The tavern was considerably louder than Ray had expected, with conversations overlapping beneath the warm glow of several oil lamps hanging from the ceiling.
The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat, spilled ale, and burning firewood, while the occasional burst of laughter rose above the general noise whenever someone told a particularly amusing story.
Wooden tables occupied most of the available space, their surfaces covered with half-empty mugs, plates of food, and the occasional pile of copper coins.
Groups of women dressed in practical clothing sat together discussing everything from merchant disputes to the latest rumors circulating through the district, while a handful of men occupied quieter seats near the walls, apparently content to keep to themselves.
