"I'll hav' anoth'r! One fer this young Man besi'es!"
A voice would call out through all the overture of clanking tankards and cheerful ruckus if slightly slurred in his wording the message was sent forth causing those around to wonder why he seemed more generous to offer the foreigner a drink over them, though went to their own merriment.
"Ah, a drink? How kind, you are."
Another voice replied covering the worlds lay a thick eastern hue as the Man who offered soon found himself within the stare of grey iris', as a small bow of the head was offered in thanks for this gesture.
"Think nothin' o' it me friend! I always 'as been 'as welcomin' to them who elseways usually gets a stink eye! Not all us be tha' bad around 'ere!"
The Man replied through a slurred and yet seemingly honest tone once both drinks arriving offering the one to the Man from the East and taking the other to his own palms before asking with a curious gaze as he can't help his own eyes looking the Eastern Man over.
"Wha' as right brings ye 'ere then? If'n ye ain't mind tha' askin'?"
The Man from the East tilting his gaze allowed it to be briefly submerged beneath long black locks of hair. A relatively stoic Man such as he was it was no doubt unlikely for most to see him so far West. As he spoke he curled his words over his tongue a slight as if to conceal them from other ears, but courteously offer the one who had given him hospitality an answer.
"I seek a Man, I have for many years. A strange speaking one. He traveled years past to my Village. Offered my Lover, medicine. Twenty or so years past. It would be ungracious for I to not find and speak with he."
The Man spoke his tale as straight and to the point as he might. Clenching his jaw through some of the wording making it near inaudible to an ear untrained as he bitterly took a swig of the Ale bought for he though he hid such things well through the lie upon his lips. But a look from the listener gave the Easter Man pause of continuing. A glint of knowing in his eyes and a look of sadness crushes across his face.
"It weren't be a young woman be chanc'? Kephtalori eh? As I recall 'er name."
It was a strange thing to hear one who barely pronounced full sentences speak the name of his once lover so fluent as it fooled the Man from the East that he was home once again for but a second. There was almost a smug sneer upon the Man's voice as he spoke of her, a pride that would not be hid.
"Yes. Kephi you knew of her? You also trade with the Village?"
The Eastern Man pursued in a question though he knew only one way this would be the case of knowing one another; he hid the scowl almost indenting his face behind a lazing question as if simply to hear full from the Man of the West.
"Oh why o'course no' Ye see in me day I were wha' ye might call an 'venturer lad. An' ell right as it does rain in these 'ere parts, I found meself findin' the desert sand a bit te much fer me bones. Collapsed a'did an' sure I were hearin' tales from traveller an' warrior alike ye and yer kind'd string me up an' eat me, or kill me fer simple lookin' as I do- I found meself awake in yer Village a few days aft'r an' I weren't missin' any limbs! Were Kephi as ye call 'er who patched me up an' let me stay! I were so glad of it tha' a Week lat'r when I 'eard she saying she had troubles wit' tha' babe she carry. I 'elped righ' and true by whippin' her up an ol' remedy! Migh' I jus' say I hope ye', her an' tha' lil' 'un I saved hav' a good ol' life!"
The Man smiled bright, showing a few missing teeth on an otherwise perfectly glinting expression, as he raised the Tankard to his mouth taking a swig a grunting chortle would hinder his ability as he felt one thick gauntleted palm around his neck. The Eastern Man in a flash had risen to his footing placing the other of his two hands upon the wrist of the hand which held the Tankard. A gurgling and spluttered sound emanated from within the hollow abode of the Tankard as the Western Man's eyes went watered and wide.
"Turns out it caused our Daughter to die in her womb. As I find out; the Man lives around this area. So after, Twenty Four Years. Eight Months and Four Days I hoped to find him and ask him why he conspired to take away my desert jewel. And. Here. You. Sit. Glorifying the death you helped envision. She took the concoction and a day after our Daughter was birthed silent. Still. Given my Lover admitted to taking it ou of need for the Tribe, it must mean you knew what you made, and in your lie, hope to hide it."
The Eastern Mans words threw forth from his lips as if a poisonous bile of which caused all others who had silenced themselves to remain frozen in place as they'd observe this exchange; some murmurs if only caught dead by a stare. His grey hues almost burn into the man's own eyes. As through the raw and rage-induced drawl of his words each one brought the Eastern Man to clench his grip firmer around the neck push the tankard more forceful into the pained and now-deformed face before him.
"You. Came in to my home, my Love healed your wounds and you both conspired in the dark, she could not be with Child and you owed her -anything- for the life she had saved. So. You. You were asked to end one.Do you know the price for taking things from me? It is not one your life alone will afford. You see, I recalled your face, aged a little as it might be as soon as I entered this place. I remember tales you told in the week you were with us, before in the night you fled like a phantom because of what you and she conspired to do. I remember you laughing..."
The Eastern Man breaks a poignant smile upon his face as he looked skyward, and rolled a tongue over his saliva covered lips, as he looked his gaze back to the Man who spluttered and spewed the drink from his lips, in a gasping motion, his hands clamoring to the Eastern Man's armour pleadingly.
"I remember the tales well. A wife of your own and three children. Oh her blonde hair was what you missed the most. Gleaming you said, as if a jewel in the night skies. Beckoning you home, to her arms. You spoke of your children and we, as you will now remember spent all night talking of the joys I would have upon me. A Daughter of my own. How we laughed and drank into the night. You see, I remember. It has been in the forefront of my mind from the day you left. Until now. And for my Daughter who will never get to see the Sun, your Family and you will be the price of her deprivation. Know, I do not blame you entirely. But, what happens next. IS your fault.."
The Eastern Man continued to pressure the Tankard into the Jaw of the Man by the Mans' own wrist as his other simply removed the light from his eyes. And upon the sound of bones slowly crunching, and offering a chord or two of nothing but muffled scream, the Man fell from the Easterlings clutches to the Tavern floor, without word, or care of any other person there. The Easterling left. Tossing to the ground a small pouch of Silvers from his belt as they scattered the flooring The Tavern silent before as the door slammed shut in the wake of the Man a chorus erupted of panic and worry. Swiftly the Men and Women present set about ensuring every action needed was accounted for and underway, however by the time any had the nerve to exit and find a member of the Village Watch, the Man from the East was gone.
