[b]Kareth
The Boot Buckle[/b]

He finally found the Belt Buckle. A wooden sign decorated with a leather belt with an over-sized gold buckle swung gently in the cold breeze. Also, the words "Belt Buckle" were helpfully painted on the bottom, as if that helped the illiterate commoners. The sign was a little worse for wear, but at least it was legible. The directions Kareth got from the guard were either less than helpful, or Kareth had forgotten a few of the steps. It hardly mattered now; Kareth's only desire was to get out of the cold. 

He stepped inside, shuddering involuntarily at the increase in ambient temperature. [i]You never know how cold you are until you aren't.[/i] He thought as he shook the snow off his cloak and boots. [i]I'll need to get a new cloak.[/i] The quartermaster made him hand in his old woolen Legion cloak, the ass. Kareth had to buy a new one. It wasn't as good as his old Legion cloak, and it was looking quite worse for wear after the hounds incident. He may also have to get his left bracer repaired too, covered in tooth marks as it was.

He took a seat by the fireplace. He unslung his pack and set it by his feet and groaned as he leaned back in the chair as his back could finally release its burden. He wanted to order food, but was too tired and frostbitten to speak up. [i]Maybe a rest here for a bit, and then I get up and get some food, a room. Then tomorrow I could go find a tailor to fix my cloak, or maybe get a new one. Yes, get a new one, a fine crimson one, with gold embroidering along the edges. Maybe they could fix up my bracer too, or would that be a blacksmith's job? I'll need a file from one anyway, in case I'll have cause to add any tallies to my weapons. And then some dice. Maybe I could find a game going before I get my room....

His to-do list kept going in his head until he fell asleep in the chair, amidst all the tumult of the merrymakers, and oblivious to the tension in the room.