Tales from the Ironwood Inn: The Barmaid's Trysts Part 1
In the kingdom of Oriel, near a crossroads, just a few days walk from the capital of Lihpool. The lies the town of Ironwood. It is named after the nearby Ironwood Forest. It's tiny compared to the capital but not a small town due to the nearby major road allowing travelers to bypass the forest. Ironwood forest was a nearly impassable natural barrier; few dared to travel through it. Merchants and travelers passed through on their way to the capital. They keep Ironwood lively and coin passing through.
Ironwood is well off enough to have a few boarding houses and Inns to service the travelers. However, the original Ironwood Inn is the highest regarded. The establishment is large, with a bar for patrons to stand and drink at. Many tables for groups to sit and relax after getting their food and drink. Plenty of floor space exists for those who need to sleep out of the elements. Whether they be too drunk or too poor to sleep elsewhere. There are also a few private rooms for rent for a little more coin. The Inn is run by a large man named Edward. He built the place years ago and has been its sole manager ever since. This tale does not concern the owner but rather his daughter.
June was Daddy's little girl. Edward doted on her often, ensuring she had almost everything she wanted: lovely clothes, books, and any food she fancied. The more uncharitable folks in the village called her spoiled.
She spent her days relaxing and serving at night when the locals and travelers crowded the Inn for an ale and some hot food. The Inn brought in decent money, and June saw no reason to move on. She was an only child and was sure she would take over the Inn after her father passed. While June was not ambitious, she was intelligent. She saw no reason to ask for more than successful business, despite her father wishing her to seek more extraordinary things than the Inn. He had imagined her going beyond Ironwood or, at the very least, even settling down. June had found certain
advantages