Born in the Flame

Chapter Two

   
    I don't think my muscles ached more than they did now. Masterfully, I finished up with a few commissions, but that didn't even hold me over till the shop closed. So, instead of heading over to the tavern, I ended up taking the shops inventory and making more weapons for the shop. Three daggers and two short blades later, here I am, trying to stretch the muscle's ache out as I walk to my mother and brother's tavern.

    Ale is what my aching arms begged me for, but my mind was telling me to just head up to our family's home above the tavern. Gradually, as I approached the door to the tavern, my aching muscles won the internal fight.

    The stained glass of the door casted a shadow around the entrance from the light within the stone building. Windows, also made from the same stained glass, casted the same shadows. They hid the identities of the boisterous patrons inside. Heads bobbed and swayed to the lingering piano and trumpet music within. Unlike most of the taverns in forge city, which were numerous, Pegasus Dream liked to keep up with the times as far as music and entertainment go; but the music was still dwarven, just with more modern instruments. Being on the first level travelers visit, keeping up with the trends of the outside world was important to our business. Pushing the full force of dwarven culture onto anyone unfamiliar would be terrifying.

    Hesitating a bit as I held onto the handle, I braced myself for the noise and eyes that would most assuredly be cast on me. Turned out, it wouldn't be much of a choice when two drunk dwarves nearly toppled over me and almost smacking me with the door. After shouting a few curses at them, I headed inside.

    Bright lights and loud music hit me first. My eyes struggled and ears to adjust to the light and music, but the sight was a welcome one. The familiar scuffed wood tables and chairs and various colored banners signaling to our gods and different dwarven fight pit teams welcomed me as I moved toward the cherry oak bar. Behind the counter, as always, was my charming brother, Sigurd. With a small smirk, he turned with a pint in hand, and began to pour my preferred choice of drink.

    "Well, here comes the magnificent Elwin Silvertooth, the only dwarven blade smith who's an elf." He exclaimed, sliding me my ironwood mead. He purposely announced my presence in a loud and exaggerated manner.

    "You're a pain in my ass." I sighed taking a sip, already muscles beginning to stop aching.

    "How could you say that to your favorite brother?" He chuckled, taking a sip of his own drink.

    "Only brother." I corrected. Of course, if I had any other siblings, he would still be my favorite.

    "Same thing." He scoffed, "I figured it'd be best to announce your presence since that wayward won't stop asking me when you'd be here."

    "Why do you think it took me so long to get here?" I retorted.

    "Well, you're not in luck. He's on his way over." He smiled then moved back over to the other patrons on the other end of the bar. Of course, my cursed elven hearing already could hear the thud of the heavy leathered boots of the deidae approaching.

    "Took you long enough." Salim said smoothly behind me. Even though the words were said under the piano and trumpet music, these ears could pick up a pen drop from far enough away.

    "Like I said, gotta get that work in." I lied... again, very poorly. I can't lie for shit.

    "I have a feeling you're avoiding me." He smiled, sitting down next to me.

    "I guess I am." I put it rather bluntly. There'd be no way around it, if I continued on the polite path, he'd never leave me alone.

    "Did I do something to offend you, Elwin?" He asked. I won't lie, hearing my name used like that took me aback.