The doors slammed shut behind me. Smoke curled in the dark, warm tavern. Heads swivelled at once, and everyone glared at me, the sudden silence deafening. Those glares then turned to snorts, and laughter after sizing me up and sensing my lack of power. I was a small woman, and their initial threatening poses relaxed—I was obviously no threat.
Rude. Did they do that to everyone that enters?
After looking around, it was clear I was also one of possibly three women in the entire place. The other two were tall, wearing leathers and fur cloaks, hairs pulled back in braids, axes on their backs and swords sheathed by their sides.
While courage still thrummed in my veins, I strolled forward, looking as relaxed as possible. Acting as though this was not my first time entering such an establishment. I walked around groups drinking together, discussing their latest hunt, a fight, a beautiful she-wolf, the last quest they went on; the chatter fading into a stream of background noise.
