The Way Inn was a fortress of stone, built on a hill overlooking the Trade Way. Big as it was, a dozen tables were outside, in front of the large main doors, on a flat space made of gravel. Druids had enchanted some larger stones that lined the edge of the gravel yard, which caused the light rain to somehow miss all the tables. Even in the poorest weather, many people enjoyed their drinks outside.
Today the Inn was packed, both inside and out, with many patrons. There seemed to be a general sense of concern, but few took notice of Tommi and Lionel as they climbed the hill from the Trade Way and crossed the gravel. Just a pair of dwarves who sat at a table just outside the main doors gave them an eye, but it was not unfriendly - the dwarves nodded at them and raised their drinks.
Inside, the crowd chattered noisily. The bar was tended by a copper-scaled dragonborn woman whose smile seemed genuinely friendly, in spite of the sharp teeth. She was aided by a half-dozen servers, most of them humans, and the bar was flanked by two armed guards. Lionel recalled seeing armed guards by the road, and down the hill from the Inn.
"What can I get you fellows?" asked the bartender, in a voice that rumbled over the chatter.
