Berek raised a hand, the bartender refilling his mead. Tonight was one of the few nights the young blacksmith was allowed himself to relax. A second mug wouldn't necessarily hurt. He saw the liquid gold filling the cup, and once it foamed at the brim he took a sip. The brew was as delicious as the last, and he let out a satisfied gasp. The young man felt like the only thing that would make this moment better was some good food, but he promised himself he'd cook when he got home. 

At his feet were a sack of foodstuffs, just the last reminder of his day full of errands. The amount of beef, chicken, cheese, wheat bread and salt would last him a few weeks, just in time for him to finish his most recent batch of contracts. Outside the window, Berek didn't notice the shaved, and once voluptuous figure being shoved into the mud from the workers that were hauling a carriage worth of fertilizer into their small business. 

He simply enjoyed his mead, and would have continued to do so if not for the men who walked in not moments later, laughing uproariously and speaking too loud to be ignore. 

"Dumb bitch deserved it." the lead one said, clenching his fists. "Had the lack of common sense to not get out of the mule's way!" 
"Aye. Probably has the plague, that one." the next one said, and the others shook their heads. "Well if she don't now, she will soon. The mud and cold'll get you as quick as the illness." 
"What say once we're done here we go outside and have a little fun with her before she's dead?" 
"Fun? She might have been a looker at some point but she's skin and bones now, unless you mean shoving her down again. I did see a small coin purse 'round her belt. Must be from losing all that hair." 

Berek took another sip of his drink, eyeing the men and wondering what in God's name they were talking about. He sighed his next words. "Well whatever it is, doesn't sound good." He groaned and stood up off his barstool, giving the bartender a coin and a nod of thanks for heading to the tavern door. 

He pushed open the door with a strong hand, and found a curious and bedraggled sight next to the alleyway.