The Barman's Proposition
The Black Void - Episode 2077
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I groggily open my eyes. "Just a minute!" I say, my voice emerging as a
harsh whisper due to
my dry throat. I get up and stretch, my back and neck are stiff from
sleeping on the hard
mattress. I notice the room is much darker, and no light enters from the
window. Is it
night?
I make my way to door, feeling along the wall as I go, and open it. The barman stands before me, lantern in hand. Behind him, leaning against the wall, is an obviously inebriated man, holding a nearly empty bottle. "Time's up." he says. "How long was I asleep? I only paid for six hours, but it seems to have gotten dark." "Nearly ten hours. You seemed like you could use the extra sleep, and truth be told, I was overcharging you anyway. I decided to let you keep the room until someone else asked for it." He gestures to the drunken man behind him. "Thank you for your kindness." I reply, drawing on my cloak. As I exit the room, the other man stumbles in and collapses on the bed. The barman shakes his head, and closes the door behind him. We walk silently down the hallway. He stops me before the door to the main bar area. "So, where do plan on heading off to now?" the barman asks. "I'm not sure." I say, replying truthfully. "I'm looking for someone." "I see. A word of caution, Miss. The streets of Artazed at night are not the safest place for a woman to be out wandering alone. Especially a pretty one such as yourself, and a stranger to the city at that." Why is he being so nice to me now? This morning he was gruff and suspicious of me. While I honestly can use whatever help or advice I can get, I'm beginning to doubt his motives. "Thank you for the warning, but I've nowhere else to go tonight but out into the city. I can't pay anymore. I gave you all my coins already." "Perhaps we can work something out." I step back, nervous all of a sudden. "What do you mean?"
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5/22/2006 7:21:12 PM
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