My figure towers over the door before me. I give it a gentle knock.
No response.
Knuckles tighten, a series of fast and loud knocks rent the air on my command.
There's some shuffling and clanking from within.
"What do ye' want?"
The door abruptly swings open, Shardu reels his head out- hammer in hand.
"Rain? At this hour?!"
He exclaims.
A smug smile plasters my visage,
"Thought you should have these back."
Shardu's grogginess fades as if fog aganist a morning sun.
"Ye' git the already!" He sputters his eyes wide.
I preen, savouring his amused antics.
The guy intimately examines the weapons in hand, a snicker escaping his mouth
"They didn't even take good care of em!" He shouts mid-examining
"Is oiling too much to ask!"
His excited steps come to a halt,
"What of those bastards?"
Mustering the most mysterious aura I could manage, I let out a crooked smile,
"They won't be bothering you anytime soon, or ever."
"What did ye' do with them?"
I shrug, letting him figure it out.
"Oh!" His eyes widen, a gleeful smile worming up his lips
"I didn't kill them if that's got you excited." I quip, dousing his excitement.
"Rest easy, they'll never set foot here, unless its seeking your forgiveness- which I doubt." I add, aiming to calm him down.
"Not with what I did to them." This I murmur under my breath, bt made sure it reaches his ears nonetheless.
"Come, I reckon ye've come for what's rightfully yours."
He calls out, gesturing me into his abode- that served as a blacksmith shop and forge at the same time.
I crouch slightly, entering through that particularly small door.
You could say that I was 'squeezing' through.
Shardu reaches and grabs two sheathed blades, handing it to me.
"Ere, Ye' deserve it. " he says, his mood suddenly sombre.
~sighs~
"I even made some clasps, to fit your belt."
I absentmindedly nod, all my focus locked onto the black sheaths.
To call them exquisite will be a disfavour.
Its scaled leather polished to perfection.
My fingers gently trace its scaled contours- great work.
Coiling around the blade handle, I yank out.
Revealing a black and polished blade gleaming within, just half unsheathed.
Satisfied, I extend my hand gesturing for a handshake
"Pleasure doing business with you."
Shaking my hand with his calloused and rough ones he gives me a sincere look and says,
"See ye' around Rain."
My figure retreats, leaving the dwarf to his devices, intimately stroking his long lost masterpieces.
What a reunion.
~~
To say I slept a few hours will be far from the truth- scarcely had I plunged into the plump and feathered bed when the sun rays burst through my open window.
Interrupting my sweet sweet slumber.
Now I have to clean up and check out- I have a long day before me.
This long mission journey has come to an end, now what remains is to claim the reply letter and head back to the outpost.
Nonetheless, this has been a fruituous experience,
My coin's pouch is as fat as it can ever be.
Heck! I've recovered from all the expenses I had incurred throughout this stay.
Pass my sincere regards to the two bastards I had robbed blind.
~smirks~
Being a 'clean up' guy is quite a profitable business- I get the coin plus the chance to set straight some scum of society.
A content feeling of accomplishment washes through my body even now as I descend the steps down into the hall and reception.
The lady at the counter beams me a lively smile,
"I hope your stay has been memorable."
With a genuine smile tugging at my lips, I hand her the key.
"Quite memorable." I trail off, my figure receding as I walked out the tavern.
Back on the road, my pace increases my figure cruising as I got closer and closer to the keep.
"Halt!"
The guardsmen stop me in my tracks.
I show them the stamped note, identifying myself and my purpose.
They hand back the note, letting me enter.
A series of halls and a flight of stairs and I was before the intricately carved door.
My knuckles tighten, giving a gentle knock as I slowly swung them aganist the door.
The sound of feet shuffling told me someone will soon attend to me.
The massive door creaks as it swings open- flashing a draft of wind as it swings.
"Yes?" The familiar clerk questions, glancing down at my hooded figure.
"I'm here to see the Sire." I respond, but seeing his inaction I futher explain,
"I'm here about a return letter to Piri outpost."
His eyes narrow with recognition.
"You!"
"Where have you been?" He snaps, displeasure apparent
"You were suppossed to be here yesterday afternoon!"
He rasps, his voice like gravel.
I muster a pitiful expression, my figure slightly bowed
"The journey is long sire,- I couldn't leave for Piri- lest the darkness finds me still out there in the wilds."
The clerk scoffs, yet finding reason in my logic.
The wildlands weren't a place to be after nightfall- everyone knew that.
~sighs~
"You kept the sire waiting, you are lucky he's not around."
A shrudder runs up my spine.
What injustice have I committed, it's not like I would have departed immediately after the letter was given.
Depart and risk nightfall finding me in the wilds?
No, thank you!
The clerk silently regards me, sighs and enters through the open door.
A clamour erupts from within the room, I patiently wait, bidding my time.
After what felt like an eternity, the clerk walks out, a sealed scroll in hand.
"This is a time sensitive letter...anymore delays won't be tolerated."
He asserts, authoritatively
"I'll depart right away sir!"
My fingers carefully clasps the sealed letter as I promptly make my leave.
Off to the stables.
"You are back, Younglord," The stable hand greets.
I give him a smile,
"Prepare the ashva for departure, post haste!"
He smiles, gesturing me outside,
"I thought you might depart early, so I prepared her beforehand."
A grin plasters in his face.
"Great job." I intone, swinging onto the back of the brown mare.
Pausing, I plunge my fingers into my coin pouch, fishing out two Orens tossing them into the air.
He grabs them mid-air, grateful
"Keep up the good work." My voice trails off, already on the move.
Piri awaits.