by deSouza, Leo
“I had already noticed. They were staring at us since we entered.” Thuor spoke.
“Maybe they are the ones we saw stalking us before…” Olaf spoke quietly.
“I can go there and ask them what it is all about.” Torag said.
“We don’t know if they are the same ones. Ye stay quiet, Torag, and don’t find us more problems than what we already had.” Thuor replied.
Torag snorted. “Hunf… Right then. The dwarf one is the leader, and they came walking, along the road, they just arrived.”
“How do ye know?” Olaf asked.
Torag took a gulp of wine, then cleaned his mouth with his forearm and belched. “Because I’m a damn tracker… Look at their boots, fresh reddish clay from the road. As for the dwarf one, he is the only one hearing while all the other ones talk like gossips. They are complaining about something.”
“About us. Judging by the way they stare.” Olaf spoke.
Then someone approached the table. “Greetings! My RockFoot guests!” The newcomer exclaimed.
It was a fat pudgy dwarf, his clothes dirty with fat and his thick hairy arms dripping water, he dried his hands on his clothes.
Thuor rose from the seat and came to hug him. “Greetings my old friend!” He said.
They moved apart still holding each other’s shoulders. The other dwarfs on the table could see a glow in Thuor’s eyes.
“These are my company.” The captain said motioning to the ones sitting.
“Company? Are ye on a quest or what?” The newcomer asked.
“A company sent by King Frar itself.” Thuor replied.
The dwarf looked wide eyed. “Oh… I would have prepared a welcome if ye had warned me.”
“Old friends ye are.” Torag said.
“No, we started as enemies and just recently turned to friends! But yes, our story began long ago, if that is what ye are talking about.” The newcomer said smiling.
Thuor laughed. “This is Marok, the owner of this place, an old friend.”
“Yes I am, and ye can count on me. How long are ye staying?” Marok asked.
“We leave tomorrow.” Thuor replied.
“Then I’m going to arrange one of our best rooms for ye to pass the night. Your meal is coming, just wait a little more.” Marok said leaving.
“I like this dwarf, he is someone who we can trust, for sure, we did some deal in the past, and he always honored his word.” Thuor said, he glanced at the suspect group at the other side of the room and sat again. The captain and the others stayed there waiting for the waitress until she came bringing many entire roasted quails. There the group ate, tearing the birds, getting their thick fingers dirty with fat, and dirtying their beards with the wine which leaked from the corners of their mouths when they drank it. They passed the rest of the day there, talking and drinking wine, and when the night finally covered the world, Marok came back to them. “What now, my dear RockFoot? Guess ye are ready for rest.” He said.
Everyone was somewhat drunk, but Torag was especially drunk. “Just bring us another bottle of this best wine, and then we can talk about resting.” He said somewhat shakily.
“No, it is enough. And I would ask ye, if ye could, my noble host, to lead us to our room, as it is time to rest.” Thuor spoke. He opened a bag and took from inside it a gem, a big round red one. “This is for ye, advance payment.” He said handing the gem to Marok.
“The RockFoot house is getting even more rich as time passes!” Marok replied. “Thanks my friend, now let me take ye to the room. The best rooms you could find around.” He motioned and turned, walking away.
The company stood up and left after him, Olaf looked to the corner where the adventurers were, but they had already left too. So they went up a rock staircase to an upper level, there Marok opened one of the few doors that led to each room and motioned for them to enter. “There is hot water for bathing inside there already, four buckets to be more precise, towels and soap.” He said.
“Thank ye, my fellow. May one day I pay ye for all ye have done for me in the past, and now.” Thuor said resting his hand on Korach’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry captain! I still remember the day when ye saved me from that pack of wolves!” Marok said.
“He did?” Torag asked. “That is a story I would like to hear.”
“Sure, master dwarf, but not today. It is time for ye to rest, I guess this is your desire now.” Marok spoke.
“Fine.” Torag replied. “How many wolves were there by the way?”
Marok rubbed his chin. “Huuum… Ten, I guess, was it captain?”
“Ten? I counted something like four.” Thuor replied.
“Oh, then I must be thinking about the other occasion when ye saved me from the goblins. Whatever, call me if ye need something.” Marok said as he left.
The company entered the room, there inside were four beds made of stone, carved from the same boulders as the rest of the entire inn, and above them straw mattresses. A round hole in a wall was a window, giving sight to outside where lights could be seen among the village buildings, night was set and everything was quiet, only a few voices could be heard from outside. There was a door leading to a bathroom, steam came from within.
“My bath first.” Rurur spoke. He went inside the bathroom and closed the door.
Thuor sat on a bed near the window and leaned against the wall, there he lit his pipe and started smoking, Olaf lay down on another bed and rolled. “I’m not going to take any bath. I’m clean, like a polished glass.” He said.
“Ye stink, like a greasy pig.” Torag replied.
“Everyone will wash himself, we are not going to get another chance of it for a while, not in the wild. And not with hot water.” Thuor said.
Olaf grumbled and rolled on the bed. “Hunf… A dwarf is well done with a wash each full moon. I could pass without this one.”
Torag shook his head and spoke to Thuor: “I would not be surprised, this one probably does not take many baths even when at home.” He took a boot off of his foot and held it upside down hitting on its sole, some dust fell from it. “I think we brought half of the wilderness sand with us, it is in our boots, in our pockets and even in my nose!” He said then sneezing and shaking his head.
“Read in the dust, Torag! Find us the Dark Rider!” Olaf said still lying down and not looking at the others.
Torag snorted. “Ye think ye can make jokes about it… But I will tell ye something, there is no track to follow, since our fellow Dark Rider is riding a flying beast and not a horse or anything that walks on the ground. If he was as dirty as ye I could follow his stench ye rotter idiot!” He replied throwing a boot at Olaf.
“Well if ye can’t track him in the air than ask Balfour to do it next time.” Olaf replied.
After Rurur came from the bath, each dwarf, one by one also washed himself so that everyone came back to their beds clean and neat. There they slept and the night advanced, soon nothing could be heard except for eventually owl’s chirps and wood snaps. Rurur was not snoring nor any dwarf made any sound, it was as if after some time sleeping out in the wilderness the comfort of a clean room and soft mattresses made them all sleep deeply. Besides, they had set no watches, so everyone slept with no worries about being awakened in the middle of the night to take the turn, the dwarfs slept peacefully. Even though Thuor was right that they could trust Marok, the inn owner, that no threat would enter the inn to trouble them, danger was actually already inside the place. Late in the night, Thuor awoke and raised his torso from the bed, he heard someone talking outside the room, the door was half open and light came from outside. All the other dwarfs were lying down, sleeping, except for Torag, this one was not inside the room. Thuor jumped out of the bed and approached the door quietly, there was a discussion outside, someone was scolding, and it was a familiar voice. When the captain came out of the room he found Torag in front of some others, the group of adventurers they saw earlier in the inn’s tavern, among them was the bald dwarf
.
“Why don’t ye shut your mouth, the only one here creating problems is ye yourself!” Torag exclaimed while pointing to the dwarf ahead. He was angry and his face had a reddish tone.
Thuor noticed the group was not armed. “What is happening here?” He asked going out of the room.
“This bunch of mobbers is disturbing our sleep!” Torag exclaimed.
“Who was it that came up to our room to wake us up?” A man in the group asked, visibly nervous.
“I came there because ye were making too much noise! I could hear it through the floor!” Torag said punching the air.
“Through the floor? The entire building is a damn rock!” The bald dwarf replied.
“Well then it is because ye have really loud stepping! Specially this fubsy one here!” Torag exclaimed pointing at the bald dwarf.
“Ye better watch your tongue ye loudmouth half-pint!” The dwarf replied stepping ahead.
“Be calm.” Thuor said with a peaceful tone.
“I’m calm! Quite calm.” Torag spoke.
“Calm as a rabbit in heat.” The bald one spoke.
Torag raised his fists in the air and stood in fighting stance. “Come and prove yourself!”
The other ones from the group quickly made a circle around them, Thuor was still saying something about appeasement but no one paid attention. Torag and the bald dwarf were preparing to fight.
“I will show ye!” Torag shouted.
The bald one went into fighting stance too and they began shaking fists while looking at each other in anger.
“Hit me first if ye dare!” Torag exclaimed.
“One hit and ye would fall dead!” The bald dwarf replied.
Suddenly Torag kicked in the middle of the dwarf’s legs.
“Cheater!” The elf shouted.
Then a big mess began, the group jumped on Torag, Thuor tried to break up the fight, a scuffle stuffed with much scolding and cries, bites and kicks and punches. Olaf came from the room and stood at the door looking at them wide eyed. “What by the beard of the Fathers!” He said just before jumping into the mess.
The scuffle grew, Thuor was on the floor rolling while fighting one of the men, Torag cracked a chair over the elf’s head making him faint, Olaf was distributing punches and kicks as he passed by everyone. From the stairs came Marok, the inn owner, wearing nightclothes and holding a candlestick, he advanced towards the fighting ones but was hit by a stray punch that made him fall back down the stairs. Olaf was now clinging on one man’s back while squeezing his neck, they went through the door and entered the room whirling till they fell on Rurur’s bed, the sleeping dwarf woke up and pushed them off. Olaf and the man separated, Rurur took a jar from the bedside table and threw it at the man, but this one ducked in time so the jar passed away and hit Olaf’s head, cracking. The surrounding buildings’ dwellers could hear the noises, Olaf and Rurur grabbed the man and they came out of the room again, there outside everyone was still fighting. Marok had come back from the staircase and was now among the others, slapping and elbowing everyone with no distinction, his wife was circling the struggle while beating any visible head with a pot as she shouted. “Stop you hoodlums!”
The result of this struggle was quite uncommon, except for the many broken vases, chairs and doors, no one left it unharmed, but everyone hit someone. In the end there was no one still standing besides Marok’s wife. Men, dwarfs and elf, all of them laying on the floor or leaning against a wall, moaning in pain or still cursing with the little voice they had left.
The merciful dwarf.
The next morning after the scuffle, Thuor’s company was on the road again, they had to leave early before sunrise, and had no more sleep after the fight. Everyone had bruises and was tired, as always Thuor came first, leading the company.
“I can’t believe we lost our best opportunity of a good night’s sleep.” Olaf spoke rubbing his eyes to defog his sight as he walked.
“Did anyone manage to sleep well at least for the little time we were lying down?” Thuor asked.
No one answered, the captain looked back and saw Rurur coming walking with eyes closed and mouth opened.
“How did it start at all?” Olaf asked.
“They were making noise, so much noise!” Torag argued.
“I heard nothing.” Replied Olaf.
“Nor me.” Thuor added.
“What about ye, Rurur?” Olaf asked looking back.
Rurur was still with his eyes closed, Olaf approached and gave him a slap on his face. “Wake up! Ye walk while ye sleep!”
The dwarf opened his eyes and looked around, then rubbed his cheek where the slap hit.
“Did ye hear anything last night?” Olaf asked again.
“What do ye mean? I have heard many scolding and things breaking.” Rurur said.
“No, before it, while ye were sleeping.” Olaf insisted.
“Oh!” Rurur exclaimed, he frowned and looked down for a moment, as if trying to remember. “No. But ye know me, I have such a deep sleeping.”
“I’m telling ye. Steps on the floor, furniture being pushed, falling pans, even hammering! Ta! Ta! Ta! That type of thing.” Torag spoke motioning.
“Then what happened?” Thuor asked.
“Well I…. I knocked on their room, I came there and found them, they were guilty! I could see in their eyes.” Torag argued.
“Anyway… I found it very rude from master Marok to expel us.” Olaf spoke.
Thuor looked back to him. “Do ye? I actually think he was quite polite. He allowed us to prepare our things before leaving. With no hurry.”
“No hurry because he had to take time to count all the loss with the broken furniture.” Torag said.
“Oh yes! I must agreed with Torag. And we had to pay for it all! And we paid it with some of our precious gems, now we are going back home with a little less of them. Who knows how much more we are going to spend till the end of this nutty journey!” Olaf spoke.
Torag sighed. “Don’t make me remember about the gems again…”
“I have a feeling that his wife was the main cause for our expulsion. She said we should not come back there at least for the next ten years! That was an odd episode.” Rurur spoke.
“Not to say about the harm!” Olaf exclaimed. “I think we got even more hurt then when we fought the goblins! And all this is your fault, Torag!”
“Oh be quiet… I did not ask for any of ye to join me.” Torag replied.
“And what do ye think we could have done? Just sit and watch while ye broke the entire place?” Rurur asked.
Torag chuckled and answered: “Mind ye… At least I gave ye a good chance to punch some rascals.”
“This part is true.” Rurur said with a smile.
“Where is the next friendly point, captain?” Torag asked.
“The home of the elves, not that far away from us. Be prepared to sleep on the grass again for now.” Thuor said.
“Well then, may I ask ye why are we walking so slowly?” Torag insisted.
“Because the ones we fought last night left shortly before us, and I don’t want to cross them on the road, in case they also went south.” The captain replied.
The soil now had a dark brown tone, and the vegetation became different, with brambles and weeds, a more inhospitable place. It was a sunny morning, the air was cool and the wind was running smoothly, the sky was half clear, on the horizon one could see some heavy clouds, rain clouds. Rurur quickened his pace and came close to Torag, he spoke quietly: “Hey Torag. Do ye remember that I said the keeper told me they were about to begin work on the stalls?”
“So what?” Torag asked.
“Well ye said ye even heard hammering at night, maybe it was just the keeper working on the stalls.” Rurur added.
Torag frowned, he suddenly looked surprised. “No. Shhh!” He hissed. “Don’t bother the captain with this anymore, it’s over.”
The landscape became more rugged and some small hills could now b
e seen ahead at some distance.
“We are getting near the beige plains, a vast land of no dweller, except for beasts and birds. We must cross it but ye don’t worry, Rurur and Olaf, this place is safe and the road itself passes through it, the beasts are not fierce ones; unless ye mess with them. As for ye, Torag, I guess ye already know the place.” Thuor spoke.
“And what kind of beasts are these?” Rurur asked.
“Ye will see, master Rurur, it is something striking to be seen. But there is no guarantee we will come across any of them.” The captain replied.
Someone shouted from behind the group, they looked back and saw there a woman coming in a hurry, she had two children with her, and as she approached Torag whispered: “What now?”
The woman came close and spoke as she panted. “Greetings… Noble dwarfs… I…” She was saying when stopped, smiling nervously and gulping, she straightened her clothes and continued: “Excuse me but, allow me to present myself. I’m Aida, and these are my children.”
“What is the problem, madam?” Thuor asked.
The woman seemed worried about choosing the right words to say. “Well I… I have a house not far from here. But I cannot go inside, I was expelled from it.”
“By who?” The captain insisted.
“A cat! A big one, a cat from the prairies.” She replied.
Torag spoke with an ironic voice: “A cat, madam? Tell me, how big is this cat?”
“Twice your height, and twice this ram’s length.” Replied the woman.
“What happened?” Thuor insisted.
“A few days ago, my husband left with other men to fish, they went to the Rolling Log River. Well I’m used to staying alone with my children for some periods, it is a safe house and there is not much to worry about, animals don’t usually come that close, but this cat came and entered my house. I was inside it with my little girl, the boy was outside playing.” She replied.
“I saw the big cat coming!” The little boy said with his childish voice.
“Yes it entered the house and took us by surprise. It came slowly stepping through the room, I just got my daughter in my arms and circled the table, the cat came after us, but I was fast enough to leave quickly and close the door.” The woman spoke.
