Read Online Ways of Power 1: Power Rises by R. M. Willis - Free Book Online
Authors: R. M. Willis
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and began to look around as Vabrin walked back to his stockroom. The shop was well organized, and had the slightly sweet smell of fresh produce. The floor was wooden, and creaked as Rancoth walked around. There were several bins placed throughout the shop with different fruits and vegetables in them.
Rancoth grabbed himself a shiny red apple, which felt firm and promised crisp sweet flesh. He also found a green one for Dorbin, knowing that the man preferred their tangy bite. He decided a few strips of jerked rabbit looked good as well, and brought his items to the counter. "Hey, Vabrin, I'm ready…oh and do you happen to have any mead?" Rancoth knew that Dorbin especially liked the silky sweet honey drink in the mornings.
"Sure do, I'll be right there," came the response from the back.
A moment or two later Vabrin walked out with a leather flask stopped with wax slung over his shoulder. "Will that be all?" he asked, placing the flask on the counter next to the fruit and dried meat.
"Yes, will this cover it?" Rancoth reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a black leather coin purse. He then produced a single silver coin with a picture of Grecrum on one side, and the tower symbol on the other, offering it to the man.
"That's far more than this simple fare is worth, sir!" Vabrin exclaimed, balking at the shiny piece of metal.
"That's all right, you can keep the change. Consider it payment from days long ago, when your sweets weren't behind the counter." Rancoth tossed the coin to the man, winked, gathered his items, and left.
After returning to Dorbin's, Rancoth found that the little smithy had not been idle in his absence. Laid out on the counter was a knapsack full of bulges and lumps, and a small one-handed battle-axe with a matching shield. Both were ornately worked shining steel, embossed with matching bronze emblems of a snarling wolf. Rancoth thought he had seen all of Dorbin's work, but these were unfamiliar to him. There was also a plain brown sleeping roll, and a large empty leather flask similar to the mead-filled one Rancoth was carrying.
Dorbin came out of his workroom fastening a leather belt around his waist from which hung two of his Dwalish shaping hammers, one on each hip. He was wearing a pair of brown leather pants, some sturdy black leather boots, and a dark green tunic. "Wherre the hell have you been? You'rre killing day light," he demanded a look of barely restrained fury on his face.
Rancoth stood bewildered, "But--but you said…"
Dorbin's face split into a huge grin, and a hearty laugh shook his whole body, ceasing only after tears were streaming down his face. "That's what you get, lad, for waking me up so earrly!" he exclaimed, chuckling at the look Rancoth was giving him.
"Now what's forr brreakfast?" he asked.
Rancoth threw the green apple at him; trying his best to split it across the little man's head. Dorbin's quick reflexes prevented him his small revenge. He deftly caught the apple, and took as big a bite as he could muster; juice spilled down his bare chin and dripped into his braided sideburns.
It was now Rancoth's turn to laugh. The old man looked like a big baby who was still trying to figure out how to eat solid food. Furthermore, judging by the accumulation of supplies on the counter and Dorbin's dress, the little man had decided to go with him. Nothing could have made Rancoth happier in that moment.
After finishing their breakfast, Rancoth and Dorbin made their way up to the tower so that Rancoth could gather his own supplies for the journey. Having never made a long trip before, Rancoth was unsure what to take. Luckily, Dorbin easily transitioned into his old mentoring state.
"Nah you don't need that. Only one orr two sets o' clothes arre necessarry."
Rancoth put back the two additional robes he had pulled out of his chest drawer, and pushed it closed, running his hands over the smoothly finished cherry wood. "All right then, what else? I've got two robes, a
Rancoth grabbed himself a shiny red apple, which felt firm and promised crisp sweet flesh. He also found a green one for Dorbin, knowing that the man preferred their tangy bite. He decided a few strips of jerked rabbit looked good as well, and brought his items to the counter. "Hey, Vabrin, I'm ready…oh and do you happen to have any mead?" Rancoth knew that Dorbin especially liked the silky sweet honey drink in the mornings.
"Sure do, I'll be right there," came the response from the back.
A moment or two later Vabrin walked out with a leather flask stopped with wax slung over his shoulder. "Will that be all?" he asked, placing the flask on the counter next to the fruit and dried meat.
"Yes, will this cover it?" Rancoth reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a black leather coin purse. He then produced a single silver coin with a picture of Grecrum on one side, and the tower symbol on the other, offering it to the man.
"That's far more than this simple fare is worth, sir!" Vabrin exclaimed, balking at the shiny piece of metal.
"That's all right, you can keep the change. Consider it payment from days long ago, when your sweets weren't behind the counter." Rancoth tossed the coin to the man, winked, gathered his items, and left.
After returning to Dorbin's, Rancoth found that the little smithy had not been idle in his absence. Laid out on the counter was a knapsack full of bulges and lumps, and a small one-handed battle-axe with a matching shield. Both were ornately worked shining steel, embossed with matching bronze emblems of a snarling wolf. Rancoth thought he had seen all of Dorbin's work, but these were unfamiliar to him. There was also a plain brown sleeping roll, and a large empty leather flask similar to the mead-filled one Rancoth was carrying.
Dorbin came out of his workroom fastening a leather belt around his waist from which hung two of his Dwalish shaping hammers, one on each hip. He was wearing a pair of brown leather pants, some sturdy black leather boots, and a dark green tunic. "Wherre the hell have you been? You'rre killing day light," he demanded a look of barely restrained fury on his face.
Rancoth stood bewildered, "But--but you said…"
Dorbin's face split into a huge grin, and a hearty laugh shook his whole body, ceasing only after tears were streaming down his face. "That's what you get, lad, for waking me up so earrly!" he exclaimed, chuckling at the look Rancoth was giving him.
"Now what's forr brreakfast?" he asked.
Rancoth threw the green apple at him; trying his best to split it across the little man's head. Dorbin's quick reflexes prevented him his small revenge. He deftly caught the apple, and took as big a bite as he could muster; juice spilled down his bare chin and dripped into his braided sideburns.
It was now Rancoth's turn to laugh. The old man looked like a big baby who was still trying to figure out how to eat solid food. Furthermore, judging by the accumulation of supplies on the counter and Dorbin's dress, the little man had decided to go with him. Nothing could have made Rancoth happier in that moment.
After finishing their breakfast, Rancoth and Dorbin made their way up to the tower so that Rancoth could gather his own supplies for the journey. Having never made a long trip before, Rancoth was unsure what to take. Luckily, Dorbin easily transitioned into his old mentoring state.
"Nah you don't need that. Only one orr two sets o' clothes arre necessarry."
Rancoth put back the two additional robes he had pulled out of his chest drawer, and pushed it closed, running his hands over the smoothly finished cherry wood. "All right then, what else? I've got two robes, a
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