e&tg 21

I felt something touch my arm.  It seemed easiest to ignore it, so i did.  I felt a tap on my shoulder.  I said, "Muf."  At least, i think that's what i said.  I felt something grab my arm and roll me over.  Hmm, i did seem more comfortable this way.  I felt water, "WHOA WHAT THE ohhhh gods why is it so bright my head ohhhhh."  I rubbed my eyes as gently as i could and looked up at some guy holding a bucket.  I tried engaging my verbal skills again.  "What.  Uh, what's going on?"

"Orders from the mistress.  She said to awaken you at midmorning.  Said you might want to get an early start on the day, sorting out your troubles."

"Did she mention that i would try to kill you if you threw water on me?"

"Ha, yeah, she said you're a big mean bastard, but you'd be so hung over that i'd be safe.  She also said, and i quote," he said as he pulled a piece of paper from his apron, unfolded and read it, "“That fool can come to my establishment and drink my finest whisky without paying for it, but i will not have him waste it by getting sick after drinking it on an empty stomach.”"

"Ssshhh.  More quietly, please."  Details were coming back to me.  Oh, gods, i told her about the horrible things i saw in Teraad's keep, the torture chambers, the magical experiments being conducted on peasants, the occult altar... i told her about Cossu.  Shit.

The man walked back to the entrance of the stable (oh, i was in the stable... how did i get here?).  I asked him, "Hey, how did i get here?"

He chuckled.  "How dya think?  The spirit of the Ashen Tongue found you unwelcome and deposited you here."  I heard Hosea's laughter in my mind.  Lucky him, got to throw out a stumbling drunk after all.  The man picked up a steaming mug from a short table and walked back to me.  "Here," he said as he gave it to me, "this'll fix you up.  It's the mistress's special curative.  Southern brown bean infusion with a dash of spicy red pepper."

I sipped it first to make sure i wouldn't burn my mouth, then took a long drink.  I felt it run down my throat and spread throughout my body, and it felt like a blanket was lining every inch inside my skin.  The headache stopped pounding and my eyes didn't feel sticky anymore.  "Damn," i croaked, "that's fantastic."  I drained the mug and felt almost as good as new.  I handed the guy the mug and said, "Thanks a bunch.  What's your name?"

He bowed at the neck.  "Xotus, at your service.  I'm in charge during the mornings, so if you need anything else, just drop by and ask for me."

"I think i will."  I stood up and stretched, but got bumped in the back in mid-stretch.  I turned around.  "Oh, Kohasadi."  I rubbed his head.  "I hope you weren't worried."  He squawked.  "C'mon, buddy, we got work to do."  I waved to Xotus and walked out.

e&tg 21

I felt something touch my arm.  It seemed easiest to ignore it, so i did.  I felt a tap on my shoulder.  I said, "Muf."  At least, i think that's what i said.  I felt something grab my arm and roll me over.  Hmm, i did seem more comfortable this way.  I felt water, "WHOA WHAT THE ohhhh gods why is it so bright my head ohhhhh."  I rubbed my eyes as gently as i could and looked up at some guy holding a bucket.  I tried engaging my verbal skills again.  "What.  Uh, what's going on?"

"Orders from the mistress.  She said to awaken you at midmorning.  Said you might want to get an early start on the day, sorting out your troubles."

"Did she mention that i would try to kill you if you threw water on me?"

"Ha, yeah, she said you're a big mean bastard, but you'd be so hung over that i'd be safe.  She also said, and i quote," he said as he pulled a piece of paper from his apron, unfolded and read it, "“That fool can come to my establishment and drink my finest whisky without paying for it, but i will not have him waste it by getting sick after drinking it on an empty stomach.”"

"Ssshhh.  More quietly, please."  Details were coming back to me.  Oh, gods, i told her about the horrible things i saw in Teraad's keep, the torture chambers, the magical experiments being conducted on peasants, the occult altar... i told her about Cossu.  Shit.

The man walked back to the entrance of the stable (oh, i was in the stable... how did i get here?).  I asked him, "Hey, how did i get here?"

He chuckled.  "How dya think?  The spirit of the Ashen Tongue found you unwelcome and deposited you here."  I heard Hosea's laughter in my mind.  Lucky him, got to throw out a stumbling drunk after all.  The man picked up a steaming mug from a short table and walked back to me.  "Here," he said as he gave it to me, "this'll fix you up.  It's the mistress's special curative.  Southern brown bean infusion with a dash of spicy red pepper."

I sipped it first to make sure i wouldn't burn my mouth, then took a long drink.  I felt it run down my throat and spread throughout my body, and it felt like a blanket was lining every inch inside my skin.  The headache stopped pounding and my eyes didn't feel sticky anymore.  "Damn," i croaked, "that's fantastic."  I drained the mug and felt almost as good as new.  I handed the guy the mug and said, "Thanks a bunch.  What's your name?"

He bowed at the neck.  "Xotus, at your service.  I'm in charge during the mornings, so if you need anything else, just drop by and ask for me."

"I think i will."  I stood up and stretched, but got bumped in the back in mid-stretch.  I turned around.  "Oh, Kohasadi."  I rubbed his head.  "I hope you weren't worried."  He squawked.  "C'mon, buddy, we got work to do."  I waved to Xotus and walked out.