The dwarves drank their ale strong and stout,

Till their tempers came roaring about.

With a tankard or two,

They knocked sense into you,

And then cheered as they all blacked out!

Goldie Honorhide.

I ordered a drink at the bar, thinking I would get the ale the dwarves drink, but the bartender gave me about six things to choose from. I didn't know any of them, but I tried a light ale. It was a bit nicer than the dwarven stuff, but I don't think it will ever be my favourite.

Yoboc gave me some coins to spend. It didn't seem like much. I gave some to the Bartender and got some smaller ones in exchange. I examined them. Yeah, I can work this out. The larger ones are worth more than the smaller ones, which means an ale was a couple of the smaller ones.

The barkeep brought me out a bone for Felix, and we sat and watched people come and go and listened to what they ordered and how things happened.

Then Makara came in, and everybody stopped and stared. I think the rumour mill had been operating, and the rumours were true based on what my Hearing Aid picked up. Makara gave everybody a big, wide, toothy grin, then ordered a dwarven ale and came and joined me at my table.

There goes my peace and quiet. "What have you been up to?" she asked.

"Mapping the town," I replied.

"Why?"

"Seemed like the thing to do. I need to understand why so many people choose to live so close to each other."

She laughed. "This… This is not that many," she said.

"It is to me," I replied. Then I told her about the incident with the orc.

"Sounds like you might have found the local smugglers, although what there is to smuggle in this place, I wouldn't know."

Yoboc and Goldie joined us then. "Smugglers?" Yoboc asked, having overheard the last part.

I reiterated the incident.

"Probably smuggling illegal herbs," Goldie said. "This is probably a good growing area."

"Why would herbs be illegal?" I asked. "You mean the poisonous ones?"

"Some poisonous herbs are illegal as they are a favourite of assassins, but it is probably the more addictive ones." Goldie had the most herb lore of all of us. She explained some of the additive herbs and what they did.

I couldn't see the point in making something illegal like that. If people wanted to kill themselves or go off into fantasy land for a few hours, wasn't that on them? I guess when a lot of people are packed into one place, it can affect others. The end result was for me to just leave it as we were gone in a few days.

Our dinner arrived, and this place was steadily filling up with people.

"I think the innkeeper needs to pay us a commission," Goldie said.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"He would not normally have so many people at this time. They are here to see the freak," she pointed her thumb at Makara. "Do you perform tricks?" she asked.

I noticed everyone was looking at her. I stood out as I was the largest and had darker skin than most, but they were not here for me.

Makara just grinned, and bits of her barely cooked steak were in her teeth. Several people looked away quickly. Makara was holding back a laugh. Even Goldie almost smiled.

"Time for some serious drinking," Goldie announced. "Barkeep, bring out the dwarven whiskey!"

Goblin shit. I have seen dwarves get serious about drinking; nothing good ever comes from it. I am sure the barkeep just sighed. Several dwarves in the tavern overheard and cheered and started ordering refills of ale. Then the party really started. Maybe the innkeeper should be offering Goldie a commission, although he looked like he wanted to throw her out instead.

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I should have expected this. We have been months in the wild without any alcohol, and I know how dwarves like their alcohol. I caught Makara's eye, and she winked at me and ordered another ale.

The dwarves were the first in the inn to join us, and then about half the humans. The other half left. Then Makara challenged a group of Orcs to an arm wrestling match, and they were in. Everything got louder. At least I have found a type of ale I don't hate.

I don't remember when the first fight started. It was taken outside, and I won some coins betting on Goldie. Things got hazier after that.

I awoke in my room with a roaring headache. At least we weren't thrown out. I was in my bear form. When did I change? Did anyone see? It exacerbated the headache when I changed back to being human-like. Felix complained.

I remembered to put on some pants before venturing out to see if there was anything I could take for my headache. The innkeeper had a potion ready that he sold me, and then he gave me a cup and a big jug of water. "Drink it all," he said.

I saw Makara sitting at a table eating, so I joined her. "The potion takes about a quarter hour to work," she said, "but a bit longer for you and me. Size makes a difference."

I nodded and then regretted it. I drank a glass of water. I grabbed a bowl, poured some water into it, and put it on the floor for Felix.

The innkeeper brought out sausages and eggs for breakfast. "Food helps," he said. He seemed to have a lot of experience at this. Then he looked at me, "Most humans would put on a shirt for breakfast," and then he walked away.

I looked at Makara. "It is true," she said.

"Did I ah … reveal something?"

She pointed out, "Those claw marks are yours, but not really; it's just that you are not human with claws and teeth. We will have to account for that in the background. It is obvious you are not human just by your size."

Just then, Yoboc and Goldie arrived. This was early for them after a drinking binge. When the Inkeeper brought their food, he said, "The caravan is due in mid-afternoon, so we will be full up tonight. We feed the caravaners, so there is a set menu tonight. There is also a discount for having it. We can cook you something different, but it will take longer. The same goes for the next two breakfasts and dinner tomorrow. Back to normal when the caravan leaves, but you are joining it, I believe?"

Yoboc nodded and then regretted it. "The set menu will be fine."

"Good." The innkeeper went back to the kitchen.

After Yoboc and Goldie had recovered enough, we started making plans. "Ivan needs some clothes and Armour. Good stuff will be cheaper in Becov, but basic farmer and hunter gear will be fine here." Yoboc looked me up and down. "It will need to be custom-fitted, so that should be first on the list. We also need crates for our goods."

"There is a carpenter on the edge of town," I said. "How do I share a marker with you?"

Yoboc sighed. "It is a function of the Map skill once it hits Journeyman level, but you need at least 15 in Mental Perception."

I looked and was surprised. "I have 16 now."

"Then just feel for my map, pick an item from your map you want to share, and sort of push it over."

It took me several tries, but I eventually did it. There was a knack to it. "Can I tell if others around me have the map skill using this?" I asked.

"Only if they want you to," Yoboc said. "Your Status barrier and your mental barriers stop it. You have let me share with you every time."

"Moving on," Goldie said.

"Right. Makara. Some clothes will make you stand out less as well. Why don't you go with Ivan and see what they have? Ivan, Makara is in charge of negotiating the price." I nodded.

"What is Goldie going to be doing?" Makara asked. "Why doesn't she go with Ivan?"

"Because you also need clothes," Goldie said, "and I have plans to sit, eat and relax all day. Maybe I will take another hot bath."

"We also need our weapons repaired and options for the future," Yoboc said. "I will stock up on arrows and take the spears to the carpenter, but you can take the axes to the blacksmith and see what else he has," Yoboc told her.

"Probably just farm implements," she muttered, but didn't protest further.

We each had our tasks for the day, which were pretty easy. We would have plenty of time for another soak.

Makara and I went to the Tailor first, and they were an elderly human. He tut-tuttered as he measured us up.

He looked at Makara. "I have some orc-sized clothes that you can look at, and there is a book of styles I can make. The fabric here is all I have, but a few more options are coming on tomorrow's caravan." Makara settled down to look through his book.

"As for you, big man, what are you looking for? I have plenty of material for hard-wearing work clothes."

"That sounds about right," I replied. "I would like a loose fit," I said, thinking I could fit some fur under them.

"Two sets," Makara said.

"For boots, you only have the general store to buy from." He was looking at our bare feet.

I didn't really want shoes. I would stand out if I weren't wearing boots. Even orcs wore boots. This is very complicated.

Makara said, "Relax. We will sort it out."

She must have seen me getting agitated.

Makara picked her styles and fabric, and I measured two sets of sturdy clothes. The Tailor said we could pick them up the next day.

I was hoping that was it, but Makara dragged me to the General Store. What now? Boots?

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