At the westernmost table, there was a large Hyuran male dressed up as a candy cane, apparently, if several recent comments could be believed. The outfit was a mélange of red and white, set off by black, Gridanian-make boots, and with the black and tall feathered hat pulled down low across his face, obscuring his eyes, and leaving his beard and long, straight hair as the best means to further identify him.
The table was as yet otherwise occupied, though a pair of empty chairs sat around it, and upon it were two flagons of Momodi's best dark ale, one before him, and the other placed before one of the empty seats. A few paper wrappers were strewn over the table, still smelling of chocolate.
He glanced up but a couple of ilms at the sound of the ever-cheery barmaid addressing another Hyur of ample stock in comfortable clothes, but returned his attention to the ornate lute held across his chest. He was playing a well-spaced series of notes, perhaps a very slow, low pitched melody, but his frequent stops to sip of the ale, and tighten or adjust the strings, made it unclear. He set his boots up upon the table, pulled the hat down another ilm, and continued the serene strumming.
The table was as yet otherwise occupied, though a pair of empty chairs sat around it, and upon it were two flagons of Momodi's best dark ale, one before him, and the other placed before one of the empty seats. A few paper wrappers were strewn over the table, still smelling of chocolate.
He glanced up but a couple of ilms at the sound of the ever-cheery barmaid addressing another Hyur of ample stock in comfortable clothes, but returned his attention to the ornate lute held across his chest. He was playing a well-spaced series of notes, perhaps a very slow, low pitched melody, but his frequent stops to sip of the ale, and tighten or adjust the strings, made it unclear. He set his boots up upon the table, pulled the hat down another ilm, and continued the serene strumming.
"But in the laugh there was another voice. A clearer laugh, an ironic laugh. A laugh which laughs because it chooses not to weep."
![[Image: 3610850.jpg]](http://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/1266293/pics/original/3610850.jpg)
