Interlude - A Dry Mug

He let the words sink in, staring purposefully into the fire. Every soul around was silent, fearing even to draw breath lest they break him from his thoughts. The pause went for some time. Minutes... hours, no one kept track.
Like the cracking of wood, he snapped his up and breathed a great sigh and the tension broke. He looked about for a minute, As if he'd forgotten where he was, then with a shrug looked down to his mug and took a great gulp.
"Well then," he called, stretching his old bones as he stood, "I've needs that've gone far too long unattended." As he walked to the back of the bar, the crowd parted for him like the sea in stories past. "Oh," he called back behind him without bothering to look, "and i'll expect that mug to be full when i get back."