Looking for Quiet in a Crowd

Posted on 17 Dec 2022 @ 7:21pm by Mage Kalian Winter & Mage Atria Jain

995 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Hall of the Phantom Shadow
Location: The Raven's Roost Tavern
Timeline: Bloomingtide 5, evening

The Raven's Roost wasn't Atria's usual choice for evening entertainment. At least, not alone. But tonight, the Tremblay trio (her wife and her wife's brother and sister's families) had three separate Ferelden families over for dinner. A few years back, they'd helped take in refugees fleeing the fighting over the border. Half a dozen families had filled the lighthouse's every available space for weeks, months, until the refugee camp came together. As tents gave way to wooden homes built by the overflow, one by one the Fereldens had moved out. But they'd stayed close.

It was nice. It wasn't at all what Atria was used to but it was nice. It was also overwhelming and some nights she just wasn't up for overwhelming. She'd stuck out meal prep and table arrangement but her wife Adrienne spotted the tension, as she always seemed to, and shooed her out before the crowd turned up. The Maker bless her.

Which led to the Tevinter woman being out on her own for a change. She hadn't really aimed for this particular tavern, though it was Adrienne's favorite. But the docks had sailors and Atria didn't feel like dealing with someone making a pass who might make trouble if they caught her accent. She'd been in Jader for six years now. That didn't make her exceptionally close to most of the locals but it did make her known, which undoubtedly meant for a less irritating evening.

Approaching the front, she could hear the clatter of dishes and conversation this far out. Atria paused, thought seriously about heading somewhere else. But it was just food and conversation. No minstrel tonight and unlikely to have more than a score or so of people. None of whom would probably talk about their children, their chores or problems she'd heard a dozen times before. Perfect.

Stepping inside, Atria looked for an empty seat. Or a spot at the bar, she wasn't picky.

The Raven's front door opened, letting in a cool draft of night breeze, and Kalian looked up to see Atria, the Tevinter woman who'd married into the family that operated Jader's lighthouse. Kalian thought of Atria as a friend even though they might go several weeks at a time without speaking. Atria's past experiences in Tevinter, and her perspective on magic were fascinating and thought provoking, although for obvious reasons those were conversations they couldn't have openly, just anywhere. Kalian grinned and waved Atria over to the bar. "Hey there, Atria! It's been a while. Let me guess, you've been avoiding the Summerday festival crowds?"

Atria shared the man's grin. She didn't get uptown much but they'd crossed paths any number of times over the years. They had more in common than most, one thing in particular that she was fairly sure no one else did. Well, no one that would admit to it anyway.

Tipping her head up in recognition of the greeting, she crossed the tavern common room and slid into a bar stool. "Kailan. Your guesses are as good as ever. Not that Summerday festival crowds particularly want someone like me around them. Suits me, though. Surprised you lot aren't doing the same. Take a night or two off to recover , maybe?"

Kailan gestured jovially to his surroundings and tipped back his beer. "Sometimes business as usual is surprisingly restful."

Most of the patrons there that evening were regulars, sitting at their usual tables. The bar chairs were otherwise empty, and the background hum of voices afforded a measure of privacy. Kalian poured two tankards of ale and set one down on the bar in front of Atria and took a deep pull from the other. "Where is your better half this evening?"

At the sight of the ale pouring, Atria let out a contented sigh. At the question, she smiled ruefully and said "You know we put up Fereldens a few years back, same as most. With the festival over, Adrienne likes to catch up so there's...what, ten or fifteen of them over? She's having quite the time of it."

Then she followed Kailan's example and took a pull of ale herself. A pleased look eased her often stern expression and she smiled again. "Ahhh. Proper. Cheers."

She glanced around, confirming no one else was particularly close and leaned in. "So, what's the latest? Anything new in town that's got people talking? Anything new with you, for that matter?"

Atria looked genuinely interested in the answer. They'd talked enough, had enough connection for her to inquire after his well being, but the interest in the town was new.

She was interested in Jader? "Well... You may have heard rumors about Elder Isouda's plot to poison Revered Mother Giselle. The potioner who analyzed the poison and created an antidote was a foreigner staying right here at the Raven. In my room, which still smells weirdly of herbs." Kailan sighed and leaned toward Atria, lowering his voice. "My friend, Sister Elinowy, drank from Mother Giselle's cup, and the antidote didn't seem to be working so I, uh... I used magic. Right in front of the Knight Captain and a few other Templars."

Kalian didn't expect sympathy, but when it came to slip-ups involving magic, Atria was one of few people he could confide in. "Mother Giselle spoke with me for a long time after, asked a lot of questions, and I think she knew some of my answers were evasive. But in the end she decided I could remain free, and somehow she persuaded the Knight Captain. But, Tessa was furious with me. Not that she begrudges Elinowy her life – Tessa is quite fond of Eli. But Templars will be watching me from now on."

Shifting the conversation unsubtly back to his Tevinter friend, Kalian asked, "How are things in the lighthouse, are you getting tired of the solitary life?" Kalian gave her a sly grin. "When Adrienne hasn't filled it with Ferelden migrants, that is?"

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