Post by Talen Mythik Aureon Gale on Dec 21, 2018 14:44:10 GMT -6
- x - x - x - x - chapter I - x - x - x - x -
The door to the Ensorcelled Tavern creaked beneath his hand, dragging its corner along the scuffed floorboards, dipped lopsided by tired hinges. The aged wood displayed its wear, the pathway of the same motion carved as a well-known ravine in the entrance. Every open and every close, etched in the walkway. Boots had carried their adventures with them, leaving traces of their journey as stains--stories for a sharp eye to read.
Such a gaze cast downward as Talen entered, surveying the latest footprints and the tales they told. Mud--normal for the abundant travelers who sought the comfort of elixir. Straw--the nearby farmers who afforded themselves few breaks, generally spent amongst the camaraderie of their neighbors. Leaves--those who hunted in the forest, pairing their latest bounty with a drink. Familiar and normal marks, apart from one, small anomaly. A dot of blood wet the otherwise-dried dirt. Perhaps a blacksmith who swung too close to their grip. Or perhaps the hint of trouble, shed from a stranger who bore wounds of ill encounters.
Flicking his oceanic eyes forward again, Talen scrutinized the crowd for the culprit. Townfolk sprawled across the room, thickest at the bar where drunken voices burst in excessive laughter, a few stragglers minding their personal peace in the far nooks. No particular person drew his attention, no obvious offender to confront. He did not see any dressings on the little skin exposed in the room, given the freeze outside that warranted hefty coverage. Was the injury simply located beneath garb, or was it intentionally hidden?
Without further evidence available, he strode off to the bar, slipping between the chatting bodies and leaning toward the bartender, summoning her by his stance. A smile danced at the edge of her mouth as she turned to him, coy and enticing, beginning a leisurely walk intended--successfully--to show the alluring motion of her hips. Talen offered a broader smile in return, one side pulled higher than the opposite. Her job was to entertain and flirt, loosening wallets as she loosened their wits, always offering to pour another glass as she distracted their logic with fluttering eyelashes. But while he knew the game was rigged, it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the free show.
She finally reached him, curving downward to rest her own elbows on the bar, mirroring him and allowing a gracious view down her corset. His stare remained on hers, however, measuring their sincerity as she spoke.
"What can I...give ya, hun?"
She asked with a mischievous tone, coiling innuendo in the way her eyes glanced down his torso for a moment. He knew she was probably searching for his coin pouch, trying to judge its size and how much time he was worth, rather than the package otherwise implied. His grin deepened and he chuckled lightly, slightly cocking his head as if momentarily considering her unspoken message, but then clicked his tongue in a manner of playful disappointment.
"I'm afraid I seek nothing more than a few words, love."
Her interest dimmed yet still flickered, a raise of her eyebrows permitting he continue.
"Any strangers in today? Someone with an odd look?"
She tilted her head, pretending to contemplate, but her eyes betrayed instant recognition. Clearly someone was so prominent in her memory, they required no hesitation to recollect. Good, it was someone conspicuous.
"A handful of strangers, aye. They didn't pay well so I didn't pay them much mind."
No suspect mentioned. So, they were conspicuous and dangerous, enough to curb her tongue. The light of his irises burned, an undeniable cyan flash acknowledging that he knew she withheld information. She shifted uncomfortably, attempting silence, but the air was heavy with his expectation. After a forced exhale, she finally conceded, aware her answer was demanded.
"And I suppose one was a little off."
Again, she attempted to satisfy his curiosity with the abridged truth, hoping she could return to the easier customers who were dulled by the magic they'd consumed. As she began twisting away to retreat, Talen darted his hand forward, catching her wrist--a soft yet unyielding grip, more symbolic than it was physical. She froze, breath hitched, and then gave the barest nod toward a silhouette on the far side of the room. He released her immediately and she departed quickly, wishing to be clear of any meeting between the hunter and the target she'd just provided.
