Balmy

The tavern was dark and incredibly smoky, as if the smoke from the large fire that burned in the center of the room had no where to escape to.

Briggita had never been inside a place like this, probably shouldn't be now, he father would be ashamed of her. But the promise of talking to this man longer was enough to lure her in. There were men at the bar, laughing, singing, telling stories and being incredibly jovial. But in the dark corners of the tavern sat lone souls, staring deep into their cups, despair hanging around them, mingling with the smoke. She wanted to stay away from those corners.

She was feeling woozy from the smoke and the noxious fumes that surrounded her.

"Here, sit." He said, escorting her to a bench close to a window that had a small crack in the corner, letting in small wafts of air. "I will get libations for us to enjoy." With that, he turned and went to the bar, she assumed to get whatever libations he was speaking of. A small breeze came through the window, refreshing her. She scanned the square, what she could see of it, trying to catch a glimpse of Muninn. She hoped he had not left for good, it scared her to think of going on without him.

"This should do the trick." He said as he placed two large mugs, overflowing with  liquid down on a small table in front of the bench she sat on. He pulled up another bench, close to the table and leaned forward, getting as close to her as possible. He raised his mug to her. "Let us toast!"

She raised her mug as well.

"To great adventures and discovering the unknown."

"The unknown" She repeated dreamily. They clanked their mugs together and she drank deep, as her father had taught her.

What greeted her was not what she was expecting. It was mead, but nothing like what her father had made. His was sweet and soothing, used in illness, sleeplessness and festivals. This was sharp, bitter and burned. She felt it hit her stomach and warm her from the inside out.

"I can see it is a new experience for you." He chuckled.

"Yes. I have never had mead that was this strong." She coughed, taking another sip, hoping it would soothe her throat and her nerves.

"They make it so those fools will spend all their hours and all their coin here." He said, indicating the corners of the room. "I like it because it lights one up, so long as one does not have too much."

"Yes, I can see that it can have that effect." She said after another gulp. Her whole body now felt warm, and she was starting to calm down a bit, forgetting the noise, the smoke, and the sadness and only seeing those lovely blue eyes. "I am Briggita."

"They call me Vali."