Once, I Met a Lady in a Bar (Closed)

[Valkyrie]

26 Summer, 512 The Red Diamond Tavern was busy that night as Nate stepped through the door. Ever since the snow had returned business had been booming for the place. Everyone wanted to come in and laugh at how worried they had been over a mug of ale or hot chocolate and dream of a snowy future. The well-lit main room seemed to lack a single empty chair or cushion. Every table was filled with boisterous Vantha shouting stories at each other or swapping winks with their sweetheart. The large fireplace was surrounded by people, two to a cushion, as a man stood before fire recounting his tussle with a dire wolf. It was too loud for Nate’s taste that night, but leaving so soon seemed pointless when he had just arrived. Perhaps the darker upstairs would be better. Most Vantha left the upstairs accommodations for world weary travelers and couples seeking privacy but at least it wouldn’t be as crowded as the roaring downstairs. Squeezing past the crowd would not be an easy accomplishment. Drink and egos had made everyone stingy with their manners and it seemed like stepping aside each individual was a new trial. Getting the attention of a barmaid or tavernmaster wasn’t any easier, if he chose to buy a drink. They were busy, certainly, but they attended to each request fairly and in order. The polite and fair staff was one of the reasons why the tavern was so popular. Climbing the rickety stairs to darker seating above revealed a startling sight. It was full up there as well. The upstairs seating was almost never full but tonight was of course different. Everyone seemed to need a drink out. The lone empty chair was pulled up to a table with a single occupant, a short Vantha woman. The woman had black hair streaked with red and would be recognizable to any resident of Avanthal who had a pair of eyes and ears. People tended to know who you were when you were the reimancy expert for Icewatch. Even in a city filled with Morwen’s gnosis bearers magic experts were well-known individuals deserving of respect and wariness in equal degrees. Perhaps Morwen had fated that empty chair next to Kaivana Iceglaze because there were things weighing on Nate's mind that few could answer and Kaivana was one of the few.

[Nate Frostfawn]

Nate didn’t venture into the Red Diamond Tavern all that often, since he usually preferred to do his thinking outside where the sky was open. However on this particular night he felt a sort of pull towards the place. Perhaps a drink in a quiet corner would be better for these thoughts than the stars.
As he stepped inside, a wall of sound and people greeted him. Nate couldn’t remember ever seeing the place this busy. It was as if every citizen had decided to visit at the exact same time. Now Nate didn’t mind people, he didn’t mind noise and he didn’t mind crowds either. But when he wanted to think, he minded all of them. It seemed his instincts were playing with him tonight. With a sigh, he attempted to shove his way forwards. No point in leaving now that he was here.

Every single seat was taken, some people even resorting to sitting on laps. Over the general noise, Nate could hear a man recounting a meeting with a dire wolf. ”...fangs the size of my forearm! No kiddin’....” He rolled his eyes in amusement, elbowing his way past yet another patron. He decided that it would be futile to even attempt to get a drink, so he somehow managed to make his way to the stairs. The upper balcony was usually near empty.

No such luck. It was just as crowded, though people seemed slightly less rowdy. That was something at least. Nate was about to move over to lean on a barrier, when he spotted an empty chair. He quickly headed over and sat it in before someone else claimed the seat. Glancing to his right, the table’s other occupant registered. The hair and the eyes made her instantly recognizable as Kaivanna Iceglaze. Maybe his instinct had been working after all.

From what he could recall, the woman was sociable. He had never spoken to her himself, but they said she was nice. Nate leaned over slightly.
”Excuse me, Kaivanna? Can I talk to you about something?” Nate had no idea how he would put his thoughts into questions, but at least he was sitting next to someone who could possibly help him figure things out.

[Valkyrie]

Kaivana turned towards the man that had sat down near her and looked him over quite blatantly. It was a neutral glance of course, she was Icewatch and she was used to looking over those who approached her. She never knew what they wanted. It was always something different. “Well stranger, perhaps you could introduce yourself first. You know my name but I’m afraid I don’t know yours. I’m out in the Reaches with Icewatch so often I don’t get a chance to meet or remember many of those who dwell in Avanthal.” Kaivana spoke with a raised brow and a slight smirk. These young men were always too eager for formalities but she enjoyed making them wait and putting them in their place. She was Icewatch after all, and there were possibly only three people in the city that could make her rush. The rest would have to wait for her. Whatever Nate would say she listened quietly to his introduction before speaking again. “So now what is it that you think I can talk to you about?” She did love to give the younger men a hard time. Most thought she had an excellent sense of humor as long as they weren't the one it was being directed at. Kaivana leaned back into her chair and took a deep pull from the mug in front of her. Setting the mug back down the smell of cinnamon wafted up, it was only a mug of hot cider. There was no fear that the woman was heavy with drink or at least not that Nate could be aware of.

[Nate Frostfawn]

Nate sat for a moment under Kaivana's critical gaze. It was not often he came into such close contact with one of the Icewatch members and as such he was not really used to being looked over so closely.
Ah, I'm sorry. My name is Nate. From the Frostfawn Hold." It had totally slipped his mind to offer Kaivana his name, since he of course knew hers.

The scent of cinnamon wafted from the woman's mug. Nate had always loved the smell of cinnamon. It reminded him of warm and cosy places. He thought for a moment on how best to word the thoughts within his head. Usually, Nate had no problems speaking what was on his mind. This subject however, was totally new to him, and even he wasn't sure what he wanted from it.

"I...I was just curious...I know that you know uh, reimancy." He paused, frowning ever so slightly as he tried to work out what to say. "It's just...I've been interested in it for a long while. Do you think you could tell me about it?" He realised it was a vague question, and his brow creased again. "I'm sorry, I'm finding it hard to find the right way to word what I want to say." He gave Kaivana an apologetic glance. Hopefully she didn't think he was just a silly boy who didn't know what he was talking about.

[Valkyrie]

Kaivana sighed and took a deep drink from her mug of cider. Questions about reimancy always made her wary. She never knew what the intentions were of the person asking and being part of the Icewatch guard made her naturally suspicious of the motives of others. She wanted to ensure that the knowledge she passed out was used safely and for the betterment of others. But Nate had given her no reason to doubt his intentions yet so she figured the best thing to do was to be polite and appease his interest.

“Well, there’s not much to say I suppose. Reimancy is the magic of using your personal djed to create the elements. When you first start out you only really know how to use one element. But the further you progress and the more you learn the more elements come under your control. I know quite a bit about the magic but I’m no master, I only know how to work with fire and earth.” Kaivana explained carefully, trying to think of what the most important information to impart was.

“It can be a dangerous magic, no doubt about that. But it can be useful as well. It’s air and water reimancers that make the Avanthal sleigh boats work. It’s quite fascinating to see them in action. They could really teach you a thing or two about useful reimancy.” Kaivana said and sighed again, though this time her sigh seemed almost a jealous one. The water and air reimancers of the Coolwater Hold who sailed on the unique sleigh boats of Avanthal were quite a sight to behold.

“May I ask why you are so curious about reimancy?” She shook her head slightly to rid herself of her daydreams as she put her question to Nate.