First part of my short story

What follows is the first draft of a part of my short story. It is just over 2,000 words and I have a limit of 10,000. This is my first time using this critique form. As the story sits right now what I am looking for is A. is this worth building on and B. what are some places I could take it from here.

   A dark moonless night had followed the overcast day, the people of Eriedge had gathered at the inn to tell the days stories and drink the days ale.
   “-- And stay out you drunkard!” the barkeep shouted as he hurled a man out into the street, only just avoiding dumping him on an entering patron.
   “My apologies good sir just taking out the trash. Go in and find yourself a nice seat by the fire its going to be a cold night and winter is on its way”
   It was an average night at the Crossroads Inn, the atmosphere was busy, with much pipe smoke wafting around the heads of a good many patrons. The smell of ale filled the room, but it was of fresh ale, not the stale week old ale of a tavern that is never cleaned. This one was suspiciously clean – for a tavern – but not so much so that it put off those customers who preferred the dirt and grime. Sim Berk had his standards and kept his Inn clean, just as he kept himself clean. The tavern was in effect an extension of himself and through its upkeep and that of himself he was able to show his pride.
   Sim was big, not big around as some men are, he was instead tall with very wide shoulders and a strong back he was just entering his thirties had hair raven black and straight as a willow stick. His face was hard but kind. What drew people to him was his quick wit and careful smile. The most startling aspect about him what truly drew stares and attention from all but his closest friends was his eyes, they never seemed to stay the same color constantly shifting from blue to green to brown to gray and every color in between. They seemed to do so almost at random but never when you were watching, if you looked away for a moment you could find yourself staring into green eyes when you were expecting blue.
   It was the busiest time of the night at the Crossroads, twilight, things were finally getting dark and the night had just begun. Sim spent the majority of his time behind the bar itself playing the part of the bartender though from time to time on a particularly busy night, such as this, he would help the waitresses get the food out. Sim always marveled that he was able to own such a fine establishment at so young an age, it was perhaps the only good that came from his fathers death.
   Almost a year ago. No a year ago three days back Sim's father had died. A small woodworking shop just across from the Inn had caught fire, with all the sawdust in the work room it wasn't a surprise when the place finally lit up. Unfortunately the family that owned it lived in the upstairs room and were sleeping when it happened. Sim's father had been one of the first to rush in to save the helpless family he came out carrying Hal Bogen who owned the place. Two other men had gone in with him and helped remove Hals wife Jannie and there oldest daughter Clara. Upon realizing that one of the girls was still in the house Sim's father had rushed back in heedless of the growing flames. Neither he nor the girl made it out of that fire.
   But that was the past and Sim knew better than to dwell on that which he could not change. That and he was proud of this father. No one else had gone back into the house with him and that was enough to make him a hero in Sim's eyes.
   The night wore on and Sim served drinks and the occasional plate of food, he spoke briefly with each person, as was his way, ensuring they knew they were welcomed. He told the occasional story but mostly listened and made comments. And, as was always one of the nights favorites he requested a few songs from the lute player and his singing companion. As always Sim would make two requests the first was one that he hoped the minstrel wouldn't know because if he did and could play it Sim owed the whole room a round of drinks. This had happened only on rare occasions so his second request was one that the players would know but it was always a beautiful moving piece.
   This night as was customary Sim walked up to the playing duo and the Inn hushed. “Shall we start with The Tragedy of Groto the Giant.”
   Sim stood patiently as the luteist went through his mind searching for this particular piece, with a over dramatized shake of his head the minstrel informed him that he knew nothing of this song. The crowd let out a singular moan at this unfortunate news but still sat patiently for the next request.
   Sim tried again, “Would Summer in Marose be to much to ask for?” with a smile the duo began the song to a round of clapping form the room. Sim went back behind his bar polishing a glass as he became lost in the song. It was one he was very familiar with. When his mother was still alive she would play him the song on her own lute, it always brought him back to that happy time.
   As Sim was reminicing the door of the Crossroads opened and through came a man dressed in black from head to toe. Not just ordinary black cloth but midnight black, his tunic, trousers and cloak looked to have been cut from the empty spaces between stars, darker even then his shadowed cowl. He slowly moved through the crowded bar and found a seat in the back giving him a vantage on the entire room and door. When one of the serving girls went to see to his needs the cloaked man sent her away.
   “Sim? Sim?” Being so engrossed in the song Sim was embarrassed to find that he hadn't noticed her come up to him, he gave him self a mental reprimand to pay more attention.
   “I apologize my mind was elsewhere, what were you trying to say Tera?”
   “A stranger just came in. When I went to see if he wanted food or drink he just sent me away. I didn't even do anything, somethings wrong with him,” Tera told him looking slightly put-out, as if the stranger had insulted her.
   “Perhaps I will go see to him but it is possible he just wanted to get inside and warm for a time before continuing on his way. You never truly know about people until you ask, and sometimes not even then.” Sim told her hopping that in the future she would remember not to judge.
   Sim put away the glass he was cleaning saw to the the needs of a few people right up at the bar and then left to go see who this new patron was. Not put off in the slightest Sim walked right up to the man in black.
   “Welcome to the Crossroads Inn, is there anything special I can bring you from the bar? I've got only the best here.” Sim used his most cheerful yet still polite attitude so as not to put the man in a stupor.
   “Shove off!”
   “I own this establishment and you'll not speak to me like that under my roof.” Sim told him slightly surprised that this man would be so angry with him, an attitude of that kind towards Sim was almost unheard of.
   “Begging your pardon, I meant shove off sir.
   Sim did his best to appear unruffled by this mans belligerent attitude, he could tell this was a man he was not going to like. “I'd rather not have to ask you to leave friend.”
   “Fine then bring me an ale if its so important to you, just leave me alone.”
   “That I can do.” Sim left quickly glad to finally get away from the man. He had a bad feeling about the stranger that he couldn't identify, something about the man just seemed to whisper danger. And Sim had learned to always listen to his whispers.
   He slowly worked his way back to the bar trying to decide what to do about this man it wouldn't be right to ask him to leave but Sim didn't want him there at all. He filled a tankard for the man and walked it back over putting the mug down before him.
   “There you are sir. Three copper pieces.”
   The man grudgingly gave Sim the money turning his noes, or at least Sim thought it was his noes the stranger still hadn't lowered his hood, at the reasonable price. Sim pocketed the coppers and walked back over to his bar where he resumed his duties making sure to always keep at least one eye on the man in the corner.
   All through the evening the man sat in silence watching, studying, observing the others, never once did he move or even lower his hood. As people began to leave he would watch them intently seemingly looking for someone in particular. That fact more than anything gave Sim reservations about this fellow. Strangers weren’t all that rare around Eriedge, even shady ones, but this man should have a category all his own. Sim doubted that there was a man alive who wouldn't at least be put off by this character.
   All in all Sim was relieved when the man got up and exited the bar. For the first time sense he had gone to bring the stranger a drink Sim found he could relax and focus on the players during their last song of the evening. It was another of his favorites Midwinter Days. As the song played through he preformed his usual tasks without the need to think about what he was doing simply going about his routine.
   Their final song finished, the duo packed away their instruments gave a gracious bow to those listening. Then turned and another more reverent one to Sim, who was allowing and paying them to play in his respectable establishment, before going up to the rooms lute and tip-jar in tow.
   The customers all knew this as the signal to head home, the more sober began to rouse friends and help them up and out the door. Once the bar of the Crossroads Inn had been vacated Sim went about his nightly routine of cleaning and locking up, meticulously scrubbing tables and the floor even giving the fire place a good brush before double locking the door, his mind still on the stranger from earlier, and went up to his room to lie down.
   Though he had worked a hard day sleep was a long time coming. Sim had found himself sprawled on his bed awake searching disparately for the thing keeping him from the blissful arms of slumber. The only conclusion to which he could come was that the stranger had shaken him more than he would care to admit.
   Unable to sleep Sim got up from bed and began to pace going over the encounter over and over again in his mind. Should he have done something? No, what could he do? Go after him? Sim wasn't even sure he was up to anything, how would it look if he burst in on the man playing cards with his friends? It took a few moments more of this singular thinking before he realized he was doing exactly what he told Tera not to do. Sim was judging the man just because he gave him the shakes.
   “I'm a fool!” Sim announced to himself flopping onto his bed falling asleep almost instantly.

   Out in the dark not far from the Crossroads Inn the stranger in black silently slid down an ally. He was searching for something looking into the corners and behind piles of garbage and other debris. As he slowly moved down the dark passage he saw the last light go off in the inn.
   It was time.

Again as far as critique I would greatly appreciate if you could focus on
A. is this worth building on?
B. what are some places I could take it from here?

(Also I realize that there may be a typo or two and some of the dialog is a little wonky but ignore that for now)