An older man steps into the local tavern. A smile spreads across his face, highlighting his rough features. His strong jawline is visible under the stubble of his beard that blended into his short messy black hair, a few grey strands visible. He was a handsome man and had aged well through his many years. He takes a deep breath, the smell of alcohol filling his lungs. The warm atmosphere in the tavern was full of laughter and conversations. This was his type of environment. Surveying the tavern, he spots something unusual to him. A young mysterious woman sitting alone drinking, a hood over her head and a scarf covering her features. She was definitely trying to blend into the crowd. He considered for a moment, she probably wanted to be alone if she was hiding like this, but something about her stood out to him. She looked sad to him, even if he couldn’t see her expression. He pondered for a moment whether to leave her be or not. In the end, he couldn’t help himself. She had too much of a pull, he was here for stories afterall and she definitely looked like she held some interesting ones.
After heading to the bar, he confidently approaches her with two drinks in his hands. As he stands across from her, he looks down at her and speaks in a playful tone.
“Hey sweetheart, mind if I join you?”
He shoots her a wide smile. The woman looks away from him, hiding her face behind her scarf and hood. His voice is lighthearted as he speaks again.
“You know,”
He grabs the seat across from her and sits down before he continues.
“I can tell the difference between drinking for fun and drinking to distract yourself. Something on your mind, love?”
The woman scoffs. Undeterred, he shoots her a bigger grin as he hands her a drink.
“What’s the harm in sharing your troubles with a stranger, hm?”
For the first time he gets a chance to look more clearly at her, even though most of her face is hidden, one thing stands out as clear as the sun on a clear summer day. Her eyes. The mild golden glow in them. Shocked, he stares for a moment. The woman notices this and turns further away from him. He takes a second to think, then leans slightly closer. The woman keeps trying to avoid his gaze, but the second she glances up at him, his eyes flash a warm yellow and his voice comes out soft, almost like a song.
“I know a thing or two about that glow too.”
The woman stares in shock for a moment as the realisation dawns on her.
“You’re… you’re a bard.”
“That I am, pleasure to be of service sweetheart.”
She is now fully staring at him. She couldn’t help but wonder why he had sat by her, of all people in the tavern. Taking a moment to assess him, her eyes grow wider.
“You’re Silvius.”
“Ah! You recognise me, although I can’t say the same about you.”
His voice is light and he sends her a beaming smile. Her face softens ever so slightly as she speaks.
“I… What are you doing here?”
He chuckles for a moment. It was normally easier for him to get a conversation going his way, especially with women, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t win her over. Afterall, he was Silvius. One of, if not the most, famous bard in the region.
“Not that comfortable yet? That’s okay, love. I’m here on vacation, a small town like this always holds the most interesting tales. And people.”
He shot her a quick wink with his last word. He had an undeniable charm and he knew it. She looks at him suspiciously, then takes the drink he offered and quickly downs it. As he observes her he can’t help but smile. She was in a losing battle even if she didn’t know that yet. She puts the cup down with a thump and looks back at him.
“I’m not exactly pouring my heart out to a stranger if I know you.”
He laughs with his whole body, his hands lifted admitting defeat to her statement.
“You got me there, sweetheart. How about pouring your heart out to a friend?”
The woman looks down, mildly scratching at the table. She suddenly appeared more nervous than before. He gave her a moment before speaking again in a softer tone.
“That hit a nerve, huh?”
“I don’t need company and I don’t have any interesting stories to tell.”
Her voice was cold and harsh. However, he very much doubted her words. Not only was he sure she seemed like the most interesting person in the room, he could tell she was very much in need of company right now.
“The glow in your eyes suggests otherwise.”
Her face tightens. She was clearly considering her options here. Was she going to leave? He very much doubted that. She takes a sharp inhale before looking back at him, her face ever so slightly relaxing. She already seemed more than tipsy, her flushed cheeks slightly visible under her scarf.
“Ember.”
He looks at her puzzled for a moment, encouraging her to elaborate.
“My name.”
Gotcha.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance Ember.”
She looks back down, tracing her fingers around the edge of the table. He studies her for a moment before he speaks again.
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“Why don’t I get us another round, love?”
Before she can respond, he walks back up to the bar. The woman behind the counter smiles at him excitedly.
“What can I get ya?”
“The strongest you got and if you wouldn’t mind keeping them coming, love. Just put it on my tab.”
“Of course Silvius.”
He heads back with two cups, handing one to Ember. She is quick to take it and start drinking. She makes a face at the stronger punch of the drink before turning to look at him with a questioning look. He answers with a smirk.
“You looked like you needed something stronger, hope you don’t mind.”
She chuckles lightly and gently shakes her head. Her voice is lighter than earlier.
“That obvious?”
“You learn to notice these things.”
Clearly pleased with her warmer attitude he continues.
“So, what’s bothering you, love?”
She stares at him for a moment then points at him, leaning on the table as she does.
“Don’t use your bard charm on me, I’m not that easy.”
He lets out another laugh.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
She stays in place for a moment, then leans back into her chair as she takes another swig of her drink. As she places it back down on the table she looks back into his eyes, her chin mildly lifted.
“You tell me your secrets, I’ll tell you mine.”
“Deal. Although I must admit, I’m an open book. And I’m more used to people spilling their secrets in my bed chamber.”
She rolls her eyes, getting another chuckle out of him. She studies him for a moment, considering her next words. There was one thing she was curious about.
“Why did you approach me?”
“You stood out.”
She lifts an eyebrow. He wasn’t getting away with just that, especially with how much she’d clearly tried to not stand out. He smiles, his tone light and airy.
“You know, the people trying to blend in as much as you, are normally the ones who stand out the most.”
She looks down and slightly lowers herself in her seat. He laughs for a moment, before he continues.
“Although to be honest, you also reminded me of someone I used to know.”
She meets his eyes again, thinking for a moment.
“Did they also drink when depressed?”
She takes another sip of her drink. His lips twitch for a moment, but she doesn’t notice. His voice is quieter this time.
“Not quite. But she did also hide herself when she was bothered by something.”
She chuckles as she traces her fingers around the rim of her cup. Her expression grows absent. She seems lost in thought, but this time he stayed quiet. A silence falls over the table as she continues tracing the cup. After a while, she finally breaks it, her voice timid.
“I… I hurt a friend. I didn’t intend to, I didn't even realise I was doing it and… I don’t know what to do now.”
His smile fades and his voice becomes more careful.
“This a close friend of yours?”
“She is… was.”
“That bad?”
“I don’t know…”
Another silence falls over them and he gives her a moment. She sighs as she slightly lifts her scarf, slowly pulling the collar of her shirt down. He can’t help himself as he lifts an eyebrow at her with a teasing expression.
“I thought you said you weren’t that easy?”
She scowls at him. He hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable, but he also felt confident that she knew that. He smiles as he speaks.
“Only joking, sweetheart.”
With squinted eyes she continues her movement, revealing the scar across her collarbone. He blinks for a moment then looks back at her eyes as she pulls her shirt back up.
“I thought you said you didn’t have any interesting stories? That certainly looks like one.”
She takes a moment before she answers.
“I can’t share the full story, I’d get us both in trouble, but…”
She bites her lip, clearly troubled. It takes her a few seconds before she continues.
“I was reckless. I got hurt, obviously, and I was so busy focusing on myself I forgot to think of the impact this had on my friends.”
His expression grows somber for a moment, but he quickly changes back to a smile. He knew this pain all too well. In a way, he could relate to this strange woman. But unlike him, she still had a chance to make amends. He thought for a moment about how to respond.
“Hurting someone isn’t the end all be all. If you know you hurt them and you’re truly sorry you can always mend the relationship.”
Even though the words were directed at her, he felt an impact from them as well. It was something he had wished someone would have told him when he had needed it. Her words came out as a sigh.
“Maybe…”
“You could always start simple and just apologise, admit your faults.”
Ember's stomach turns, her expression clearly distraught. Watching her carefully, he continues.
“Unless you don’t think you’re at fault?”
“I know I am, it’s just…”
He lifts his eyebrow, trying his best to convey sympathy towards her.
“Hard?”
She looks up at him with a pained expression.
“Yeah.”
“It shows a lot of strength to admit your wrongs.”
Those words struck her. His change in expression fully set in with her. His whole demeanour had changed from earlier, he didn’t seem as cheerful as first, but more vulnerable.
“Speaking from experience?”
He chuckles, but dodges her question.
“I’m sure they’d forgive you, especially if you’re close friends. Sometimes you just need to hear it.”
His words make her visibly relax, she believed him. She speaks with a gentle smile.
“Thank you. Really.”
“It’s no problem, sweetheart. Isn't every bard's goal to brighten people’s days?”
She couldn’t help but chuckle and the mood around them lightens.
“And here I thought it was to entertain.”
“That too.”
They both let out a gentle laugh, the serious tone from earlier fading.
As the evening goes by, more drinks are consumed and laughter shared between them. The air in the tavern cools down from the night’s approach. This was her cue. She smiles as she speaks with a cheerful tone.
“I should probably head home, before you start trying to invite me home with you.”
He laughs as he responds, a smirk spreading on his face.
“Another night then?”
“You’d be lucky.”
“I always am.”
She scoffs, although her smile suggested she had found it amusing. As she slowly rises from her chair he speaks again.
“I’m staying in town for a while, in a room above the tavern. You’re always free to come visit me, love. Maybe next time I can get the full story behind that scar of yours.”
“Don’t count on it.”
She shoots him a playful smile before she stumbles towards the door. He chuckles as he watches her leave. There was definitely something about her and he was sure this wasn’t the last he’d see of her.