Wonderer

It was a pitch-black night; A thunderstorm was beginning to sound overhead. A figure was darting between shadows, drawing closer to the tavern. Lightening streaked the sky, a thunderclap sounded. The guards patrolling saw nothing out of the ordinary. As the figure reached the tavern door there was a commotion at the city gates. Listening to the raised voices the figure smiled and opened the door.
Walking into the dimly lit room the figure looked around even this late at night the tavern was full, to the left of the door was some cobblers drinking away the day’s earnings on some rough wooden benches, and a poorly made table. The right of the badly painted blue door held a man sitting right next to it drinking by himself, also a young woman collecting the used mugs form tables. Everyone was dressed in ragged clothing the men in the tavern were wearing dirty well warn and mended breeches, the young lady a tatty old skirt and mans tunic.
The figure walked over to the only empty table left and sat facing the door pulling the hood down to revel short dark brown hair a light brown face, forest green eyes and broad shoulders. The young lady watched him sit down as she collected the last mug. Placing the wooden tray of mugs on the bench she made her way over to the man.
"What will it be tonight sir?" She had a rough voice but a pretty face, "we have ale or mead and if you are hungry sir, we also have the spit over the fire..."
The man looked to the fire seeing that the pig there was not too crispy he looked back at the girl "Ale and some of the meat thanks." He said in his softly spoken yet strong voice.
He sat back and seemed to relax, but his eyes roamed the room looking for some sign of trouble, and listened to the conversations around him. The men playing dice were cheering each other and the players on; the man sitting by the door was rambling something to himself. On the other side of the room the cobblers were talking about work and how hard the job was.
The girl returned with his food and drink placing them on the table just as three guards walked into the tavern. The man started eating as one of the guards grabbed the man next to the door and pulled him to his feet. sneering the guard tossed him out of the door making the other two guards laugh. All three of the guards sat at the now vacant table calling for ale. The poor girl took the men their drinks and was groped, pinched and prodded for her troubles, as soon as she could she made her way to the safety of the back room, as the guards raised their mugs and drank deeply. The man ate his food discreetly keeping an eye on what was happening with the guards, just as the girl left he finished his meat and started on his ale. Taking slow sips and eyes sparkling in interest as one of the guards mentioned the disturbance at the gates.
"Jack, what did the fella on the ‘orse want?"
"Well" said the man called Jack "he was lookin’ for someone he thinks came through the gates after sundown."
"What did ya tell him?"
"I said "sir not one person can get past us after light so he’d best be on ‘is way" why ya wanna know Tam?"
"He came up to me and said he was after a man..."
"Yes Tam I know I heard ‘im!" stated the third guard
"Was not talkin’ to ya Jim so mind ya own!" Tam said slamming his now finished drink on the table.
"Did he say why?" asked Jack
"The man he was lookin’ for was wanted for something..."
The man walked up to the barman and payed him a gold coin, smiled at the girl who was trying to make herself look busy and walked out of the room doing his best to not draw attention to himself. Out in the street he burst into laughter shacking his head. then looked at the tavern, he wasn't going to get the information he needed form there. he started walking down the street when he suddenly stopped, looking to a home he remembered from the layout. This was the bell cryers home. He was bound to get some information from him! He walked up to the door and knocked twice starting to shiver as it started raining.
A serving man opened the door, the man quickly asked for directions to the inn as since he last saw the town plans it had moved. After the serving man had given him directions on how to get over there he shut the door quickly to keep in what heat was left. The man moved down the street in the direction that he was told to go the town cryer ringing his bell called in the midnight.
After pushing his way past a fight that was happening on the streets corner he found the in and rushed over to it pushing open the door he made his way to the fire place. As he stood in front of it the coat steaming, he noticed hired hands looking for work. sighing he made his way to the counter to see if there was any rooms available when someone grabbed his arm and spun him around. stopping with one hand in the air as if to strike who ever it was the man looked into the smiling face of his friend. Opening his mouth to say something his friend cut him off,
"She is near..."