Nefydd let out a barely audible sigh,
looking at the dwarf.
“Your... Illustriousness,” Grijhold
said, hands tightening on his walking stick.
“No, dwarf, you have the title wro-”
hissed the priest.
“I was referring to your female
companion,” Grijhold interrupted. “I believe we haven't been
properly introduced.”
The woman smiled, revealing perfectly
straight, polished teeth. “Grijhold Torseeker, well met. And you
must be Nefydd Foulkes.” Again she smiled, giving a curt nod, her
ponytail moving in rhythm.
Cornelius coughed. “I have some
rather important news from the village council.”
The priest pulled out a scroll case
from within his robes, tossing it to the dwarf. “Your contract with
Tamith shall end in two days time. You will be paid accordingly, any
shortcomings or shirking of your duties are a violation of our
contract and will, of course, be deducted from your payroll. That is
your copy of the termination notice.”
Grijhold removed the scroll from the
case, unraveling it and glancing at the scribework within.
“Impressive handwriting skills, did you forge this document
yourself, Sunshitter, or did you have a lackey do it for you?”
“Oh the article is genuine, I assure
you, I was able to procure 3 out of the 5 signatures needed to make
the termintation binding. I expect you to leave this town in two
days. But before you go, there is the matter of an old barrow you two
dug up?”
“Barrow!? We dug-” Grijolhd's
walking stick snapped.
Nefydd laid a firm hand on the dwarf's
left shoulder. “Grij, leave it be, we can be damn sure Aled didn't
sign it.”
“Can we?” the dwarf growled.
“As I was saying before I was
interrupted by your unprofessional behavior, there is the matter of a
barrow. This is Alalyn. She will accompany you to the barrow and
assist you both as she sees fit under official capacity as an
adjutant marshal.”
Grijolhd, grinding his teeth, said
quietly, “ Anything else?”
“Ah yes, I would like the scroll
case, it is property of the Church.”
“But of course,” Grijhold spat in
the case, closed the lid and tossed it back to the priest. “Apologies
Gleaming Goose, but I needed to clear my throat.”
“Good riddance to you both. You do
your Guild great dishonor.” Cornelius nodded to Alalyn, striding
back to the village proper.
“Lead on gentlemen,” Alalyn
grinned.
“As you wish, milady,” Nefydd
managed to say with a slight bow.
“Ah Mr. Foulkes, no need to be so
formal. Lyn will be fine if you please.”
“Very well.”
Grijolhd walked briskly in the
direction.
“Is your dwarven compatriot always so
dour?”
“Only when he's lost his job.”
“Adventuring is such a difficult
profession these days.”
“Aye milady.”
“Mr. Foulkes-”
“Begging your pardon Lyn. I don't
know you but it appears you can more than carry you weight in matters
such as this. So let's skip the flattery and the flirtations, if any
were forthcoming in the first place. I prefer milady as you clearly
prefer to refer to me as a gentleman, which, last time I checked I'm
anything but.”
Alalyn smiled, “Ah Nefydd, you and I
will get along spectacularly, I'm sure.”
Nefydd gave her a quick nod, rubbing
his right forearm, walking headlong to catch up to Grijhold.
“That's an interesting torc on you
right arm Mr. Foulkes,” Alalyn called after him.
“She's worse than I thought,” the
dwarf mumbled. “Definitely magicks attuned.”
“She's charming in a way,” Nefydd
whispered back.
“With looks like that, it ain't too
hard lad.”
“Maybe she can charm the bulette.”
“That is what I'm afraid of.”
Alalyn called behind them, “A bulette
did you say?”
Both Nefydd and Grijolhd stopped.
Nefydd turned, containing his surprise. “Aye milady, near the
barrow.”
“We shall all earn our keep then
won't we?” The woman smiled. “Come, come, I should like to see
this barrow.”
“I imagine you would,” Grijolhd
mumbled again.
“I heard that.”
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