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I sighed and looked out at the empty tavern, depressed by the quietness that enveloped it. Customers were always scarce during the day, but never nonexistent as they were today. Not even a rouge elf or gypsy stopped by.

“Teresa, has anyone shown up?” Michel called anxiously from the banister on the floor above the tavern where guests could stay if they needed to. “It’s very quiet.”

“I’m sure Razner and his pack will come tonight,” I smiled at him and walked out from behind the bar I was leaning on. “He said that he would introduce his eldest son to us this week.”

“Razner said that? He isn’t normally one for bringing his children to public places.” Michel blinked in surprise and shrugged as I looked back around the large room again. It was plain, cozy, but really depressing with no one to fill the round tables or the larger rectangular tables or the familiar laughing voices echoing off the wood and stone walls or joyful dancing feet pounding against the aged planks of the floor.

“I guess he feels comfortable enough to allow it this time.” I could already imagine the rowdy wolf pack laughing and enjoying themselves here as they did every night. “It should be fun.”

“Yeah, I guess.” His voice sounded a little annoyed at the thought, “but they don’t have to clean up after they leave.”

“Neither do you,” I laughed and looked out one of the large windows that overlooked a clear water stream that flowed east to the only fresh water lake our region had to offer in the way of useful resources besides wild game for hunting. The sun was beginning to set but it still had a couple of hours till it reached below the tree line of the surrounding woods. “Did you just now wake up, father?”

He laughed and rubbed his head in embarrassment. “Yeah. I hope it didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

I shook my head and looked over to the door, expecting to find at least one customer. I was happy when I did. I smiled brightly and nearly bounded to the front door where he stood and welcomed him in. “Hello,
welcome to our inn. Do you need a room?”

He looked to be what some would consider an outcast since he wore a tattered cloak that hid his body and face from view and was covered in dirt, but that was fine with me. Even on outcast needed a place to sleep and eat. He stood there for a minute more before turning around and leaving, not speaking a word at all as he did.

“Odd.” Michel sagged against the wall and peeked over his shoulder at the shrouded man. “I’ve heard of people not liking the aura of places, but coming to the door, being greeted and then leaving. Very odd.”