Day Nine - Bergin's Inn

The tavern, Bergin’s Inn, was different than the others Esmeralda had been frequenting. True, it was still loud and just the smell alone was intoxicating, but there was also a warmth about it. It was dusted, cobwebs were cleared away, and the wood was a soft, comforting burnt orange, almost the same color as her hair, under the glow of the lanterns, which looked to be painstakingly placed to give off the perfect amount of light. Somebody clearly put a lot of time and thought into setting it up. It wasn’t gorgeous. It had a feel of a place designed to be dull, unremarkable. If there weren’t so many drunkards, it might be a nice place to sit and think. 

From the number of people, and the average level of inebriation in the room, she suspected it was the end of the week. Unless Penancians are just alcoholics, which was a distinct possibility. Perhaps she should have been keeping track of the days. 

Esmeralda made her way through all the merriment to the bar, feeling the night’s nectar, already starting to get sticky, against her shoes. The barkeep didn’t seem to be any more enthralled with the festivities of the night than she was. He was preoccupied with organizing everything behind the bar. “What’ll you have?”

She leaned in, hoping that she could drown out the raucous sounds of a busy inn with her thoughts and a conversation. She wasn’t hopeful. “I’m looking for some information, please,” she shouted.

“Sure thing.” He shuffled a few bottles around before realizing that ‘some information’ was, in fact, not a drink. “Sorry, long day. What can I do for you?”

Esmeralda was finally in Penance. If she couldn’t find anything out here she didn’t know what she would do next. Maybe she’d give up, but where would she go then? No, this is where they said they were going. She heard Mary tell Curtis that. And Mary was never one to hide. 

Esmeralda lowered her hood and took a deep breath. She just needed to start talking and get it out. He probably wouldn’t know anything, but she’d find that out soon enough. “I’m looking for a couple of teenagers,” she began, practically yelling to make sure he heard her over the noise while holding up two fingers. If she’d thought of a gesture for teenagers, she would have used it, but she made up for that lack of overcompensation by overemphasizing the nouns. She didn’t want to have to say anything twice. ”A boy named Curtis, and a girl named Mary, both with red hair.” (Stroking her hair) “Last time I saw her, the girl’s hair was a bit past her shoul—”

“Who are you?”

“What?”

“You’re not dressed to be a guard, and spies are usually a bit more subtle than that. Why do you want to know about them?”

Esmeralda could feel her heart suddenly pounding in her chest. Shit. She knew something like this might happen, but what exactly were they involved in now? They were going to get her arrested or killed. She tried to concentrate on breathing normally and keeping her voice from shaking, “They’re already in trouble? How much could they have done?” She knew she had taken far too long in traveling here.

“I honestly don’t know if you’re playing dumb or not, but I’ll say this—”

They were interrupted by unintelligible yelling and a chair being thrown across the room. The barkeep sighed and went to take care of it. He could certainly look intimidating when he wanted to. Esmeralda, as always, was not interested in being present for a bar fight. To think that she thought it was too loud before it started.