Lies over the tankard

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 14th July 2006

Characters: Penryn, Dawyn
Description: Penryn meets Jr. Dawyn at a tavern over drinks
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 12, day 27 of Turn 3

Penryn lowered himself down on the bench with his mug of ale and gave the journeyman next to him a smile. "Good evening, Journeyman," he said with a nod.

"Evening...Steward," Dawyn replied after quickly checking his knots.
"You're rare guest here. What brings the Hold's steward to this joint?" "Just a pint and a table without any sharding hides on it," the Steward chuckled. "And you?"

"Just relaxing after work," **And avoiding going home to nagging wife..." Dawyn replied. "You work at the Hall then?" Penryn asked, scanning knots once more for verification of his own assumption. "Do you teach?"

"Part time. Rest of the time I try to earn senior journeyman's knots in ceramics," the young man replied. "Ceramics, eh? Well, that's an important job," he nodded as he lifted his ceramic mug to his lips and took a nice long sip. "You have a family?"

"No," the lie slipped from his tongue far too easily. He wasn't sure why he lied. Maybe it was guilt, guilt that he was spending time here when he really should be home with his wife and baby. But things between him and Keles had been very strained since Kelwyn's accident. Or rather more strained. They were always strained.

"Me neither," the Steward shrugged. "Guess that makes the tavern that much more appealing."

"It does that," Dawyn agreed and took a gulp. It helped to drown ones troubles into the beer. "Well, you're lucky you aren't established too well in your craft yet. When you are, and mother's hear you're single..." Penryn shook his head in disbelief. The way some people would market their daughters...

Dawyn let out a somewhat forced chuckle. "Do you have plans to start a family then?" Penryn asked before taking a long sip of ale.

"I'm sure a one will come in time," Dawyn said. Shards, it was getting harder to keep the lie going. It had started from one short word with two letters and now he was sinking deeper and deeper. He couldn't blame the steward, he was just having normal small talk over the tankard.
Dawyn felt like he could kick his own head. "Yeah, I suppose there's no avoiding it, really, is there?" Despite the dark words, Penryn really did want to have a family again some day. At least someone to come home to. Someone _real_...

Dawyn made a non-committal sound and busied himself with the emptying the tankard.

Last updated on the July 16th 2006

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Lies over the tankard