The Fourth Zaldizko 6 Red Shoe Tavern

The dingy cobblestone lane ended at a T-junction where the multi-story buildings were spa.r.s.e, less glamorous and, well, less. I noticed the people roaming the cross street were also more modestly dressed in molted suits, drab line dresses lacking the swishing pearls and other fancy jewellery adoring gloved hands and hats.

"This is, er, different." I muttered to Lita who responded with an astute nod.
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"This is Evadale Lane." She carefully answered. "A different kind of merchandise and clientele is found here. Don't wander from our group."

I kept close to her lead as we walked down the lane.

A loud clap and smell of gunpowder wafted past my nose from a side lane.

I glimpsed the activity happening in the shadowy lane and gulped at the two old men in dirty overcoats, molted hats and fingerless gloved hands dropping wriggling helpless creatures into a steaming cauldron. I flinched at the high-pitched squeals sounding out of the cauldron followed with gun-shot bangs.

"Um, wh-what the h.e.l.l." My finger nervously twitched towards the creepy lane.

"Keep moving! Don't look back!" Wilfred warned me in my mind.

"Cytah!" I let out in my mind, and hurried my pace to keep up with Ryoko and Lita's lead.

I restricted my sights to the scenery of the paths our group walked through. We eventually arrived before a large two-story building at the end of the street.

It was over the top with its triangular fire-brick roof tiles and rows of gargoyle lions perched over the front door and windows carrying an oily rainbow sheen to the gla.s.s. As we neared the building's double doors, I noticed the wood's polished surface carried an oily red light. Above the doors, silver letters glowed on a slab of grey stone.

"Red Shoe Tavern." I read the letters aloud.

"Our water hole," Wilfred said. "This is the place knights go to let loose."

"You need to say a spell to open these doors," Lita said and showed us how.

Her hand hovered over a symbol of a raring black horse that was carved into the door's face.

"Zaldunak irekita," she said the spell that caused the doors to swing wide, opening the way into a bustling tavern where music and merriment was at a high.

I gawked with wonder at the swinging bra.s.s band playing on the far end stage. It entertained knights who were enjoying rowdy conversations, drinking matches, enjoying intimate or quiet time at booths or making the most of the jolly atmosphere.