Uncaged [Sequel to Forever Caged]

A/N: Sorry for the uber late update! I was in the process of moving and JUST got interwebz back. <3 Two more chapters today.
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They arrived in Feru the next day by late afternoon without further incident. Once their hotel rooms were paid for, Shinda turned the wagon into the rental shop in the city and made Lesara pay for the damages to the wheel. After that, he led them into the market, going straight for a leather-working shop. He bought Kyran a pair of custom sheathes for his curved swords, which were a deep rich brown and could easily attach to any belt. They had little straps on the lower part that attached to the thighs so they wouldn't flap about, and had slits starting halfway up the top side so the swords could be swiftly drawn but wouldn't fall out unless the snaps at top were undone. After depositing their bulky luggage into their hotel rooms, Shinda decided it was late enough for dinner.

He smiled at them as he placed a hand on the doorknob of a not-so-fancy restaurant. "This is my favorite place in this city." He pushed the door open and led them inside, selecting a table in the corner where Lesara would have plenty of room for his tail. After a few moments, a young huma waitress with blonde hair pulled up into a bun came by to give them their menus. Once she had the orders for their drinks, she left with a smile.

Shinda leaned back and relaxed, looking through the thick paper menu. Kyran was more occupied with looking at the restaurant. There was a long bar at the corner opposite them, with what he guessed were bottles of alcohol lining the shelves behind it. The walls were simple stonework and the floor was well-cared for wooden boards, and the ceiling was made up of both wood and stone. The tables had polished surfaces, and the workers were well-groomed enough, but something about the place made Kyran a little uncomfortable. "This...doesn't look like a normal restaurant," he said quietly.

Shinda chuckled without looking up. "Because it's a tavern. Nicer than some I've been to though. They actually have good food."

"You mean they serve hooch here?" Arna asked rather bluntly.

Lesara chuckled and patted him on the head. "Yes they do." He set down his menu after deciding what he wanted to eat and asked, "Hey Shinda, should we let the boys sample some alcohol? I'm feeling the need for a bit of pick-me-up myself."

Shinda found what he wanted and plopped his menu on the table. "I don't see why not." He smiled at Kyran and Arna. "You two interested?"

Kyran made a face. "I guess it won't hurt to try it..."

"Awesome!" Arna's face lit up.

"Do you two know what you want?" Lesara asked. Arna nodded.

Kyran picked up his menu finally and skimmed through it. He'd had enough stew for a good while, didn't particularly want dead animals, so decided on pasta. The waitress came back just then with the same smile plastered on her face, took their orders and then their menus, and left again.

Arna looked at Shinda. "Hey, if we don't pass out after the first glass, can we have a drinking contest?"

Shinda eyed Arna. "You're joking, right? Do you know how fast you'd lose?"

Arna raised an eyebrow at him. "To who?"

Lesara interjected. "Now now, no arguing at the table. Besides, I'd beat all of you anyway."

Shinda chuckled. "Only because you have enough blood to make your own bathtub overflow, Lesara." He looked back to Arna. "You'd lose to both of us."

"We'll see about that!" Arna hollered.

Lesara laughed. "Alright, but you have to place a bet."

Kyran frowned. "I'm not joining this."

Shinda laughed at them. "What the hell is there to make a bet on? Arna doesn't have his own money to bet with yet. Hm...All right, he outlasts me he wins a hundred koyeh. I beat him, I get to make his axe training harder. And if by some miracle either of us beats you, we get bragging rights and- what do you have to offer, Lesara?"

"Hmm... future driving privileges? If Shinda decides to stay for a while of course." Lesara wiggled his tail slyly.

Shinda arched a brow. "You've lost your driving privileges already. Offer something else."

Kyran spoke up. "Maybe one of his treasures?"

Lesara eyed Shinda carefully. "That all depends on what he asks for." He wrapped a tail defensively around Kyran's leg.

Shinda gave the naga a funny look. "Well nothing you wouldn't be sobbing about for weeks if you lost it." He hadn't noticed Lesara's tail wrap around Kyran's leg.

Kyran glanced under the table at the blue tail wrapped around him and frowned. He didn't appreciate the reminder that Lesara still owned him.

Lesara let Kyran go. "Well, what do you want?"

Arna piped up. "He can have Cherry!"

Shinda balked. "Feth no! You can keep that crazy bitch. She's a good lay but I don't wanna keep her." He sighed, then said, "How about that crystal scepter, the one with gold filigree?"

Lesara's ears flattened. "You're on."

The waitress returned moments later with everyone's food, and before she left Shinda requested a round of drinks for after dinner. Halfway through, he spoke up. "So, I was thinking about other methods to travel. Wagons are all well and good, but we are sort of on a time-limit, and it'd be nice to have something faster."

Arna shrugged. "Do you think they have faster orns, or maybe a magick-powered transport?"

Shinda pondered that for a moment. "Actually, I've been wondering if we can stuff people into those bags of ours. I mean they hold everything you can think of..."

"I think maybe I should eat you," Lesara glared at Shinda. "You would be tasty."

Shinda raised his hands defensively. "What? You're the one that can't stand being on a ship. I thought if we stuffed you in Kyran's bag we could just fly."

Kyran's shoulders shook while he tried not to laugh.

Lesara stuffed a large hunk of steak in his mouth, and whacked Shinda's leg under the table with his tail.

"Ow!" Shinda yelped before leaning down to rub his shin. "Well it's not my fault you get motion sickness, jeez." He frowned, and ate in silence for a time.

Kyran spoke up softly, not wanting Lesara to hit him too. "You know...it might not be a bad idea. If you just hid in the purses, we could move a lot faster." He paused to glance up at Lesara and Arna, didn't like the looks he got and winced. "I'm sorry, I'll shut up now."

Lesara sighed and smiled. "Don't worry about it Kyran. But what if you lost that bag? I lose my purse several times a day. I'd be stuck till found!"

Kyran made a face. "But I've never lost anything."

Shinda nearly choked on his food when he laughed. He swallowed, then said, "You little liar."

Kyran frowned at him. "Am not."

Arna was curious. "Is it such a big deal if he loses something once in a while?"

Shinda smiled. "No, it's not, I just don't believe he's never misplaced something."

Lesara bit down on another piece of steak. "I believe it. He's the image of perfection compared to the rest of us."

Kyran made a confused face. "How's that?"

Shinda grinned and just shook his head.

Arna thought about it for a moment. "Well, you're very soft spoken. You're patient. You're forgiving..." He blushed as a few other things came to mind and stuffed some mashed deeproots in his mouth.

Kyran blushed a little, then laughed. "You're telling me the rest of those thoughts later."

Lesara waved his hand. "No, no! I want to hear! Tell me, tell me!"

Arna blushed harder. "Uh... I don't think you wanna hear."

Shinda laughed, "But of course we do!"

Kyran made a face and kicked Shinda's shin, and then quickly acted like he didn't know what happened. Shinda yelped and bent to rub his leg, eyes narrowing as he looked for his attacker. "Alright, which one of you booted me?"

Lesara held up his tail. "I can't wear boots, and Arna is too far away. Maybe you're imagining things?"

Shinda turned his eyes on Kyran. "It was you wasn't it?"

Kyran shifted back and grinned sheepishly, and Shinda smiled sinisterly. "I'm getting you back for that after we leave."

Once they had finished dinner and their plates were cleared away, the waitress brought the round of drinks Shinda had ordered. "Ah, and now we have some fun." He drained his ale in a matter of gulps, then set the mug down and gave Arna a challenging smile.

Kyran looked at the amber liquid and sniffed it, wrinkled his nose, then braved a sip. His face twisted up before he swallowed the vile stuff, and set the mug down. "Ech, and you like this?"

Arna smelled it, then sipped it. "Wow! This stuff is great!" He took a hearty gulp.

Lesara chuckled. "Oh dear, what have I done? I've made an alcoholic."

Kyran made a face, and just scooted his glass away. "Who's going to carry you two back to the hotel?"

Shinda frowned at him, then took Kyran's mug after seeing the boy wasn't going to drink, and downed that too. He sighed, and set it back down. "We'll be able to carry ourselves back fine."

Lesara held his finger up and a waitress brought them another tray of mugs. Arna drank his down quickly. "This is really tasty. Is all alcohol this good?"

Kyran scooted back from the table a few inches, not wanting any part of the event. Shinda drank half his glass. "Nope, some of it tastes like someone just pissed in a tin can and managed to sell it off."

Arna made a messed up face, then drank his. His cheeks were already turning red.

"Oh my, Kyran. Watch out for him tonight," said Lesara.

Kyran looked at Lesara. "Why?"

Shinda finished the rest of his. "Haha, you're already losing."

"I am not! I'm still sitting!" Arna shouted a little loudly.

Lesara finished his off smoothly and quickly, and said, "That's why."

Shinda laughed and ordered another round.

Kyran put his head in his hands and sighed. "Arna you better not be an angry drunk or I'm not sleeping with you tonight."

"I'm not angry," Arna pouted.

Lesara laughed. "I bet he's the kind of drunk that giggles himself into a coma."

Shinda was already working on his fourth glass. "We'll see when this is over." He then grabbed Kyran's arm and yanked him close. "You must join us!"

Kyran tensed up and tried to pull away. "No!"

Shinda tightened his hold. "Join uuuusss!"

"Back off 'im!" Arna's voice was starting to slur a little.

"Oh I see, he's a... what's a polite way to say this... a romantic drunk?" Lesara was working on his next glass, totally unfazed.

Shinda chuckled and loosened his hold on Kyran, but whispered something in his ear before he could pull away. Kyran turned to look at him, shocked. "You're terrible! No!"

Shinda laughed. "I know! Do it and I won't!"

Kyran pouted, then picked up Shinda's mug. "There are times when I just don't like you." He frowned, staring at the amber liquid sloshing in the mug. He sighed, then took a long gulp from it. He paused to cough, then quickly downed the rest. "Happy now, you bastard?"

Arna glared at Shinda. "Whadjoo say ta him?"

Lesara was laughing. "You're all so funny!"

"Yes, I'm very happy. This isn't over yet!" Shinda ordered another round of four when they were done, completely ignoring Arna's question. Kyran reluctantly drank his glass, already starting to feel a little light by the end of it.

"I think we should count the boys out, Shinda. Look, Arna's swaying." Lesara pointed.

Arna glared. "Am not, I'm perfectly ok!"

"All right, whoever can walk -or slither- in a straight line after this next round is the winner."

Kyran glared up at Shinda, both eyes swirling with flecks of the other's color. "I'm putting tacks on the next chair you sit on."

"Gettin mean there, ain'tcha?" Arna's voice was heavily slurred by now.

Lesara laughed. "I think that sounds fair."

Once they finished the last round, Shinda stood. "All right, the final test." He moved around the table, and indicated one board on the floor. "If you walk this without falling over, you win. If we have a tie, we have another round and try again."

Arna stood up. "Me first!" He made it a couple of steps before falling over. Lesara looked at him and said, "I vote we leave him. His hair matches the wood nicely."

Shinda laughed, then nudged the boy to the side. "All right, my turn." He walked along the plank, and didn't even so much as sway. To prove the point, he turned around and walked right back. "There." He grinned at Kyran, who was already collapsed on the table. "Aw, he lost already. Well, your turn Lesara."

"You pushed him too hard Shinda." Lesara got up and gracefully slithered back and forth. "I guess this means we drink more?"

Arna stood up. "I'm not out yet!"

Shinda laughed and pushed Arna back in his chair. "You fell, you lose. Any drunker and and you won't make it back to the hotel." He sat down and ordered two more mugs, then quickly downed his.

Lesara did the same. "So are we going to keep going after every drink?

"Yes, yes we are." Shinda thought for a moment, then said, "You know, as big as you are, it's not really fair that you only drink one glass. How about three to my one?"

Lesara nodded. "Yes, that sounds fair." He waved the waitress over. "We'll be needing four drinks again." The waitress gave them a funny look, but left, returning with the tray of four mugs. Another started to clear away the ones that were already cluttering the table, and they had drawn a bit of an audience. "You think this is interesting, wait till I pee later," the naga laughed.

"You'll make a whole new lake!" Shinda laughed. After three more rounds, it was again time to try the walking test. Shinda rose from his chair, and stepped towards the designated floorboard. He glared at it, then started to walk along it, one foot in front of the other. He made it to the end, turned around and swayed a little, then walked back. Still swaying at the table, he said, "Sssomehow, I thinks no matter wha', I can't beat a naga." He sunk back into his chair and glared at Lesara.

Lesara's cheeks had only begun to tinge pink. "Maybe, but it's fun trying, isn't it?" With the same grace as before, he slithered back and forth, then back to his seat. "Want to call it quits?"

Shinda chuckled. "Feythis no, last man sstanding pickss up the tab!" Another three rounds later, Shinda got up and tried again. He made it to the end, started to turn, and toppled over. He giggled, scrunching his bright red face up. "The floor came up and spanked me."

Lesara was in a fit of giggles. "Oh my, how are we gonna get everyone home! Barkeep, tab please!" He was handed the bill, handed back the money and shook Kyran. "Kyran, dear, I need help with the boys."

Kyran groaned, and cracked his blue eye open to glare at Lesara. "I have a headaaaache," he whined.

Shinda, still giggling, pushed himself off the floor and sauntered back to the table. "You sstill have to slither the plank, Lesssara." He grinned and flopped back into his chair, then nudged Arna with his foot.

Lesara rose. "But of course!" He slithered back up and down, swaying just a little. "There, I win, tab's paid." Arna groaned, pink in the face. "Help me carry them."

Kyran grunted and forced himself to stand. "I can walk!" he protested. He frowned, then gagged and put a hand to his mouth. "I feel sick..."

Shinda raised a brow. "You gonna make it or do ya need a toilet?"

Kyran swallowed hard and grimaced. "I'll be ok."

Shinda stood and nudged Arna again. "Lessara, you get to carry him."

Kyran made a face, blue and orange eyes swirling slightly. He walked over to Shinda, who slipped an arm around his waist to steady them both. Once Lesara had collected Arna, they left the tavern with a simple goodbye and headed back for the hotel.

Lesara waited till Arna and Kyran were tucked safely into their own beds. "How 'bout we discuss my winnings now?" The naga smirked to Shinda, having sobered up a little.

Shinda shut the door to their room and flopped on his bed. "Sure, whaddya want?"

Lesara shrugged. "What do you have?"

"Uh...I have a really pretty chaaaair, and a pair of crystal glasses, and a coin purse," he paused to giggle at that last one. "And a flame ruby, and a gold sword..." Shinda made a face and scooted up to sit against the pillows. "Anything appeal?"

Lesara's shoulders went up and down in a shrug. He looked thoughtful, then slithered on the bed with Shinda, hand sliding up the man's thigh while he wore a questionable grin. "Let's see that coin purse."