Fervid Fables of a Forgotten World

Dark Part 5

The streets of Sylast are bustling as we make our way from the inn. Vendors and merchants of all sorts fill the city square, readying their stalls for another day of business. I was hunting for one of these merchants in particular, an old adventuring friend of mine.

We weave through the crowd forming around the brightly colored stalls, bumping into all manner of orcs and goblins and humans. Cherry kept her hand tightly clutched into mine as she follows at my side. Thankfully her new attire brought less attention to us, although I caught more than one lascivious glance in her direction. Not that I could blame them, Cherry is a vision. Still didn't stop me from hissing at a few overly cocky fools though.

We come upon a large wooden stall covered with a gold and blue striped awning. Tapestries depicting two gold hammers over a blue mountain hang from the stall's sides. I let out a sigh of relief and gently pull Cherry forward. Finally, this was the place.

I knock on the counter, rattling a few copper pots and kettles as I do so, "Morning Bhaldus, how's the sun treating you?"

An old stout dwarf with a think gray mane and beard pops up from behind the counter, "By my ancestor's dirty knickers, Dark! Tis been an age since ye've shown yer ugly mug. Thought ye was dead. Ate by a dragon, or ogre, or an angry wench or some such."

"Still breathing, not for lack of trying on all three accounts though. Say Bhaldus, you still-"

The dwarf peeks around me and gives Cherry the once over, "Say, who'd this been then? Too pretty to be hanging around with the likes of ye. Say, yer not dealin' in traffickin' folk now are ye, cause if ye are-"

I raise my hands up defensively it front of me and say, "Oh no, no slave trafficking for me. I haven't sunk nearly that low yet. This one has...hired me on as an escort. Cherry, I'd like you to meet Bhaldus Greymane, best smith this side of the Reach."

"Pleasure to meet... wait, did ye say Cherry?" he ask as he furrows his bushy brows at the woman hiding behind me.

"Y-yes," Cherry quietly chimes in from behind my shoulder and gives the dwarf a shy smile.

Bhaldus' eyebrows shoot to his hair as he stares at the poor girl, "Yer plowin' shitin' me right? She is, right Dark?" He turns that bewildered gaze at me as he points a large, calloused finger at Cherry.

"Afraid not," I tell him, trying my best not to laugh. Cherry smacks my shoulder anyway despite my efforts.

The dwarf gives a sympathetic shake of his head as he tells her, "Bless my dear ol' mum's chin whiskers. Ye folks did ye dirty, Darlin', that they did."

She stands there gawking at the old dwarf, her mouth hanging slack and eyes wide. Once her senses come back Cherry tries to stammer out a retort, but I cut her off before things get ugly.

"I need to get Cherry here to Heimburg as soon and as discreetly as possible, but as you can see we are ill-equipped."

Bhaldus looks the two of us over, scratching his beard, "Hmph, ye got the coin?"

I could feel my tail trashing behind me as I let out a nervous chuckle and say, "We're a little short right now, old friend. I was hoping for an I owe you."

The dwarf crosses his arms over his broad chest as he glares up at me, "If it were anyone else Dark, I'd tell ye to stick yer I owe you up yer arse, but I know yer good for it. Ye haven't plowed me yet anyhow."

"I love you Bhaldus, but you're just too much man for me to be plowing."

There is a moment of silents as the old dwarf blinks up at me, then a deep chuckle bellows out from his chest.