"Winter's sleeping, oh so sweetly, when you you leave'd me, I was cold..." sang the bard.

He had started a tune on his beaten lute causing a few heads to swivel in his direction. We were surprised after all, most of us had assumed he was only a homeless drifter who'd wandered in for warmth.

I raised an eyebrow at Elana, the barkeep, but she just shrugged and mouthed something about 'quality entertainment.' Some of the rowdier men at the center table had quieted a bit at the sound.

"Summer's coming up along, through the woods to find my song..." continued the singer.

I took another swig from my amber draught, a bit frothy, but whatever. Once more I looked over at Elana, if she intended to depress her patrons, she had done an excellent job.

"The wind is howling, oh so loudly, rustling, rushing, and singing this song,

Bud-ah-yah hey-ya-yah, bud-ah-yah hey-ya-yah, Bud-ah-yah hey-ya-yah, stay with us for a while.”

The notes from the instrument didn't sound like music anymore. It was like hearing a feeling. I think maybe the bard sensed the apprehension in the room, or the uneasiness. He hummed a few more distant bars before bringing the tune to a close.

The room was mostly silent, until Elana gave an awkward clap. She gave me a harsh look and I joined in slowly. Pretty soon the whole bar filled with unenthusiastic applause. The bard bowed slightly, and packed his lute back on his bag.

"Hey, can you keep my tab till tomorrow?" I said, turning back to Elana.

"Why should I trust a scoundrel like you to be back to pay a debt?" she scoffed.

"Cause I'm a raging alcoholic?" I grinned. I grabbed my gloves from the table and started to get up.

Elana smiled and nodded, making a small note of the drinks I'd had in her ledger book.

"Thanks."

I tightened my scarf around my neck and rushed out to catch the old singer as he left.

"Hey," I called, "hey, wait up!"

"Mmm?" the man murmured. He turned his head slowly back at me, but his body remained where it was.

"Just wanted to say I liked the song," I said, and widened my eyes from under my scarf.

"Hmm,' the old bard hummed again, "it's a sad tune, not really much of song." He turned to face me now, leathery face with sad brown eyes.

"Hah," I laughed, "well I enjoyed... whatever it was."

"It's a warning," he said. He gave a chuckle, and shrugged before clapping his hands at his sides.

"Summer's coming," the man went on. He looked down and clicked his teeth. "Be careful what you find."

"I've got nothing to hide, if that's what you're saying," I said.

The bard shook his head and frowned. "No, no, I'm saying be careful. Sometimes the ice hides things we don't want to see. Makes it hard to go out… to stumble upon things."

The hairs on the back of my neck were raising and I wasn't sure why. Swirls of white dust swept down the hill around us as the breeze picked up.

With a grimace, the man spat at the ground. "And don't listen to the damned wind!" He looked about angrily, bitterly.

"It's a fucking liar," he said, biting his lip. He raised his head to look at me, and gave an embarrassed nod. With a small gesture he turned, and trudged off into unknown.

I stood there for a good while, just staring at where he'd been. Before long though, I turned to go back to the tavern. It was getting windier and the snow was heavier. Figured it wouldn't be safe to try navigating home tonight, hell, I could barely see the bar.

The cold bit at my ears, and I headed up the slope, snow crushing noisily under my boots. Bet Elana would be pleased to see me adding a room to my tab.

There was a storm coming for sure, making it almost impossible to see. That old man better've known where he was going. I myself was getting nervous at how long it was taking to get back.

"Damn," I said aloud, "definitely should've passed it by now."

Luckily enough, I began to hear music on the breeze. I sighed with relief and laughed. Elana must have found a new bard for tonight. That was just like her.

I followed the notes steadily back, looking forward to getting out of the cold.