Chapter 4: Getting Inn Trouble

Nadia followed close after by Allium and Clavidicus examined their surroundings as they entered the inn. The first thing they noticed were the pleasant sounds of music that seemed to fill the room ever so slightly louder then the mixed chatter of all the tavern patrons. Looking around, Nadia determined the source to be a lone bard sitting in the corner by himself strumming timidly on his lute.

It was pretty clear that the bard was just fiddling around with it, perhaps composing a tune, but not really trying to perform it for others. The music was pleasant and flowing yet had a very haunting charm to it. The bard also seemed to be contributing further to the tune by humming to himself, as he worked through its melody.

No one in the inn seemed to have paid any attention to the three as they entered, as everyone seemed to continue minding their own business. The only exception was the barkeep who threw a rag over his shoulder and nod in their direction. He soon after moved on to help another patron that was sitting at the bar and had amassed a sizable collection of empty tankards already.

"Lets grab a seat close to him so we can perhaps gain a word or two of his lyrics as we listen" Nadia said as she pointed to a vacant table in the same area of the inn as the bard. Neither of her companions put up any objections. The three made their way over to the empty table and sat down.

Soon after sitting down, Allium laid her head on the table. Nadia started playing with Allium's hair. "Rest for a little dear, you're still not looking so hot." Nadia then noticed that Clavidicus was looking off to another part of the room. "What are you looking at big guy?" she asked.

"There's an old dwarf that looks like he's been roughed up pretty bad judging from the scars and the bandages that are bleeding through" he answered smiling to himself.

Nadia looked over in the same direction. The dwarf Clavidicus was talking about did look in pretty bad shape. He seemed pretty entranced by the fire nearby and was staring intently into it. "Are you smiling because he's injured?"

Clavidicus laughed "I'm not a big fan of dwarves to be honest. I've had bad experiences, you know, my fair share of bad dreams about axe-wielding dwarf murderers. When I see a dwarf injured as bad as that, I think that he probably had it coming."

A waitress walked close by and Clavidicus flagged her down. "Can we order some food
please."

She smiled and walked over. "Yes, what can I get you tonight? Our special tonight is the steak."

Allium lifted her head up suddenly. "I'll take two plates of the special, rare as it comes" before slamming her head back down on the table.

"And what about you two" the waitress asked to Clavidicus and Nadia.

"I saw someone else had a ham and vegetable plate over there. I'd like one of those and one of your house ales" Nadia asked politely.

"Yeah same here, but make it two pints of ale for me" said Clavidicus. After the waitress left, Clavidicus asked Allium "You're such a small little woman, sure you're going to be able to handle two steak plates?" Allium lifted her head just high enough to give him a look that verified she meant business.

When the food and ale arrived, Allium tore through both of her steaks with her bare hands in a most disturbing fashion while Nadia and Clavidicus sat and ate quietly. Clavidicus spoke soon after saying "I'm sorry I doubted you shorty, and might I say you're looking a little better now. Also this ale isn't all that bad, and its almost cold too."

After the three were about finished with their meals, the barkeep wandered over to their table. "Hope ye found the meals to your liking mates. We don't get a whole lot of visitors these days. I thought I should give you a word of warning, strange things seem to occur near the graveyards at night that no one can explain that well, so ye best keep your distance till morning's light. I'd recommend you stay indoors at night as well but that's for your safety. Ye don't know what might be lurking in the shadows. But seeing as ye folks seem to have your wits about ye, I'm sure ye know how to handle yourselves in the presence of danger."

Nadia smiled at the man. "The meals were great and thank you for your warning. We shall take it under advisement." After hearing that, the barkeep returned to behind the bar to again help the patron sitting there with his collection of empty tankards.

Seeming a little more refreshed, Allium commented "Well he pretty just asked us to go check out the graveyard, a task I feel quite inclined to fulfill."

Nadia laughed. "I couldn't agree more, think of the adventure that awaits us within the fog filled reaches of that cemetary. Clavidicus, wouldn't you agree?"

Clavidicus looked around uneasily at both Allium and Nadia and seeing the sparkle in their eyes, quickly changing his demeanor to appear more confident. "Yes this would be a ...uh...grand adventure, no danger too dangerous, no challenge too challenging, let's be off and all that." Clavidicus tried his best to hide a yawn as the girls headed for the door to go get into some trouble in the town's graveyard. "Hey wait up!" he said as he scurried to catch up.