VIIThe grand gate of the royal palace closed behind Clarice and Kaj. They found themselves on the street, with fewer spoils than they’d been hoping for.
“I want a beer,” said Kaj.
Clarice was in deep thought. “Beer...”
The elf led the man through narrow streets to her favorite tavern: The Golddeer. They entered, and Kaj was pleasantly surprised by the warm, welcoming, boisterous environment that reminded him of Lochbis’s tavern. They sat down at a table and ordered two overflowing mugs of fragrant and frothy beer.
The man took a sip, swallowing loudly, with an expression of deep enjoyment. Clarice watched him.
“You’re almost worse than Oloice,” she said.
“Better to be compared to a dwarf because of my drinking habits rather than thick-headedness,” he replied, amused. The man looked b
