half of the blue glass bottle and what was exposed had a few small hieroglyphs in gold paint that gave its origin of Uldum away instantly.
Turning over the gold bottle in her hands, she looked again to Fleur. The nightborne was working with a smirk firmly in place. âWhere did these come from?â
âA boy brought them by. He said he knows you. He had a lot to say, about the two of you actually,â she admitted with a laugh. Pausing in her work, she looked to Chaszmyre with a friendlier smile. âHe said his name was Keleros. He explained what they all are, if you want to know before you go opening them.â
Keeping her face neutral at first, the artist nodded and set the bottle down with its companions. She stared at the trio for a moment, a soft huff of laughter coming from before she looked to her bartender again.Â
âWas this while we were out getting dinner in the city?â Chaszmyre smiled, her posture more open as she leaned against the bar, certain she was already more exposed by whatever the visitor said than her almost giddy reaction to it.
âYes. I expected you to have been back by then. I imagine he did as well. I wouldâve been closed down but that couple fawned over all your art samples for a whole bottle of Eversong White.â Fleur put down the knife she was cutting lemon curls with for the moment.
âThe ugly one he said was from Northrend, a Vrykul honey mead. He said itâs stronger than youâd think. The fancy one is wine, a Zinfandel picked up from Dalaran. He said he stole it from Jaina Proudmooreâs personal stash.â She clicked her tongue, clearly not convinced, or not impressed. âThe other one he thought youâd recognize, from âour friends in Uldumâ he said, and that itâs a gin. I donât know if he has friends. I just assumed he stole all of it,â she finished with a shrug, getting back to the delicate task.
âTheyâre beautiful, I wonder what I can do with them,â Chaszmyre mused and took up the bottle of wine to turn over in her hands for a moment. âThis could be a good chance for a little promotional event. I need to get out more, get new faces in here.â
After examining the trio a bit more, Chaszmyre tucked them into a locked cabinet behind the bar. She looked over the bartenderâs work with the garnishes and sampled the tea, nodding approvingly at each.
âYouâre doing a good job. Thank you. Iâm going to make sure Lyârana has done her studies before I step out for a bit. I think thereâs an event I can use to find a few new customers.â
With that, she slipped through the beaded curtain and up the stairs, seemingly nothing further to say about the visitor.Â













