The Normal Farmer - Completed

Chapter 6 – Duza Sonanji’s Party – part 1

In the main room, Ronald approached the table where the other members of Duza's Party were seated. The Human was the first to notice their approach, and he elbowed the other two at his sides.

Duza took her seat and invited Ronald to sit in front of her. “Everyone, meet Mister Ronald O'Sullivan. From what you all saw previously, what did you think of him? He is looking for a job as a Carrier or a Cook. Mister Ronald, meet Reylom Doggom, a former Priest from The Diocese of Thetria, Ini Tumrul, a Tracker and Hunter from Homysodia and Ovaidel Satsin from the Kingdom of Pigliapo.”

Ronald smiled and made a small bow with his head. “Hello. A former Priest? Really? If I may be so bold as to ask this on our first encounter, would you mind one of these days telling me more about the doctrine of the Diocese of Thetria? I know there is some disagreement between Thetria and the Kingdom of Breidan, but I am not familiar with the reasons for it.”

Reylom smiled, the first one that Ronald had seen from him since entering the front door of the Guild. “I would be delighted to guide you down the path of God Seya's Teachings!”

Ronald turned to Ini Tumrul and spoke in his best Elfian Old Language. “May God Legolas guide your Life, Tracker!”

Ini looked at him from the corner of his hood and made an almost imperceptible nod with his head.

Ronald then faced Ovaidel and greeted him in the Dwarf Old Language, “May God Legolas give strength to your axe and that it never loses its sharpness!”

Ovaidel turned to Duza with anger in his eyes, but before he could say anything, she explained, “Don't look at me like that. He figured it out as soon as he saw you both.”

That conversation puzzled Reylom, but before he could say anything else, Duza told them that Ronald was stronger than he looked, with higher Physical Attributes than a Knight. Because he could also cook, it would be a change from Ovaidel's dishes.

Ronald told them his cover story, and they all remained silent for a while, thinking.

Ronald got up and excused himself, “I will let you talk among yourselves and decide. I need to go see the receptionist and apologize again for my violent actions.”

Ronald left for the front desk, and Duza was looking at him leaving, surprised by that big wolf that kept walking next to him as if Ronald was the Alpha Leader of the pack.

Ini smiled when he noticed her staring. “Seems he made quite an impression on you… I never saw you looking so puzzled towards anyone.”

Duza nodded, looking a little surprised. “Yeah… I don't know why, but I am really intrigued by him! He has such a genuine smile, and he is so polite that I find it hard to believe that he is the same man that crushed the hand of that guy as if he was nothing more than an annoying insect…”

Ini looked at Woof, who was seated on the floor while Ronald was talking to Mira at the front desk. “Yes, and speaking so perfectly two ancient languages, with the proper greeting and knowing the name of the God of my ancient World, that is also remarkable on its own. Even that enormous wolf seems happy to be at his side. Yes, I am also very intrigued. And more suspicious than I would like to be…”

Duza lowered her voice, “He told me that he had two friends, one Dwarf and one Elfian. Perhaps they were the ones who taught him. Or he could be a Breidan spy, trying to analyse the defences of this Kingdom.”

Ovaidel slowly shook his head. “No, I don't think he is a spy. I sense something in him that I haven't felt for years. I only sensed that when I was near my younger brother. That guy over there has a kind soul. I don't know why he remains in this World; he should have left years ago. Maybe he decided to stay because of his family. I felt a dark cloud around him when he talked about them. He is still recovering from that loss.”

Reylom was looking at Ronald, still smiling. “That is someone who God Seya's Teachings can truly help. I wouldn't mind helping him…”

Duza crossed her fingers over the table with a thoughtful look. After a few moments, she asked, “So, we agree? We can use him?”

They all nodded, with Ini correcting her, “Not use, accept him… Duza, sometimes you say things in a way that concerns me…”

While Duza's Party was deciding on Ronald's future, he was talking with Mira Sonanji, “Hello again, I am sorry for intruding during your work. I wish to apologize again. You saw a very ugly side of me, one that I thought I got rid of years ago.”

Mira turned red, and she stuttered for a while, “No… I… want to thank you for what you did… I was so surprised by that dagger against my throat that I didn't react. If it weren't for your quick intervention, things could have turned out really bad… My father would have killed them, and that would certainly get him arrested. But… I think you need to be extra careful from now on. Those guys might try to catch you by surprise, to get revenge. And judging by the angry looks that our Adventurers are making towards you, they didn't like to get on my father's bad side.”

Ronald stopped to think for a while. He then looked at Woof, but he was really questioning Riattus. “What do you say? Do I leave it like this, or do I make sure none of these guys tries to slice my throat while I am sleeping?”

Woof looked at him with his head tilted sideways, but Riattus was the one to answer, “If it was me, I would kill half of them, just to make sure the others understood it was unwise to do anything against me. You can let things stay like this and conquer them with your smile. Or you can challenge the one that looks stronger and beat him up. It's your call.”

Ronald smiled, and he turned to Mira again, who was puzzled. “Before I do something stupid, I have with me some portions of deer meat that I caught yesterday morning. Would the Guild be willing to buy it?”

“Of course! Deer meat is difficult to come by because the Monsters lurking in the forest kill many of them. We have a Quest posted, asking for deer meat. Do you want to apply to that Quest, considering you already have the meat with you?”

“Yes, what do I need to do?”

“Just place your name on it… here. The Guild Master is taking care of your Guild Card. He seems to be sure you will be joining us. As soon as he has it ready, I will give it to you. So, according to the Quest, it's ten copper coins for a portion enough for two people. How much do you have?”

Ronald opened his bag and took out four portions, wrapped in cloth and big tree leaves. Mira opened them and gasped. “This… it's still so fresh... as if you just cut it… And why did you wrap them in these leaves? Did you smoke it? The smell is divine…”

“Just a method a friend taught me, years ago, to preserve meat. Smoke and tree leaves, with a piece of cloth wrapping up everything.”

Mira nodded, and she went to the back office to get the money. When she got back, she placed the coins on the counter, in four piles of ten copper coins each. She then took the meat to the kitchen, wrapped in the tree leaves and the cloth.

While Mira was leaving for the kitchen with the meat, a big man on a nearby table growled at another man who was next to him, “The nerve of that guy… First, he makes a mess here, and now he flirts with our beautiful Mira… He may need a lesson to know his place…”

Ronald went to that table, and he stood there, looking directly at the big man, who had an enormous sword at his side.

He looked around to be certain that everyone could hear him, and addressed the big man that was looking at him with anger, “So, it seems everyone here is angry with me because the Guild Master scolded you all. Normally, I don't do this, but I want to make sure that everyone understands it is unwise to try to attack me by surprise. It seems you are the strongest around here. I don't know if you are the best fighter, but you sure look strong. I wonder if you are also fast…”

The big man smiled with a mouth full of teeth in really bad shape. “I am faster than you, boy, no doubt about it, and if you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ronald rushed to his side, took his sword, slammed his head against the table, and pressed the sharpest edge of the sword against the man's left cheek. “You would be wise to not underestimate me… As all of you… I can be a strong ally, a friend, and a member of this Guild, but if any of you attempt anything against me, I won't hesitate to kill you all. Did I make myself clear?”

Ronald looked around and saw a lot of surprised faces slowly nodding.

Mira returned from the kitchen, and her jaw dropped when she saw what had happened in her absence. The sight of Ronald with a big sword against the face of Ma Yangfa, the strongest man in the Guild, who had his face squashed against a table and was looking terrified, was too surprising.

Ronald let go of the big man and laid the sword in its place again. He then let go of him and waited for his reaction.

Ma Yangfa quickly wiped the cold sweat that was rolling down his forehead before anyone noticed.

Ronald made a small smile and lowered his voice. “I am truly sorry for this. I needed to make a point, and I used you for that. Let me buy you a drink as compensation.”

Ma Yangfa spoke in a hoarse voice. He was so angry that he was almost growling again, “For this, only one drink won't be enough.”

Ronald nodded. “Of course, you are completely right. What do you say if I pay for one drink for every meal you take here for one week? In return, I would be glad if you accepted my sincere apologies and tried not to kill me when I was distracted.”

The big man stopped to think for a while with a serious look. He then made a genuine smile. “Yes, I can do that. I am Ma Yangfa. And you, stranger?”

“I am Ronald O'Sullivan. I think I just became a member of this Guild. At least, the Guild Master said he won't let me leave here without making sure I joined.”

Ma Yangfa laughed, and even the table trembled with the high, loud laughter, “Ahahah! Yeah, he tends to do that. He did the same when I first came here two years ago. Do you already have a Party?”

Before Ronald could answer, Duza placed one hand on Ronald's right shoulder. “Yes, he has, Ma. Stop attempting to bring every powerful member of this Guild into your Party! Don't you have enough members? Come, Mister Ronald, the others want to speak a little more with you.”

“In a moment, okay, Miss Duza?”

Since Ronald didn't move and was looking at her with a serious look, she slowly took her hand off his shoulder. “Yes… of course… When you can, then…”

Duza left, and she looked a little dumbfounded. Ma Yangfa lowered his voice and said, “You are a little crazy, aren't you? No one would say Duza to wait!”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe that's why she thinks she can do and say what she wants, because no one ever contradicts her. That way of acting will not work with me, I am afraid. I need to tell Miss Mira about our arrangement with your drinks.”

Ronald lowered his voice again and winked one eye, “Don't worry, I won't stand in your way. But you are too slow. Two years and you didn't make a move? One day, when you gather the courage to court her, it could be too late…”