He had finished his first drink before the young man arrived, and his presence altered the atmosphere of the room. As far as the Shaven Headed Man was concerned, not for the better. I was as the barkeep was refilling his small cup that the boy dropped the jar of frowthorn onto the weathered surface of the bar. This made things interesting.

Following the young man’s discourse with the bartender, he had him pegged as a lively local, fancying himself as something of a smuggler or trader, but there was something other about him. Something that didn’t sit well with the scarred stranger. There was only one reason why a young man like him would risk his life, or worse, carrying a single jar of frowthorn around the city at twilight. [color=steelblue][i]Mage[/i][/color]
But there was something else about the new arrival. Not just the minute hum he felt in his ears, a note that would have deafened a mage, the sound of magic, something more. He couldn’t place where or even when but it picked at the carrion at the back of his mind like a raven. He knew this boy from somewhere.

He heard the boy repeat his last words and followed him with his eyes as he retreated to his table. I could not have overheard him and there was no such thing as coincidence…not here. Everything about this scenario…the bar, the frowthorn, this young mage…it all made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Something wasn’t right here.

As he turned back to the bar, he noticed the barman who had served him and another patron looking at him and talking amongst themselves. He killed the liquid in the cup and gestured for another. He would have to enquire about a room soon and perhaps if the barman knew anywhere he could find some company for the night. There was a look in the barman’s eyes as he approached.

[color=steelblue]”Is there a problem?”[/color] He asked.

[color=lightgreen]”I know you…I’m sure of it.”[/color] The barman began.

[color=steelblue]”You must have me mistaken for someone else.”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]”No, I’m sure of it. You’re a pit fighter aren’t you?”[/color] The barman continued. He took the Shaven Headed Man’s silence as admission. [color=lightgreen]“I saw you fight…must have been fifteen years ago, whilst Gabriel II was still alive. You were incredible![/color]

[color=steelblue] “It was a long time ago.”[/color] The Shaven Headed Man finished another cup of the D’ol Dathri whiskey and exhaled slowly.

[color=lightgreen]”But you were amazing to watch. The amount of damage you could take and keep fighting was unbelievable…wounds that would have finished other men. You’re Taru the Unkillable!”[/color]

[color=steelblue] “Keep your damn voice down![/color] He snapped before collecting himself again. [color=steelblue] “As I said, it’s a long time ago…and not everyone is as proud of my past as you.”[/color]

The barman filled an empty bottle from the cask and set it down on the counter top. It was obvious that his excitement had been quashed by the Shaven Headed Man’s outburst. The man was right though, he had been a fighter and a good one. In fact, violence had always been in his blood, it was the only thing he was ever good at… and he was very good indeed, even in his advancing years.

[color=lightgreen] “Very well…”[/color] The barman said after setting the bottle down. “But I won a lot of money thanks to you. [/color] He gestured around him. [color=lightgreen] “And it meant I could buy this place. So I figure you drink for free tonight.[/color] He pushed the bottle towards Taru and nodded before returning to the other drinker at the end of bar. It was obvious from their body language that they had both recognised him.

He glanced over his shoulder at the young mage and saw him staring intently at the door. The boy hadn’t ordered a drink and hadn’t said anything to anyone since sitting down. [color=steelblue][i]What does he know that I don’t?[/i][/color]  Everything about him made Taru nervous and he was fairly certain that those nerves would be proven right sooner rather than later. The man expected something and Taru wondered how long it would take before whatever it was actually happened.