Chapter: 46 Calm before the storm
Thaelin twitched in anger. His pulse matched the beat of the apprentice blacksmith's hammer striking the anvil.
"What do you mean you can't?"
The master blacksmith rubbed her soot covered brow. "I can make ye some armor. But it wont be ready for a week. Good armor takes time."
"Do you know who I am?" the ranger said pounding his chest. "I'm a knight and a knight needs armor. I have a lot riding on the match tomorrow. I need armor now!"
"Not my problem." Shrugged the smith returning to her forge.
Thaelin slammed the door behind him. The last smith in town and the tent city to offer cheap and good quality steel to turn him down. His purse was far too light to buy any more armor and with his next match against the champion himself, he needed as much armor as he could get to save his hide. But at this rate all he could afford was a shirt of chainmail. That against The Beast was like fighting a war armed with paper.
The Weathered Wheel was alive in reveling the outcome of the tournament thus far. Thaelin was the talk of the hall. Laborer's patted him on the back and offered him drinks to which he would never refuse.
Hastur sat at a table across from her champion. She shook her head at his reckless wasting of her money won in her wagers with the Duke. instead of letting it bother her too badly. She turned back to her dinner and tore another chunk of chicken apart to feed Freki. His course tongue licked the grease from the half elf's fingers.
The halfling hoisted a tray of tankards to the ranger as he concluded a game of poker with a group of humans and a halfling. A hefty pile of copper and silver coins was piled in the center of their pile. The ranger kept his face as blank and cocky as possible.
The man across from him took a long puff from his reed stem pipe and blew a cloud of smoke into his face. "Your lucks about up, Fridulf."
"Don't bet on it, pal. I've winged it this far. I'll win your coin purse just like I'll win the Duke's tomorrow."
"Bold talk for a scoundrel." Added the Halfling as his he lowered his straw hat over his hand.
The ranger mumbled an insult to the halfling in his people's tongue. He hoisted his mug to his lips and fanned out his hand of cards to the players. All three men slammed their hands down and shook their heads in disgust.
The door swung open and in walked a heavily armored dwarf bearing the emblem of Black Stone Hollow embroidered on his doublet. His halberd clenched in a burly and solid fist
"Oi! Dwarf. Leave that beanpole of yers at the door." Yelled Fink from behind the bar
"I'm here for Sir Thaelin Fridulf."
Thaelin pursed his lips and shuffled the deck of cards. "What do you want?"
The dwarf grumbled as he took three heavy steps towards the ranger who kept his back to him. "Your presence has been requested by the Duchess, Vina Steinnacht. Come with me please."
"Ha!" Chuckled the ranger dealing out cards to the other players "And how is that little bitch these days? Oh wait. Don't answer that. I don't care."
The dwarf's halberd lowered and the surrounding bar patrons moved clear of the two. "How dare you insult her grace!" the tip of his halberd pointed against Thaelin's back. "If it wasn't for her summons, I would have you bleeding on the floor for your words, filthy human!"
The prick if the polearm's head made the man flinch a second. The man slapped his hand of cards down onto the table and rose to square up against the dwarf "How about you be a good lapdog and go tell little bitch that if she wants to talk to me, she can get a step-ladder and she can say it to my face."
The housecarl's face boiled red. He snarled like a rabid bear stamping his feet and cursing insults towards the ranger in the dwarven tongue.
Thaelin reached for his bolluck dagger and felt a familiar piece of steel against the nape of his neck. In the corner of his he saw the halfling he was playing cards with. Only his opponent looked up to him with ice blue eyes
"Vina..." he sighed
"Thaelin..." came a reply.
The housecarl shifted and brought his halberd to stand at-ease. Thaelin's hand hovered over his dagger. "This is the second time in a month you had a knife to my throat. What do you want?"
"Should I get a step ladder or are you suddenly able to listen to my summons now?" her voice resonated with the same cockiness as his.
Thaelin took his hand away from his dagger and the steel point of the duchess' dirk eased off a little. "Fink, I'm going to need the backroom. We are going to need some drinks too. If I'm not out of there in fifteen minutes, call a morgue."
Hastur watched as the three: the common clothed Duchess, her friend, and the dwarf guard walked away to a private room in the back. She wanted to follow to ensure her friend would be okay, but the housecarl scared her away with a deep growl. Freki wiggled loose of Hastur's hold and sprinted after to follow Thaelin. Vina looked down at the puppy. Her face not shifting in the presence of the adorable creature beneath her.
"Stay." She commanded. Freki cocked his head to the side and lowered himself on his back haunches.
Vina sat at the table and poured herself a ragged tankard of cheap ale. She showed no hesitation in taking a drink of a commoners libation. Thaelin sat across from her and took a deep draw as well. "Now what do you want?"
The duchess shrugged her shoulders "Cant a girl just stop by to catch up? I saw your fight. Your footwork needs work and your technique is sloppy as per the usual. But you have flare. That is commendable."
Thaelin scratched at his beard "Dont bullshit a bullshitter, Vina. I know you want something."
"Listen, Moy Brot, I just-"
"Dont you ever fucking call me that!" growled the ranger, slamming his fist on the table.
Vina took another gulp of her drink. Completely unphased by the outburst "I'm just here to congratulate you. A finalist in a knights competition is a grand feat. One that deserves acknowledgment."
"You can acknowledge me kicking ass like always. Now if you've said all that you want kindly fuck off and leave me alone."
The Duchess giggled to herself and reached for her belt. A heavy leather purse was dropped between them. "I dont think you will be kicking any ass without the proper armor, Thaelin."
The ranger wanted to reach for it. But suspicion was radiating from the chime of the bag hitting the table. "What is this?"
"A gift. As is this." she said sliding an iron coin towards the bag. "The purse will help you afford any amount of armor. And my token is yours. Show the token to any dwarf in the city, and they will heed your request."
Thaelin hesitated to reach for the purse, and when his fingers grazed the leather drawstring, a vice-like grip snatched his wrist just like he knew would happen. Their blue eyes locked. One set full of life, the other devoid of it.
"Of course you know my favor doesn't come without a price, Thaelin."
"It never does."
"My sources tell me you're a bounty hunter now."
"Yeah…"
"I want you to find someone." Vina said releasing her grip
"Why so you can kill them? Im not going to help you kill someone. Even I have principles, Vina"
The Duchess let out a sigh and poured herself more ale to drink. "I'm just after a debt, Thaelin. Someone owes me something and I want to trade services. That's all.
The bag of silver called to the man. He didn't like this. The pay was promising. A favor for a favor. Sell his services to a mad ruler, or risk death in the arena and lose a chance for wealth. The chime of the silver coins echoed in his ears. He pursed his lips and cursed in the dwarven tongue.
"Who's the mark…?" he sighed taking the purse and token
"I knew your aetharn would help you see reason, Moy Brot. Though I would greatly enjoy a guessing game, I think you already know who I want."
"That is like chasing wind."
"True. But you can lure him in. He would never suspect you of all people."
"You wouldn't admit it, but he's craftier than that."
"You will find him. I believe in you. Besides, I took the liberty of divulging where you can be located into my network of informants."
"You fucking what?"
"Either he finds you, or you find him. Either way. A reunion is going to take place. And I cant wait.
"Fucking bitch!"
"Temper, temper, Thaelin. You wouldn't want to waste all that fury before your match tomorrow. I suggest getting plenty of sleep after you get your armor. Good luck dearest."
