The Dawn Tavern.
The Dawn Tavern was usually packed during the day, but now only a few customers sat scattered around. Most people had gone to watch the commotion at the enlistment stations.
The Square, the Garden, the Mage Tower, the Port, the Mercenary Hall, the Gladiator Arena...
Annan's recruitment advertisement was playing simultaneously wherever crowds gathered in the city. Rumor had it the Magic Film was showing not just in Free City, but in every Town with a Theater or Commercial Street—
Two Mercenaries who had arrived in Free City only recently sat in the tavern, sampling the local specialty, Happy Wine. It burned the throat like strong liquor, yet even someone who got drunk at the mere mention of alcohol could down a cup.
Drinkers were sharply divided. Some said a drink that couldn't get you drunk had no right to be called wine. Others said Happy Wine smelled like wine and tasted like wine, so wine it was.
"Did you see the recruitment ad?" the man on the left asked his companion.
"I did. Never thought fighting would actually break out in the Northland... You're not thinking of going, are you?" the man on the right asked.
"Of course not. Who does that Annan think he is? He opens his mouth and expects people to march off to their deaths?"
"You're right," a voice agreed from the corner.
The two Mercenaries looked over warily, but they couldn't make out the speaker. Had that corner of the tavern been so dark a few days ago?
"Those Nobles are always finding ways to send people ahead to die."
The voice was warm as sunlight, with a trace of a Northland accent. The two Mercenaries kept their guard up and said nothing.
They took commissions every day and had met