The chrome shine of the city guard's armor was what always caught Aaron's eyes. Not in his entire life had he ever seen as much of a speck on any part of the plate armor. His admiration for their appearance was cut off by the lead guard making an announcement.
"Attention! His royal majesty, King William, seventh in his line, has made a decree for a search."
Another guard planted a poster onto the tavern's announcement board.
"Should anyone have any information about this tree, they are to report it the the city guard at once."
Upon hearing the word 'tree' and seeing what visual lay on the poster, Aaron's heart sank for he recognized the very tree the city guard spoke of. It was the same tree he had come across during his time traveling through forests many months ago. It was the same tree that gave him visions that made him isolate and drink himself into the position he found himself in now. Somehow, someway, the tree and the memories with it that he had sworn he'd never think of again, were in his life once again.
After the city guard's announcement, a few snickers and muffled laughs could be heard across the tavern's tables. The lead guard's eyes grew intense, and his face congealed into a hideous sneer.
One of the drunker patrons of the tavern stood up.
"A tree? A stupid tree? If our oh so great king is concerned over a tree, maybe he is as big as an idiot as everyone-"
Before he could finish his drunken questioning, the lead guard had stormed over and slammed his head so hard into the table he was at, that blood began to pour from his nose instantly. The guard then brought his head up to whisper into his ear, but the whisper may as well have been a shout as the tavern was never as quiet as it was now.
"Listen here you ungrateful, mindless cur. If you were a scaly, I'd half a mind to throw you in the dungeon. But seeing as how you've caught me in a good mood, this'll suffice."
Just as he finished speaking, the lead guard took his other fist and punched the man's face with such force that blood shot across onto other tables. The guard dropped the man, who was now unconscious, and whose body fall to the floor with a weighty flop.
"Now..."
The lead guard resumed speaking to the tavern, as he wiped the blood from his armored fist with a cloth he was handed by another guard.
"...as I was saying. Should you have any information pertaining this tree to any degree, seek out and inform the nearest city guard."
As if nothing had occurred, the lead guard walked calmly out of the tavern with the other guards following suit.
The usual noise and timbre of the tavern did not return with the exiting of the guards, outside of a few people taking the beaten man to a different room in order to administer healing. Eventually, the tavern returned to its normal state, with some adventuer looking types taking a glimpse at the poster that had caused all the trouble.
"Doesn't even look real."
"Why do you suppose the king wants it?"
"If the king wants it, then it's not worth it."
Aaron couldn't focus on what the other tavern goers were conversing about, his mind was running faster than a wizard's spell.
I didn't think it was special.
It just seemed like a weird tree, until...
Why does the king want to know about the tree?
Has he found it and just wants information about it?
What is he going to do with that information?
Is the information worth anything?
On that last thought, Aaron perked up.
Maybe this was it. His big break. The thing that he was hoping and waiting for that could finally turn his life around.
Realizing what this could mean, Aaron rushed out of the tavern to find the city guards who had left not too long ago.