[Adanedhel]

As Bethberry sat with the man that seemed by all accounts to like the ladies she motioned to him towards the new comer that had entered the Inn. As many that would rather not draw attention to themselves this ranger was wearing the long heavy black cloak, the cowl still pulled low over the strangers face, dark eyes peering out from underneath regarding all and taking in all.
Adanedhel rose collected his sword and carried it over to the strangers table on the way motioning to a flustered serving girl to bring two pints over to the table he was headed towards. He sat in the chair opposite the stranger leaning his giant two handed sword against his chair, his blue eyes twinkling as he regarded the cloaked figure. For a while they both sat there in silence staring at each other, neither speaking and neither looking away, locked in a contest of both determination and will as neither would subject to the other and look away. The serving maid came and went both tankards of ale sitting on the table neither combatant touching the amber liquid least they look away.
To any person who happened to look over and see the two cloaked figures on opposite sides of the table staring at each other each with a tankard of ale that neither had touched, one his black cowl down the other with his cowl drawn back to reveal his shaggy black mane of hair and ice blue eyes, a stubbly beard beginning to show as he had not shaved in many days.

After a while Adanedhel smiled and said with a twinkle to his eyes:

‘A fine contest this is indeed stranger but I must say it is thirsty work, lets say we stop and take a drink?’

The stranger did not answer just slid his eyes from Adanedhel’s and picked up his ale downing the glass in one gulp. Adanedhel raised an eyebrow and chuckled to himself then he too picked up his ale and drank it, savouring the taste by drinking it slowly wishing not to let the alchohol affect him in any small way.
He still watched the stranger and he took one more sip savouring the liquid in his mouth, swilling it around slightly then swallowed smacking his lips as he finished. He then said to the stranger in a tone of seriousness:

‘What be your name stranger and where would you hail from?’