My Past, My Future

by Palauprin L'mali

"Baresh.." she says, "I have heard of thy bar here from my daughter Jaggyrr. She came here once in search of her father from what she tells me, said you were the best shoulder around." The mage tipped back the shot, finishing it off with an intensity Baresh had not seen from any other recent customer, barring Jaggyrr herself.

"Aye and you must be Palauprin. I remember your girl, sad case, did she ever find Zantiel?"

"Call me Pala, all my friends do," she said as she smiled coyly at the barkeep. "She found him one day, yes. He did not ackowledge their bond, nor did I expect him to." Pala took the bottle this time, shrugging off the shot glass and snickering. She tipped it back and drank from it until her face became flushed, then shoved it back toward Baresh, in all it's emptiness.

"Where'd a pretty lil thing like you learn to drink like that Pala?" said he. She smiled softly and said, "Ghaliant taught me. He hath taught me more than I e'er thought I could learn." Baresh nodded to the now-stumbling mage with a knowing look in his eye. "Zantiel is of the past now I see," he said. "Aye, he was, until he decided to show up in my life again recently. I need to let him know that mine heart is not his to rule this day, and has not been for many a day now," said she.

Baresh pondered, then spoke, "Pala, Zantiel is a frequent customer in these parts. If thee wishes, thee could leave him a note here, that I would deliver to him, if in fact a verbal confrontation is too uncomfortable for thee."

Pala smiled sadly at the barkeep, "I wish I had the nerve to face him, but alas, I do not. His hold over me was so strong Baresh... but I fear that the new life and the new love I have found will suffer if I do nae extinguish this fire soon."

In one fluid motion, Baresh pulled out some birch bark and a quill, then offered the lass an inkwell. Eager to get her words down, lest she lose her nerve, Pala almost spilled the ink all over her precious hunting leathers. Giggling slightly, she quickly scribbled some words down, one solitary tear edging it's way down her cheek.

Handing the note to Baresh, the mage quickly tossed some silver kronars onto the bar, whispering quietly that Jaggyrr was right about this place holding comfort within it's walls. Kissing the barkeep on the cheek, she handed him a blue-violet invitation, uttered her thank-you's and exited the bar, her cloak flowing gently around her.

Baresh did not have to open the invitation to know what it said.