Epic Tale: Part 4

The whiskey was a kick to the lady-balls. She could feel the warmth of it burn the fatigue out of her muscles. After a moment, she stood. The old man clapped a bony claw-hand on her back and guided her toward the bar.

"So what brings you to these parts young lady?" The old man asked. The woman looked at him as she pulled down the hood of her poncho. It was then that the man realized she was almost as old as he was. Her quizzical eyes studied him, and he decided to play it off as a joke. He grinned a half-grin, which she returned, flattered.

"Oh, I'm looking for someone..." She responded at last.

"Well, you found someone. Galvin Honeykin, at your service!" He responded with a wink and a tiny bow. "Or are you looking for a particular someone?" His jovial old-man charm elicited a chuckle out her, and she smiled.

"Actually, this someone is rather particular." She said, her tone of voice almost flirty. "Have you heard of a man called Wrathmall Tega?"

*CRASH* The old man dropped the glass whiskey-mug he was polishing. Glass shards scattered in every direction across the old wooden floor. He stood mouth agape for what seemed like an age. Then, shaking himself, he snatched a broom from under the bar and started sweeping up the glass shards. When he finally spoke his voice was *anything* but cordial.

"No... I don't believe I have." The icy nature of his tone seemed to grab the woman by the spine. She felt her throat tighten just a little. She sat in stony silence trying to decide what to do next, while the old man swept furiously at some glass shards that had imbedded themselves in the wood.

"Hey... barman," she said finally. Her voice soft, pleading. "It is of utmost importance that I find this man. If you have any information about him I would be most grateful." The old man ignored her, still struggling to dislodge the glass with his patchy straw broom.

The woman sighed. She pulled up her hood and headed towards the door and the storm that raged on the other side.