10 Minute Tales

Jul 2 - Drinkin' Lies

Raucous laughter echoed out of the tavern as they entered. The stone-carved town had been a world of mystery and intrigue for them. The example that stood out was that most of the buildings in the town's centre were raised on the second floor, with a staircase leading up specifically so they could go down again. They descended the stairs, looking out over the floor beneath them. It was filled with dwarves sat at stone tables, most looking into the centre of the room. There were two dwarves there, a solid mug in front of each and a half-melted candle between them. One dwarf sipped his mug and stared at his partner.

"Your mum's beard is better than yours will ever be!" he grinned triumphantly. The crowd roared in laughter, some toasting the speaker. The other frowned slightly as he sipped his mug, deep in thought. The travellers looked at each other, confused.

"What's going on?" the man asked, looking back over the crowd.

"I'd rather kiss an ogre than see your ugly mug in th' light!" the second dwarf commented, prompting another round of cheers. One dwarf overheard the traveller's question and looked over.

"Ah, welcome to town!" the dwarf greeted. "This your first time seein' a Drinkin' Lie?"

"It must be." the woman commented. "Pardon us, we are not used to this local... past-time."

"Ha! Past-time?" the dwarf chuckled, taking a chug of his drink. "You're just seein' an old drinkin' game here."

"Time's up!" the crowd suddenly cheered. The first dwarf sighed and passed the rest of his drink to the second, standing up.

"Here, why don't you give it a try?" the third dwarf asked the travelling man.

"Wh-what's the aim?"

"Simple, lad, just insult th' dwarf opposite you. If he can't think of a good one in time, you get what's left of his drink. If he does, he takes a sip and insults ya, then it's your turn."

"Any other rules?" he shuffled the pack on his back, intrigued despite himself.

"Aye, the insults have to be about the dwarf in front of ya. No insultin' family."

"But the mother one we heard a moment ago seems to contradict that rule..."

"Aye, probably gonna regret that one later. 's why he's paying for another drink now."

"... alright, why the hell not." the travelling man shrugged. The woman rolled her eyes slightly. 

"You're going to regret this." she commented, taking a seat in the corner. The man walked forward, the cheering crowd parting to let him through.

"Where's yer drink?" one dwarf asked.

"'Ave mine!" a second laughed, pushing a thick mug into his hand. It was mostly full of some brown liquid he didn't recognise. "That oughta put some hair on your chin!"

"R-right..." he took a seat and held his hand out to the rival dwarf.

"Aye, here's a human with some manners." he grinned, taking the hand and shaking it. "Mind if I go first?"

"Well, sure, it'd give me a bit more time to think of one."

"Aye, well... you're as dull as a hammer, and your head's as hard as one!" the crowd laughed again, cheering him on. The human grinned as he sipped the drink, almost coughing at how strong it was. He recovered himself, despite the crowd's laughter, and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, did you say something? I couldn't hear you from way down there."