The Vineyard Tavern

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The dark-skinned, dark-haired woman in the corner of the tavern watched half-heartedly as the Innkeeper and others clustered around the burned boy. She stirred the package of brown powder she had taken from her bag earlier into the steaming water. The young woman watched as it turned a sandy color and the steam began to smell wonderfully sweat. Hot chocolate, they said, Kellan thought happily, lifting the mug to her lips and sipping the tasty liquid. Grimm whined softly from the floor, lapping up the last of his water and moving on to finish off his plate of scraps.

Kellan did not look up from her table until she heard the door of the Vineyard Tavern swing open to reveal a newcomer. A man, middle-aged and not handsome to say the least, pounded into the Inn and caused both Grimm and Kellan to snap their gaze over to him. Kellan's dark brows knitted together in curiousity and intrigue, but Grimm growled as the man went over to the group around the boy. This should be interesting...Kellan assured herself inwardly, watching carefully as the horse-master and the newcomer began to speak.

Grimm growled, a deep, guttural hum that only Kellan could hear. When she did hear it, the woman looked over her table and squinted at her companion, watching as he pawed his way over to the group near the boy.

"Grimm! Grimm, stay! Grimm! NO!" Kellan hissed at her dog, who had begun to show his teeth in his equivalent of a displeasing sneer. Kellan certainly did not want to be booted out of the Inn for the behaviour of her companion. "Grimm! Come back here right NOW!" The girl quickly moved from her chair to get the ebony-coloured beast, but it was no use for the dog had already made it completely over to where the ugly man stood. Grimm did not bite, like Kellan had feared, but what the dog did do could have been considered just as bad for Kellan;

Grimm began to bark incessantly at the man.