Sonja looked up as the door opened, letting in a blast of the chill evening air. She looked past the door itself and spotted two people, one of whom looked familiar. The other, the man also had a resemblance she was sure she'd seen somewhere... Not that she cared one way or the other. Her tavern was neutral territory and protected by her most powerful wards and anyone causing trouble would have the Bolder brothers to answer to. And any they couldn't handle, she and Greta were more than happy to finish off between them.<br/><br/>The new arrivals stood on the threshold, the man jabbering away, Sonja unable to quite hear the words. She was about to yell at them to come in or stay out but to close the door, when the woman stepped inside. The man followed and shut the autumn evening out.<i>Yes, I do know you... And I know this elf. </i>In truth she'd<i>known </i>the elf in more ways than one, and from well before the human was born.<br/><br/>But she would play their game for now... "<i>Two</i>ales, is it? And how old might ye'r daughter be?" She asked in her best Country Yokel voice. "There's rules in these parts, see. Th' local constable, That's him in't corner yonder," She nodded at a dour-looking human, who was clearly already too drunk to care about any rules, "Himself doesn't like th' youngers t' be drinkin' th' strong stuff."<br/><br/>She didn't bother waiting for an answer. Aelene was older than Sonja and Sonja was a<i>lot </i>older than she looked. She pulled two clean flagons off the shelf and pulled two pints of the horse-piss that she reserved for those she knew would try to get out of paying. It wasn't as bad as the rot-gut whiskey, but it had little flavour and little alcohol.<span style="font-size: 80%;vertical-align:super">1​</span>"That'll be two coppers for the ales," She glowered. "In advance."<br/><br/>Sonya kept hold of both mugs until the coins were off the bar and scooped into her change drawer. She continued to glower at the walking wanted poster and shrugged. "Got no twin rooms. I'll have ta do two singles. Can't have a father an' daughter sharin' a bed now, can we? T'wouldn't be decent. I've got me reputation te think on!"<br/><br/>That drew an amused snort from one of the dwarves playing a complex game involving wooden tiles and bone cubes at a nearby table with two of his fellows. Sonja ignored him, but she did give a sly wink to Aelene. "Two rooms is two silver bits. One per room. No pets, one occupant per room on the singles, no food or drink in the rooms, breakfast is five coppers each, and can be had from an hour after cock-crow." She paused and held a hand out palm up. "In advance!"<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr bbc-hr--4"/>1. Basically your fantasy equivalent of Budweiser...