Narradir Korsey and
Addhor Raxëlilta
Jan 1st.
“
Edgor !” A well built man entered the inn, with arms spread wide as though he meant to embrace the barkeep, although as yet he had paused just barely inside the door.
“
This one is Alf,” a voice corrected him, from behind. And as
Narradir duly dropped his jaw into an apologetic expression,
Addhor managed to enter the inn with a barely more off kilter gait, behind him.
“
Alf !” the forester then extended his arms anew, and started fresh, with the correct name this time. “
Give me two tods of something to stave off this awful chill, my good man,”
Narradir made it to the counter this time, and dropped one hand heavily although without malice. Those who did not know the large man, might have been intimidated by the gesture.
Alfric though was well accustomed to this particular customer, and his tendency to mix up the names of his many ‘favourite’ publicans.
“
Just come up from the First ?” the innkeeper surmised, as he readied the usual order.
“
Come up with an awful thirst,” came
Narry’s very candid reply, even as
Addhor found his way across the room to a seat and sat. It was dangerous of course to allow his best friend to choose their brew for the day. But he could not so easily carry the two drinks to a table without risking spillage. And so the pair often began their weekly-one-drink in this fashion.
Narradir downing several drinks in the First Circle before he met his business partner for one in the marketplace. The latter chose the table, and though brown eyes glanced about, in as unobtrusive fashion as a former Ranger could muster, he did not see anyone he recognised. Save for the loudest man in any room, of course.
“
So,”
Narradir walked a pair of ales over, and slid one across to his friend. “
Have you run out of excuses yet ? Because I know you’d love it, once we get out there. You have to miss it. So,”
“
Ithilien,”
Addhor repeated the part of the conversation which had clearly begun before they had arrived on scene. “
I don’t know. It’s been ..”
“
Come on, come on, come on, come on,” the broader if scarcely taller man drummed his large palms upon the table top with all the enthusiasm of a child. And met the resigned sigh of a man used to playing as his parent. Before the bearded man broke a smile through his best efforts at a straight face.
“
Fine, fine,” he relented. And watched his massive friend lean back on a creaking chair in a soundless charade of cheering. “
But if you’re still meaning Tuesday, I need to go up to the Fifth first.”
“
Done !”
Narradir agreed, downed his entire drink and wiped his mouth with the back of one hand. “
Come on, keep up. Stars know how many I’ll have to down by the time you get one in you at this rate !” An encore of hands against the table top leant an overexcited backdrop to
Addhor’s deliberately second small sup of drink. Before the forester moved to seize the ale from him, and was surprised how swift it was taken from his reach. But not so surprised that he forgot to unleash an uproar of mirth and head back to the bar, for a second helping of his own.
