I'm ill-concerned. Something is amiss...

~~~

Their faces say it all.
I look behind and see it, but quickly get interrupted by the couple in front of me. They admired one another in love. They wanted another pint of apple cider. The sweet aroma and taste of this draft was shadowed not by many beverages of liquid happiness. When I gave them their cup, I noticed they not yet mastered the skill of brewery drinking. More like my nearby guest. Drunk, with his feathered friend not so quietly making an effort to arise him from his slumber. To better of my concern, I was still appalled by the ruckus on the back, and the adventurer that just came back from their expedition. Quinta Blackfeather, if I remember their name correctly. We hanged their last kill stop the doorway. I'm sure that rizard was 3 times their size, but quick wit particularly sure was its demise.

I watched pass our charming adventurer, impressed by a genuine concern that one of our guests must have consumed more than their tap, as they laid comically singing atop a table while Merlosath delightfully tried to usher them down. It was quite the distraction that our local scoundrel just needed for his "magical act". Although am sure that there was no magic concerned in how he was cheating, his companions were failing to realize his wrongdoing. If I could, a game of cards would sound wonderful to enjoy; To be charmed by the unquestionably desire to make a bit of coin.

Rogues and rascals were far too common in this town. Their bounties were enough to convince any hunter apart from the royal avian guard to go looking for them. However, their crimes were a bit tamer if not mildly undisciplined of the law or indecent. This was something else. I gave the dragon his next pint just to notice his expression fade in concern. I could see the royal guard's stamp, maps, traces, evidence. He and his friend were hushedly memorizing their new patrol routes. There was something nefarious lurking in the capital and I was sure to pay attention to the gossip that our drunker pirate lizard had provided. Before he passed out, he told me a tale he heard from one of his crewmates. A group of adventurers perished on the east mountain passway near the town of Bli.

I remember that town. Bli.
Years were old as I could recall the grip on my spear in the early days before the war. Training since a young age, I lost my innocence quickly. Not many people remember the sacrifices we made for the peace we have today. A brim darken sky is all we remember. They liked fire magic and a thirst for the profane. I can't but look around and see the happiness in my parlor without that anxiety. I don't want them to suffer. I would prefer that not to happen again. I'm afraid I will have to remember just enough and take ahold of my lance once more, if not to defend them from this new threat.

---

This wonderful commissioned piece of art was brought you by  conter

Conter made a big ych out of this commission and bunch of his patreons from patreon pinched in and accompanied my horsey in his bar.

There are a bunch of characters, and some have multiple characters in this one, but here are their owners in no particular order:
and the tavern owner Noz by me
Small mention to the wanted criminals