Daughter of the Blue Rose

When Belan took another step forward, still acting as if Jolthar were invisible, he decided enough was enough.

He released his carefully controlled aura, letting his true power flood the tavern.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Glasses rattled on tables. Candle flames bent sideways. Every person in the room, including Belan and her warriors, staggered slightly under the sudden pressure.

That finally got her attention. Belan's head snapped around to face him, her eyes widening in genuine surprise. "Who are you, kid?" she demanded, really looking at him for the first time.

The slight emphasis on 'kid' carried both confusion and dismissal – he was clearly younger than her, and that fact seemed to override the power he'd just demonstrated.

"As I said," Jolthar replied patiently, "I'm Jolthar. And I'd really prefer to resolve this without violence. Whatever Roblan did, surely there's a better way to handle this than bloodshed in a public tavern?"