Urberer clanked a heavy cup onto the wooden table, the liquids swishing around but never topping the cup. He let out a hearty laugh that tops the din of music and laughter happening in the Floggin’ Inn. “And that’s when I told Gricrir that picking up for a dropped fork for a Quantivian was like the equivalent of slapping a lass on the ass and saying let’s go upstairs. I tell you. I’ve seen men die. Women die. Monsters die. But I’ve never seen a man’s soul die right there on the spot like that before. It has to be one of the funniest damn things I’ve seen in my life!”
Tony and Grif almost came out of their chairs with laughter. Tony leaned back, holding his stomach as his bulky mass shaped up and down in laughter. Grif actually choke on her drink, coughing up liquid, laughing and crying at the same time.
“He really,” through her coughing fit, “really said that?” Grif asked?
“I kid you not.”
“I can’t, I just can’t.”
“God, my stomach hurts. Muscles,” through his own bouts of laughter, “too. Tired. From. Laughing.” And Tony leans on Grif, trying to regain his composure.”
“Oh! And you guys should have seen him trying to apologize! I don’t know if I’d ever seen a man stutter and stammer so much before either.”
Grif brings her hands to her face and begins wipping at the corner of her eyes. “There’s no way this can be true”
“Oh? Oh ho. You doubt me? Try asking him if you can pick up his fork and watch.”
“Oh no Grif. I can see it now. Too funny. You guys are killing me. Should have left abs day alone.” Tony breaks into another bout of uncontrollable laughter. “Please. Please make sure I’m there when you do it. I beg of you.”
These two are so fun. Urberer thought to himself.
“And see kids. This is why you always remember where you came from. Because if you don’t someone will remind you one day.”
“Please. You’ve got to tell us how the rest of the story goes.” Grif said.
“Well I can’t tell you all the secrets at once. Maybe next time.”
“Fine...”
Look at that pout she has. Looks just like a kid being told no deserts. The alcohol must have seeped into her system. Good. Now how about the big guy?:
“You Urberer, are like the uncle I never had. You’re like the uncle I want to be. Can I call you Uncle Urberer?” Tony asked?
Yep. Clearly I’ve got him too. Look at his blood shot eyes.”
“I guess so. You two are good kids after all. And don’t mind Gricrir. Yes, he was a bit rough on me, and I appreciate your guys wanting to buy me drinks to make up for it. But truly. I’m fine. Whenever I get mad at him, I just think back to that and” he pauses, insuring he has their undivided attention “many other events.”
Grif shakes off her pouty face “Wait there’s more?”
“You’re kidding?”
“Oh no. That I am not. Gricrir was quite green back in the day. A simple farm boy from the east of this island. Very sheltered. Very guilble and naive. But, he did seem to have a good heart though.
“That said, I do have a question for you all.” He leans in, lowering his voice, and beckons them to do the same with his eyes. “Does he still have a good heart?”
A flash of seriousness crosses Tony’s face just for a moment. “Of course and unquestionable.”
“Agreed. He is tough, and a stickler about discipline, but he cares and tries to do the best by us and the citizens.”
“Oh? Well that’s good to hear. I suppose you guys would follow him anywhere?”
“Into the darkest alley.” Grif responded.
“Into the darkest dungeon for that fact.” Tony added.
“That’s some trust.”
“He’s earned it by my standards. Honest, strict, and caring.”
“I’m essentially family.”
“Yeah, no fair Grif.”
“Don’t be upset with me. If you didn’t eat up all the food they’d invite you over more.”
“But daisy cooks so well!”
These two aren’t just like kids. Their almost like- wait. What is this feeling?
Urberer lifts his gaze, leaving his head still low as if he were focused on the conversation between the two. His eyes scan about. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something, no, someone in this room was not right. The usual participants, whose names he knew. He saw a myriad of newcomers, expected because of the trade boon. It was hard to see until he looked for the one thing out of place. A cloaked invidiual, unlike the group he had seen before, looking around the room. The person attempted to hide their gazing by dissing their actions with sipping from their own mask, or stretching and taking a lot. They were minor. In fact, their actions could be as simple as someone who was lost or uncomfortable. But the feeling he got from them, it just wasn’t right. Something from his training said trouble, perhaps even more, as his heart quickened; danger. Hmm.
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The movement of Tony and Grif lightly pushing each other drew his attention. Reading their language, he chose to put an end to their squabbles “Well you two clearly care about each other like family.” He smiled.
Grif crossed her arms and Tony does the same.
With a laugh “See. Just like Gricrir. It must be a family thing crossing your arms when you can’t express your emotions. So cute! Now, how about you all answer one more question for me.”
“Sure, what is it uncle Urberer?” Tony asked.
“Actually, it’s two questions. First is it fine if I get you all some more to drink?” Urberer raises his pointer and middle fingers in the air and does a circle, indicating another round of drinks.
“Urberer. You can’t just keep buying us drinks. We were supposed to buy you the drinks.” Grif stated.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. What’s a free drink among friends. Plus,” he whispers “I get discounts.”
“Well then alright! Bring it on then!” Tony responded, pumping his fist into the air.
“Such a glutton,” Grif said, rolling her eyes.
“It’s fine. It’s fine.”
By this time, Lucy shows ups at Urberer sides. She stares down at him, and simply says “hmph”. She then begins to pour drinks into the mugs of Tony and Grif. “Careful drinking with him. He’ll drink you under the table and then tell tales about it,” her voice unfriendly.
“Lucy! Why so bitter?”
She walks back to him and is about to pour. He places his hand over his drink. Her eyes drop down, noticing the movement. She doesn’t say anything nor draw attention to their little exchange, but she does stare at him. “You know why I’m bitter.”
“I’m sorry. I’m telling you Lucy, I will take you out one of these days.”
“Do you give me your word?”
Damn. She’s asking for my word. I can’t just black out and say I was drunk if I gave her my word. My word is my bond. And she’s smart enough to corner me.
“Well, do I have you word? Or are you just going to write this off as a drunken hallucination.”
Damn she’s good.
“No Lucy, I won’t do that. You have my word that I’ll take you out.”
“If you say so.”
“Oh don’t be like that Lucy, you know I’m a man of my word.”
“You better be. Us girls have hearts you know.”
Just keeping pouring it on.
“I know. Lucy. Let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
Urberer gestures for her to come closer, and closer until he can whisper in her ear. Her red curls brushed his face. At first the smell of roses was the first layer. But soon after, her scent gave way to something peculiar. It was the scent of food, in perfume form. Particularly it was the scent of buns laced with cinnamon, his favorite thing to eat. He couldn’t but help himself what to linger longer, his nose accidentally grazes her ear.
“Yes. Did you find something interesting about my ear?” Her tone sarcastic.
Urberer turns red, “No, no I’m sorry. Umm. Good perfume. I’ve never smelled it before.”
“Oh you like it?”
“Yes. Well. Sorry. That’s not my point. My point, Lucy, was that there was a person with a cloak on across the way their,” he does a basic subtle gesture with his hand, “Are they still there?”
“Yes. They ordered just like what you got for yourself here, a virgin.”
“Can you keep an eye on them for me.”
“Yes. And my eye tells me they are walking out the door. I think they looked over here before they left. Strange, no.”
“Hmm. Thank you. I owe you. Please put these kids drink on my tab.”
She sits up straight. “And in case you guys were wondering what we where whispering about. He’s told me all about how I’m goign to be taken care of on our next date. Just like a lady should be treated. Hmm”. She smiles and walks off.
His tone having much more of slur to it “You go Uncle! She’s a looker. I’d wanted to-“ Tony’s words get interrupted by the elbow Grif lands under his rips.
“Shut it Tony.”
“You two are great. My second question, and Grif, feel free to drink up. My second question is, what do you think of your Captain?”
“Gricrir? I told you uncle, he’s great,” Tony said, despite his increasing drunken stupor, with the same serious face as before.
Grif nodded, “Yes uncle. He’s great. Why?”
“No I mean’t captain Thaddeus?”
They both withdraw at the reference. Grif’s expression as if she tasted something sour. Tonyt’s expression, as his nose tensest, as if he smelled something repugnant. They both just shook their head and then took a long drag of their drinks and frown slightly. Then took a second drink for good measure.
“You guys can tell Uncle Urberer. I’m trustworthy.”
“He’s as useful as tits on a boar hug,” Tony said matter-of-factly. He then immediately glanced over, as if waiting for Grif to elbow him again, but the elbow never came.
“Well, Grif, thoughts?”
After some consideration, “Have you ever gone fishing, with a fishing pole?”
“Yes. Yes I have.”
“Have you ever gone fishing, with a fishing pole, without a line?”
“No. That’s absolutely useless.”
“There you have my answer.”
Urberer could not be help chuckle. Oh she’s good with words. Very good. I’ll have to keep that in mind.
“In fact,” she starts again.
Oh there is more.
I would say that Gricrir is like the pole, and Thaddeus is like the line. As a systems Gricrir is the backbone. He can function even without the line, he can be sharpened to spear fish, or in worst case scenario, to simply swiftly beat them into submission. Lots of effort and shouldn’t be necessary. If Gricrir had a good Captain, a lot more would get done with a lot less effort. But until something changes, we are essentially fishing without a fishing line.”
“Well, that is informative.”
“Why?”
Despite the alcohol taking effect, her mind is still sharp. Gricrir, I’m proud of you. You’re brining on capable people.
“Well, it’s hard to tell. But something in me just doens’t trust that man. He makes me uneasy. And not many people do. I’d suggest keep an extra eye on him. With all the work you all have been doing, if Gricrir makes mistakes, all Thaddeus would have to do is record it and try to cut him from the ranks.
The look Grif gave Urberer actually made him uncomfortable. In all his deployments, he had never seen such an angry drunk before. Tony broke the silence with a simple “I’d kill ‘em.”
“No, no. No need to think and say such words.”
But good that yuou’ll be ready. You’ll need to be ready if he’s apart of trafficking. The punishments for that are worth a man trying to kill to escape.
“Just, I don’t know. Keep your eyes open to what’s going on. Help Urberer the best you can.”
And now, it’s time to go catch up with my lead. Enough time should have elapsed for me to leave and it not be suspicious.
He stands up, pulls out two coin pouches and two small vials. He pushes a pair to each of them. “Here’s a little extra to help balance your extra work shifts. Because I’m sure you’ll have them. And those vials there should help you in the morning get over your hang-overs; it’s a holy water mixture. Just sip on it throughout the day with regular water. Now. In the worse case scenario, you can always drink it all at once, undiluted. But I assure you, you will not want to do that. The headache would be surreal and my holy magic woudln’t be able to help you, since, it was holy magic that caused it. Understand.”
“But, Wes shouldn’t-“
“Oh, just take it as a gift from your Uncle for protecting the city like you do. Be nice to Gricrir. He might be a stiff as new sails, but he’ll become flexible in time.
They both nod their heads. Urberer stands up, takes a large swig from his cup, grabs his staff and walks towards the door. He walks past Lucy on his way to the door.
As she slips by, she whispers “They went to the east side of the city, following the main alleys.”
“How do you know that?”
“People will do a lot for two free rounds of beer. Even trail someone. You owe me,” she says, walking off.
Urberer noes gets a faith whiff of her aroma. His body turns in her direction, but he regains himself. “I owe you alright.” He walks out the door in the night.
*****