- Messages
- 3
- Character Biography
- Link
The loud clanking of mugs and glasses carried through the windows just as easily as the smell did. Someone shouted and the other patrons joined in a discordant chant that culminated in the strumming of a lyre and cheers. Inns like this always had a quality to them that those in the larger cities lacked. Zera picked up another barrel, hefting it under his arm before stepping off the back of his wagon and setting it on the ground. The music added a bit of cheer to an otherwise dreary night outside. He squinted up at the cloudy sky in time for the rear door of the inn to open. A bit of light cast across the side of his enormous frame.
"Zera! You're early!" Came the rumbling laugh of an older man. Zera set the barrel down and rubbed his lower back. The small four sided lantern that hung off his belt flickered a bit when he turned to face the source.
"Bellic! Good to see you!" Zera laughed, stepping away from his cargo and extending a shovel-sized hand. Bellic grasped it in his own hairy grip. The innkeeper was tall for a human but still a head and a half shorter than Zera. He boasted the biggest walrus mustache that Zera had ever seen and a bigger gut to go with it. He was a jolly, portly man in his late fifties who had seen enough of the world to find contentment in the simple things. Much like Zera.
The two shook hands and Bellic looked past Zera. He made a face, "That's more than what I ordered, Zera," He said a bit grimly.
Zera nodded and scratched the back of his head, "Had a little extra left over and a little birdie told me you were seeing a bit more business than usual recently."
The Innkeeper shook his head, "Damn that Sparrah. That boy doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut about a man's business. He ought come home and settle down rathern' run about like a git."
Zera burst out laughing, patting Bellic on the shoulder, "He just loves his father, Bellic. Let the boy live a little so he can appreciate home more, alright?" Zera said, walking back over to the barrel and lifting it. Bellic grunted irritably but didn't provide an argument. "Leave the door open for me, would you? I'll get the rest in, then it's off to Elbion proper."
Bellic stepped back inside, grabbing a rag from his belt and wiping his hands. Zera respected a man who cared about cleanliness when handling food. "Then you stay the night, it's getting dark, no arguments this time Zera. It's a full day that way by wagon."
Zera smiled to himself and nodded, he wouldn't turn down the man's hospitality. It felt good to earn a kind word now and then. He glanced back to find the doorway empty and the warm light of the inn glittering against bottles and glasses. He looked back over the road that stretched along the route from his own home to Elbion. His eyes glowed for a moment before he breathed a sigh of relief and made for the door with his first load. "Looks like it's going to be a quiet night."
"Zera! You're early!" Came the rumbling laugh of an older man. Zera set the barrel down and rubbed his lower back. The small four sided lantern that hung off his belt flickered a bit when he turned to face the source.
"Bellic! Good to see you!" Zera laughed, stepping away from his cargo and extending a shovel-sized hand. Bellic grasped it in his own hairy grip. The innkeeper was tall for a human but still a head and a half shorter than Zera. He boasted the biggest walrus mustache that Zera had ever seen and a bigger gut to go with it. He was a jolly, portly man in his late fifties who had seen enough of the world to find contentment in the simple things. Much like Zera.
The two shook hands and Bellic looked past Zera. He made a face, "That's more than what I ordered, Zera," He said a bit grimly.
Zera nodded and scratched the back of his head, "Had a little extra left over and a little birdie told me you were seeing a bit more business than usual recently."
The Innkeeper shook his head, "Damn that Sparrah. That boy doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut about a man's business. He ought come home and settle down rathern' run about like a git."
Zera burst out laughing, patting Bellic on the shoulder, "He just loves his father, Bellic. Let the boy live a little so he can appreciate home more, alright?" Zera said, walking back over to the barrel and lifting it. Bellic grunted irritably but didn't provide an argument. "Leave the door open for me, would you? I'll get the rest in, then it's off to Elbion proper."
Bellic stepped back inside, grabbing a rag from his belt and wiping his hands. Zera respected a man who cared about cleanliness when handling food. "Then you stay the night, it's getting dark, no arguments this time Zera. It's a full day that way by wagon."
Zera smiled to himself and nodded, he wouldn't turn down the man's hospitality. It felt good to earn a kind word now and then. He glanced back to find the doorway empty and the warm light of the inn glittering against bottles and glasses. He looked back over the road that stretched along the route from his own home to Elbion. His eyes glowed for a moment before he breathed a sigh of relief and made for the door with his first load. "Looks like it's going to be a quiet night."