Bards

As they were busy eating, Heron heard the door to the inn open and he instinctively turned to look. And what he saw actually left him flabbergasted.

A flamboyant young half-elven man had entered the inn, a huge grin on his face. He was dressed in a bright yellow shirt and pants that were striped red and orange. Even more a purple cloak hang from his shoulders and a green hat with a long ridiculous white feather in it sat upon his head.

Heron nearly laughed just looking at the guy. But he bit his lips and did not. Never had he seen such a get-up and he had definitely not been expecting it.

The man in question strode confidently up to the innkeeper and spoke to him in a quiet tone. The keep's eyes lit up and he nodded to the man.

With a huge smile on his face, the guy lept up into the empty stage set up for entertainers and swept his hat off. With a deep, exaggerated bow, he addressed the entire room.

"Ladies, gentleman. Kindred and people I could not in a million years be related to, I come today to provide you with entertainment. If you find it pleasing please leave some money in my cap." He tossed his hat on the ground. Then he pulled a wooden lute out of his cloak and began playing it.

Soon, he joined his voice, which was actually pretty deep and melodious to the lilting notes of his instrument.

Heron turned away from the guy, not really wanting to stare at that eye-hurting figure anymore. But the other patrons seemed to enjoy the music as the guy sang some old love ballad.

Instead of staying and enjoying the music he left to go retire to his room. Politely, he bid Elswyth good night first. She answered him with a yawn and stood up as well. "I too shall retire. And tomorrow? Don't run off again. If you want to go outside tell me first."

He nodded. Though this was not in a town so he was not sure if it would pose quite the same danger. Then again, anyone kidnapping him would probably just drag him off somewhere in the wilderness. That actually might be worse. Or it might prove easier to find. He was not really an expert.

Nor was he interested in becoming one. He dropped down into the bed in his room and was almost instantly out. When he woke up there was light hitting his face.

As he went down, he could hear laughter. Good-natured and fun. The bard from last night was talking with the inn keeper happily.

Heron did his best to ignore the guy. Once again, he was dressed ridiculously. It really made Heron's eyes hurt.

Not that he would say anything to the guy. He was not sure if he would even listen. Bards were often difficult from what little he had heard.

He sat down in his corner and waited on Elswyth. He did his very best not to look at the bard, but it was hard. The guy was dressed so garishly that it made people just look at him because of just how… bizarre it was.

It was even worse this morning. His pants were a very vivid shade of light green which in and of itself was perfectly okay, but with the rest of his outfit it was downright horrid. His shirt was a striped, flashy combination of a jarring orange and red combination. And he had switched out his cape for a dark blue one lined in silver. And the hat he was now wearing was a yellow shade. And instead of the more tasteful brown boots he had been wearing last night, he now had on a pair of pointy toed purple shoes.

Heron had never been all that picky with clothing, and usually he did not care what people wore, but this actually hurt to look at.

He was relieved when he saw Elswyth walking down the stairs. She was much better to look at, with her more tasteful selection of a varying of green and brown shades. A bit of messy hair was nothing compared to the way too bright clothing that he did not want to ever see again.

She smiled at him and came to sit beside him, "Didn't run off? Good little prince." She even patted his head.

He rolled his eyes at her. But gave her a smile anyway. Afterall, if she was up that meant they could leave. The quicker the better.

But first she ordered breakfast for them. Heron did not try to argue with her. It would not be worth it and besides he was not all that against eating in the first place. He would probably appreciate it later.