The Night stone (The late night crew)

Ken and the Lackchops

The next morning Cry decided to walk around town with Cheyenne. It had been a while since he had been there and Cry liked to admire the scenery before they would leave. They were passing by a blacksmith when Cry thought he had seen that blacksmith before. The Orc inside... Was Ken! The familiar bearded Orc with a bear skin hat was working inside the blacksmith, forging an axe.
"Hey Cheyenne, it's Ken!" Cry said while pointing at the bearded Orc inside the blacksmith.
"Who?" She asked.
"He's an old friend of mine. He lived in Rellenkord and we were friends, but he had to leave for his blacksmithing apprenticeship. I would recognize that bear hat anywhere."
"Might as well say hi." Cheyenne said.
They walked in the blacksmith where Ken was working. He looked up from the hot forge.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Ken asked.
"It's me, Cry!"
"Cry! It's been forever!" Ken sat down the sword he was working, stood up, and then gave Cry a hug.
"Who's this?" Ken asked, talking about Cheyenne.
"This is my girlfriend, Cheyenne." Cry said.
"Hello." She said.
"Oh, fancy yourself a human?" Ken smiled.
"Race doesn't have to do anything with love." Cry said while laughing.
"I know. I'm actually dating an elf right now." Ken said.
"Really? What's her name?" Cry asked.
"Her name is Mary."
"Cool, I'll have to meet her one day." Cry said.
"Do you remember Minx?" Ken asked.
"Oh minx! She was awesome!"
"She lives in Yelford right now and is getting married to that girl she liked, Krism."
"Aw cool!"
The chatted away for about an hour. Ken and Cry spoke like they've been friends forever. Cheyenne mostly stayed quiet, but she occasionally talked with Ken.

There was a knock on the door. It interrupted Cry and Ken's conversation and Cheyenne's daydreaming (which she did often).
"It's time to pay your dues." A mysterious voice came from outside the door.
"Dammit." Ken muttered to himself.
"Uh Ken, who is that outside your door?" Cry asked.
"It's a... Lackchop..." Ken admitted.
"Dude! How did you get involved with the Lackchop?"
"What the hell is a Lackchop?" Cheyenne asked.
Cry started to explain that they were a sort of Orcish mafia, but he was cut short by pounding on the door.
"You two need to hide!" Ken whispered "Go into the back room where I sleep. Hide in the closet in there until I say to come out."
Cry and Cheyenne did what he asked. They went into his room and hid in his closet. It was was a tight fit, but the two of them managed to hide in there.

"You'd best explain why you haven't brought the money yet!" The angry Lackchop Orc yelled.
"I don't have it yet! Give me a few more days-"
"Every time I ask you for the money you always add on more days! I can't keep doing this for you... The boss would get mad." The Orc changed his tone, but it still was hostile.
"Tell Maller that his money can't come yet... Please, just a few more days." Ken begged.
"No, I have to either collect the money now... Or you die!" The Lackchop roared while pointing his axe at Ken.
Ken had no other choice. He picked up his personal sword amongst the other swords in the smith.
"I see you want to play it that way." The Orc grunted "Have it your way."
Ken set up his stance, the Lackchop charged at Ken. The Orc swung his axe, but Ken quickly sidestepped and lashed at the orc's arm. The Lackchop yowled and grabbed his wounded arm.
"Where did a poor blacksmith like you learn to fight so well?" The Lackchop Orc asked while out of breath.
"I've had some practice." Ken smirked
"Some!?" The Orc yelled confusedly.
"Maybe more than some, I guess." Ken admitted.
"Well your experience doesn't matter... You have bested me. I'll leave before you might do the same to my remaining arm."
"What about Maller, your boss?" Ken asked.
"I'd much rather get yelled at by him than die." He said before exiting the blacksmith.

Ken went back to his room and told Cheyenne and Cry to come out of hiding.
"What happened in there? We heard a lot of screaming." Cry asked while making his way out of the closet.
"Let's just say he won't be bothering me for a while..." Ken replied.
"What is the Lackchop anyways?" Cheyenne asked.
"They're a mafia sort of group. They'll kill for money, or if you're low on money they'll pay you with interest. But if you don't pay it back they will treat you like they do with their contract targets." Ken told Cheyenne.
"I see.. What kind of name is Lackchop anyways?"
"I've always found it kind of stupid but," cry said "its if you lack money they will chop you up."
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Cheyenne said.
"Orcs aren't really the most intelligent type of people." Cry admitted.
"You got that right." Ken agreed.
Cheyenne looked outside to see the sun just about in the middle of the sky. How long were they gone for?
"Cry, it's almost noon. We have to get back to our friends." Cheyenne warned.
"You're right! Bye Ken, it was nice seeing you again." Cry said.
"It was nice seeing you too, and meeting your girlfriend. If you're ever in town feel free to stop by." Ken said.
"Don't get yourself killed." Cheyenne said before leaving.
"I'll try."