Chapter 138: The Benefactor
The only thing I could see was darkness, so I had to rely on someone’s other senses to navigate. I was being led into some house of some sort and I almost tripped a few times but I was roughly yanked backwards before I could stumbled. I gritted my teeth, refraining from speaking. The ground under my boots was smooth and the air was heavy with the scent of wet wood and also of ale, lots of ale and if I smelled closely, I think I could perceive the stench of vomit in the air.
I heard a chair squeal against the floor and then before I knew it I, a heavy hand descended on my shoulder forcing me to sit. Then the huge sack that had been placed on my head was suddenly removed and I had to close my eyes at the brightness that invaded my sight.
I was right after all, we were in a tavern! I thought as soon as my eyes became used to the sight in front of me. The room was dimly lit with dancing lanterns that were placed on the hewn wooden walls. The stench of stale ale and unclean bodies clung to the air now, obscuring the scent of the remains of some left over that was on a nearby table.
There were some new addition to the merry group. Some men and women sat in their seat, hands casually resting on their cups as they accessed me with nothing but suspicion in their gaze, they didn’t trust me which was good.
"So now we are bringing her to this meetings?" One of the women said and I recognized her as one of the group of women who always wove baskets for some of the fishermen. "Isn’t it enough that we get to see her at the camp, now we have to see her here too?"
"Calm yourself Maya," One of the men said, "Let’s hear what the reason is!"
"It’s fucking ridiculous is what it is!" Dwayne responded with a huff before he went to go and sit at the bar while pouring himself a cup of ale and at that moment I envied him.
What a relief it must be to be able to drown your frustration in ale! I thought warily before I turned to face the group of angry people in the room.
Lars yanked out a chair and set it in front of me the opposite way, he then lowered himself down on the seat. "Okay princess," He drawled out, "You’ve exactly a minute to give me a valid reason why I shouldn’t toss you back into the night."