The tavern was loud, filled with smoke, chatter, and the smell of cheap meat sizzling on pans. Men laughed, dice rolled, and boots thumped against the wooden floor. A young man walked in, his cloak drawn tight around his body.
He kept his head low, but his movements were sharp and precise, not like a drunk wanderer. He reached the counter and dropped a gold coin onto the table with a dull clink.
"One big jar of booze," he said, his tone tired but steady.
"Right away, gentleman." The old man took a large jug from under the table and started serving the man. While the booze was being served, the man looked at the bartender with one eye. The man looked like a wise person from age, so he decided to ask.
"I heard the kingdom was shut down from the rest of the continent. How is there a stable supply of alcohol in this area even after a month of lockdown?" The old man looked at the young man in front of him. "Oh, you don't know?
