Ad aspera

"The Boars" is a decent and rather quiet place; after all, the guards swarming around should contribute to it somewhat. There aren't many people here – mostly dining guards or outsiders. The elder can be easily recognized by his clothes: he sits away from everyone, and his table is laid out in such a way that the guards in the entire hall are now looking at him like hungry dogs: two large pitchers of beer, a bottle of stronger liquor, plenty of bread and hot dishes. Noticing Kotori, without being distracted from eating and drinking, he greets her simply and honestly:
--Shotbe-nushshno?
Now she can examine him in detail: he wears an ordinary peasant caftan, hiding his sparse, graying hair; his straw hat rests on the bench, not interfering with anything. Beer has settled on his thin mustache, crumbs in his beard, and the earthy, broad-nosed face of the elder clearly doesn’t add to his attractiveness. He isn't too old, nor too fat; rather, he seems so because of his flushed face from drinking and stuffed cheeks.
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