Sally had grown up in the McDaniel’s Pub, the late owner had taken her under his wing when she was young. It had been her first job and eventually, she inherited it. It was a safe haven to her, even with all the fights she had to break up.

Sally served her patrons with a smile, even though the potential of war still tickled the back of her mind.

Every once in a while, she’d find her way back to Bruce. He had become like a big brother to her, and she had the utmost respect for him. Even if she refused to say it to his face, she hoped he knew how she felt.

Every time she’d visit him, he sat slightly lower in his seat, feeling the effects of alcohol coursing through his veins. She laughed at him before pouring them both another shot.

“You know I was right, yeah?” she started. “You can’t party any more.”

“Well…. Maybe you’re right,” Bruce’s words were slurred and his eyes glossy.

She was happy to see him a little more relaxed. He had worked too hard after his father died and, if this war did happen, she hoped he’d at least enjoyed himself that night.

A startling crash pulled her attention to the other end of the bar.

She looked up in time to see a bottle shattered below the neck thrust in the direction of another patron. The jagged edges only barely missed their jugular as they stumbled backwards.

“AY!” Sally screamed at the two patrons. Her once welcoming voice had transformed into a deep guttural growl when she addressed them.

Every patron in the bar turned to look at her as she marched towards the pair.

“What in the fuck is going on here?” Sally demanded, stepping between them, well and truly ready to get physical if need be.

“He’s a fucking Remdian!” the man holding the makeshift weapon screeched while gesturing with the broken bottle.

“What’s your fucking point, mate?” Sally asked him, almost begging him to give her a reason to punch him.

“They are trying to invade us! Thousands of lives could be lost because of his people.”

Sally rolled her eyes, “You really think this punk has a goddamn thing to do with that?” She pointed to the skinny kid behind her struggling to stand on his own two feet.

Before the perpetrator could speak, she continued, “Or what… he’s got a gun, airship and tank in his back pocket ready to invade the whole of Caledorn now? Use you’re fucking brain, this is a politicians war. Don’t let those bastards high up sway your decisions down here in the gutters. We’re all just surviving while they play God. Figure out who the real enemy is or get the fuck out of my bar.”

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The man gaped like a fish, clearly trying to find the words to refute her. Sally patiently waited for him to respond, but the words never came.

He placed the broken bottle on the bar and shook his head. He looked up at her with a tinge of sadness in his eyes before he simply walked out of the bar.

Sally sighed watching the ignorant man walk out the door. She knew this was only the beginning of the rising tension. Things would definitely get worse before they improved.

After the threat was gone, she turned to the lanky kid behind her, but Bruce had already sat him down and given him water.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to stand for a few hours,” she chuckled at her friend.

“Somehow your yells always sober me right up,” Bruce smirked back.

Sally smiled, “You got him?”

“For sure, unless you want me to sweep up.”

Sally scoffed, “Yeah, and risk you half-assing it and leaving glass everywhere. No thanks. You stay on babysitting detail.”

Bruce chuckled as she turned to address the rest of the patrons.

“Sorry about that folks. I’ll say one thing, I refuse to let anyone shank someone in my bar because of where they are from. Sort your shit out or get out. Other than that, free round on the house!”

Everyone cheered and clinked their glasses together.

Sally tidied the bar quickly, her practiced hands making the work efficient and exact. Soon enough, she was back behind the bar getting a round of drinks for the bar.

The patrons lined up in an orderly fashion and waited their turn. She smirked at their obvious intimidation as it made her job a lot easier. She passed them each their beverages and watched them scurry back to their tables.

The final customer slid up to the bar in silence.

“What can I get ya?” Sally asked, wiping down the bar as an ingrained habit.

“Oh, uh. I don’t want anything to drink,” the young man said.

Sally cocked her head, studying him for a moment. He wore a miscellaneous band t-shirt that Sally had never heard of. His glasses were wide framed and took up the majority of his face. He looked fragile and young.

“What do you want then?” she queried, leaning on the bar top.

“Uh. I’m from Remdia,” the young man whispered before glancing around to see if anyone heard him. When he was satisfied that no one was about to attack him he glanced back at Sally. “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for breaking up that fight and thanks for your words. You’re a good person.”

Sally was stunned into silence for a moment. She’d heard many compliments before, but usually they were attached to a cheap pick-up line. It’d been a while since someone had said something so kind with no ulterior motives.

“Kid. You’re always safe here. I’ll make sure of it,” she said, choosing to ignore the discomforting praise he mentioned.

“I appreciate it,” he nodded. He took a deep breath, a forlorn look gazing back at her. “It’s just that I feel there is very little you’ll be able to do if this invasion does happen.” With every word, he seemed more frantic. “As a Remdian, I don’t know what my government is thinking, but I assure you I disagree with them!”

“Hey, hey,” Sally reached across the bar and dropped her palm on his shoulder. “Hey. It’s okay. I don’t blame you, and no sane person would either.”

“That’s the problem, miss. Sanity goes out the window when panic sets in.”

Sally hated that she had no words of wisdom for the young man and she hated how correct he was. She dropped her hand and her head in defeat.

“Let me at least get you a drink, before the world goes to shit,” she tried.

He sighed, “Just one then. Beer please.”

She prepared his beer, setting it down in front of him with a slight smirk, “Gonna need to see an I.D. though, you look about twelve.”

He smiled a little before reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. He pulled a card out and passed it to her.

Sally studied it for a moment, making sure it was authentic before returning it. “Nice to meet you, Lyle. I’m Sally.”

Just as he was about to respond, a patron in the bar screamed. “A news report just said that Caledornian intelligence thinks Remdia will likely invade in two days time!”