Location: The Inn at last!
Interacting With: A slightly confused barmaid, and Kyra.
All a missunderstanding huh? Well, whatever it was it was clearly over now. And it also seemed everyone else involved wanted to get to the inn at least as much as he did. He hoped they didn't assume he was following them – they just happened to be going to the same place he was. At the same time. He still had a bit under an hour to find a constable in, and that was plenty enough time for a drink or two first. Besides, the Constable probably hadn't had a rest all day and would be thankful of a drink too.
The inn should have been packed. The earlier victory ment that anyone who had held a sword in it should be in here drinking to the fact they didn't die. And looking for whores – something about killing almost always made people horny. Then there was the fact this village had been hastily fortified, so should be packed with refugees. And yet the moment he stepped through the doorway, he could see some empty chairs. Not very many, but empty chairs none the less. Still, it was a big inn. Maybe it just had room to spare. Heck, maybe they even still had rooms to spare. That would be nice.
Kent picked his way through the mass of people as quickly as he could trying to get to the bar. It was clear there were plenty of new faces here. There were also a few muttered apologies as he bumped into people getting to the bar, but that was to be expected.
It took a few more moments before he managed to get the attention of a barmaid.
“What can I get you, darling?” She probably called everyone darling, including trolls and lepers.
“Let me describe it.” Kent half shouted at her across the bar.
“You know how on market day when you get some young blowhard in here with a farmgirl on his arm, desperate to impress her?”“Yeah?” She wasn't quite sure where this was going.
“You know how he always wants to buy the strongest thing you have, just to prove how tough and manly he is?”“Yeah...”“...And you serve him some frightful rotgut thats stronger than dwarfsteel and feels like razorblades tore his throat open so he coughs and chokes and looks like an idiot?”“Yeah.”“I'd like a big bottle of that.” He handed some coins to the barmaid....then, remembering he was intending to grab something for the Constable as well added as an afterthought
“An a bottle of decent whiskey if you would.”He tucked the whiskey under his arm as he turned back to look around the bar and pulled the top off the other bottle. Where had she gone? That girl from the alley? As he looked around the tavern he lifted the bottle to his lips, took a big gulp and made a face like someone had just kicked him in the bollocks. Wow. That barmaid wasn't paid anywhere near enough. This really was strong, and it tasted like a cross between horse piss and lava. It was exactly what he wanted.
Ahha! There she was! Sat at a table near some fat merchant. He picked his way through the tavern to Kyra's table. She was prettier up close than she was in the dark from a rooftop. Looked stronger too.
“Now, I should probably ask if this seat at the lady's table is taken. But given there arn't actually that many seats left...” He said by way of introduction as he took another gulp of rotgut and sat down.
“What I am actually going to do is sit down and hope you forgive me.”“Can I get you a drink or something to make up for the inconvenience?” He glanced around, looking for a passing barmaid.
“Nice shooting with the apple by the way.”“I don't mean hitting it – you were maybe ten yards away at most. Many a seasoned archer could have done that.” He took another drink as he continued his disjointed monolog, enjoying the way the fire from the rotgut was seeping into his gut and bones.
“I mean the shot itself. You had your bow off your shoulder, knocked, drawn and loosed before anyone blinked. That was impressive.”“Now, given you can move and shoot like that, I don't think a nice lady like you is really here because of the drink...” He lent back in his chair, almost ready to give her a chance to speak.
“Are you?”
