Dave laughed the moment Joe disappeared, then muttered to Ixion.
"We're all quite dumb. It's rare Joe gets to have a conversation like that. I don't remember the last time he spoke so, uh... smartly!"
Olave sighed and said:
"Don't lump us in with you. You're a special kind of idiot."
Dave launched from his seat once again.
"Hey!"
Ixion took another bite of the cod, then asked:
"Who is Joe?"
The four looked at him.
Ixion's gaze shifted to the swinging kitchen door.
"He doesn't seem like a typical tavern keeper."
Dave smiled as he slowly lowered himself back into his seat, an odd seriousness settling over his gaze.
"Joe? He was once a knight... but it's best not to ask him about his past directly."
After gulping down a sip of water, Ixion said:
"I understand."
'So, you have seen it too?'
The absolute carnage of war. War against the Scourge.
'And yet still claim witness of love and preach community...'
What greater defiance existed in the world?
***
