Necessary, Unwanted Attention

Afena raised her hand to look at the innkeeper and said, "Mead, please!"

The keeper barely heard her, but acknowledged her request with a quick glance, a hurried nod, and then turned to listen to someone else's order.

There were no seats available for Afena, but it didn't matter. She smiled, glad to see so much activity that was sure to help the keeper, and jumped down from the table to the floor. She stood by it, and waited.

Rudsis was already being regaled with the attention of a woman, about his age, who sat at his table. They were drinking and talking about something that seemed to amuse the woman a great deal, which could have been feigned or sincere. Afena forced out a little chuckle through her nose, and let it be.

Before long, a man of twenty five years or so approached her, carrying two mugs. One he put on the table, the other he held up and waited to see if Afena would take hers, and clank it with his.

She did.