Big City Darkened Nights

“Hey! What are you going to do sleep here all day?” Elija shakes Carr and Cornelious awake, “Perhaps if you paid me. I’d let you.” He laughs at their sad condition.

Struggling to lift his eyelids Carr squeaks out, “Where am I? Waiting for his eyes to focus, “We killed the Night hag, right?”

“Yeah,” groans Cornelious stretching out his body.

“Weren’t we just in your chambers?” Carr realizes where he is, “Oh, this why my head still aches.”

Elija sets down two strong teas, “You two are going to need this if you’re going to survive the last hour of the morning.”

Thanks, they reply quietly sipping the tea.

Cleaning up the bar Elija informs them, “I think you two out drank yourselves last night.”

“I must’ve.” Carr assists out a foul belch, “I’ll never try that again.”

Elija chuckles, “If I only had a silver piece for every time, I’ve heard that.”

Seeing he still has all his coins, the mage queries, “I know I summoned something last night, but did I pay you? Elija.”

“Oh don’t remember that either?” Elija lets him know, “You didn’t have to pay for anything. Between the Dwarves’ platinum and Carr’s gems I made out quite well. Unfortunately I’m low on all alcohols now.”

The old wizard’s memory starts to come back, “I tried to summon more ale.”

“Not quite,” Elija snickers at the event, “Galen the Dwarf got onto wanting you to prove you could conjure another keg. After a while you gave in. But during your spell you burped and instead of a keg of ale you got a great Gale.”

“Oh my.” The mage observes the tavern in disarray, “I hope I didn’t create a huge wind doing all this damage?”

Righting a couple chairs Elija keeps laughing, “No, a huge wind didn’t blow through. You actually summoned a large local whore named Gayle.” He pictures it vividly, “She did keep the Dwarves occupied. And Sandra thanks you for that one. They’ve been gone for hours.”

The mage starts to recall and snickers, “Glad to have helped the young lady. So what happened here?”

Looking about Elija shrugs, “Here? This is the way it normally looks the day after a bunch try drinking hard.”

A soldier enters the bar spotting the mage and approaches them, “Excuse me Cornelious, sir. Captain Avilo sent me here to bring you and Master Carr back.”

Cornelious looks at Carr, “Oo, its’ Master is it?”

“I guess.” Finishing the tea Carr stands, “My supplies must be ready.” He gives Elija a manly hug, “Thanks for keeping me out of trouble Elija.”

“No problems son.” Elija reminds Carr, “Your welcome here any time.” Stepping behind the bar he retrieves the Orc’s sword, handing it back. “Had to hide this. Say hello to your mother from me and the Mrs. and tell her she’s welcome here anytime.”

“Sure thing Elija.” Carr slings the sword over his back, “It’s just hard to get her here.”

“Yeah I remember her stubbornness.” Elija jests with the mage, “Same time next week?”

Shaking arms Cornelious wittily replies, “Nah, the day after that. Thanks Elija.” Turning to the soldier, “I guess you best lead us back, in case we should get lost.”

“Yes sir.” The soldier escorts them back.

Headed for the main street they happen across Sandra. After some polite hellos she walks with them. Firstly, thanking Cornelious for the Dwarf distraction.

Proud to make any woman happy the old wizard lies, “Yes I purposely messed up the spell just for you.”

“That’s sweet.” Sandra turns to Carr making an odd remark, “I guess we won’t be seeing you around here for a while. Do you always get involved in such daring adventures?”

Hearing, daring, again Carr’s now certain they’ve met before, “Yes.”

“Sometimes I wish I could take part in some wild tale.” She strangely notes, “But I’m just a Human woman. Do you always travel alone?”

“Ah, nonsense.” Cornelious is willing to spend more time with any woman, “With a little training, I could teach you some simple tricks to scare things away with.”

Carr’s seen Ma do one all the time. “Yeah, my mother’s no mage but she can do the flame thing by snapping her fingers.”

“I taught her that,” Cornelious smiles at Carr, “I knew your parents. Spent some time with your mother and Elija’s wife Millie too?”

Stunned Carr almost stops, “You knew my? Oh, with King Halford and Elija. What about Hal?”

“Hal?” Sounding familiar Cornelious describes, “tall, half Elf?”

Carr nods. Sandra is fascinated by their connections.

“Yes I remember him.” Cornelious queries, “Is he around still?”

“Yup, he’s on his third wife living in the village of Ahn. It’s a simple life of leading hunts mainly. And has another son he’s ten.”

“Oh yeah?” It’s been so long since the mage has traveled across the Great Swamp, “I’m going to have to visit the area in the future.”

Sandra still has a query wished answered by Carr, “Would you ever consider taking me along on one of your journeys?”

Carr remembers promising to give up the foolish quests. Instead of saying no he answers, “If it’s fair weather and I’m around here and you really want too. I think the company would be welcome.”

“Really?” Sandra smiles wide, “That would be exciting. Over the winter perhaps I can learn some useful skills.” She winks at the mage.

Realizing he could have a young woman’s company over the winter Cornelious eagerly replies, “Many skills can be learned right here in the city. And I would be honored to teach you some tricks.”

“That sound’s wonderful.” Sandra kisses both of them on the cheek. “Well until then, good day gentlemen,” She curtsies before returning to the Inn.

Both males feel the spot she kissed.

Cornelious comments, “Kinda tingles.”

Carr agrees they look back, but she’s gone from sight. Sighing they enter the main courtyard.

Looking ahead past the central statue, they spot a man pacing around a four-horse drawn and loaded cart.

“Ah the good Captain waits.” Cornelious stops by the statue to shake Carr’s arm, “Take care son. If you’re ever back in the city you can take me with you too.”

“Sure thing Cornelious,” Carr can’t believe a great wizard wishes to join him too, “Thanks for helping me out, both nights.”

“It was amusing,” the old mage walks to the castle with their guiding guard.

Not wanting to keep the Captain, Carr runs over to the waiting wagon.

“Sorry for keeping you Captain.” Carr salutes him, “Cornelious and I got into boozing with the Dwarves.”

“Oh you’re not late.” Avilo smiles, “I sent a man as they started to load this wagon. It’s perfect timing they’re just tying up the animals.”

Already amazed by the amount of goods in the cart Carr queries, “Animals? I don’t think I can get all that into my skiff. And have it float.” Looking to see what else is there notices a willow cage containing a rooster and three hens. Strung behind the cart, by nose rings a hog it’s sow. Tied to the pigs a billy-goat and its’ mate.

“Yes.” Avilo points to one of the men lending a hand, “He was sent to check what your boat could handle. You have been given one of the Prince’s boats. The Prince refuses to use it saying it’s not big enough.”

“Lucky me.” Spotting his backpack Carr gets onto the cart to examine the contents.

“Indeed.” Avilo is almost envious of Carr’s rewards, “All your weapons and armors are there.”

Spotting the magic bag and the family picks Carr smiles. “Had to make sure I still had the family lock picks. A sword or dagger is easily replaced.”

One of the hands tells Captain Avilo, “Sir the animals are secured. There’s two more waiting at the docks to help load the boats.”

“Very good lead on,” Avilo climbs onto the wagon.

The hand runs ahead to lead the horses through the street. Three other hands tag along behind, talking amongst themselves while watching the animals.

“Well this was nice of you to see me off,” Carr sits back and enjoys the ride through town, “You could have just sent Dell or Junior.”

“You see,” he explains the men’s reward, “the best thing that we got out of stopping you was a paid week off. So they’re all off somewhere.”

“Oh did you have too?” Carr wonders if the man was ordered.

“No.” In passing the Captain waves to a couple fellow riders.

“Oh, you still don’t trust me.” Carr grins, “That’s okay. I’m still expecting it to all be a dream or trap.”

Avilo confesses, “I just think the King is over rewarding you.”

“Yeah.” Carr notes, “I too found it strange he was willing to give me more than my freedom. But it’s my future services he’d like to have.”

“I figured that,” Avilo waves to a lady entering the city, “what are you going to do with all this stuff?”

“Oh I live on a farm.” The King having no ill will towards his parents Carr trusts Avilo’s character enough to say, “My mother is there I help her out. But I can come and go.”

“You look after your mother?” Avilo sees Carr in better light. “Doesn’t she worry about you?”

“Of course. But like you found out she did venture with my father and King Halford”

Waving back to another group of ladies Avilo tries to recall Carr’s parents, “I might have been fairly young then.”

“I wasn’t around yet.” Carr spots the old woman with the blankets, “Hey stop here a second.” Before the Captain can give the order to stop Carr hops off the wagon.

“Halt!” The Captain calls out, “Where are you going?” Watching Carr run up to the older lady selling blankets.