With more free time on my hands, I decide to head to the stables.
To check if they were treating 'good girl' right.
And to add the costs for the extra stay the delay will cause me.
My steps shuffle, bringing me closer.
The smell of manure- at this point I have accepted it, a welcoming ceremony to anyone arriving at the stables.
The odours were less prevalent- my olfactory senses are beginning to acclimatize to such smells.
They have become the norm.
With such thoughts out of the way, I enter the stables, stepping on manure- they were spattered everywhere and could not be avoided.
Extra expenditure- to clean them off.
Sometimes I can't help but think all these people are working together- a business scheme of some sort.
Ohh, I digress, again!
Back to the ashva, she peacefully munches on some hay, occasionally swinging her tail to swat flies away.
Her ears raise the moment I walk in.
[She remembers!]
Her coat was well groomed- I am pleased.
Shifting my attention to the busy stable hand, I gesture to him, calling him aside for a talk.
The man looked more irritated than pleased to see me around there- eager to get it over with- so that he could head back to tending to the ashvas.
"I'm the owner of that ashva," I say, gesturing at the brown mare.
"Name?"
He asks, looking through a small notebook.
"Rain." I respond
He scans the notebook, flipping some pages- he stops.
"You want her ready for travel sire?" He asks, respectful all of a sudden.
My gaze lands on him, I open my mouth to speak.
"On the contrary, I want her to stay here a while longer.
"How long?" He questions.
"For tonight only," I intone, "I'll inform you if I need here to stay any longer."
"Noted, young lord."
I smile, handing him three Orens,
An oren extra than the normal charges.
Eyeing the gleaming coins, the man lossens a gleeful smile.
"Take good care of her." I trail off, back into the streets.
Now what remains is to look for a decent accomodation and I'll be free to roam.
Come to think of it, it will cost me quite the coin to get a good room.
Meenh! A better room is a more refreshed me, the next morning- it is worth it.
Speaking of worth:-
My coins are lessening at a pace I don't like.
I am down to my last a hundred and eighty coins!
They might seem like they're more than enough.
But for what I had planned, they are barely enough- and who wouldn't want to have more?
The more the better, right?
I stroll, deeper into the heart of the city.
Keeping my eyes on the look out for a decent Tavern.
And I immediately got it.
A tavern sign reading- [Elegant Tulip]
I enter, assessing if it really was 'elegant' as the sign claims.
True to its claims- the tavern was the most decent I've seen.
Better than Irena's even!
The dining hall had a peaceful ambience, the muted sound of cutlery, some suppressed sounds of distant conversation.
The staff even looked decent!
Did I walk into a nobles retreat?
It will cost quite the coin.
"How may I be of service?"
A waitress comes up to me, noticing my awed expression.
Gathering back my composure, I ask
"Do you rent guest rooms for the night?"
"Yes sir."
"We have the regular for ten orens a night,"
My brows furrow.
Oblivious, she continues listing,
"Vip for thirty Orens a night!"
~I feel the crackling of lightning in my mind~
Thirty Orens!!!
"And premium for a hundred Orens a night!"
~Boom! Someone hold me, lest I faint!~
"Urhm..."
I speak out, letting none of my skepticism escape.
"I'll take the regular please." I murmur, bitting down on my jaws.
"Right away!"
[Better be worth it!]
We head for the counter,
I painfully squirm as I let Ten Orens slip from my palm to hers.
[Hemorraging money.]
My mind bites back- the merchant in me was in tears.
"Here's your key sir," She hands me a silver key, "Room 34, just above the flight of stairs."
I turn to leave, gently tracing the number 34 engraved on the key.
"Urhm...sir?"
"Yes?"
"There will be one meal on your room- no extra charges," she remarks, "It's for you to decide, lunch or dinner?"
"Dinner." I respond, my mood visibly lightened.
She's just made my day!
My steps echo, up a flight of stairs- a few strides and I stand before a door, no.34 engraved onto its wooden frame.
Fingers inserts the key and twists-
The door silently swings open.
I take a stride in, closing the door behind me.
[Now we are talking!]
Really worth the cost!
I exclaim, feeling the plump matress- a feather packed matress!
The room is all I could ever ask for!
Beautiful curtains hung by the windows, giving view of the setting sun.
It even had a bath!
Finally, I can wash off the grime that has been accumulating on my skin- making it a shade darker than the usual.
I disrobe, getting into the bath.
What about the letter you ask?
At some point, I had decided to just let it be, claim it come dawn as I head back to Piri, the outpost town.
Close to an hour later, I come out, a lavender scent clinging to my skin.
[Refreshing!]
I dress back up and decide to enjoy the view of the setting sun.
Just to head back in, few minutes later.
I have work to do-
It's time I get rid of these old daggers and get some new ones.
Off to the forges!
~~
Clang! Clang! Clang! Fshhh!
That was the symphony of the forge district.
That, coupled with the smell of molten metal and oil.
I glance at assortments of weapons hanging outside on display.
Several human blacksmiths and craftsmen hanging around, drinking mugs of rum.
Engaging in heated and excited banter.
I regard them, and their wares as I silently walk off within the cobbled street.
They had weapons to sell, Yes- but not the kind I was looking for.
A dwarf blacksmith would do better- famed for their expertise.
It was there where I'm headed.
I enter a blacksmith's shop- the constant clanging of hammer hitting against metal welcomed me.
The owner- a blacksmith of a short stature and an even shorter temper regards my presence.
Pausing, then immediately carrying on, ignoring my presence.
I watch as sparks fly- the metal being struct gradually forming into the desired shape.
The dwarf blacksmith shoves the metal back into the forge, stroking it with more coal.
"What do ye' want?" He snaps
"I'm here for a pair of daggers."
"So?" He retorts.
"Can I look around?"
"Knock ye' self out." He responds, going about his business.
I carefully examine the hanging weapons,
Exquisite swords and spears gleamed from the light cast onto them.
Good weapons, but not my type.
I regard some shields as I pass, the tall rectangular ones, bullwark shields, you name it.
It is now that I realise that there's hardly any daggers around.
I turn back.
"Where do you keep your daggers?"
The dwarf looks up, points at the other wall.
"And quit bothering me!"
Before me lies the greatest cache of daggers I've ever seen.
The straight pointing stilettos
The slim Fairbairn dagger
Good 'ol Rondel daggers,
Heck! There was even the exotic katar!
This guy knows his stuff.
And there they lay!
The most magnificent daggers my eyes ever set on
Black and glossy gleam- curved and close to twelve inches long.
I intimately reach for them.
A closer examination had by heart fluttering.
The twin daggers?
Compact, agressively curved with a predatory silhouette.
I give it a swing,
The blade sweeps forward in a deep arc
Its outer edge lined with tight backward angled serrations designed to tear rather than slice cleanly.
As for its twin?
Similar but a complete beast in its own.
Both curved edges gleam with a sharpness that could slice fate apart.
Designed for quick and devastating slashes.
Together they make a combo saw- like cruelty seamlessly merged with devastating razor precision.
More than content, I head back to the dwarf.
He looks up, barely regards my presence.
"That'll be five hundred." He snorts
"Five hundred?!!!" I let out an experated exclaim.
"Brat. If you aint got the money. Scram!"
And here I thought I've found my soulmates.
My figure deflates.
"You sure we can't come to an agreement?"
I plead.
Taking my coin pouch, I settle it before him and proceed to untie the utility belt from my belt.
"This is all I have!"
"Ye know what those are made of?" He scoffs, "Black mythril!"
"I'd be damned to sell it at a throw away price." He mutters
Noticing my unbudging figure:-
"Scram!"
He yells, grabbing his hammer
"And here I though we the oppressed should stand together!"
I remark, pulling down my hood, as I turn to leave.
The dwarf jumps back
"Ye' 'ere an Iksana!"
He shouts, moving far from me.
"Say what now?" I ask, puzzled.
The dwarf pauses, assessing my figure, then errupts in a crazed laughter,
"I might have a task for you."
He says, moving closer ominously rubbing his hands together