Beyond The Looking Glass - Words of the Unseen - Chapter 7

6 months ago (Edited)

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𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻

Beyond The Looking Glass is the second book in the Unseen series, a story that came to me from the other side. A story where I thought I was just the narrator until I heard the Words of the Unseen.

This second story goes beyond time and place and mixes the long ago with the here and now. Because history keeps repeating, until we learn and do something about it.

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Beyond The Looking Glass - Words of the Unseen - Chapter 7

Dear Reader, A man walks into a bar.

Sounds like the intro to a bad joke, I know.

A man walks into a bar and tries his best to fit in. Still, he stands out like a sore thumb.

The second to notice is the all-seeing bartender, and the first is the lady down on her luck and going down for a dime.

You will be noticed when you go where you never went before, the question is, did You notice?

When I enter the tavern it is still early, most of the men are at work. That is why it seems like a very good time to hand over the pouch that Kosa gave me. The lack of customers hopefully allows me to hear a bit more about his niece, and if she is doing well under the circumstances. It would be wonderful to bring at least some good news home.

I sit down at the bar, I blink and the old bartender stands before me, "What can it be, traveler?"

Contrary to my habit, I order a rice wine early in the afternoon. I never drink at this time of day, but I want to blend in as much as possible. The bartender pours the drink, and then he keeps his position in front of me just a little too long as if he knows what is coming.

"Can I ask you something?" I start.
"You just did that, traveler, which makes it difficult to say no now," the old man jokes.

"You know Kosa, don't you?" I continue, after taking a sip.

"Of course, I know that old fox, how come? Don´t tell me he still owes you money?"

I almost choke on the second sip, "No sir, and I don't think there are many whom he owes money, I know him as an honest man."

"Honesty is relative, but yes, he has become a better person over the years. You should have known what he was like before he met his wife. Then again, we weren't all young and brash."

Why do bartenders always have the tendency to philosophize, do they learn that in Tavern College? But I manage to refrain from expressing it.
"If you don't get any money from him what do you need him for, he hasn't been here in a few moons."

"That's right, that is why he asked me to drop something off here."

I see the man's eyes dart briefly to the left corner of the establishment and then return.

He lowers his voice just a bit, "You're coming for Lily, aren't you? Kosa has become meek in his old age. Who would have expected that? She's sitting there," he nods almost invisibly to the spot where his eyes just darted to.

"She's just finished eating, actually. the money he left last time has been gone for days...... but Lily is different. I don't know why we keep her in our old hearts, but Lily isn't a whore like the others."

I finish my wine, look over my shoulder, and then hand the leather pouch to the bartender. "Kosa said something like that, and told me to thank you on his behalf."

"It's all right, traveler, say hi to the old man and tell him I have and will keep an eye on Lily," he turns with a broad grin and walks into the door to the kitchen.

That is the other thing about bartenders, no matter what age they get. They have this baked-in notion that they are the Gods gift to women.

I leave the inn strolling and walk onto the square that I know so well. I sit myself down under the tree in the square for a while. This three, that afternoon long ago, this square, where so many things started.

As I sit with my back against the tree, my hat tilted slightly over my eyes, I hear footsteps approaching.

“Lord, could it be that I just heard you speaking of a man named Kosa?”

Surprised perhaps, but I'm certainly not shocked. “Young lady, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your ears if you hear words that were not meant for them. What is wrong is that I am no lord-”

"I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to, but it was so quiet in the tavern... And your clothes...."

How could I have been this dumb, forgetting I am still wearing the clothes I got in the castle? Even though they are dusty and slightly stained, they have that imperial attitude, I care so little about these things I did not even notice, but a whore´s eye sees every cent.

"It's okay, I assume you're Lily," I say, lifting my hat to see the woman.

"Lilith, indeed. I don't want to embarrass you further, I know how they feel about me here, but would you please follow me at an appropriate distance?"

There is something urgent, almost demanding in her voice, although her tone is submissive.
"I understand that it may be too much to ask, but I would like to say something to you. But not here.”