Chapter 58: Drinks and Supplies

“So, you’re sure Lox’aar is safe and well?” asked Alcar.

The companions had all crowded into Gonida’s chaotic front room, which for some reason appeared to have no shortage of seating among the clutter. Even Brutus had swiftly found a warm lined bench to curl up upon.

“Yes. Or at least, she lives,” said Warlik, stamping his feet by the door, “but she was wounded. I helped her back to the city, and there, friends among the Elemental Hand Guild are now treating her. She is safe.”

Olynka nodded. “I was very relieved to hear this news when we met with Warlik,” she said. “We caught sight of him on the road when we left the gulley, and hoped to wait for you Alcar.”

“Yeah... about that. I had to hole up for a while,” Alcar replied, sheepishly. “But without doing so, I might not have seen Leppie. So things kinda worked out.”

Warlik inclined his scaled head slowly, rubbing at his arms as he sat down on one of the many seats in the room, the jewelled scabbard of his sword clunking off the side of the chair and his tail curling behind him. “Indeed, it is fortunate,” said the warrior, “that besides Lox’aar, we are now together once again.”

“But I can’t believe that Lox’aar has been injured again,” murmured Olynka, taking a seat beside Alcar. “So unlucky.”

Warlik made a crooning sound in his throat. “Correct, apprentice. But this is Lox’aar. She’s a ferocious warrior, and won’t back down from a fight. Allow me to explain. As part of our search for the codex, we faced a rogue orc in the peaks that rise above the swamplands. Very few, even from the stronger lizard clans, ever dare go there. But unfortunately we were ambushed, and forced to turn back. We had to fight every step of our retreat, until we were able to make it back to our pair of korapta lizard steeds, and flee the area.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Warlik,” Alcar responded, wondering if perhaps he and his companions might be asked to come along as additional support on the next attempt.

“We’ll bring you along next time, for extra support,” said Warlik.

“Uh, okay...” said Alcar, suppressing a chuckle. “But please – I need time to work on my sorcery. I have had some success, but most of it is just luck.” He glanced at Olynka. “There have been a few disasters, as well.”

Warlik peered at the young sorcerer, his jade green eyes narrowing. “Master Maluhk headed for the home of Clan Ironrock on a quest of his own, and will be gone many days. But I am sure he will be keen to pick up your training as soon as he can, young Alcar.”

Alcar nodded. “Thank you. I hope so, too.”

“Perhaps he’ll even let you three youngsters back into his tower,” added Warlik, and then released one of his gurgling laughs.

Alcar pointed to Etienne. “It was all him!”

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“What, man?” said Etienne, who had been silently dismantling one of Gonida’s chorna leaf cigars, and stuffing flecks of the leaf into his own pipe. “Oh – you mean setting the place on fire? Well, that was a one-off. And it was you that vomited in his lounge and splattered blood and dog hairs over his bedroom, wasn’t it?”

“I was attacked by Golgrasanna!” Alcar protested. “Besides, my sickness was thanks to the drinks at your favorite tavern.”

“Ahh... the Black Mackerel,” replied Etienne. “I already miss that place.”

Olynka smiled. ”Talking of which – drinks?” she looked around at Gonida, who nodded from where she had been standing by the door, listening intently to the group.

“Of course, my dear guests,” said the elven herbalist, stepping forward. “Ale, wine – you name it!”

As the others accepted drinks, Alcar took a glass of wine with a shrug. This time, however, he had no intention of keeping up with Olynka and Etienne’s enthusiastic consumption of alcohol.

Instead he moved over to the host, keen to resume their conversation about magical herbs.

“As I was just about to tell you, Gonida,” he began, “I am training in the use of magic.”

“Very impressive,” said the elven woman, her face difficult to read. “I heard them say that your master is a powerful sorcerer in Katresburg.”

“Yes. Yes it is. So if you have any magical herbs like the frimburger fungi, I’d be interested.”

“Have some coin, do you?”

Alcar hesitated. “I mean, only a little.”

The elven herbalist moved over to one of the cluttered tables in the room, and returned with a pair of tall, narrow jar. “This here is powdered razor reed. It grows in the marshier areas of the valley nearby.”

“Okay...”

“It’s said the be useful for controlling sorcerous energy. A pinch on the tongue before incanting, so they say. I’d imagine that as an apprentice, it might be...” She tailed off, peering at him.

“Very helpful! Yes, I’ll take some of that.”

“Good.” Gonida now grinned like a street merchant who knows they have something that a naive customer really wants. “As for this stuff,” she added, raising the other jar, “I suppose that you occasionally get some bumps and scrapes on your travels?”

“Indeed,” Alcar replied, thinking of the recent crashing of Kora’s wagon.

“Well, this is called pau bark. Grows on pine trees. It is used as a painkiller for both animals and people.”

Alcar nodded. ”We have a healer, but I’ll take a little of that if I can afford it.”

She smiled and pulled out a small handful of the pau bark, rolling into a small twist of parchment, and then did the same with the powdered razor reed. “Eight coppers for both, my young friend.”

Alcar nodded, aware that he should at least make an attempt at haggling. He pulled out two silver coins, each the equivalent of five coppers, and turned them over in his hand. “How about we say seven?”

“Done.”

“You’ve been very kind to us,” he added, as Gonida returned the jars and then resumed her place by one of the door of the lounge. “But on the subject of payment, can I ask – how much will we owe you for the night’s stay, and for the drinks?”

She nodded her head slightly. “I’m very honored to help,” she said. “Consider me your humble servant.”

“Oh. Okay – thank you kindly.”

“And for a bed for the night, it will be two copper riggs each. I will only charge drinks for those who actually drink them.” With this, she raised her eyes and peered at Alcar’s glass.

He smiled, raising the glass in his hand. “I know, I am not going to indulge in much tonight. I ought to keep my wits about me for once,” he said. “And perhaps keep my friends’ enthusiasm under control. We have certain enemies that we need to avoid, you see.”

Gonida’s eyes widened, but somehow she did not look surprised. “Really?”

He nodded. “Just Imperials, you know? Do they ever bother you – or do they leave the elves alone?”

“Oh, we are very well aware of the Imperials,” she replied, looking towards the door. “Very well. But it’s not often that they come through these parts.”

”Good, good. Listen, Gonida – can I ask a favor?”

“I’d be happy to help.”

“If any Imperial troops pass through – can you make sure they don’t hear about our stay? There could be a price on our heads.”

“Understood, young man. I won’t forget,” said Gonida.