The Traitor's Wish

TTW Ch24

The strong scent of whiskey wafted through the air in The Secret Woods pub. Though it was hidden away in the sleepy, east side of Braxton, the inside was spilling with noise and excitement. It seemed this was the place to be on a night out in Fulvadore. The atmosphere attracted people of all sorts. There were tables full of sailors, who told tales of the sea and who they had signed on to sail with. Store owners came in after their own shops had closed for the night; they sat together and talked of who had came into their stores today, and the best way to peddle people out of more money.

Then there were the rag tags. Thieves, pirates, wenches, all flocked here like sheep. The owner knew they were good business, but he tried to keep his bar filled with honorable people. He'd much rather serve a table of war veterans then bring beers out for pirates and their mistress of the night. He definitely did not hire out the women for work, in fact all his servers were old friends, men of honor looking to make money to live off.

So when a large group quietly found a table in the back, he did not know what to think of them. He could usually identify every man and women who stepped foot in his bar, even travelers, but he'd never laid eyes on these men. Thirteen of them all together, sat to dine at a round table tucked away in a corner. They were just visible from the bar, so he kept his eye on them, scanning for any clues to who they were. Most were dressed in worn out clothes, the smell of salt and rum clinging to them. It was clear the leader of the group was a young man with dark hair. The determination in his blue eyes demanded attention, but something just as curios was the loss o his left hand. It had been replaced by a metal hook. But curiously, even that was not the strangest thing.

Holding his right hand, a fair, blonde maiden. They walked in synch, and he pulled out her chair for her. When they sat, their hands stayed locked tight. He saw no ring in her finger, but this was no one night stand. She radiating something bright, and hopeful throughout the room, through her face seemed solemn. The whole group's did.

If he hadn't had his own costumers to serve, the man would've rushed to the table immediately, asking for their story. Fortunately, they stayed late into the night. Costumers left the bar, headed home, or to the inn. They stayed, huddled in the back corner. Some of the men had shifted over to where Little John was busting tables. He was able to strike up a conversation with them eventually.

The bar tender decided now was his chance. Just the man and woman remained at the back table. Something pulled him to them. He carried over a flask of rum, knowing the hooked man would approve.

He pulled a chair out from the table and sat. "I know everyone who steps foot in my bar. But you, you make me curious." He said, offering the flask to the man.

He cautiously took it, swigging back a gulp. The lady eyed him carefully. "I'm Robin, welcome to Braxton." He offered his   right hand to the man, taking carefully into account the hook.

The stranger eyed his hand, and slowly let go of the lady's hand, shaking his with a strong grip. "Captain Hook, and my wife, Odette."

"What brings you to Braxton?" Robin asked, feeling much more at ease now. The questions made Killian uneasy. This man was too curious, but with one glance at Emma, he could tell she trusted him. She took his hand back in hers carefully and spoke.

"We were moving from Kesway. Storm swept us here, and we thought it was as good a place as any to stop." She explained with ease.

Robin lifted an eyebrow. Both of them were so intriguing. Something was different about the two of them. He'd ran this bar for thirty years, he certainly wasn't a young man anymore. It was now or never for a chance to change his life. It seemed fate pushed him to them.