A Mistake...

Freyn had spent the entire night and a good part of the day searching for the Hafenstadt Inn. He had wandered up and down the streets of the town, accidentally repeating several streets in the confusion of the blizzard. He was terribly cold, since he had not expected such fierce weather so soon, and was making due with a damp, worn cloak. He was not going to give up though. He was determined to find the Inn and get to his job only slightly late. Just as he was starting to lose the feeling in his feet, he caught a glimpse of the inn's sign, and ran towards it as quickly as his frozen feet would let him. He made it to the door and rushed in, though he paused long enough outside to do the polite thing and knock the snow from his boots. He closed the door quickly, not wanting to let the cold in with him, and stood shivering in the doorway, not entirely sure what to do next. "Mistress Lena, are you here," Freyn called out, scanning the room trying to find her.

Freyn caught sight of Lena at the bar when she called back to him. He bowed in her direction before he walked stiffly to the bar, still frozen from the cold. He collapsed into a seat at the bar, and smiled up at his employer. "It is perfectly alright," he assured her. "I should have thought to ask you for directions when I applied for the job. I am perfectly fine, except for the cold. Please do not go to any trouble on my account." He shivered and hugged himself close, rubbing his arms to try to keep himself warm, and dislodged clumps of snow from his cloak in the process. He laughed nervously, and asked, "I do hope you can forgive me for being late on my first day?"

Freyn was at a momentary loss for words as Lena went from pleasant to frightening, then back to pleasant in the blink of an eye. To cover it up he took a bite of the chicken. It was very good, the herbs and spices in its creation spreading warmth from his taste-buds to the rest of his body. Then remembering his manners, he quickly chewed it and swallowed. "Thank you," he choked out, "It is delicious." He eyed the cigarette warily for his sister had told him it was a filthy habit, likely to kill any foolish enough to indulge in it. Even having it near him, especially while he was eating was a bit distasteful, but he did not think commenting on it to his employer was the wisest idea. He did not wish to offend her, especially since she had been kind enough to forgive him for being late and serve him dinner. So he proceeded to answer her question. "There really is not much to tell about myself. As I told you when we met my name is Freyn DeCaent. I have just come into manhood having entered my nineteenth year. I am the son of my father's second wife, and am the second son, third child. So any inheritance I may receive would be severely diminished, the bulk going to my half-brother and to my half-sister's dowry. My mother had other plans and had me educated and trained in a manner fit for a lord. Sometimes she may have gotten a bit too zealous in her preparations for me. I would have preferred to become a monk, but mother would not here of it, and there seemed to be some sort of tension between my brother and myself. Needless to say, castle life was a bit constrictive and complicated. My sister advised that I go travelling for a bit when the oppertunity arose. So I decided to go journeying, to learn new experiences and help people that cross my path, and am currently here in Coast Lamiere. I find myself without any money so applied for the job that you most generously hired me for."

Freyn breathed a small sigh of relief when Lena put out her cigarette, then continued eating the dinner she had made for him. He listened to her questions, though was surprised by her last comment. Clearing his throat from a swig of the apple juice, he answered, "Yes, I am most appreciative for the oppertunity. Thank you. To answer your questions, I am sure you have never heard of where I am from. I have been traveling about a year now and have left it far behind. If you wish to know though, my father's holding was called Ahkizn. I do miss them because they are my family, but I only truly miss the company of my sister, Lorhli." He paused for a moment, then continued, confused, "I am not entirely sure what you meant by your last comment. My sister suggested that I could go journeying but no one told me to leave. My mother was sending me to stay with someone, but I... well I probably seem like a terrible son but I ran away. So no one told me to go away, I left myself. I am sure Lorhli only suggested the idea because she thought it would make me happy..."

Freyn had not wished to think that his sister could have had any ulterior motive for suggesting his journey, so was relieved when Lena said such complementary things about her. He smiled at her misunderstanding though. "You are actually quite right. My parents, well at least my mother, would definitely not have approved of my leaving home to explore the world. Her idea of journeying is in a caravan of numerous servants to a distant relation's keep. I am afraid she has probably had numerous fits since I left. It was purely me and my sister's idea. Which is why I am actually quite scared for when I actually do have to return." He took another bite of his dinner, then after swallowing asked, "If you do not mind telling me, what is your tale?"

Freyn was shocked about how open his new employer was with her dark and blood-filled past. As well as the power she seemed to posses. He took the last bite of his dinner and finished off the last of his juice, to let his surprise settle. Feeling very awkward, he laughed somewhat nervously, then started babbling, "Well, that is definitely some tale. An assassin... you must be very powerful or skilled or both. I would never have the stomach for that kind of work. The blood... but, um, yeah. I never would have guessed. You do not seem like that type. I mean-" He broke off and a slight blush crept across his face. Flustered, he scratched the back of his head nervously, continued with a bit more composure. "I am sorry. I did not intend to pry into your past. I apologize if I have given any offense."

Freyn was startled by Lena's sudden change of mood. He became even more confused when she ran out of the inn. As well as a bit worried as she had caused the fire to reappear in her hands, and it was obvious that this time it was not meant to show off her power. He might have followed her to see what was wrong except he then became acutely aware of the inn's patrons that had waited not too patiently for service during his dinner and conversation with Lena. It would be rude to ignore them any longer, and it was now his job to serve them. He quickly placed his used dishes in the kitchen and started to see to the customers and clean up the vacated tables. He did not like the thought of Lena outside possibly facing trouble alone, however, she had plainly told him that she was capable of taking care of herself. She would probably want him in here manning the bar rather than abandoning his post to check on her.