The tavern was surprisingly quiet. As a physician to the royal family, Ienzo appreciated the gentle din, but he was simply not used to it in this establishment.
It was nice, though, because the silence gave him the opportunity to study the blond sitting at a different table. Ienzo had seen him for the last three weeks, every time he came here. The blond sat at the same table, in the same chair with the same drink every day. While he’d never mustered up the courage to say anything to him, Ienzo grew more attracted to him by the moment. So far, the blond seemed to snap at just about everyone who had spoken to him, but there was something strangely enticing about the boy. His clothes didn’t betray any sort of occupation, so Ienzo wasn’t sure he was even allowed to speak with him.
So he was content to sit and watch, drinking the mead he’d ordered. Toward the end of his drink, he heard shouting. A fight had broken out behind him and, driven by instinct, Ienzo turned, prepared to administer any medical help needed. The blond was fighting someone, a big hulk of a man, clearly a knight. The barkeep, uninterested in getting involved busied himself cleaning mugs.
With a sigh, Ienzo walked forward and put his hand on the blond’s shoulder, turning to wedge himself between the two men before blows were thrown. “Please, if you’re going to fight, take it outside the establishment so as to not damage any of the furniture the barkeep has.”