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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7220923" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 82</p><p></p><p>Bredan sat in the comfortable confines of a booth in the back of the inn. He had a tall mug of ale in front of him, along with a plate of rolls daubed in honey, but he’d barely touched either. He was distracted.</p><p></p><p>The King’s Justice had been crowded, like every other place in Adelar, but there had been a few rooms available on the uppermost floor, tucked in close under the eaves. He was still amazed at how much they had cost—what he and Quellan had paid for two rooms would have rented out a comfortable house for a month in Crosspath. As it was, Kosk would have to crawl over their beds to get to his, even though the men had the larger of the two rooms. Maybe a few beds in the keep barracks wouldn’t have been so bad for all that.</p><p></p><p>It felt odd not being in his armor. The smith they’d finally found had seemed capable enough, promising that he’d put the repairs to Bredan’s mail at the top of his queue after another not-so-small heap of coins changed hands, but he hadn’t had anything that could fit Quellan. The smith had given them the name of another shop that handled heavier armor work elsewhere in the city, but they hadn’t had time to visit before their agreed-upon rendezvous.</p><p></p><p>Bredan leaned out of the booth. It had curtains around the top to offer privacy, something he’d never seen before. He could just see past a row of similar booths into the common room, which he had to admit was far nicer than any of the inns back home or on their journey here. Rich wood paneling covered the walls, and all of the trim and fixtures were brass that had been polished until it seemed to glow. There were no refugees with their haunted expressions, though even the well-dressed folk staying at the Justice had worry on their faces. They talked in small groups over their drinks, their voices a quiet murmur, and they glanced nervously to the door anytime someone came in.</p><p></p><p>What Bredan didn’t see was Glori or Kosk. It was still relatively early, though the serving women had already started bringing out platters of food from the kitchens. The sight of a steaming platter reminded him how hungry he was, and he drew back into the booth and grabbed one of the honey buns. It was still warm, and his first bite had him reconsidering how outrageous the inn’s prices were. If this was how rich people lived, he could perhaps get used to it.</p><p></p><p>The bun was gone within two bites, and the ale he washed it down with was deliciously refreshing, but he wasn’t ready for a full meal, not yet. Not if Glori and Kosk weren’t back, though he had no idea of how he would track them down if they did not show up. He’d told the innkeeper he was expecting friends, told him to send them to him when they arrived, repeating himself until the fellow probably thought he was addlepated. If they didn’t arrive soon he’d have to go looking for them. He’d left his sword and his crossbow up in the room, but he could go get the blade at least. He needed something smaller; maybe he’d pick up a dagger when they went to visit the second smith tomorrow.</p><p></p><p>He was reaching for a second bun when something smacked down onto the table in front of him, causing him to jump up out of his seat. He turned to see Glori standing at the entry to the booth, grinning. Kosk was right behind her, carrying a heavy sack under his arm.</p><p></p><p>“So there were rooms after all?” Glori asked. “Nice place, eh? Hey, where’s Quellan?”</p><p></p><p>Bredan answered the last question. “There’s a chapel to Hosrenu just down the street. After we left our stuff in our room he decided to pay them a visit. This is from the banker?” he asked, nodding toward the purse she’d dropped onto the table.</p><p></p><p>“That, and this,” she said, reaching down to grab the sack from Kosk. The table seemed to bow as she laid it on the wooden surface, and the way it clinked as its contents shifted confirmed what was inside.</p><p></p><p>“Why did you get it in silver?” Bredan asked. The sack had to weigh twenty pounds.</p><p></p><p>Glori’s smile grew mischievous, and Bredan reached out and undid the tie holding the sack closed. He felt a sudden thrill even before he opened it to see the bright glint of gold inside.</p><p></p><p>He quickly pulled it shut and rose up out of the booth to look around the edge of the curtains. “Where did you… how… you walked around the city carrying this?”</p><p></p><p>“Calm yourself, boy,” Kosk said, edging past Glori to slide into the booth. He grabbed Bredan’s ale and took a long pull. “Nothing draws attention faster than looking like you’ve got something to hide.”</p><p></p><p>“This is a lot more than five hundred gold,” Bredan said. Just saying that felt strange; a month ago five hundred gold would have felt like all the money in the world, and there was more than that sitting right in front of him right now.</p><p></p><p>“It’s just over twelve hundred,” Glori said. “I sold the jade dagger we found in the Dry Hills, along with the moonstones we found in the ruin near Northpine, and a few other things I’ve been carrying around. The inflated prices due to the war actually helped a bit, portable forms of wealth like gems are selling at a premium right now.”</p><p></p><p>“Your girl has a nose for barter,” Kosk said. “Would have come in handy… back in the day.”</p><p></p><p>“So, how was your afternoon?” Glori asked, sliding into the booth next to Bredan. He was still trying to figure out what to do with the sack, and finally Kosk yanked it back and dropped it onto the padded seat next to him. “Did you find a place to fix your armor?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Bredan said. “They didn’t have a new suit for Quellan, but I got the name of a place we can check out tomorrow.”</p><p></p><p>“Cool,” Glori said. “Should we wait for him? I’m starved.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m not waiting,” Kosk said through a mouthful of honeyed bun. Bredan blinked; the other rolls had vanished while he’d been distracted.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll go get us a pitcher of ale and put an order in for supper,” Glori said. “My treat,” she said, grabbing the fat purse with a wink. But as she started to get up she smiled and waved. “Quellan! Over here!”</p><p></p><p>With the half-orc’s arrival the booth was crowded, but with a grunt Kosk slid over to make room for him. Without his armor and wearing a plain robe the cleric looked different, though his bulk still caused the table to rattle a bit as he sat down. “I’m glad we’re all together again,” Quellan said. “This place… it’s rather chaotic.”</p><p></p><p>“Cities are great places for adventures,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“How was the temple?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“Quiet,” Quellan said. “Peaceful. I’d almost forgotten. I spoke with the high priest. They’ve been working with the other temples to help with the refugees. Many people have fled their homes to escape the war. They didn’t have anywhere else to go.”</p><p></p><p>“Could go south,” Kosk said, as he finished Bredan’s ale and let out a loud belch.</p><p></p><p>“That’s a long journey, and a difficult one,” Quellan said. “Especially for people who are carrying everything they own with them.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, when the goblinoids are defeated, they can go home,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“Okay, I’m going to get us some supper, before Kosk starts chewing on the table,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Someone’s coming this way,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>They all turned to see a man walking down the line of booths, coming toward them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7220923, member: 143"] Chapter 82 Bredan sat in the comfortable confines of a booth in the back of the inn. He had a tall mug of ale in front of him, along with a plate of rolls daubed in honey, but he’d barely touched either. He was distracted. The King’s Justice had been crowded, like every other place in Adelar, but there had been a few rooms available on the uppermost floor, tucked in close under the eaves. He was still amazed at how much they had cost—what he and Quellan had paid for two rooms would have rented out a comfortable house for a month in Crosspath. As it was, Kosk would have to crawl over their beds to get to his, even though the men had the larger of the two rooms. Maybe a few beds in the keep barracks wouldn’t have been so bad for all that. It felt odd not being in his armor. The smith they’d finally found had seemed capable enough, promising that he’d put the repairs to Bredan’s mail at the top of his queue after another not-so-small heap of coins changed hands, but he hadn’t had anything that could fit Quellan. The smith had given them the name of another shop that handled heavier armor work elsewhere in the city, but they hadn’t had time to visit before their agreed-upon rendezvous. Bredan leaned out of the booth. It had curtains around the top to offer privacy, something he’d never seen before. He could just see past a row of similar booths into the common room, which he had to admit was far nicer than any of the inns back home or on their journey here. Rich wood paneling covered the walls, and all of the trim and fixtures were brass that had been polished until it seemed to glow. There were no refugees with their haunted expressions, though even the well-dressed folk staying at the Justice had worry on their faces. They talked in small groups over their drinks, their voices a quiet murmur, and they glanced nervously to the door anytime someone came in. What Bredan didn’t see was Glori or Kosk. It was still relatively early, though the serving women had already started bringing out platters of food from the kitchens. The sight of a steaming platter reminded him how hungry he was, and he drew back into the booth and grabbed one of the honey buns. It was still warm, and his first bite had him reconsidering how outrageous the inn’s prices were. If this was how rich people lived, he could perhaps get used to it. The bun was gone within two bites, and the ale he washed it down with was deliciously refreshing, but he wasn’t ready for a full meal, not yet. Not if Glori and Kosk weren’t back, though he had no idea of how he would track them down if they did not show up. He’d told the innkeeper he was expecting friends, told him to send them to him when they arrived, repeating himself until the fellow probably thought he was addlepated. If they didn’t arrive soon he’d have to go looking for them. He’d left his sword and his crossbow up in the room, but he could go get the blade at least. He needed something smaller; maybe he’d pick up a dagger when they went to visit the second smith tomorrow. He was reaching for a second bun when something smacked down onto the table in front of him, causing him to jump up out of his seat. He turned to see Glori standing at the entry to the booth, grinning. Kosk was right behind her, carrying a heavy sack under his arm. “So there were rooms after all?” Glori asked. “Nice place, eh? Hey, where’s Quellan?” Bredan answered the last question. “There’s a chapel to Hosrenu just down the street. After we left our stuff in our room he decided to pay them a visit. This is from the banker?” he asked, nodding toward the purse she’d dropped onto the table. “That, and this,” she said, reaching down to grab the sack from Kosk. The table seemed to bow as she laid it on the wooden surface, and the way it clinked as its contents shifted confirmed what was inside. “Why did you get it in silver?” Bredan asked. The sack had to weigh twenty pounds. Glori’s smile grew mischievous, and Bredan reached out and undid the tie holding the sack closed. He felt a sudden thrill even before he opened it to see the bright glint of gold inside. He quickly pulled it shut and rose up out of the booth to look around the edge of the curtains. “Where did you… how… you walked around the city carrying this?” “Calm yourself, boy,” Kosk said, edging past Glori to slide into the booth. He grabbed Bredan’s ale and took a long pull. “Nothing draws attention faster than looking like you’ve got something to hide.” “This is a lot more than five hundred gold,” Bredan said. Just saying that felt strange; a month ago five hundred gold would have felt like all the money in the world, and there was more than that sitting right in front of him right now. “It’s just over twelve hundred,” Glori said. “I sold the jade dagger we found in the Dry Hills, along with the moonstones we found in the ruin near Northpine, and a few other things I’ve been carrying around. The inflated prices due to the war actually helped a bit, portable forms of wealth like gems are selling at a premium right now.” “Your girl has a nose for barter,” Kosk said. “Would have come in handy… back in the day.” “So, how was your afternoon?” Glori asked, sliding into the booth next to Bredan. He was still trying to figure out what to do with the sack, and finally Kosk yanked it back and dropped it onto the padded seat next to him. “Did you find a place to fix your armor?” “Yeah,” Bredan said. “They didn’t have a new suit for Quellan, but I got the name of a place we can check out tomorrow.” “Cool,” Glori said. “Should we wait for him? I’m starved.” “I’m not waiting,” Kosk said through a mouthful of honeyed bun. Bredan blinked; the other rolls had vanished while he’d been distracted. “I’ll go get us a pitcher of ale and put an order in for supper,” Glori said. “My treat,” she said, grabbing the fat purse with a wink. But as she started to get up she smiled and waved. “Quellan! Over here!” With the half-orc’s arrival the booth was crowded, but with a grunt Kosk slid over to make room for him. Without his armor and wearing a plain robe the cleric looked different, though his bulk still caused the table to rattle a bit as he sat down. “I’m glad we’re all together again,” Quellan said. “This place… it’s rather chaotic.” “Cities are great places for adventures,” Glori said. “How was the temple?” Bredan asked. “Quiet,” Quellan said. “Peaceful. I’d almost forgotten. I spoke with the high priest. They’ve been working with the other temples to help with the refugees. Many people have fled their homes to escape the war. They didn’t have anywhere else to go.” “Could go south,” Kosk said, as he finished Bredan’s ale and let out a loud belch. “That’s a long journey, and a difficult one,” Quellan said. “Especially for people who are carrying everything they own with them.” “Well, when the goblinoids are defeated, they can go home,” Bredan said. “Okay, I’m going to get us some supper, before Kosk starts chewing on the table,” Glori said. “Someone’s coming this way,” Bredan said. They all turned to see a man walking down the line of booths, coming toward them. [/QUOTE]
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