The Gambling Hero

Chapter 13: Peaceful Dreams

The guards at the front entrance stood a little over 4 feet tall, they had a mean look on their face from a distance. When they saw us their faces began to worsen, and I approached them trying to calm my expression. I walked up to the first guard with a large black beard who looked like he wanted to smash my face in and said, "Hello we are travelers from far away we would like to enter the town of Astran if possible." The guards both looked at me over and the other older one with an equally large white beard said, "We don't just let anyone into Astran, we need to know you are all actually human, and not some monsters in disguise." I looked at the two dwarves expecting about this much hassle to get in, and the issue was I had no real way of proving that any of us were human especially when two actually weren't. I decided the best way to do so would be to tell them knowledge that only a human would know. I spoke directly to them, "There is only one way that I can verify I am human, and that would be to tell you something that only humans, and dwarves alike would know." The white bearded dwarf raised an eyebrow, "Hm go on boy we are listening just don't try to state an obvious fact, or something a monster could gather with magic."

Trying to prove I was human with words alone would surely be a hard task to accomplish, and I would have to do this three times total. For one I had to state a fact that both dwarves, and humans alike could relate with, but no other monster could really grasp. One thing I remembered grandpa telling me was that dwarves loved to drink, and I also remembered that there were famous places all over the world to get liquor. I decided to tell these dwarves the best spot in the town of Middleton to get ale. This was the only known human dwelling in Swanfri, and is something that only a human living in Middleton would really know about the only issue was the fact that dwarves obviously might not know of it. I would have to hope the dwarves had traveled around this continent a little, and at least have had ale from Middleton given that they love to drink. I finally spoke up, "The best ale in Middleton is made in the Hamilton Brewery House; this is something only a we humans and dwarves would know about."

I waited for the dwarves' response; they looked at eachother, and then looked back at me, their faces never showing any emotion. The dwarves both broke out into a laugh and the brown bearded dwarf said, "Hahaha boy that is one way to verify your identity alright kid you can go into the town of Astran, and by the way we love the Hamilton Brewery House. Ghara here and I haven't been that way a lot, but we both love their ale." He smiled and pointed to both of my remaining companions, "Those two can come in too since humans don't travel very far from their own kind haha." It seems he would never imagine that a human would be travelling with other races other than their own. I guess being a human has finally paid off for the better. The guards let town the swords they were holding, and graciously let us in still smiling. Bastrin, and Lilith looked pleased, and so we decided to first sell the goods we had accumulated up until this point.

After walking for a bit I saw a small wooden building that had the words Kramlin's Wares on the front. I told Lilith and Bastrin that this was a dwarven shop. Once we had entered the shop I spotted all kinds of goods from food to armor I spotted a dwarf up at the counter which I assumed was Kramlin. Kramlin was a dwarf with shape sideburns, no beard, and shorter black hair than the other dwarfs with glasses on his face. I walked up to the dwarf and let Lilith and Bastrin look around and said, "Hello we are travelling through Astran we would like to buy some food, and maybe sell some of our own goods." The dwarf looked at me with a smile, "I would be delighted to serve you lets see what goods you got kid" I pulled out a small bag of the animal parts we had been collecting that Lilith said might have some value for medical purposes, or other usage. I pulled out tails, several horns, berries we had collected along the way, and even some animal eyes that are said to be good when mixed with other stuff. Kramlin looked over each item carefully I assumed he would offer me a lump some of money for all of the items.

The currency for the continent of Ainsgoath differed from place to place, but towns usually traded in rare metals with travellers. I would at least need enough money to buy us one night at an inn which usually costs around three to four silver coins per night. The monetary system was fairly simple for metals. 100 bronze coins was about equal to one silver coin, and in the same manner about 100 silver coins was equal to one gold coin. When dealing with these trivial goods one couldn't hope for more than a few silver at best. Kramlin was done inspecting the goods, and spoke up with a frown, "Listen kid these goods are not really worth much at all sorry to break it to you, but from what I can tell from looking at you I can imagine it's been rough out there for a human. Alight kid I will take these goods off your hands, and in return you and those two that followed you in can stay here, and I will even cook you up something for dinner." Once he had finished I looked at him surprised, "Kramlin sir are you sure? That seems like a lot for just some stuff we picked up along the way." Kramlin smiled, "Yeah kid you can spend the night my own son is around your age right now, he's out exploring the world like you, so you remind me of my son."

I turned around to my friends who were looking at some goods that we obviously couldn't afford I walked up to them and said, "Kramlin offered us a room for the night, and some food does that sound good to you guys." Lilith was the first to voice concern, "Master that is a foolish question obviously we can't accept that offer who knows what intentions he has with this offer." I turned to Bastrin, and she shrugged, "Do what you want kid. I don't care as long as I have some food in my stomach I can sleep anywhere." I looked back at Lilith, "It would be rude to turn him down Lilith if you are bothered by Kramlin you can keep your guard up, but I think this is a better alternative than staying on the street hungry." I walked back to Kramlin without hearing her reply, "My companions and I think that this is a very generous offer, and we would be very grateful if you would host us."

Kramlin smiled, "I am very happy you accepted my offer kid first let's get you some food judging by how you look I can imagine it's been awhile since you have had a proper meal." Kramlin showed us to a small dining area which judging by the size of this shop I imagine Kramlin also lived here. We waited around the small table while Kramlin went to another room that I assumed was the kitchen. While we waited Bastrin asked me about dwarven food, and Lilith read her book to pass the time. After awhile Kramlin came back out several times, and loaded the table with a few dwarven dishes mostly consisting of vegetables, but there were a few meals made with deer in the mix. I let Bastrin have most of the meat dishes, and Lilith and I ate the farm vegetables mixed into what appeared to be some kind of stew.

This was a different type of meal than I was used to, or than I was expecting, but taste wise I had nothing to complain about. I told Kramlin, "This stew tastes great sir." Kramlin smiled, "Yeah and i'm sure you will feel even better once you have bathed, and had a proper night's sleep." Once dinner was over I went in the bath first before it was relaxing since it had been at least a week since I had a proper bath, or meal. In the morning I would have to properly thank Kramlin for everything he had done for us. I hoped I would be able to properly pay him back some day. Normally everything that Kramlin provided would cost way more than what I had paid him. I got out of the bath after properly cleaning myself off with some Kramlins soap, and shampoo.

I was tired, so I decided to go to bed before Bastrin, and Lilith got done with their showers, but first I would need to get the layout ready. I decided that I would sleep on the floor in my blankets that I had brought from home, and I laid out some for Bastrin too. I decided that I would give Lilith the only bed in the room because she had been through a lot since coming here. I would say I really didn't like Lilith in the past, and she hadn't been too talkative to me since we contracted. I can tell she's changed since I made her my familiar. Maybe it's because she isn't using dark magic anymore, but she seems calmer now than before, and not nearly as violent. I felt my eyes grow heavier, and I drifted in a nice peaceful sleep for once.