Galäm, having successfully evaded the guards' gaze, headed toward the port, motivated by the desire to find his mentor. He retraced the path he had taken the day before, still freshly anchored in his memory. As agreed, he circled the shore, marking each tavern.
When he finally found the right one, the Yönum Tavern, he couldn't help but notice that it was concealed, hidden by the taller neighboring buildings. The tavern itself had the surprising appearance of an upturned boat hull, breaking with the usual style of the white sandstone buildings lining the port. Galäm cautiously approached the entrance, his cape serving as a mask. He pushed open the door with feigned confidence, stepping inside. The atmosphere was warm yet dim. The brown wood, illuminated by candlelight, highlighted each table in the shadowy space. The central counter, too, was bathed in light from an upper-level chandelier. Donovan sat alone at a table, reading a local newspaper by the glow of a candle. Galäm took advantage of the fact that Donovan hadn't noticed him yet and ordered a few drinks at the bar before joining his friend. When he reached Donovan's table, the latter wasn't surprised; even with his eyes buried in the newspaper, he quickly recognized Galäm. Donovan smiled and spontaneously said to the approaching prince, "Ah, there you are! Have I been missed? Finding the right people sometimes takes time. The setting here is charming, and the food is excellent, which is why I decided we should gather here."
As a response, Donovan chuckled and said, "Ah, I see. So you spent your evening feasting while I toiled away deciphering my father's letter."
It didn't take long for the server to bring the sweet libations, and this time, Donovan was pleasantly surprised. The drinks selected by the prince showed his meticulousness from the last lesson. Indeed, it was a pint of Knam, a famous beer that Isa's pirates tended to raise in toasts in the northern regions after raiding merchant ships from Yomanra. A precious elixir, its characteristic taste came not only from plants growing in the northern lands but also from certain fish. The resulting bitterness gave it an unusual and unique flavor, and it packed quite a punch. Truly a pirate's drink.
Donovan took the opportunity to add another anecdote to the list. He mentioned that the tavern they were in was likely, in the past, a ship that had suffered one of Isa's raids. This incident dated back to a different era when Yomanra was not a city of Enamareke but rather belonged to Isa, the northern land. It was actually the city of Merekia that had besieged and conquered Yomanra, all in an effort to address piracy issues along the Enamareke coast. And with that, Donovan continued his tale:
"This evening, we will sleep here. In order not to arouse suspicion. Our friends will join us in the morning. Each of them has very different origins, which will satisfy our curiosity throughout the journey."
The prince nodded. They also needed to find a pretext that would allow them to slip away from the embassy for a few days without arousing too much suspicion. To that end, Galäm could simply claim to be training with the mages in various occult arts. He knew that even the embassy would not dare ask too many questions for fear of offending the high-ranking members of the academy council.
Savoring their last beer before departure, not without a sour grimace with each sip, they thanked the tavern keeper, who couldn't help but observe with curiosity the atypical duo that was previously unknown to him. Indeed, he seemed more accustomed to a long-standing loyal clientele.