[October Prompt] No Mead

3. It's a serious problem.

It took Spite's eyes a moment to adjust as she passed through the low doorway into the darkened tavern. Outside, the sun was already sinking towards the horizon, the light reduced to the dim of a fall evening, but the candle-lit interior of the well-worn bar seemed to suck away whatever bit of light poured in through the briefly-open door. She let it fall shut behind her as she took a moment to glace around the space; noting the musty smell of old wood and the embers of a low fire. She breathed it in, considering the scent carefully, reminded once again of the twinge of disappointment at the absence of yeast and spirits in the air. This tavern would do, but she was certainly unhappy about it.

A back-alley tavern with no alcohol was hardly an inviting space. Though this town, just past where the last of Mead's fog clouds were dispersed by the wind, had been relatively safe from both wandering giants and the Order's sorry attempts at controlling the situation, it had not been free of the consequences of Mead's strange imprisonment. The bar had run dry; the tavern unable to source from the brewers of Mead, and further towns unwilling to deliver to close to the Miasma's shadows. Aside from an expressionless tavernkeeper and a few older individuals smoking boredly at the front table, the space was empty aside from Spite. Yet, despite the disappointment, this place would still serve its purpose, and the indigo-winged woman sat down at a dark booth in the back corner.

Beer or not, this was her workspace, her office of sorts. Even with liquor run dry, this was a tavern, and she was a mercenary. Her dealings were meant for the shadowed corners of bar; where the stale smoke of other patrons hung in the air and lowered voices could discuss business dealings without attracting attention. Even without a drink to steel herself or alcohol to lower the wit of those who hired her, this place still felt right. Perhaps it was the ambiance, the tradition of it all. Though her disappointment showed through her otherwise guarded expression, she had never even thought to change the location of today's meeting. This was simple where her deals were done.

Finally, after waiting a few minutes too long in her boredom, Spite saw the man she was there to meet enter the bar, looking quite out of place in such a humble establishment. She resisted the urge to chuckle as the nobleman maneuvered both himself and his inflated ego through the tight space and earned glances from the other patrons, but she kept her expression guarded. She didn't even allow him a moment to settle at the table before she spoke up.

"My price has doubled." Spite stated plainly, setting her piercing eyes on the nobleman who had tried to hire her. She let him sputter but a moment, but continued speaking before he could get a word in edgewise. "You neglected to tell me that the mark keeps ex-Order battle mages in his retinue. My job has thus become more complicated, and I expect to be compensated fairly.". She stared down the noble, daring him the challenge her, watching as he raised his head as though to yell but stopped short, remembering they were in public.

"I refuse!" The noble practice spat at her, posturing as though he could intimidate her, a mercenary, of all people. "That is not what we negotiated. I won't pay it!"

Spite stood suddenly, pushing at the table as she moved, pinning the nobleman to his booth seat and towering over him with her tall stature. "Fine," she replied, letting annoyance creep into her expression. "Waste my time, then. Just hope your enemies are as cheap as you are, or else you may meet me again." With that, she turned on her heels to leave the bar. She only wished she could have had some drink to throw back and make this trip worth it. Screw the nobleman and his attempts to manipulate her into doing a more dangerous job than they had agreed upon. Screw the liquor shortage and the empty bars. Maybe it was time to try the next town, and see if their taverns had any stock. After that interaction, she needed a drink.