Shawn sat in the bar by himself. His friends, Derek and Barial, had left hours ago but he had decided to stay. When Derek had asked why the squirrel had said simply,"I've got my own reasons and I'll thank you not to question me." Slightly concerned with his friend's response, Derek had left without further questioning.
Shawn sat sipping his pint.He was four years under-age, but the bartender was ussually to drunk to notice. Shawn had once seen a mouse no older than fourteen seasons come in and walk out with a mug.
An old toad walked in. He had dark green skin and a patch over his left eye. He walked over to Shawn and sat on the stool next to him.
The grizzled old beast ordered his drink before turning Shawn, "Hallo thar ,me boyo.Ain't ye a bit young to be in here."
"No. I'm just small for my age."answered the young squirrel.
The toad took a sip of his mug before answering." Well , me boyo , ye look like the type who'd fancy yourself some power."
Shawn gave the orc an odd look."I'm not interested in anything your selling."
"Please. If I had what I speak of I would not sell it to a squirrel.For what I speak of is far more powerful than you could imagine"
"Really.I can imagine a-lot."
"Well, me boyo, have ye ever heard of the Halberd of Zemreal."
"Yes everyone knows that legend.The two warriors defeated the Warlord Zemreal and destroyed his enchanted halberd."
"Well what if I told you they did'nt destroy the halberd.What if I told you I new where to find it."
"I would ask where you believed it to be."
The toad pulled a rolled-up peice of parchment out his back pocket.He unrolled it reveiling it to be a map."The halberd is here," said the toad, pointing one chubby finger at an X drawn on to the map."We are here." he said pointing another pudgy finger at another part of the map."A total of roughly three-hundred miles."
"Three-hundred miles!"said Shawn, shocked,"That could take weeks to travel on foot."
"Well then If your to weak to travel that long I'll just have to find some body else."
"No no I'll go." Shawn said frowning and thought this over for a few seconds,"How much for the map."
The toad smiled "Lets say about three gold and a silver."
Shawn almost choked on the beer he was sipping"Three gold and a silver? Are you mad?I'll give you five silver."
The toad frowned,"One gold and a silver then.Unless you want me to go find another for this task."
"No, I'll pay." said Shawn, searching his pockets. He laid the coins on the table.The toad picked them up and gave Shawn the map before walking out.
Shawn finished his beer (and two pints after) before walking out to find his friends and tell them of his strange encounter with the stranger toad.