Journey of the Half-Elf - Book 1

Chapter XX - A Walk Through Two Cities

"Thanks for the door, mate." Gastan said, shaking his friend's calloused hand. "Now it actually locks. I don't have to worry about being robbed. So, what do I owe ya?"

"Are ya havin' a laugh, Gastan?" The Dwarf laughed, picking up his refilled toolbox from the stone floor. "Ya don't owe me nothin'! Although... if ya are gonna get me somethin' in return, I'll have a tankard of Maa'gor's beer."

"I hate that fucking place, Liam. You know that." Gastan replied as he cleaned the table.

"Aw come on, it's only been what, 6 years since ya stopped working for her? She might've forgotten ya. If she hasn't, then maybe forgiven ya."

"What is he talking about, Father?" Guinevere asked while gently wiping the washed plates and cutlery clean.

"Nothing... don't worry, kid." The man told her.

"Well now I have to know. I assume by she, you mean this... Maa'gor person? From the name, she sounds like an Orc."

"Mhm." Gastan sighed. "She ain't good, at all."

"How do you know her?"

"I worked for her. Liam did too, sometimes.
It weren't good work, but it paid well. That's how I paid for all your fancy things when you were little.
I didn't wanna do any of it but... I needed to provide for you somehow. Ela was the strongest woman I ever knew but... raising you was hard, even for her."

"I... I did not know, Father. I'm sorry." She faintly smiled at him.

"It's alright, it's in the past. I'm fine with it." Gastan said.

"Ya know, I was only fuckin' with ya, mate. Honestly? You don't owe me a single coin. We're practically brothers, even as short as each other." Liam reminded him.

"I ain't fucking short." He chuckled, taking the broom and brushing the fallen mess into the corner of the room.

"Your girl's fuckin' taller than ya. I'm a Dwarf, I have an excuse."

"Alright get the fuck outta here, baldy. Go on." Gastan unlocked the door to send him away.

"Calm your blobby tits, I'm going! Besides, Aoiva's probably worried sick right now.
Anyway, it was nice seein' ya again. Whenever you're in Shakabrog, come visit the shop. I'll have a beer and you'll have a... water. You're still sober, right?"

"Course." The man replied. "And I ain't stopping.
Thanks for lunch, Liam."

"Don't mention it." Said the Dwarf, before turning his blue eyes to Guinevere. "Hey Gwinna? Look after yourself. And your father."

"I will, Liam." The Half-Elf nodded. "Goodbye."

As the Dwarf walked away and returned to his shop, Gastan closed the door before grabbing the coin-purse and bags.

"Right, ready to go shopping?" He asked his daughter, who had just finished her task.

"Of course, Father. Let me just put this bandana back on." She replied, wiping her hands on the skirt of her tunic as she made her way to the table, picking up the black cloth and tying it over her pointed ears before placing her feet in the ill-fitting shoes. "Shall we go?"

"Yep," Gastan said, pulling the door-handle open as he stepped outside with Guinevere, putting the key in the lock with a double-turn.

"Here, take a bag." The man told her as they were walking away from the house, out of the neighbourhood. "This'll be your first time shopping, won't it?"

"Hmm... I suppose it will be." She said, putting the bag-strap over her shoulder.

"In a few minutes we'll be getting to the end of these parts." Gastan began to say. "There'll be a bridge at the end, it leads to the Alfrindon outskirts."