Apex 006 (Patreon)

"Are you sure?" The merchant asked.

"I'm fine, but thank you for the offer," Richard replied.

The merchant squirmed at the response. To pay an S rank adventurer so little after helping escort the caravan, it put his merchant sensibilities at odds. Then there was the issue of saving face, for a merchant who skimped out appropriate payment would find very few willing to guard their caravan.

"We just so happened to take the same path and I appreciated the company." Richard waved and then left the merchant be, heading towards a nearby inn.

He had stayed at the Red Rooster last time, which had been a fun enough place, but the Busty Bronco had always been more comfortable.

The inn was a deplorable thing, with salty labourers of all kinds. Lumberjacks and carpenters made up most of the clientele, as well as a handful of masons and guards.

The drinks were cheap, as cheap as they could be for adventurers, and the rooms were small and cramped. Even their premium rooms were barely up to snuff, though they made decent coin from them.

"If it ain't little Richard," the keep said. He was an older man, large and rotund as any other keep. He had short white hair and an even shorter white beard.

"Old Mafs, you've sure become so white now." Richard chuckled as he sat down. He placed down three gold pieces, one for the room, one for the food, and one for the drinks.

"How's the missus?"

"She's doing well."

"How are you holding up without her?" The keep placed a mug at the end of the bar, the handle facing the corner of the room.

"Don't make it sound like I'm a teenager." Richard clicked his teeth, glancing at the mug casually for a moment before the keep brought up another, filling it for Richard.

"When are you settling down?"

"I'm already settled down."

"I don't mean getting married, I mean settling down." Mafs looked around. "My wife is minutes away at all times, and I've got six kids all eager to explore the world. You're still a boy in that way, aren't you?"

"In a certain manner, sure. Though I'm also minutes away from seeing my wife, if I want."

"I don't mean by magic." Mafs shook his head. "If you aren't able to walk with your own two feet to see your wife, then what kind of a man are you?"

"Unsettled, apparently." Richard continued to drink his ale.

"Don't you want children?" Mafs asked.

"My wife and I have an unfortunate life. Children would be complicated."

"The church isn't leaving you alone?"

"No, unfortunately not." Richard shook his head. "I should deal with them, but going against the church is a suicide mission."

"Do you want an Perion Red?" Mafs asked.

"You have a bottle?"

"I keep one around in case you ever come by."

Richard placed down a gem, one which could pay for his living expenses for an entire month, and Mafs slid it behind the counter. He procured the wine bottle and a small glass for Richard, uncorking the bottle before pouring some of it in.

"It's been a while since I've been by Trent." The adventurer sipped the wine, tasting the sweetness. It went down as smooth as any ale, and it tasted like strawberry jam but in liquid form.

"Any new stories since last time?"

"Where do I even begin? I've met a few dragons. In fact, I had to parlay with one to make sure she didn't wipe out a town. I even snagged myself some ancient artefacts, but don't tell anyone." Richard winked.

"Sure you did." Mafs chuckled.

"I saw old man Jenkins too."

"He still causing trouble?"

"You know it."

"What an old fart. I remember when he used to come by, must be at least fifteen years since I last saw him."

"He's lost some of his touch, but he's still Jenkins deep down inside."

"He and Jawbone were a hell of a pair. Didn't you kill Azkabad? I remember they wounded him a while back and then an adventuring party killed him years later."

"Azkabad the Band, I remember. No, no, it wasn't me, that was Khan."

"That's who it was, Khan. How's he doing?"

"He's doing just fine. Chieftain of his own clan, playing around with his harem. I should pay him a visit some time, but I don't want to bother him unless there's a good fight involved."

"I hear there's going to be a war between Revera and Kirrian, might find some good work there."

"Oh yeah?" Richard frowned. "I hope that'll stay a rumour." He thought of his younger brother, who would no doubt be deployed.

"There's a dispute between the valleys near Irium."

"Let me guess… they found some fancy ore?"

Mafs nodded. "Arcanum ore."

"Damn," Richard whistled, sipping his wine quickly. "I'd go to war for that too." Richard continued to sip his wine, and as the hour passed by, the place grew quieter. Then it fell silent, with all but Richard and Mafs having left.

"I'll leave you be for a few minutes," Mafs said, heading into the back.

"I didn't expect you to have retrieved the gem so quickly," Richard said, offering some wine to Eight beside him.

"Our reputation was on the line," he replied, placing down the gem.

It was a small gem, no bigger than a plum, but Richard could feel the intense power which pulsed within. He picked the gem up and it seared his body with its intense power.

"I'm sure Lorelei will love it," Richard said. "Good job."

Eight nodded. "Our business is done." With that, he stepped into another realm and left.

"What a pleasant surprise," Richard smiled. "I didn't expect him to do it so quickly. Perhaps I underestimated them."

Mafs returned a few minutes later and took the mug from the corner of the counter and placed it away. Richard slid another gem onto the counter.

"I should be turning in for the night." Richard's body longed for a warm bed.

"I should tell you that Torgon is in town."

Richard's brows show up in surprise. "He is?"

Mafs nodded. "He's staying at the Red Rooster, but he's been working on something. He'll be done in the next few days."

"Where's he working?"

"At Timothy's."

"I'll pay him a visit in the morning then. Good night Mafs."

"Good night Richard.'

When morning came, Richard ate his breakfast quickly and made his way to Timothy's smithy. The sound of hammer against hot metal called to him as he peered into the store and stepped inside.

"Sorry, but we're- oh, is that you Richard?"

"It's me," he replied, shaking Timothy's hand. It wasn't Timothy he was excited to see.

"Aye, Richard!" Torgon's voice washed over him.

"Aye, Torgon!"

The pair embraced one another. Torgon was an entire foot shorter than Richard, but he was broadly built, like a wagon. He had dark charcoal hair which fell to his shoulders, and a dark beard which was braided down to his gut. He wore a breastplate and kept a short sword at his side.

"Ah didn't hear ya were about," Torgon said.

"I found out last night. I didn't expect you this way."

"Must be Maladin's might tha' brought ah paths together again. How's miss Lorelei?"

"She's doing good. We have our own tower in Hard Hill."

"Aye, ah'll make sure ya visit. Sorry ah haven't been about, we had a council a few years ago and it's only recently finished "

"No, no, I understand. It's always good to see you, old friend. If you're ever in need, you know you can count on us."

"Aye, and ya too with myself." The dwarf nodded curtly. "Are ya leavin' today?"

"I should be. I'm sure she misses me, and you know how she gets when I'm late."

"Lemme guess, yer late already?"

Richard smiled. "You know me too well."

"Need my shield?"

"It'll only encourage her."

Torgon let out a heart laugh, like flames flickering in a furnace. "Aye, it's true! It's true!" He kept chuckling for a long while.

"Let me show you what I brought her," Richard said, revealing the gem.

Torgon quickly stopped his laughter, instead his eyes peered at the gem. "A divine gem? Where did ya…" His eyes quickly flashed up to Richard's. "The Prince?'

"That's right."

"How?"

"Some contacts I know."

"Careful with such business," Torgon warned. "Ya know how those noble types get."

"What are they going to do? Send assassins after me?"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, it has…" Richard smiled, reminiscing about old time. "You ever think about stepping back into that life?"

"Nothing's called for me yet." Torgon brushed his beard. "Do you need my help?"

"Not yet, but maybe one day. Hear there's a war brewing."

"Aye, ah heard it on the winds. Ah might make a weapon or two, but ah'll stay out of it otherwise."

"I'll leave you to your smithing then," Richard said. "Always good to see you."

"Aye, you as well."