Stacia beamed at him, “Wonderful, Unca Grim! Fluffball was amazin’ with her axe work, she was always knowin’ where she should be. Master kept me safe the entire time, he made sure his Destroyer, Tiny, made me the priority to keep safe.”
Nodding, Grimgar turned to Alburet, “Glad to hear tha’. Now tha’ I’m sure everythin’ be okay, wha’ can I be doin’ for ye?”
The group unloaded all the weapons they’d looted onto his counter. “We need to sell these and split it three ways,” Alburet said as he put down the last axe.
Grimgar blinked, a smile spreading over his face, “Aye, be glad to do tha’.” He quickly took stock of the weapons before handing each of them ten gold. “There ya are.”
Stacia tried to hand her gold to Alburet, who shook his head. “But master, as ya are me owner this belongs to ya.”
“No. That is yours and yours alone, Stacia. As a valued member of our party you contributed to our success, so you get an equal share. You can do anything you wish with it except give it to me.”
You are now Friendly with Grimgar Smith.
“Listen to him lass, tha’ be how real adventurin’ is done. Everyone gets an equal share,” Grimgar said, nodding at Alburet with respect.
“Ma did nay get an equal share when…” Stacia began only to get cut off by Grimgar.
“Tha’ be a special case, lass. Ya Ma can explain it to ye. Now tha’ business be done, why don ye go home and make ye Da’ happy to know ye be fine, eh?”
“Actually, we have leather and mail armor to sell first,” Alburet said. “Then we were going to go find a place for dinner to celebrate her first successful hunt.”
“I know of the perfect place,” Grimgar said. “Give me ye map and I’ll mark it. I’ll also tell them to set a table aside for the event.” Alburet held out his map to Grimgar who pulled out his own map and tapped it to Alburet’s. “The Victory Lap, they be known for celebratory diners.”
“Okay, we’ll go there. Thanks, Grimgar,” Alburet said, opening the door for the women.
Stacia gave Grimgar a hug before heading out the door. The trio went off to sell the chain armor before ending up at Tanned Hides. Almira greeted them with a professional smile until she saw Stacia. “Stacia, what are you doing with these two?”
“I was huntin’ with them today,” Stacia said with a broad smile.
Almira blinked, “Your father let you go hunting?”
“It took a bit of convincin’,” Stacia replied.
“I bet, he has always been very protective of you and your sisters.” She turned to Fluffball and Alburet, her smile widening. “You have more to sell me, I bet. Glad to see she was out with a two-souled who knows their manners.”
“I did promise to keep her safe or I would turn myself over to Grimgar to slaughter endlessly,” Alburet said with a wry smile. “So of course I tasked my trusted Destroyer to guard her with his life.”
Whistling softly, Almira shook her head, “I don’t think you understand exactly what Grimgar is capable of doing if you agreed to that. Needless to think about though, as Stacia obviously made it safely through her first hunt.”
“Did nay die even once, only got hurt once and tha’ was me own fault,” Stacia said as she put her loot up on the counter as the others did so. “We need to sell these, iffin ya don’ mind.”
“Of course I don’t. The crown reimburses us for buying what adventurers bring us,” Almira chuckled. She looked over the gear and handed each of them nine gold, “There you are.”
Stacia blinked, “More in one hunt then I made me whole life at the inn.”
“True, but you have the chance of dying the final death hunting,” Almira pointed out. “Are you off to the inn to let your father know?”
“Actually, we’re going to be taking her to dinner first to celebrate,” Alburet said. “Grimgar was making a reservation for us at the Victory Lap.”
Almira’s eyes sparkled, “Oh, was he now? Well, go enjoy your meal. I’m sure tonight will be filled with joy.” She walked them out of the shop, waving goodbye as they set off down the street.
After a bit of a walk they got to the Victory Lap. The exterior had roman columns crowned with figures in various poses denoting victory. Opening the door Alburet, ushered the women in before him. They found themselves in a small anteroom where a single gentleman covered in scars stood behind a small podium.
“Welcome to the Victory Lap, who is the reservation for?”
“Good question, that,” Alburet chuckled. “Let’s see if we can get a fire started here. Grimgar was making the reservation, but I don’t know if it was under his name, or Stacia Crowley’s name, or perhaps even under my name, Alburet.”
The maitre d’ eyed him briefly, nodding, “The reservation is for Stacia Crowley, as the rooms are always reserved under the name of celebrant. If you will wait one moment.”
Alburet offering an arm to each of the women as they waited. A few minutes later a woman came through the door behind the maitre d’, “Your room is ready. If you will follow me?”
They followed the woman down a richly furnished hallway, passing numerous doors until she stopped before one of them. She opened the door, stepping inside and to the side to bow them in. “Please have a seat at the spot with your name. Servers will be with you shortly.”
As Alburet passed the woman he noted the very thin scars crisscrossing on the backs of her hands. He gave her a pleasant smile as he went to seat his companions, wondering why the table had so many extra settings. None of the other places had names next to them. Taking the seat between Stacia and Fluffball, he wondered what they would be waiting for. A few minutes later the door opened again, the same woman bowing in more people. Grimgar was the first one through the door, followed by Almira, Stewart, Alistern and finally a stunningly beautiful woman with bright red hair. Alburet felt his breath stop for a moment upon seeing her.
He stood up, greeting the four additions, now understanding why the table had so many extra seats. Alistern sat the redhead next to him on his left as he took the single seat at the head of the table, which put Stacia on his right in the place of honor. Grimgar ended up across from Alburet, a smirk on his face after he seated Almira to his side. Stewart took the seat at the foot of the table. Once everyone was seated, Alburet sat back down as well.
“Now, this is how a celebration should be. Family and friends celebratin’ together,” Grimgar said.
Alburet nodded before turning to Alistern, “Sir, I do not think you have met our companion Fluffball. She was with us today as we hunted orcs,” Alburet made introductions for Fluffball around the table, pausing at the redhead since he didn’t know her name.
“This be me wife, Lilith Crowley,” Alistern added when Alburet paused.
“It is a pleasure and honor to meet you, Mrs. Crowley,” Alburet said.
The throaty voice reached out and plucked at Alburet’s primal urges as Lilith spoke, “The pleasure is all mine.”
Alistern’s eyes flashed red as he stared at his wife, “Ya promised to nay do anythin’ like tha’ tonight.”
“Oh, yes. I forgot dear. I guess you will just have to punish me later,” Lilith said with a sweet smile before looking back at Alburet. “I do apologize for my true voice coming out like that.”
Swallowing, Alburet gave a polite nod as his body calmed down, “Forgiven.”
A cough from Grimgar got their attention, “Now tha’ we all be here, let’s get this celebration under way, aye?” He picked up a small crystal bell and jingled it. A moment later the door opened and a dozen people all came in with carts.
The staff began to set a truly massive feast out on the table along with numerous pitchers of various drinks. Alburet noticed that the staff all carried scars. As the last of the food was laid out the staff filed right back out the door. As the door shut behind them Alburet looked at Grimgar, “Why are they all scarred?”