After a momentary struggle, his curiosity won in the end, and so he entered only to find…
That the tavern was empty…
Well, not completely. Sitting at the counter while holding an almost empty bottle of wine sat a young man with a toned build covered by a simple tunic, short blonde hair and a full beard. At the feet of the chair where this man was sitting on, one could see pieces of armor, specifically all of the pieces necessary to equip someone with a full-plate armor, spread haphazardly on the floor.
"A Knight?", thought Mike before noticing the embroidered crest of a ducal house of the "war-god nation" in a cape that was present between the pieces of armor on the floor - "A very important Knight...". Suddenly it made sense why the tavern was open so late, after all, who would deny entry to such a person.
While Mike was busying analyzing these details, the man at the counter also started examining Mike. He had noticed Mike's presence before he had even entered the bar thanks to his footsteps, at first, he had thought it was one of his subordinates, but the footsteps were too light and then the door opened to reveal a haggard man in travelling clothes – "A travelling mercenary, perhaps? Coming to a tavern at this hour to celebrate a completed contract?" – This was the first thought that appeared in the man's mind, for a good reason too, only a mercenary would make a priority of coming to a bar in the middle of the night despite being so exhausted he could barely stand – "But I don't see any weapon on him nor armor. A simple traveler then?".
Mike and the man at the counter scrutinized each other until one of them, the man at the counter, spoke:
Unknow Man (??): It's certainly a surprise to get company this late at night. Come, sit with me.
Mike, given the fact that the other party was most certainly a knight from a noble family, decided to join the man at the counter.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): I am so sorry, your lordship, I didn't mean to intrude upon your private time.
Unknow Man (??): Do not worry about that. I actually wished for some company, but my man need the rest, and the tavernkeeper... (Sigh) Well, he is to focused on our different social status to maintain a proper conversation.
Unknow Man (??): But enough of this topic. It is a curious thing, to see someone walking the streets at this hour looking for a tavern, nevertheless. Looking to celebrate some achievement perhaps?
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Haha, your lordship, while I indeed have a reason for celebration, it was not for this reason I entered the tavern.
The unknow man raised an eyebrow.
Unknow Man (??): Pray tell then, for what reason have you entered?
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Curiosity, your lordship.
Unknow Man (??): Pardon?
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Curiosity, your lordship. After all, when one sees an establishment like this open so late at night, one must simply find out the reason.
Unknow Man (??): I see… Then your entry in this tavern is explained, then what about the fact that you are walking the streets at this hour, pardon my speech, but normally only vagrants and thieves can be seen loitering on the streets at night, besides the occasional patrol of guards of course.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): I actually just arrived at the city a few moments ago, your lordship. I was looking for an inn to rest on when I noticed this tavern.
Unknow Man (??): You just arrived? That means you must have travelled through the night. and that also explains the reason you look so… exhausted. Skipping a night's sleep and travelling in the dark, what possessed you to do such dangerous actions?
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): 5 nights, your lordship. I actually skipped 5 nights of sleep…
At this statement the Unknow Man jumped out of his seat startled and looked at Mike.
Unknow Man (??): WHAT?! HOW ARE YOU STILL STANDING RIGHT NOW?!?! AND WHY WOULD YOU SUBMIT YOURSELF TO A TORTURE LIKE THAT?!?!
Mike looked incredulous at the knight who had just lost his composure, and the unknow man understanding this sat in his chair one more time and started talking again as if nothing had just happened.
Unknow Man (??): What a reckless attitude you decided to take. You should be more considerate of your health in future travels.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Right…
Silence claimed the tavern again after Mike's answer.
An uncomfortable silence that might have persisted until morning, if it hadn't been broken by the unknow man
Unknow Man (??): Sigh… I am sorry about that. I didn't mean to lose my composure, you just… surprised me. I mean why would someone skip five nights of sleep? HOW can someone skip five nights of sleep and still have time to go to a tavern and converse with a stranger. Unless…
A strange pause.
Unknow Man (??): Are you a moron?
Hearing this question, asked with a genuine interrogatory tone, ticked Mike off and he immediately dropped the formalities to retort.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): WOW, never expected to hear such vocabulary from a noble's mouth, skipping the etiquette lessons?
And of course, with this statement Mike managed to piss off the other party.
Unknow Man (??): SO YOU REALLY ARE A MORON! CRITICIZING MY MANNERS, WHILE YOU YOURSELF DROPPED THE FORMALITIES. HAVE YOU NO RESPECT FOR NOBILITY!!
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR THE NOBLES, HOWEVER I CAN'T SAY THE SAME TOWARDS AN ILL-MANNERED MUSCLE-HEAD LIKE YOU.
Unknow Man (??):YOU LITTLE S***T! WANT TO GET YOUR FACE SMASHED INTO THE COUNTER?!
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): GO AHEAD, LET'S SEE HOW BEATING UP A MAN NEARLY ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING WILL BOOST YOUR REPUTATION, BECAUSE I SURE AS HELL, WILL SPREAD THE NEWS.
At this statement, the Unknow Man looked deeply at Mike and settled down, muttering.
Unknow Man (??): As***le.
And of course, hearing this Mike was not to be outdone.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Di****ad.
Silent returned once again, only to be broken one more time by the Unknow man.
Unknow Man (??): You still didn't give a reason…
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): What?
Unknow Man (??): Skipping sleep for 5 nights… You didn't give a reason…
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Ah Right… Well it's a long story…
Unknow Man (??): We still have time until the sunrise…
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Hum. I guess we have time, yes, mister…
Unknow Man (??): Michael. Michael Chasm. One of the commanders of the army belonging to the "War-god nation" and only heir to Chasm Ducal family.
After presenting himself, Michael extended his hand towards Mike for a handshake and Mike complied.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Mike Meiner. Merchant from the "god of commerce nation".
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): I thought of you as a noble knight sent to the frontier as some sort of rite of passage. To think you were actually a commander… What are you doing here, instead of the capital?
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): I can't protect the borders of my nation sitting still in the capital. But enough about that, why don't you start your story merchant.
Mike sighed.
Mike (Joseph's Paternal Grandfather): Well, it all started when…
And so, the night passed with Mike and Michael sharing stories from each other's lives in that tavern. To many this might have seemed like a simple encounter and a simple sharing of experiences between two people, and they would be right, it was just a simple meeting, but to these two men it became something more… It became the start of life-long friendship.