Spiced Rum and Elothean Elixir

by Otsenre Naboria

Bubbinster and Grimslayer stand and say their Goodbyes to Baresh. Bubbinster as always curses Rangers and thieves as Grimslayer settles the account of both of them. They leave, and just as Baresh is about to call last shots on the empaths the door opens and a bald, copper skinned dwarf with skull cap, seaweed cloak and sandals enters. Strangely for a dwarf, this adventurer sports a carefully trimmed mustache and a clean shaved face. There is a malicious twinkle in the black eyes and Baresh smiles trying to remember the name...

"Baresh, please fill a Flute with Elothean Elixir."

"Otsenre Naboria! By Kertigen and the Other Twelve! Whatever happened with you?"

The young dwarf smiles as he takes his glass and carefully sips some Elothean Elixir. He opens his purse and takes out a Gold Coin.

"Got change for a Gold Lirum Baresh?"

Baresh opens his purse and starts making the calculations as to subtracting 1 Silver Kronar from 1 Gold Lirum.

"Yes Baresh just passing thru. I am not sure yet when, if, I will be able to return. Need any help with that math Baresh?"

Baresh looks up, a little embarrassed and smiles at Otsenre.

"Let's see, in the Crossings Bank a Gold Lirum is equal to...?"

Baresh looks up looking for figures in the ceiling.

"So Otsenre how come the Nabori or Naboria Brothers disappear like that? If I may intrude, I must know if I should order more Spiced Rum anytime soon."

"Well Baresh, the little monster, good smelly Solrac, has really flipped. He is convinced there was foul play in our mother's demise. As I gather from the things thrown out from his place after he abandoned it, some rakash that allegedly used to work at the circus is trying to swindle him for some kronars by poisoning his mind and charging him for the poison on top of it..."

Otsenre looks at Baresh whom while trying to listen to him is clearly still trying to figure out the math with the Lirums and Kronars.

"Baresh, don't sweat about it, charge me one Silver Lirum instead of a Silver Kronar. Just give me back 9 Silver Lirum."

Otsenre smiles at Baresh, his terrible teeth showing. Baresh promptly gives Otsenre the 9 Silver Lirums. He decides to write the difference off as a Tip from the Trader Otsenre. Otsenre puts the 9 silver Lirums in his purse.

"But Otsenre, I understood that your mother was killed accidentally by a pony. That your brother Solrac found the body. Why would he go running after a Rakash that says he has information about it."

"Well, one theory as to what might have scared the pony was that a wolf had been nearby, I do seem to remember that some tracks from an apparent wolf were uncovered in the surrounding forest. Well, it also happens to have been a full moon night. While the letter from this rakash would seem to make him out to have been a witness, I wonder if Solrac actually thinks him to be a culprit. Knowing the little monster's spirits, and the kind of nightmare he has gotten since all this happened, I fear the worst from him."

"But his nightmares were not about Werewolves... but about Centaurs No?"

"The mind is a wonderful thing to waste... In the dream world... Werewolves or Centaurs can easily be exchanged, both being human and animal forms. In any case I am also worried about this rakash poisoning my brothers mind. He might put ideas in that drunken void. Solrac has imagined enough things to unfairly hate our father and even me."

"Well and so you are helping your brother? Is that what brings you around here?"

"I am just being his shadow. He would not confide and would even fight me if he knew I was around him. Hiding from thieves from Leth to Shard has given me the talents I need to keep out of his sight, and to follow him. Anyway, no need to be a ranger, I don't call him smelly as a joke, as you well know."

Otsenre looks seriously at Baresh and solemnly adds, almost like talking to himself: "Peace can be more important than truth sometimes..."

Otsenre smiles. Suddenly his face changes, his nose twitches and as a vague whiff of wet leather and viper oil reaches Baresh, Otsenre puts on a Black Mask but just as he is turning to leave he suddenly stops in his tracks.

"Baresh, forgive me for an unnecessary hard time, here I find I have a Silver Kronar to pay for my drink. Take it instead of the Gold Lirum."

Otsenre throws the Silver Kronar at Baresh.

"No problem Otsenre, Good luck to you and your brother."