The Golden Scales

2: The king of the Hanged ones

It was the moment to celebrate.

They had money earned with a really well done job for which it seemed the man who paid was quite satisfied, they had been victorious against a monster from a far away time that lived in the depths of the earth and, especially, they now had alcohol.

Enough alcohol to live through a night where they talked too loud, where people in nearby tables looked somewhat uncomfortable and so they didn't care. After all, they've earned an important victory that most people wouldn't understand. Ulfhärt raised his jug of beer screaming it:

"Hail to the light that guided my shot!"

"Hail to the light!" the others joined him.

And they drank.

It was a fun enough celebration to make the group share their 'funny' details. Kilau, quite proud, showed her left hand, which was red and covered with scales and ending in sharp claws, like a beast's.

"Well I open doors using THESE ONES!" she proudly claimed, showing them.

Nihilus, who didn't want to feel lesser to his companion, showed the amulet hanging from his neck, it's dark wood shaped in the form of a creature filled with tentacles, it's silouete contrasting with a clear full moon behind it.

"My lord gives me the power to toss fire balls to my enemies thanks to this!"

Nichneven raised a piece of a chess game, a small white tower made of glass, proudly proclaiming:

"Well this piece of crap that was my father's does nothing!"

They all laughed and drank a bit more.

In that drunken moment, Kilau, her jug covering most of her vision, narrowed her eyebrows. She had the feeling of someone watching them, but she was incapable of finding out who or why. Would it have something to do with that golden shine Nihilus saw in the eyes of the General? Or maybe there was someone in the tavern, sharpening a knife and preparing it's lethal revenge?

She laughed like an idiot when she realised what she just thought.

Goblins with knives.

How cute.

The following morning, with the headache she felt pummeling her brain, she didn't even remember it.

How many beers she downed?

If she had to do an estimation based on how many jugs were on the table she was sharing as a bed with Neven and Nihilus, maybe six. And that would be if everyone drank the same amount of beer.

She tumbled her way to the bar. The innkeeper, a woman that didn't seem local from Helgund, frowned at her.

"I hope you're not thinking about asking once again 'a new round, Rhonda', aren't you?

"Oh, no. Certainly not." Kilau laughed. She didn't even remember what the innkeeper was talking about, but it was good to know her name was Rhonda. It was always good that people reminded you of their name. "I just wanted to ask where are the other two with whom I shared the table last night."

By how the woman looked at her, she was still smiling like an idiot.

"The bald one went to sleep to the room you rented. One of the rooms you've rented. The other guy is in the shower." She pointed to the door that led to an inner courtyard. Kilau was fast enough to find out it was where the showers were. She was pretty smart when she wanted to. And probably those showers were tubs with water and people would have a sponge with warm water to rub their bodies. Heck, Kilau, nobody is as smart as you are.