Creeeeeek…Thud
The Barkeep looked up from wiping the counter to see a hooded figure stumbling into the tavern. A young man, eyes darting back and forth like a frightened deer. His long dark hair dirty and matted. His clothes torn and muddy in places.
“You look a bit worse for wear stranger. What can I help you with?”
“Are you The Barkeep?” The man asked in a hoarse voice as he made his way to the bar.
“Aye.”
The man sat at the bar across from The Barkeep. He reached into his coat pocket and, after a few moments, pulled out a gold coin with an “M” stamped on its surface. He placed it on the bar and pushed it towards The Barkeep. “I need your strongest drink”, said the man.
The Barkeep stared at the gold coin for a long moment before pushing it back to the man.
“This is quite the treasure you have here. You sure you want to waste it on a drink?”
“Your strongest drink, please.” said the man, his voice almost pleading as he pushed the gold coin back at The Barkeep.
The Barkeep gave the man a long penetrating look.
“We have some Black Dragon Whiskey, many would consider it the strongest drink on my shelf.”
“NO!”, cried the man, “I’m looking for your strongest drink, the Riverman’s Price.”
The Barkeep sighed and picked up the gold coin. He walked over to a door behind the bar and beckoned to the man.
“Come. I don’t keep that on the shelves up front. You’ll have to come with me into the cellar.”
The young man visibly relaxed. His shoulders losing some of their tension. He got up and followed The Barkeep around the bar, through the door, and down some creaking steps into the tavern’s cellar. As the man and The Barkeep walked in the gloom, they passed shelf after shelf filled with bottles, from the finest wines to the lowest beers. At the back of the cellar The Barkeep began to dig through the bottles on a shelf. After a moment a soft click could be heard and the shelves rolled to the side exposing a plain looking door. His hand on the doorknob, The Barkeep turned to the man.
“Some say the Riverman’s Price should not be paid by the living. There is still time to change your mind and turn back.”
The man’s face set into a determined look and his eyes flashed. “There is no place for me here.” He said.
The Barkeep opened the door... to darkness. A deep inky blackness that seemed to sway and twist. A darkness of shadows within shadows. The man’s mouth fell open as he stared into a hole of the darkest night. While the man stared into darkness, mouth open wide, The Barkeep took the gold coin and placed it gently into the man’s mouth. The man broke out of his trance and turned to The Barkeep.
“I thouwt dis was yur paymen” mumbled the man around the gold coin on his tongue.
The Barkeep stepped back and gestured towards the blackness.
“I’m not the one you need to pay.”
The man nodded and turned back towards the darkness. After a moment to collect himself, he set his shoulders and stepped forward, disappearing into the gloom. The Barkeep closed the door on the darkness and swung the shelves back into place. His face carried a resigned look of sadness as he made his way out of the cellar and back to the bar.
