To the Tavern's Credit

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 28th August 2008

Characters: Zathris, Zandreu
Description: Zathris finds refuge in the Tavern after an argument at home.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 11, day 23 of Turn 4

Zathris

The Tavern Master was serving behind the bar, a job he enjoyed, and so
one he didn't allow himself to do more than his share of. Whether the
other staff members liked the work or not, each of them had to do a
share. Zandreu believed that generalists were of more value in a Tavern
than specialists, and he followed his own dictates on that.

He was witness to the flow of custom coming in and out of the Tavern.
Mostly the voices that greeted his ears were cheerful, the chatter
lighthearted. Some were quiet or spoke in hushed tones. No one seemed
to be bothered by anything in particular until a certain customer
stormed into the Tavern, face shadowed and jaw set. Zathris paused just
inside the door to look around. When he saw Zandreu, he made his way
over to the Tavern Master and sat down upon a stool. "I could do with a
good stiff drink."

"Oh? Do you have anything particular in mind, or just something that
will solve your problems for you?" Zandreu's smile was wry. "Because
you know no drink can do that."

"Just something to take the bitter taste out of my mouth." Zathris was
in no mood to banter and his voice took on a sharper tone than it would
normally.

Zandreu poured the other man a drink of cider, fairly sure that wasn't
what the assistant steward had in mind. The good thing with strong
cider was that if Zathris wanted to drink himself insensible it would be
a fairly quick process.

Zathris chugged down the cider in one fell swoop, then set down the cup.
"One more, then I think I'd better get something in me before I start
catterwalling from drinking too much on an empty stomach." He didn't
really want to get drunk, but sometimes, alcohol just helped him to relax.

With a smile Zandreu filled the mug again. If Zathris downed that one
as fast he would most likely not be able to stand, let alone eat. Oh
well, there were plenty of beds available.

Zathris didn't guzzle the second mug but sipped at it a bit more
gingerly. "Got any stew?"

"We have a complete menu to tempt any diner, you know that. But if it's
stew you want, I can order you something."

"Stew." Stew was a nice, hearty meal that would sit well on the stomach.
What would some women call it? Ah yes, comfort food.
Zathris supposed stew was his comfort food.

Zandreu waved one of the table staff over and ordered for the other man.
"Would you like to move to a table?" he asked Zathris.
During his past he had learned everything there was to learn about the
best places to fall down drunk, and from the height of a barstool wasn't
in the list of 'best'.

"No, I'm fine." If anything, Zathris wanted the company of another man.
He was rather tired of women at the moment. All right, so he wasn't
really tired of Benani, but he had to get away before he said something
he should have. He was angry, but he still loved her and fighting in
anger didn't make matters any better.

The man was clearly not 'fine' at all. Zandreu knew his job and served
another customer before settling in opposite the other man with a few
glasses that didn't need polishing and saying: "So, what's the problem?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Zathris waved his hand in a dramatic
dismissive gesture, then sighed. "Benani and I had a fight."

"Is that so unusual?"

"Actually, yes." They had little spats and disagreements, but full blown
fights? Those were rare. "We don't usually fight like this."

"Ahh." Zandreu nodded - but what would he know? His own wife had left
him and even now he agreed with her decision. "Was it over something
important?"

"No! That's just it! That's what baffles me!" Zathris shook his head
as he regarded his mostly full mug. "It was over something trivial.
Benani's not usually like this. She's never been a flighty person, but
lately..."

"Perhaps ... I don't know. Perhaps she's worried about her father's
health?"

That made Zathris pause and he frowned into his mug. "Yes. That would
certainly make sense." But Benani had been worried about her father for
quite some time. "I don't know. It just seems rather strange."

"Or her own. Is she sick?"

"She certainly wasn't acting sick when I left her!" Zathris snorted and
took another swig of his cider, albeit a small one. "No, she's not sick
from what I can tell. I think she's just in a mood.
I'd rather wait it out."

"Here? You'd rather wait it out _here_?" the Tavern Master asked in
some surprise.

Zathris gave the man a rueful smile. "At least partially anyway. I
just needed to get out for a bit to where I wouldn't necessarily run
into her. I needed to step away from the situation."

"Well I think you can be safe from her here. She isn't exactly a regular."

"No." Zathris shook his head. "Not likely to be. Not that she didn't
like the food, she's just a homebody."

"Some people think that's a good thing in a woman," the older man
commented mildly.

"Good or bad, it's neither. It's what she is." Zathris turned and
smiled to a serving girl who brought him his stew, then took up his
spoon and began to play at his food. "If she wanted to craft...well, I
would let her if I could."

"I don't suppose her father would like that, much," Zandreu said,
wincing at the thought of the old Lord Holder's reaction.

"It's not a topic we have discussed." Zathris stated dryly. Nor was it
a topic he ever planned on discussing unless Benani insisted -
which she had yet to do. "I can't say I agree with certain viewpoints
around here."

Zandreu shrugged. He had opinions about some things, but mostly he kept
them to himself. To do so was almost a requirement for a Tavern Master.
"Perhaps things will change when one of the young Lords inherit."

"I doubt that." Benaran seemed the most likely and Zathris had a good
idea of how things would go for women if that man inherited. "But I
guess we'll just have to wait and see." It was so morbid to talk like that.

"I guess we will." Zandreu nodded at the other man's meal. "Stew all
right?"

"Yeah, it's good." Zathris took a hearty bite, nodding. "Yeah.
Comfort food for the stomach."

"Good. And do you think you'll go home in a better mood?"

"I'm already in a better mood." Zathris pointed out. He had calmed down
and while he wouldn't go home immediately, he could certainly mull over
things better.

"Good. That's something to the Tavern's credit then."

"And to the Tavern Master." Zathris pointed out, giving the other man a
small smile. "I should stop weighing you down and let you get back to
work. I'll eat and be on my way - I've some things to do before I go
back anyway."

"No problem, Zathris. It's always a pleasure to chat with you and the
staff -" he glanced around to make sure he wasn't telling fibs, "- know
to take over when I'm busy. A bit of give and take - that's what makes
this sort of job work in the long run."

Zathris nodded, quickly finishing his stew. He wiped his hands on his
napkin and plopped it on the counter, followed by an eighth mark. "I'm
sure you'll be seeing me again. You do a good job running this place,
Zand."

"Thank you. It's nice to hear that from time to time."

Last updated on the August 29th 2008

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