Chapter 10
A Pleasant Eve
1642 - SUMMER IN DUNNEDIN
Between the fire on the hearth and the ale in her belly, Starrling was quite warm and happy. She took a seat towards the corner and settled in to bathe in the energies of the tavern.
'Twas like watching a pageant encircling her there within the tavern. She watched and listened with rapt attention, not realizing her blatant eavesdropping until much later.
The bar was quite crowded with both men and women occupying the stools. The barkeep swept back and forth filling and refilling tankards, wiping the top of the bar, polishing tankards and still keeping the smiling chit chat that was necessary to please all the patrons at once. His towel flicked on and off his shoulder as needed.
An elderly gentleman was wooing a woman of similar years at one corner of the bar. Starrling smiled, enjoying this proof that love does not age, it only takes on new meaning over the years.
The woman at the other end of the bar was perched upon a stool. Her skirt was hiked up a bit to show some ankle and her arm seemed to rest quite closely to the sailor sitting beside her. Starrling squinted a bit as she watched the duo. It did appear that she was using her obvious feminine powers to persuade him to rendezvous. Starrling hid her smile in her tankard and took another sip.
She watched the barkeep once again, finding him quite attractive. Her eyes then slid over to a young blond man nearby, whom she also found attractive. My, my, such beauty to behold in this establishment.
One couple sat in the corner, very quietly discussing something of a serious matter, she could tell by the look on the man's face. The woman, however, seemed oblivious to the import of the moment, but was intent on keeping her partner's attention.
A rowdy party of sailors were making merry in the middle of the tavern. Their boisterous bawdiness was almost infectious to her, reminding her somewhat of the gatherings in the village when a bit too much mead and ale had been consumed. A smirk flitted across her face at the memory of the usual outcome of such fetes.
The more she watched, the more comfort she felt. This tavern could easily become a place she might desire to frequent. Her brow wrinkled in a frown as she calculated the cost of ale against her own funds. The money that Calum had provided was still a goodly sum. In addition, the chickens she had purchased were laying eggs at last and she would soon be looking for regular customers in the village and the outlying areas. Besides, I do need some form of human companionship, she justified her desires. She grinned sheepishly and drained her tankard. Placing the empty vessel upon the bar, she bid farewell in a very broad manner to any that acknowledged that she was leaving.
At the door, she turned once more to survey the scene. Eyeing the patrons and the décor, she felt that this could indeed be a friendly forum for her. She slipped out into the summer night and headed home, walking as if on a cloud of happiness. Thank you, Calum. All the way home, she sang an old dancing song from her childhood and did a bit of a jig now and then.
Chapter 11
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