indentRune was very much not having a pleasant day.
indentThe people of Lizon were used to when his mood turned sour by now. So as his crane crackled against the rocky road, those that were in his way immediately parted when they heard the familiar sound. Mothers covered their children's eyes to keep them from staring at the numerous scars that littered his face. Not one eye met his sharp green ones, and that only pissed Rune off even more. He understood his reputation, but they could at least look at him when they were blatantly insulting. He wasnโt a monster. Was he?
indentThe blood on his hands and face didnโt help his cause. Rune ignored the whispers. He just wanted to make it to his tavern, โThe Raven,โ and be done with today. Earlier a deal with a client had gone south, ending with the client losing their life. Now was it right for him to beat the man to death with his cane for betraying him? In Runeโs mind? Absolutely. The ambush from the gang that his ex-client had paid had ended up with him losing three men. Well, most of his men, and himself, made it out alive, he hardly thought his ex-client deserved the same privilege.
indentRune told himself it was necessary. Violence was the way to do things around here. It was the way he knew how to do things, and it worked. It always worked. There was something about lions fighting for dominance in a pride that came to mind. Muttering something about lions, he entered the tavern. Seeing his staff getting ready for the evening, he made his way upstairs to his living quarters. He scrubbed the blood off his hands in the sink, not bothering to turn around when he heard someone enter. He knew those footsteps.
indentโIs that blood?!โ Magnus questioned, walking over to where he was standing and watching the blood drain. Magnus looked at his face and gasped. โYouโre not hurt, are you Torralane?โ Rune sighed, scrubbing his hands harder.
indentโNo, this isnโt mine. The deal went south. We lost our client. Though he was a giant snake so itโs no sweat off my shoulders. He even looked like one. Yโknow, beady-eyed and all that,โ Rune joked. Speaking of shoulders, Rune rolled his and almost groaned. He was stiff. He knew by the end of the night that his leg would be burning. It was fine. Everything was-
โindentYouโre shaking,โ Magnus pointed out.
indentRune looked down at his now clean hands, realizing that he was shaking. He grits his teeth, grabbing his cane, and walking towards the door. โIโm fine. We have a tavern to run. Make sure Elidos shows up this time or heโs fired. I donโt want to be working the bar again!โ
indentHe ended up working at the bar again.
indentHis annoyance level was off the charts at this point. Though most people in town avoided him when he was on the streets, The Raven was usually a neutral zone for everyone. Fighting was not permitted. And his regulars actually knew Rune to the point that they werenโt scared of him when he was at the tavern. It was one of the few places that he didnโt need to keep up appearances and actually be himself. Tonight though, even his regulars seemed to be wary of coming up to him. He really needed to learn to control his facial expressions better.
indentWiping up a spilled drink, he could feel his leg start to burn. He growled, wiping harder. Elodis was so fired. So so so fired. Suddenly a man cleared his throat. Rune looked up and was met with a man shorter and leaner than he was. The man introduced himself as a bard and instantly Rune made the connection that this was the bard that arrived in Lizon about a week ago.
indentRune frowned as the man trying to perform in his tavern, slapping his rag against the wooden counter. Suddenly very annoyed. โSo now my tavernโs good enough for you?โ The man seemed confused, so Rune explained it more. โYou did. Iโve heard from the people around town that a bard had arrived in Lizon around a week ago. That this traveling bard had performed three times, all three at my competitorโs inferior tavern. And now, you show up asking about performing and it leaves me to assume that you are that bard, am I wrong?โ
indentThe man, the bard, seemed to try and protest what he was saying. But Rune wasnโt having any of it. โSo, then I ask, my tavernโs good enough for you now?โ Then the bard told him his tavern smelled off. Smelled off? Rune wanted to laugh at the statement but looked into the man's eyes and found no joke in them. โMy tavern smelled off. Smelled off? What in the world does that even mean?โ The bard seemed to be done with the conversation, proclaiming he would perform on the streets instead. Rune was about to say good riddance when Magnus appeared over his shoulder.
indentโPerforming tonight? Hah, that sounds wonderful, doesnโt it, my friend? You can set up in the front corner,โ Magnus said, something between a wince and a smile on his face. Rune glared at his friend, and then turned his sharp eyes onto the bard and glared at him harder. Then almost hissed when Magnus kicked him in the shin. The bard left to go set up, and Rune turned to Magnus.
indentโYou fiend! How dare you use my bad leg against me?โ Magus hissed, grabbing his cane and whapping his friend in the leg with it. Magnus yelped and then glared at him.
indentโYou were about to drive away a performer! It would drive in more customers, and last I checked, we're trying to run a tavern here?โ
indentโYou could have at least consulted me.โ
indentโI donโt think you are in the mood for consulting. And anyways,โ Magnus paused. A smile spread across his face. โWe both get more coin at the end of the day. Why not let the bard perform?โ
indentThe bard set up, and Rune only sighed to himself as he watched. This was going to be a long night. Rune leaned heavily on the cane, trying to give his leg a break, though it wasnโt very successful. He was not going to get sleep tonight with the amount of pain he was in. He winced, and Magnus seemed to notice, grabbing him a stool for him to sit on. Rune thanked him and sat down. The bard began his introductions, of course, calling Rune irritating. Rune turned to Magnus, โHeโs insulting me in my own tavern!โ
indentMagnus chuckled. โHeโs a cheeky one huh?โ
indentRune rolled his eyes. โDonโt laugh.โ
indentโOh, come on. Itโs funny to see someone talk to your face for once and not your feet. And besides, when are you not enjoying a joke? Youโre always laughing like a hyena at everything,โ Magnus pointed out. Rune sighed, knowing his friend was right. He should relax. He watched as a crowd seemed to form in the tavern, some greeting him, others refusing to meet his gaze. The bard introduced himself as Raen to the crown and called for a bit of coin in exchange for his entertainment.
indentThen the music began.
indentNow, Rune wasnโt a big music person. In fact, he preferred silence over anyone singing. But something about Raenโs voice wasโฆenchanting. Rune found himself leaning forward as if he could get a better listen. Even if he wanted to look away, Rune found himself incapable of doing so. The manโs voice made everything seem lighter. Even his leg started to feel better. When the song was done, the whole crowd paused and then clapped fiercelyโgiving away their coin easily. Magnus clapped right along with them while Rune tried to figure out what the hell happened in the last couple of minutes.
indentโWhy arenโt you clapping? He was amazing!โ Magnus said.
indentโHe wasโฆinteresting,โ Magnus said, feeling something odd behind his eyelids.
indentMagnus said nothing, simply waiting for the next song. Rune tried to figure out why he had been so entranced thoroughly by a song. It seemed like no one else really realized that anything was going on. But no one else here was magic. It clicked into his mind that Raen must have some sort of magic. Rune grabbed his cane and got up, ready to make his way to the bard, when the next song began.
indentThis time the pull was even stronger. Rune felt his eyes widen and his body relax. His breathing evened out and suddenly his head was full of clouds. Rune didnโt know how much time had passed, but when his mind suddenly flickered back to life, it was dark out. The tavern now lit by candlelight. Rune was closer now, out of the bar and in the middle of the crowd. Confusion burned through him, and suddenly he felt very exposed. Panicking, he looked around, trying to grab his men's attention but they all seemed to be in a dream-like state. The tavern seemed to sway, and a mist seemed to seep in through the windows and under the door.
indentThe next song began, and Rune desperately tried to fight against it. Every part of his brain screamed against his fighting. Telling him to submit. But Rune wouldnโt have that. Not now, not ever. Not again. Slowly, shakingly, he raised one hand towards the ceiling. His nerves stung, and his leg burned. But he squeezed his eyes shut and a single firework shot out of his hand. It was just an illusion, but it did the trick. Once it hit the ceiling it exploded. The crackle and the bright colors shooting across the tavern was enough to break people out of the trance.
indentEveryone seemed to become awake all at once, and like they didnโt even notice they were in a trance, suddenly they were all entertained by the lights sprayed across the tavern that fell from the ceiling. Through the light, Rune and Raen made eye contact. His green eyes meet Raenโs to not find fear, but annoyance and anger.
indentWhile everyone was seemingly distracted, the bard grabbed the coin and ran out of the tavern. Rune shouted after him and tried to move towards the door, but his leg refused to comply. Instead, he stumbled, his leg giving out as he desperately held onto his cane to keep somewhat upright. Magnus, now out of the trance, was at his side in an instant. โWhat happened? Why did you shoot the firework?โ
indentโHe wasโฆI donโt know. He was using some kind of magic. I could feel it. I donโt know what happened,โ Rune said. Magnus helped him up, wrapping an arm around him and having Rune lean on him for support.
indentโWhat do you want to do about it, Torralane?โ
indentRune glared at the now open door, Raen nowhere in sight. โFind him and bring him to me. He owes me some coin.โ