rone | e&tg 15

"Why," i asked Kohasadi, "didn't you remind me to get some water at our last stop? This headache is killing me." The beast just stared at me, damn his silence. Walking down Pine Glade Road was what had really escalated it into a four-alarm headache; two solid miles of restaurants, shacks, and carts, with the smell of food from all over the continent assaulting me. I practically fled one outdoor grill where a doughy dwarf with a wild, graphite-colored beard in a bloodstained apron was grilling what the sign assured me was "Giant Rock Mole".

We came upon one of the many fountains that dot the city. This one featured a statue of two dragons in flight, fighting each other. I had Kohasadi wait for me by the buildings while i went to soak my head and drink. I submerged my head fully and rubbed my face and neck, and then slurped from my hands until i was sated. I was about to walk back to my gryphon when i heard a high voice say, "Hey, buddy, you gonna pay?"

I turned to the source. A halfling in two-toned canvas pants, a plain shirt and a leather vest looked at me insouciantly; two other halflings dressed similarly snickered behind him. As i looked at him for a few seconds, he said, "Hey, you deaf? Got water stuck in your ears?"

"No." I paused another couple of seconds. "I should pay you?"

"This here," he waved at the fountain, "is our fountain. You wanna use it, you gotta pay. Six coppers for all you drank, and a silver `cause you rubbed your dirty head in it."

One of his friends snorted. "Yeah, and by the look of your skin, it looks like you got a lot more rubbing to do!" He and the third halfling started laughing.

I stared at them. I must've lost my bearings as i tried to escape the odor of seared mole and stumbled into a part of town controlled by the Halfling Mafia. Your average thug has enough sense to not harass a 19-hand-tall man with a battle axe on his back, but i'd heard stories about how brash the Mafia types had become, as well as their contempt for any non-halflings. This seemed to be my confirmation. I might be able to take them on in a fight, but i'd take my blows and i was in no mood to be cut at the moment.

Just as the first halfling looked impatient and started walking towards me, i held up my hands and said, "You're right. I should pay you. Six stars and a lene, is it? My bag's on my mount, mind if i call him?"

He tried not to look smug. "Go ahead."

I turned and yelled, "KOHASADI!" A screech and a beating of wings later, he landed right next to me. I pointed at the surprised halflings. "I know it's not much, but i know you're hungry..." Kohasadi gave me a quizzical look. I urged him on with my hand. "Go on! You don't have to eat them all right now; we can throw one in a sack for later." I winked.

Kohasadi turned to the halflings and roared. The halflings swore, quickly turned and ran. I watched them retreat, feeling disgusted. All i wanted was to get paid and go get a drink... i shook my head and went looking for a street map.