Nomad and Durnan

"That Nomad is asking for you," his server informed him.
 
Durnan lifted his eyes from the contract the mason had provided for him to fix the hole in the eastern side of the Yawning Portal. Upon doing so he remembered he also needed to contact the mage's about reinforcing the glyphs Nomad and his fellows had repaired when this whole thing began. It seemed like ages ago, but with so much happening in the time he'd met them, Durnan wasn't surprised. Adventurers would stay true to their nature. He knew. He used to be one.
 
"Tell him I'll be out in a minute," the old warrior replied.
 
She nodded. "He said to take your time. No rush."
 
"You serving him?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"What's he ordering?"
 
"Mead. He's on his third."
 
"He paying?"
 
"Yeah," she answered after signaling to one of her fellows. "In advance. Gave me enough for two bottles before he asked for you."
 
Durnan grunted, then waved her off, returning to his work and planning how to allocate funds to the various needs of his enterprise. She left him to his task. After another chime of the clock, he realized he wasn't going to finish his task any time soon, so he thought it best not to keep Nomad waiting any longer. Knowing that one, he'd stay and drink all night till they spoke. Hopefully he wasn't drunk already.
 
The old tavernkeeper emerged from his office, spotting his hooded acquaintance at the end of the bar, back to the corner of the Yawning Portal, head hung over his goblet of mead. After scanning the room, he noted the others in attendance. Most of them regulars. Most of the company he'd seen Nomad with before too. No troublemakers today. He glanced at his reliable weapon hanging above the bar. An old habit. He then turned to Nomad and nodded to him as he approached. Nomad nodded back.
 
"What you need?" he asked.
 
The warrior looked up, meeting his gaze. "Think I know who or what's been taking an interest in the Yawning Portal."
 
He spread his hands before him. "Enlighten me."
 
"Mindflayer. We found it in the sewers when we were looking for Floon."
 
Durnan blinked twice. "What makes you think it's the one messing with my business?"
 
Nomad shrugged. "Sadachbia says there was a psychic presence when he got shunted through your wall. Mindflayers are some of the only things I know that do that. Or can mess with magic sigils. And this one had a mage with him too, along with that red-haired one that tried picking the fight with the warforged the other night. Two plus two is four."
 
Now the old barkeep's expression turned more serious. "Where'd you say this was?"
 
"Sewers. Xanathar hideout. And they had some kind of abomination down there too. A mindwitness, whatever that is. It's dead now. So are most of the Xanathar gang."
 
"Nine hells! You trying to get yourself killed?"
 
Nomad huffed, took a swallow from his cup, then stared ahead, waiting for Durnan to continue. When it became clear he was waiting for an answer, he simply answered, "no."
 
"And your first thought was to come back here?" the old warrior pressed.
 
"Meeting Floon, Volo, and Neverember here in a bit. We're gonna talk about what happens next because there's more to this than we first thought."
 
"You got that much right, you damn fool. If you haven't considered this already, you ever think you're making more enemies than you can handle?"
 
Another grunt from the dark warrior. "That's one of the other reasons I'm here. My enemies don't need to be yours. Came to ask if it's OK if I keep staying here, otherwise I'll move on, but I'll still keep you in the loop if I can."
 
Durnan offered his own harrumph before his eyes narrowed. "And why would you do that?"
 
"Because you did something for me you didn't have to the first night I came here."
 
"...And that's it?"
 
"That's it."
 
This time he huffed, then huffed again as he regarded the strange man before him. "Damnit, Nomad...You're going to get yourself in a whole heap of trouble."
 
"I know. I already have."
 
"No you don't," Durnan counted, his tone steady. "This is no place for a hero, and you're acting like one. Even from what I've gathered with you and Zhentarim. You don't fit the mold."
 
Another nod, he finished his drink, then stood. "Yeah. I know that too. But sounds like you don't need me to be your problem anymore, so I won't be."
 
"Hey hey, sit down." Durnan offered Nomad his stool back and refilled his goblet. This time with a better vintage. "This isn't the first time I've harbored someone with heat on them. Probably won't be the last. Just don't wreck the place when your enemies come for you. Take it outside."
 
The darkness of the hooded visage stared back at him for a few moments. Eventually Nomad returned to his seat, then took a swig from his goblet. "Thank you."
 
Durnan waved him off. "You came here with good intentions. I appreciate that, and you trying to help me. Pretty sure I'm getting the measure of you at this point."
 
Nomad cocked his head as he chuckled at the statement, taking another swallow. He stared into his cup for a moment, Durnan observing him as he did so until he finally spoke again. "You're the only one with known access to Skullport, right?"
 
"As far as I know," the barkeep replied.
 
"That's why I'm thinking the mindflayer has an interest in what goes on here," Nomad finished. "But it's just a guess."
 
"I appreciate the warning. Hope you can find out more as well. Now are you planning on getting drunk? Looks like you're halfway there."
 
Nomad looked back to his cup. "Was thinking about it. Not sure yet."
 
"Something else on your mind?"
 
Another drink. "Just making peace with my choices. Not looking to make any more mistakes or put anyone else in harm's way. And recognizing your point."
 
"Which one?"
 
Nomad glanced over his shoulder to a nearby table where the giants that were Regulus and Angus laughed and drank. Atka was with them too, doing the same, and Sadachbia, while a bit more reserved, was still in on the revelry. He turned back to Durnan. "This is no place for a hero. I'm just hoping the wrong man in the right place can make all the difference."
 
Durnan chuckled, wiping out the inside of a glass when he saw Regulus approaching. "I think you got that a bit mixed up."
 
Nomad took another drink. "Maybe."