He hurriedly stepped aside and saw a woman with two scimitars strapped to her back enter the Friendly Arm Inn first.
Her skin was slightly dark, and strings of small beads were woven into her silvery-white hair. She wore a set of emerald-green leather armor. Wrinkles had already appeared at the corners of her eyes, yet none of her valiant bearing had faded.
"Everyone, stop!"
The woman's shout seemed to carry some sort of magical effect. Everyone in the Friendly Arm Inn shuddered, as though an icy wind from Icewind Dale had swept through their minds, instantly clearing their heads.
All the adventurers turned toward the entrance.
After a brief silence, someone cried out, "Jaheira, it's Jaheira! The companion of the great hero Charname, the ender of Ketheric Thorm, the guardian of nature's balance, a Harper Master, Neverwinter's—"
"Yes, that's me. But no matter how many titles others give me, I am simply Jaheira. I now declare the Friendly Arm Inn closed. Everyone, go home!"
Once this renowned Harper spoke, no one dared disobey.
Before long, the once noisy and crowded Friendly Arm Inn was left with only sixteen people—or, more precisely, five Harpers, one gnome proprietor, one human wizard watching the show, four employees, and five golems.
Jaheira lowered her head to look at the gnome proprietor and smiled. "Oh, little Banlit, it's been a long time. The last time I saw you, you only came up to my knee. Now you've reached my waist.
Time truly flies. I met your parents at the Friendly Arm Inn more than a century ago, yet it feels like yesterday..."
"Lady Jaheira, it is a pleasure to see you." The gnome proprietor gave an awkward smile at the mention of his childhood.
Jaheira raised a hand in signal. The four Harpers behind