"So ye killed your Brother?"<br/><br/>It was the kind of question that most wouldn't have asked, if they'd been sober, especially if they had any sense at all and could spot the mood of the man sitting at the bar nursing a tall mug of heady brew. Except that in this case the poor fellow that had asked it was very much<em>not</em>sober, and in point of fact, was not perhaps possessed of the most sense even when he was. Doryn hadn't even reacted, overtly, before several of the drunk fellows friends tried to pull him away-- a process which the drunk protested, protesting that he'd just asked a question and wanted to know the answer. There wasn't any especial<em>reason</em>that the fellow should want to know, of course, Doryn didn't even know his name.<br/><br/>...who knew what was the cause of some petty jealousy, though, especially in a fat drunk oaf?<br/><br/>The Knight-Captain of the City Guard just took a sip of his drink, noticing that more than a few of the people around the bar were now looking at him, and he couldn't help but suppose that Taliesin was probably correct in that he'd chosen a rather inopportune time to end that story. As much as he didn't want people to know why he was exiled, in specific, Doryn didn't think that them thinking he'd killed his brother was... ideal.. either. "Wrong crime, I'm afraid. Mine was sleeping with my older brother's wife."<br/><br/>That just confused everyone, after all,--<br/>--the song had made it quite clear that the older brother had<em>killed</em>the younger.<br/><br/>"As I told you, it was<em>just</em>a song. Don't give it much thought," Doryn said, shrugging a bit. "Now, give me some space, if you would."<br/><br/>Nursing a bit of a drink, Doryn couldn't help but glance over at Ethirdir and Hani as they danced to the music that Taliesin was playing. There was a bit of that fire in his gut, still, at seeing someone whom he apparently had rather stronger feelings for than he'd ever admitted to himself dancing with another. He was more than able to control himself, though, even after having had a bit to drink,-- even while, honestly, feeling rather low and very very much wishing that Hani hadn't prompted the Bard to do what he'd done,- even as he knew he deserved it. The funny part was, most of the people in this city wouldn't necessarily<em>care</em>if they found out precisely why he was exiled, but that didn't mean that Doryn wanted them to know.<br/><br/>Really, when he got past everything else, he had to admit that Ethirdir and Hani made a pretty dashing couple of the dance floor. It hadn't been the first time that he'd admired the graceful moves of the Elven Merchant, of course, the two of them travelling in many of the same social circles,-- this was probably the closest attention he'd paid to the matter though,- and as he rose his mug to his lips and had another quaff of his brew he had to admit that the Elf was a fair rival on the dance floor. Off of it, too, that much Doryn knew from experience. He was, thanks to the night before, operating at a bit of a handicap...<br/><br/>...but, really, what was the point?<br/><br/>He couldn't actually be with someone like Hani, could he? It didn't make much sense to HIM, mind you, it didn't work like this in Northern lands,-- there, a man could have any woman he wanted, no matter his status. One of his Sister's had ended up married to a Blacksmith, in point of fact,-- though, admittedly,-<strong>that</strong>kind of match tended to be a bit rarer. Surely, though, he should be able to have any kind of wife that he wanted-- even if she was a tavern wench,- but that just wasn't the way that it worked in the South. There was a part of him that just wanted to say to hell with Southern Tradition, honestly, but enough of his friends had made the point that while he was 'eccentric' he could still only get away with so much.<br/><br/>And, more over, that he needed allies and one won allies via Marriage.<br/><br/>So, really, pursuing Hani was... pointless..<br/><br/>So, he hadn't pursued her.<br/><br/>"...I need more drink.." he said to himself, sighing, glancing over at the Bartender who just smirked at him and went to fetch exactly that. "The funny part is, I knew tonight was going to be a miserable night, but I also knew that I had to come here regardless. I didn't expect it'd be THAT bad though."<br/><br/>The fellow just smiled a bit, nodding, refilling Doryn's mug.<br/><br/>"You know that girl is still expecting some kind of apology," the Bartender noted, idly. "Mercy, too, for that matter."<br/><br/>"Oh, I know, believe me," Doryn said, chuckling. "I wish I'd made different arrangements, she might not have thrown me into the fire if I'd planned this differently, but I suppose her feeling a bit guilty for having caused me such pain once all my arrangements come to pass will work for my purposes as well."<br/><br/>Not that he thought Hani had much shame...<br/><br/>...but, well, he was eternally hopeful.<br/><br/>The Bartender just rolled his eyes, a bit of a smirk on his face, to which Doryn just smiled back and had a bit more ale while he watched the Elf and Hani dance. Yes, they really were quite good together,-- he probably<em>should</em>just step aside- after quietly warning Ethirdir that he'd find life very very difficult if he should harm the girl in any fashion. The thought came easily, though, but the resolution to actually<strong>do</strong>that was rather harder to come by.<br/><br/>Possible to have or not, Doryn found that the more he thought about letting her go the less he wanted to.