Catarnos stretches his arms and puts them behind his head, "Well my names Catarnos, Most just call me Cat. My family sometimes calls me Catarnos the Displaced. Why? Cause I really was displaced.
You see I was raised by a human family. In fact, 3 generations of them. When I was a wee child, I was left at a doorstep. I guess my real parents left me there or at least one of them. No one knows why. Mayhap they were in a heap of trouble or something.
The Wickets took me in. I don't remember much about the old man and woman. When they died, I passed to their son. Guess I was about 5 human years of so when he took over caring for me.
Now the old man's son went by the name of Tomkin Wicket married a nice caring girl too. Tomkin was a forester and took me with him on his forays with the nobility. I learned to walk quiet, shoot a bow and lots of forester things at least until they had children on their own. Tomkin started taking out his sons when they grew up and I fell by the wayside so to speak. Janice his wife took me up and I helped her at the homestead most the time after that. She was real good at snaring rabbits and small game. She was good at making traps too for the mice seeing we didn't have any cats or anything there. Tomkin hated cats. Ole Janice took a real liking to me and taught me how to make all kinds of stuff to catching critters. Sadly, Tomkin and Janice grew old. I was sorry to see both at the end and me still being so young. They both died when I was bout 11 or 12 by human standards.
Their daughter, Glory, took me up from there. She was educated at the local city. She was a locksmith. She started getting so much business that she needed help. She knew I was a smart one, so she trained me for that, and I helped her in her business. We did good but she never married or had any children. She was kinda funny bout that too cause she beat me pretty badly every once in a while, when I figured out the birds and the bees stuff and started looking around at all the pretty girls.
I buried her just last year. I could'na stuck around I guess, there were other family members that would take me in. I just wanted to leave cause I got this thirst to see what else there is, you know. So, I packed up my things and went off to see my other kin to the east. The Silvernesti. I spent some weeks there. They're in some sorry shape let me tell you. Didn't like them one bit either. Too haughty and high classed. They may wear rags at least the poor ones do but they got that look to them. You know like they got their noses up their arses cause other folk are too barbarian for em.
I did get me some supplies there and there it started. I become a bounty hunter and sometimes scout for the local nobles. I live like I want. Made some coin here and there. Live out in forest and on the road free to do as I please with no one to tell me I got to do this or that. That's the way I like it. I get me enough coin maybe I'll take up a place far enough from the locals that they won't be bothering me cause neighbors are bad for your hairline always snooping in your business like you are lady. But you got me settled that's the only reason I'm talking to you."
The Woman nods to him, "Thank you, Cat. I'll leave you in peace now."
She gets up and turns for the door, "Hey now! I gave you my name what's yours?"
The woman turns back his way for just a moment, "The barmaid will give you my name at any rate so I will tell you. It's Aiauta."
She throws her hood over her head and leaves the inn.
Cat sits back wondering if perhaps the woman is a kindred spirit. He shrugs his shoulders and gets a room for the night for tomorrow there is more coin to make and more sights to see."
Darts at the Inn
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Winterhawk99
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Darts at the Inn
The grey autumn sky casts a gloomy sight upon the procession. The wind whips up. Some hoods are pulled off of some of the men and priest, the hair of the old woman that is with them bends and sways with the wind. A cold drizzle begins. They carry their load to the graveyard. The priest and woman in the lead.
They go to an open grave. There is a short ceremony. The men gently lay he coffin down. The woman opens an umbrella and holds it tight to her shoulder watching. A single tear falls down her cheek. She looks around and there is no one else. Just the priest. The four men and her. Anita sighs and watches as shovels full of dirt are starting to fill hole.
And then it happens. A small, hooded figure just appears on the other side. The men stop and look at him. The woman smiles. “You made it you gutter rat. Thank ye.”
The figure drops a ring into the grave and walks around slowly to stand beside her. He offers his hand. She takes it. The woman is almost 70 now. She looks across to see the elf’s grim face. “Aye, Sneed up and died. That’s the last of the crew, Cat.” The man nods to her and looks down.
The men finish their job. They leave with the priest. The only one’s left are the old woman and hooded elf. The elf sighs, “He was always trying to bribe me out of that ring. Don’t know why I even kept it. Sort of a game with us. He always trying to con me out of it. Just one of our things, Anita. You gonna be ok?”
“I’ll be ok, Cat. May have to scramble.”
“No need for that. I left you something at the house. 75,000 in gold not steel.”
“Thank you, Cat. You always a good man to us. You stuck with us even when…. I understand you now. Hav’in all you friends die around you while you stay so young. I’m sorry. What are your plans?”
“Going to take a little nap in the forest for a while. I seen 3 generations of my family live, grow old and die. And now my first generation of friends. I need a break from people to figure out some things.”
“You do that you old gutter rat. Remember us though. Guess this is our last parting. Wind speed to you and hope you find what you looking for.”
The elf releases her hand and walks around a tree. She watches for him to come around but there is nothing. He seems to disappear. She wipes a tear away. “I’ll tell my grandchildren about the crew and the Forest Ghost that was their friend. You need not worry, Cat. You’ll always have a home with our family when you decide to come back."
They go to an open grave. There is a short ceremony. The men gently lay he coffin down. The woman opens an umbrella and holds it tight to her shoulder watching. A single tear falls down her cheek. She looks around and there is no one else. Just the priest. The four men and her. Anita sighs and watches as shovels full of dirt are starting to fill hole.
And then it happens. A small, hooded figure just appears on the other side. The men stop and look at him. The woman smiles. “You made it you gutter rat. Thank ye.”
The figure drops a ring into the grave and walks around slowly to stand beside her. He offers his hand. She takes it. The woman is almost 70 now. She looks across to see the elf’s grim face. “Aye, Sneed up and died. That’s the last of the crew, Cat.” The man nods to her and looks down.
The men finish their job. They leave with the priest. The only one’s left are the old woman and hooded elf. The elf sighs, “He was always trying to bribe me out of that ring. Don’t know why I even kept it. Sort of a game with us. He always trying to con me out of it. Just one of our things, Anita. You gonna be ok?”
“I’ll be ok, Cat. May have to scramble.”
“No need for that. I left you something at the house. 75,000 in gold not steel.”
“Thank you, Cat. You always a good man to us. You stuck with us even when…. I understand you now. Hav’in all you friends die around you while you stay so young. I’m sorry. What are your plans?”
“Going to take a little nap in the forest for a while. I seen 3 generations of my family live, grow old and die. And now my first generation of friends. I need a break from people to figure out some things.”
“You do that you old gutter rat. Remember us though. Guess this is our last parting. Wind speed to you and hope you find what you looking for.”
The elf releases her hand and walks around a tree. She watches for him to come around but there is nothing. He seems to disappear. She wipes a tear away. “I’ll tell my grandchildren about the crew and the Forest Ghost that was their friend. You need not worry, Cat. You’ll always have a home with our family when you decide to come back."
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Darts at the Inn
Catarnos wakes up at dawn. He doesn’t even bother dressing. He grabs a towel and goes down to the stream. There he washes up and comes back to the cabin while drying himself off. It’s late summer. The doves are gathering here near the fey forest. He watches them with a smile before going back inside.
The cabin is small. It’s just two rooms. One room has a large bed the other has everything else. He dresses and puts a pot on the blacked iron stove in front of the chimney. For a century he’s lived here alone. He just got tired of all his friends and family dying on him of old age. So, he left and built this small place. He has lived here in peace and seclusion for a hundred years. Now he figures its finally time to put his ghosts away for a time. It’s time to go back to civilization to see if anything has changed. The kettle whistles and he pours his tea. He comes out on the small porch and sits down in his favorite chair. He watches the wildlife come and go before it gets too hot for them to move.
An old Kagonesti elf comes walking up the path. He gets near and turns to Catarnos. He shakes his fist at the younger elf. “You better not have stolen anything you sorry excuse of an elf!”
Cat laughs, “Not that you would know old man. A bigger question is: What were you doing in the woods all night you old buzzard of a warlock?”
“None of your business; You, sorry excuse of a human that looks like an elf!”
“Age like an elf too. What do you know. By the way; you, old demon consorter. You don’t have to worry about me being your neighbor anymore. I’m leaving.”
“Good, I’ll take back all my stuff you stole while I’m gone.”
“Might be careful. I left a few surprises for you, You old goat.”
“Where are you going and how much time do I have to bring you despair for a century of putting your nose where it doesn’t belong? Frenost? Bianost?”
“Won’t be back for a while old elf. Going out to see the world again. Tired of this place. Tired of you too.”
“Bah! Now you are talking like one of them dirty kender. Maybe you a kender in disguise.”
“Now that’s an idea, I may need to handle more of your stuff. Maybe by the time I come back you have some of those wrinkles ironed out of your face.”
“Hmph! Do you know how old I am? Whippersnapper!”
“Judging by your looks older than the mountains. Move like one too.”
“I’ll miss you, young rascal. But you’ll come back after all your friends die off again.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Take care of this old place for me. And don’t go dying off on me now.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll die off before me Laddy. Probably in some forsaken dungeon or Jail somewhere. That’s where most those come here do when they leave.”
“I’ll take that as advise, Old elf of the woods.”
“Bah! I would say stay out of trouble, but I know you won’t” The old man starts to walk again. Cat watches him until the trees hide his form. He finishes his tea and gets his travel pack. He locks up everything but doesn’t set traps. The old elf may need this place as a storage place. He hopes the damn warlock doesn’t do any magic here though. He thinks about it. ‘Probably not. He has his places.’
Catarnos the Displaced otherwise known as The Forest Ghost takes one look back at the cabin he built and lived in for a century. He is somewhere around 300 years old now and had time enough to think things over. He is now ready to head back to civilization. He speaks to himself. “I think Solace would be a nice start. Wonder if that old inn is still there.”
The cabin is small. It’s just two rooms. One room has a large bed the other has everything else. He dresses and puts a pot on the blacked iron stove in front of the chimney. For a century he’s lived here alone. He just got tired of all his friends and family dying on him of old age. So, he left and built this small place. He has lived here in peace and seclusion for a hundred years. Now he figures its finally time to put his ghosts away for a time. It’s time to go back to civilization to see if anything has changed. The kettle whistles and he pours his tea. He comes out on the small porch and sits down in his favorite chair. He watches the wildlife come and go before it gets too hot for them to move.
An old Kagonesti elf comes walking up the path. He gets near and turns to Catarnos. He shakes his fist at the younger elf. “You better not have stolen anything you sorry excuse of an elf!”
Cat laughs, “Not that you would know old man. A bigger question is: What were you doing in the woods all night you old buzzard of a warlock?”
“None of your business; You, sorry excuse of a human that looks like an elf!”
“Age like an elf too. What do you know. By the way; you, old demon consorter. You don’t have to worry about me being your neighbor anymore. I’m leaving.”
“Good, I’ll take back all my stuff you stole while I’m gone.”
“Might be careful. I left a few surprises for you, You old goat.”
“Where are you going and how much time do I have to bring you despair for a century of putting your nose where it doesn’t belong? Frenost? Bianost?”
“Won’t be back for a while old elf. Going out to see the world again. Tired of this place. Tired of you too.”
“Bah! Now you are talking like one of them dirty kender. Maybe you a kender in disguise.”
“Now that’s an idea, I may need to handle more of your stuff. Maybe by the time I come back you have some of those wrinkles ironed out of your face.”
“Hmph! Do you know how old I am? Whippersnapper!”
“Judging by your looks older than the mountains. Move like one too.”
“I’ll miss you, young rascal. But you’ll come back after all your friends die off again.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Take care of this old place for me. And don’t go dying off on me now.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll die off before me Laddy. Probably in some forsaken dungeon or Jail somewhere. That’s where most those come here do when they leave.”
“I’ll take that as advise, Old elf of the woods.”
“Bah! I would say stay out of trouble, but I know you won’t” The old man starts to walk again. Cat watches him until the trees hide his form. He finishes his tea and gets his travel pack. He locks up everything but doesn’t set traps. The old elf may need this place as a storage place. He hopes the damn warlock doesn’t do any magic here though. He thinks about it. ‘Probably not. He has his places.’
Catarnos the Displaced otherwise known as The Forest Ghost takes one look back at the cabin he built and lived in for a century. He is somewhere around 300 years old now and had time enough to think things over. He is now ready to head back to civilization. He speaks to himself. “I think Solace would be a nice start. Wonder if that old inn is still there.”
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Darts at the Inn
Cat goes outside the stores of Solace to the west end of the nearest platform. He sets a bottle of whiskey and a glass down on the rail and rolls himself up a cigar so to speak. Lighting it he draws in deeply while watching down below. So peaceful except all the green eared adventurers running around.
He sees that witch from the mage tower standing near the entrance of the barracks. He wonders what her deal is. "Shes a strange one he mutters to himself." He pours half a glass of whiskey takes a sip and stares out at the lake. He thinks about the last few weeks of adventure. Was hard at first. He knew he would be rusty. He never thought about just how rusty he was.
An elf in leathers wanders over and stands beside him. He looks the other knife ear up and down giving him a once over and goes back to his drink. He figures if the elf wants to talk, he will probably do that when comes the time. The elf after a while picks up Cat's whiskey and takes a swig.
"Hey there Bub! Get yer own."
The other elf looks over the lake and won't make eye contact with him, "Heard a ghost showed up in Solace. Went to check it out."
"Yea and who are you?"
"Just a dock worker from Caergoth."
"Yea, then why you here and not doing you shift way up north in the city?"
"You had yourself a deal, but no one's seen you for a century. Most don't even remember you but a few do, Ghost. What I'm saying is you don't have no deal no more. If you go wandering about Caegoth. You might see things changed quite a bit."
"Already figured that. I'm not much of a city dweller any like. Just leave me be and I'll leave the dock workers be. Don't even know if I want to be traveling that far for a time."
"The Table wants to know what you are doing and why you came back?"
"Honestly...........Got bored so I came back. Cat takes a slug of whiskey and pours himself another while puffing on his homemade cigar. "I never caused any trouble for the docks of Caergoth and not looking for any. I'm just wandering at the moment cleaning out goblins, undead and gnolls. That kind of thing.
Had a bunch of trouble with the gnoll chieftain and had to get me some help but he's deader than a doornail now."
"They'll just pick themselves another and breed a new set of warriors."
"I know but it's someone else's problem now. I did my job."
The stranger takes another slug from the bottle. Cat grumbles but doesn't say anything more. "Well message delivered. Maybe another deal might be arranged... Maybe not... Don't have a seat at the table. That is at least yet."
"Guess I'll figure all that out when the time comes. If it comes. May avoid the city. Still lots to do out in the wilds."
"Either way, they'll be watching." The stranger picks up the bottle and walks off. Cat grumbles again and smokes while looking out around the ground level of the city. After a time, he flicks the butt of the cigar off the platform and down to the ground then goes to the inn to get himself another bottle.
He sees that witch from the mage tower standing near the entrance of the barracks. He wonders what her deal is. "Shes a strange one he mutters to himself." He pours half a glass of whiskey takes a sip and stares out at the lake. He thinks about the last few weeks of adventure. Was hard at first. He knew he would be rusty. He never thought about just how rusty he was.
An elf in leathers wanders over and stands beside him. He looks the other knife ear up and down giving him a once over and goes back to his drink. He figures if the elf wants to talk, he will probably do that when comes the time. The elf after a while picks up Cat's whiskey and takes a swig.
"Hey there Bub! Get yer own."
The other elf looks over the lake and won't make eye contact with him, "Heard a ghost showed up in Solace. Went to check it out."
"Yea and who are you?"
"Just a dock worker from Caergoth."
"Yea, then why you here and not doing you shift way up north in the city?"
"You had yourself a deal, but no one's seen you for a century. Most don't even remember you but a few do, Ghost. What I'm saying is you don't have no deal no more. If you go wandering about Caegoth. You might see things changed quite a bit."
"Already figured that. I'm not much of a city dweller any like. Just leave me be and I'll leave the dock workers be. Don't even know if I want to be traveling that far for a time."
"The Table wants to know what you are doing and why you came back?"
"Honestly...........Got bored so I came back. Cat takes a slug of whiskey and pours himself another while puffing on his homemade cigar. "I never caused any trouble for the docks of Caergoth and not looking for any. I'm just wandering at the moment cleaning out goblins, undead and gnolls. That kind of thing.
Had a bunch of trouble with the gnoll chieftain and had to get me some help but he's deader than a doornail now."
"They'll just pick themselves another and breed a new set of warriors."
"I know but it's someone else's problem now. I did my job."
The stranger takes another slug from the bottle. Cat grumbles but doesn't say anything more. "Well message delivered. Maybe another deal might be arranged... Maybe not... Don't have a seat at the table. That is at least yet."
"Guess I'll figure all that out when the time comes. If it comes. May avoid the city. Still lots to do out in the wilds."
"Either way, they'll be watching." The stranger picks up the bottle and walks off. Cat grumbles again and smokes while looking out around the ground level of the city. After a time, he flicks the butt of the cigar off the platform and down to the ground then goes to the inn to get himself another bottle.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Darts at the Inn
Catarnos wakes up and gets out of bed. He uses the bed pan in the corner and comes back. On the nightstand is his rolling kit. He rolls himself a cigarette and lights it with a candle. Afterward he gets back in bed and stares at the 30ish brunette beside him sleeping. Far as he remembers she’s a widow of an adventurer who went somewhere unprepared and got himself kilt and eaten. He draws in a deep breath and lets it go after a few seconds tapping his ash on the floor of the home. The brunette turns and sets her hand on his thigh. Cat smiles and looks up and out the window. There’s frost at the edges. The first snow will come soon.
He quietly speaks, “Well now. I got myself in a hell of a pinch. There’s some vampires down the road to the east that have to be taken out and I was dumb enough to say yea I’ll do the job.” He pauses drawing on the cigarette and watching the smoke as he exhales.
“Been there twice now. The first time was able to pinch a few loot items from them and kilt about a dozen of them. They started using a lot of magic on me. I didn’t like the odds, so I hightailed it out to regroup. Them vampires need to be cleaned out anyway I suppose, or they’ll start feeding on everyone here in Haven. I like you Julia, so I’m not too fond of that little bit of figuring.
So, I fight some cave bears and them damnable dragons in those caves, where there’s a nest until I figured on a new plan. While doing that I made a stop in Solace. Coming back, I see two elves come back from that adventuring camp by the lake there to the northeast of town. They been practicing their relations so to speak I figured so I made a joke to them. They didn’t take it well. Them elves Julia are so stuffy. One good thing about them is they make good bows and such.”
He looks down and the brunette is looking up at him. “You’re and elf aren’t you, Ghost?”
“Aye I am but I have no business with them. Raised by humans. Wickets told me someone left me on their doorstep, so they took me in and raised me. Seems I wasn’t wanted by my own kin. I gots me more in common with humans in the way I think than those elves. Qualinesti, Kagonesti, Silvenesti, they all alien to me and don’t think rightly far as I’m concerned. Anyway, that didn’t go well but you know what. I could give two steel.
So went back to here to Haven now I had me a plan. I made a bunch of holy traps and got a boatload of spell scrolls, being I can figure out a spell or two sometimes. Doing all that I come out of the bank and there’s this giant demon there holding a sword. Wasn’t sure what to do. Told him he was welcome to take the bank far as I was concerned. He didn’t do nothing just stood there and stared at me. Well, I up and lit a cigarette and started taunting the bastard. He chased me in the bank and knocked me silly.
After waking up and healing a bit I was ready. So, I thought. I go to the door, drink my potions and start doing spells only I couldn’t get the damn spells to work. I go through them and find the only one reliable was Death ward.
Ok well I got me that at least right. I go in there to test my plan. The traps work wonders. The problem was those damn vampires started to dispel my death ward. Sure, made them waste a spell but that don’t help unless I can keep them tied up. Otherwise, they can hurt you bad with their magic. So I’m in the main hall and this big dire wolf walks around me and out the door.
I said Well shit, that thing most likely did all the work and got all the loot. I go outside and that wolf it starts talking to me. I figured it was some druid changed her form. It said it was hunting demons down below not upstairs where the vampires are. That might just be true, might not but I wasn’t about to go back there to find no loot, so I decided to go back to town.
My plan weren’t working so good anyway. The traps they work. And the death ward made them use a spell that would not harm me still got to tie them up. If I miss one hit one of them, vampires might throw a spell that could hurt me bad. Even kilt me. I have to think about it some more.”
“Be careful. My… my husband….”
“Yea, way ahead of you girl. Don’t worry about the Ghost now. Them critters didn’t kilt me a century ago. They ain’t going to kilt this time neither. I’m smart and I’m patient. I’ll go build me up a fund first. Then try tackle it again. Sound good?”
The woman smiles and snuggles into his side. He looks down at her with a sad distant expression. He flicks the butt of the cigarette across the room. He says, “Look, Julia.” While rolling and lighting another. “You’re a nice girl and all and we had us a good night. I ain’t the kind to be holding on too. I have my ways and If I stick around, you would be hating me in about six months a year. Find yourself a good man. If you don’t maybe in a year we see each other again at the tavern. Maybe not. But I’m hoping you find yourself a good man before that. It was fun but I have to be rolling. I’ll leave 100 at the front door for you. Not steel, Real gold. Thanks for the great night.”
Cat gets up and starts to dress. The woman seems somewhat upset. She looks like she’s about to say something when he looks over, “No pouting now. We had fun. Remember it for what it was when you’re down and out. It was what it was.”
The woman watches in silence as he dresses. He collects himself up and leaves, putting a small sack of 100 ounces of gold at the table by the door. He starts up the road whistling a tune. Something he hasn’t done in at least a few score of years.
He quietly speaks, “Well now. I got myself in a hell of a pinch. There’s some vampires down the road to the east that have to be taken out and I was dumb enough to say yea I’ll do the job.” He pauses drawing on the cigarette and watching the smoke as he exhales.
“Been there twice now. The first time was able to pinch a few loot items from them and kilt about a dozen of them. They started using a lot of magic on me. I didn’t like the odds, so I hightailed it out to regroup. Them vampires need to be cleaned out anyway I suppose, or they’ll start feeding on everyone here in Haven. I like you Julia, so I’m not too fond of that little bit of figuring.
So, I fight some cave bears and them damnable dragons in those caves, where there’s a nest until I figured on a new plan. While doing that I made a stop in Solace. Coming back, I see two elves come back from that adventuring camp by the lake there to the northeast of town. They been practicing their relations so to speak I figured so I made a joke to them. They didn’t take it well. Them elves Julia are so stuffy. One good thing about them is they make good bows and such.”
He looks down and the brunette is looking up at him. “You’re and elf aren’t you, Ghost?”
“Aye I am but I have no business with them. Raised by humans. Wickets told me someone left me on their doorstep, so they took me in and raised me. Seems I wasn’t wanted by my own kin. I gots me more in common with humans in the way I think than those elves. Qualinesti, Kagonesti, Silvenesti, they all alien to me and don’t think rightly far as I’m concerned. Anyway, that didn’t go well but you know what. I could give two steel.
So went back to here to Haven now I had me a plan. I made a bunch of holy traps and got a boatload of spell scrolls, being I can figure out a spell or two sometimes. Doing all that I come out of the bank and there’s this giant demon there holding a sword. Wasn’t sure what to do. Told him he was welcome to take the bank far as I was concerned. He didn’t do nothing just stood there and stared at me. Well, I up and lit a cigarette and started taunting the bastard. He chased me in the bank and knocked me silly.
After waking up and healing a bit I was ready. So, I thought. I go to the door, drink my potions and start doing spells only I couldn’t get the damn spells to work. I go through them and find the only one reliable was Death ward.
Ok well I got me that at least right. I go in there to test my plan. The traps work wonders. The problem was those damn vampires started to dispel my death ward. Sure, made them waste a spell but that don’t help unless I can keep them tied up. Otherwise, they can hurt you bad with their magic. So I’m in the main hall and this big dire wolf walks around me and out the door.
I said Well shit, that thing most likely did all the work and got all the loot. I go outside and that wolf it starts talking to me. I figured it was some druid changed her form. It said it was hunting demons down below not upstairs where the vampires are. That might just be true, might not but I wasn’t about to go back there to find no loot, so I decided to go back to town.
My plan weren’t working so good anyway. The traps they work. And the death ward made them use a spell that would not harm me still got to tie them up. If I miss one hit one of them, vampires might throw a spell that could hurt me bad. Even kilt me. I have to think about it some more.”
“Be careful. My… my husband….”
“Yea, way ahead of you girl. Don’t worry about the Ghost now. Them critters didn’t kilt me a century ago. They ain’t going to kilt this time neither. I’m smart and I’m patient. I’ll go build me up a fund first. Then try tackle it again. Sound good?”
The woman smiles and snuggles into his side. He looks down at her with a sad distant expression. He flicks the butt of the cigarette across the room. He says, “Look, Julia.” While rolling and lighting another. “You’re a nice girl and all and we had us a good night. I ain’t the kind to be holding on too. I have my ways and If I stick around, you would be hating me in about six months a year. Find yourself a good man. If you don’t maybe in a year we see each other again at the tavern. Maybe not. But I’m hoping you find yourself a good man before that. It was fun but I have to be rolling. I’ll leave 100 at the front door for you. Not steel, Real gold. Thanks for the great night.”
Cat gets up and starts to dress. The woman seems somewhat upset. She looks like she’s about to say something when he looks over, “No pouting now. We had fun. Remember it for what it was when you’re down and out. It was what it was.”
The woman watches in silence as he dresses. He collects himself up and leaves, putting a small sack of 100 ounces of gold at the table by the door. He starts up the road whistling a tune. Something he hasn’t done in at least a few score of years.