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Description
Sage sat in the corner of the pub so she could see most of the dining area.  She quickly glanced around the room taking a mental headcount of her companions, being careful not to make eye contact with Nast, who was sitting silently in the rafters.

Toren and the Ladies sat almost in the center of the tables.  They were ordering meals from a skinny waitress who seemed to be wearing more jewelry than clothing.  She bobbed her head every time someone spoke to her, which Sage was finding very annoying.

Enad was at the bar slowly drinking what looked like a quart of lager.  Fine by Sage; she knew it would take almost the whole keg before Enad got drunk.  She hoped the others watching in the pub would think that Enad could be incapacitated by the amount of lager before him; it would be to his advantage.

The waitress had moved to the table next to Sage’s.  When she finished taking their order and bobbing her head at them, she started reciting the day’s menu for Sage.

“That can wait,” She said, holding up a hand to cut the waitress off.  “I will take a pint of your best lager.”

The waitress head started to move in its habitual bob, then suddenly she shook her head, rattling her numerous bangles.  “A pint, mistress?”  Her eyes had widened enough to look as if they would pop right out. “Are you sure, mistress?  For someone your size, that…”

“Please bring me my drink,” Sage snarled and flung a coin on the table, “and be quick about it!”

The waitress scooped up the coin and hustled to the kitchen as fast as she could weaving between the tables In her hurry, she walked by two gentlemen who had just decided to order.  One shouted after her, and when her skirt disappeared behind the kitchen door, his face was the very picture of hopeless hunger.  Sage nearly rolled her eyes at his behavior; he was acting like the waitress was going to stay in the kitchen until he starved into a skeleton.  The other man gave Sage a peevish glance and bent his head into his hands.

Sage sighed, regretting her outburst.  Now the waitress, or the hungry gentlemen, were sure to remember her or mention her, and that was something she and her friends could not afford if the people following them took the time to question the townsfolk.

A small piece of parchment floated down to Sage’s table.  She blew on it lightly, and Nast’s husky voice sprang up in her head.

You should have ordered a decent sized drink, no matter how much you can take.  And you should have kept your temper.

“I know,” she whispered to herself grinding the heel of her hand into her forehead, “I know.”

The waitress came back shortly with Sage’s drink and was waved off again when Sage heard the recital of the specials coming on.  The girl went on to bob her head at more diners and Sage busied herself with the lager.  When she lowered the mug she noticed the change.  The entire pub seemed different.  She shook her head trying to dispel the odd feelings shooting through her muscles; the drink couldn’t have done this to her, she just took her first drink!  She was sure though, something strange had happened between the time she picked up her mug and when she set it back on the table.  Toren and the Ladies were across the room wedged in the corner, and Enad was seated at the opposite end of the bar.  The most shocking, Nast’s feet were swinging inches above the table, his hands grasping the rough rafter he had been sitting on a moment before.  His hood had fallen over his face, and he was twisting to try landing without a loud crash.  Sage watched him then glanced at her mug wondering if this was really happening or if she had been given some sort of drug.  Nast gave one final aerial twist and dropped neatly into the chair opposite Sage’s and reached up to slide his hood back into its normal position.  His mouth was taut. He tilted his head back and looked at Sage in question with one eye.  He slowly reached out and wrapped his hand around the mug.

Do you know what just happened?

Sage stared at him a minute, relieved that it wasn’t in her head, but then she realized that she had no other explanation for the odd change.  She shook her head, her muscles now almost twitching with adrenaline.

They’re here.

Sage started to stand up; Nast threw back his hood and glared at her and she sat back down obediently.

Description
Sage sat in the corner of the pub so she could see most of the dining area.  She quickly glanced around the room taking a mental headcount of her companions, being careful not to make eye contact with Nast, who was sitting silently in the rafters.

Toren and the Ladies sat almost in the center of the tables.  They were ordering meals from a skinny waitress who seemed to be wearing more jewelry than clothing.  She bobbed her head every time someone spoke to her, which Sage was finding very annoying.

Enad was at the bar slowly drinking what looked like a quart of lager.  Fine by Sage; she knew it would take almost the whole keg before Enad got drunk.  She hoped the others watching in the pub would think that Enad could be incapacitated by the amount of lager before him; it would be to his advantage.

The waitress had moved to the table next to Sage’s.  When she finished taking their order and bobbing her head at them, she started reciting the day’s menu for Sage.

“That can wait,” She said, holding up a hand to cut the waitress off.  “I will take a pint of your best lager.”

The waitress head started to move in its habitual bob, then suddenly she shook her head, rattling her numerous bangles.  “A pint, mistress?”  Her eyes had widened enough to look as if they would pop right out. “Are you sure, mistress?  For someone your size, that…”

“Please bring me my drink,” Sage snarled and flung a coin on the table, “and be quick about it!”

The waitress scooped up the coin and hustled to the kitchen as fast as she could weaving between the tables In her hurry, she walked by two gentlemen who had just decided to order.  One shouted after her, and when her skirt disappeared behind the kitchen door, his face was the very picture of hopeless hunger.  Sage nearly rolled her eyes at his behavior; he was acting like the waitress was going to stay in the kitchen until he starved into a skeleton.  The other man gave Sage a peevish glance and bent his head into his hands.

Sage sighed, regretting her outburst.  Now the waitress, or the hungry gentlemen, were sure to remember her or mention her, and that was something she and her friends could not afford if the people following them took the time to question the townsfolk.

A small piece of parchment floated down to Sage’s table.  She blew on it lightly, and Nast’s husky voice sprang up in her head.

You should have ordered a decent sized drink, no matter how much you can take.  And you should have kept your temper.

“I know,” she whispered to herself grinding the heel of her hand into her forehead, “I know.”

The waitress came back shortly with Sage’s drink and was waved off again when Sage heard the recital of the specials coming on.  The girl went on to bob her head at more diners and Sage busied herself with the lager.  When she lowered the mug she noticed the change.  The entire pub seemed different.  She shook her head trying to dispel the odd feelings shooting through her muscles; the drink couldn’t have done this to her, she just took her first drink!  She was sure though, something strange had happened between the time she picked up her mug and when she set it back on the table.  Toren and the Ladies were across the room wedged in the corner, and Enad was seated at the opposite end of the bar.  The most shocking, Nast’s feet were swinging inches above the table, his hands grasping the rough rafter he had been sitting on a moment before.  His hood had fallen over his face, and he was twisting to try landing without a loud crash.  Sage watched him then glanced at her mug wondering if this was really happening or if she had been given some sort of drug.  Nast gave one final aerial twist and dropped neatly into the chair opposite Sage’s and reached up to slide his hood back into its normal position.  His mouth was taut. He tilted his head back and looked at Sage in question with one eye.  He slowly reached out and wrapped his hand around the mug.

Do you know what just happened?

Sage stared at him a minute, relieved that it wasn’t in her head, but then she realized that she had no other explanation for the odd change.  She shook her head, her muscles now almost twitching with adrenaline.

They’re here.

Sage started to stand up; Nast threw back his hood and glared at her and she sat back down obediently.