He stared off towards the distant wall, his mood sour and a low mutter escaping now and then between a few sips of ale.
That poor woman. She did nothing to deserve that lashing from Leoffrith, his foul view of her. He is a foolish man, that is for certain. Matters not what is done for him he twists it into something ugly. Haritha had been looking forward to going to the festival and now that man denies her the opportunity. Why? Because he sends men to spy through windows to watch her, unless he has gained favour with spirits who can peer through closed doors.
He scoffed at the thought and shook his head.
Easy to judge the situation without knowing anything about it. How red might his face turn if he were to learn that I offered her to dance so ignite that spark of hers? So that she could find passion for the act again? How low would his head hang in shame if he were to learn that it had worked and the woman had made a grand plan for the whole trip so that she could offer what he desired? We might never find out. No, the man now claims that she shall dance with all but him! Such a pathetic thought. Next he'll say that she parts her legs for any and all and drag her name through the mud. Petty man.
If I was a lesser man myself I would have told her to find herself another man to court for he does not have the ability to see what is in front of him instead he makes up his own things and claims them true. Thinking I have taken time to mock him in any sense and believes I am making some fool out of the good woman. That man needs some sense smacked into him and am I very tempted to do just that so that fool can open his eyes.
He dragged a hand down his face, dropping it to the table afterwards and looked around the empty tavern room.
Claiming that I laugh at his expense when I have done no such thing. I've held my respects towards the man and he has taken it so poorly. If he wants to be laughed at then I could just as easily do so and make him into a mockery. I could do that but I am not that cruel of a man, even if I think he deserves it at this time. Then again perhaps that is something that is needed, coax him into striking me or something to make himself feel like a man again. To take down his apparent rival to win and stand the higher ground, maybe that will give him the confidence he is so sorely in need of as he seems to strip himself of it by his own doing. I shall take the hit if it shall help Haritha have her trip to the festival.
He sighed heavily and shut his eyes, rubbing the side of his head and frowning deeply.
He told her to just have a good life. He assumes the worst and just claims it at truth, probably not even listening to her. I will not give up yet though. Someone needs to knock sense into that man and if that should fail then perhaps I will have to take Haritha to the festival myself, if only to see that beautiful plan she hatched after the love of dancing was sparked within her again come to life. I would hate to see such a wonderful gesture wasted because of an ignorant fool. She is a good woman, she does not deserve to be treated so poorly by that man.
His hand wandered into his pocket and he snorted in amusement, pulling out a pair of red, slender peppers. Resting them in the palm of his hand a grin found him.
And what am I going to do with these? I am a terrible cook! Maybe Baldvin can cook something. Think he spent more time with that eastern cook than I ever did. My coins are few now after buying these but I had to see if the woman was at the shop and I could not just go in there and not buy anything. I wonder...
He returned one of the hot peppers into his pocket and brought the other up close to have a small bite from it, humming thoughtfully as he chewed it but soon regretted that choice.
Good heavens that burns! Ow, ow, bad idea... Very bad idea!
The second pepper was returned to the pocket and the man quick to his feet and rushing to the bar counter, gathering what coin he had left in his pockets to buy himself a new drink to try and cool his tongue.
