The Premiere of Shadow's Flame

Kojan, Florendyl — Myrr tells of her journey to Shadow's Flame

Well, I remember finally finding the "Shadow's Flame" tavern after a long and cold ride. It was raining and I was glad to get into the warmth...

I was greeted by an orc who was tending the bar. Later, I learned that his name was Kubby. He was very friendly, and so good at serving drinks that I think some of us got just a little bit... you know... tipsy. (Ow, my head, I can't believe I drank two and a half steins of that ale! But wow, was it good!)

People of all imaginable races were there! The Kurashasa and Vulmane always command respect; yet they were chatting amicably with the other visitors, and even playing games of chance with a pair of dice. I did not understand the game, but it seemed exciting.

And the tavern got really full! People were talking and joking, and, oh. I've got to tell you about Tsol, the bard. You see him near the bar; he's the one next to that really huge man (whose drinking skill must be legendary!) Anyway, Tsol was playing some absolutely beautiful music, and when I asked him about it, he showed me how to play it. I did fumble it a bit, because flutes and muzzles are a hard match. Also, I got stuck with a claw in one of the flute's holes, and that was very embarrassing. Tsol told me that I should try to get a... pan-flute, which is a lot of different-sized flutes stringed together. Now to find a lot of flutes...

Behind the bar, on the left side, you see Kaini. She's the owner of Shadow's Flame and she handed out food; a cooked meat that I didn't quite recognize, but it was quite good.

Later on, when most of the patrons had left, Kaini and Kubby allowed me to go onto the stage in the corner and actually sing a song! I was so excited! I picked the one I had written myself, you know, the one about becoming a bard. I quite fumbled the solo in the middle, and I forgot how to pronounce some words, but they were really kind, and didn't chase me off the stage.

Kaini even gave me a beautiful new robe! Oh, this must have been the best night of my life!

Happily, though I think a little bit unsteadily, I started walking back home. In the haze afterwards, I could not find my horse. Later, I found him at home. He must have gone ahead. Luckily, no-one had noticed me sneaking away to the tavern, or my brother Quir would surely have given me one of his long, sanctimonious speeches about "ale bad, books good". Oh, and by the way, don't tell him that you saw me at the tavern, okay? *winks*