The building’s grounds and impressively large halls were packed, busy enough that even movement outside was often shoulder to shoulder. Some might even call it crowded.
A raid by the Royal Crown had taken place not long ago on the estate of none other than Galeron the Great. His home pillaged and claimed by the kingdom, an enormous sale of his property and possessions was being held. Far and wide, this attracted the attention of many adventuring types, some seeking an easy item for low coin, while others came for just the thrill of the event.
The ground floor of the remote keep had been transformed into a bartering center with items on display and under guard. Outside were thrown together stages, each readying to begin the bidding.
A tall, older fellow stood at one far end of the public auction. He wore long robes, the insides of which were lined with many component pouches. Atop his head was, of course, a large wizard hat. It was all themed to a blue-gray, trims and accents of white and a few modest stains of coffee on his sleeve from many long nights of study and compiling spellbooks. The dolled up and handsome ensemble declared proudly to everyone in this public place that he was, in fact, a practitioner of the arcane.
Or in other words, a wizard. And his name was Merlos.
A near gray beard growing at some length down his front concealed half of his face. Giving it a few strokes, he planned out his next question as he stared shrewdly at the auctioneer.
“I had heard that the beast can talk?” he asked, continuing his questions.
“Oh indeed it can, though, no one understands or speaks its language that we have found... but the handler claims once you get it to talk that it won’t shut up.” The woman, garbed in the uniform of the auction’s staff, folded her hands over her front, happy to answer the questions.
Merlos nodded eagerly to the answer. Earlier he had skimmed the listed items on the auction sale-board, and it had become clear to him which he would be after almost exclusively: a pegasus.
And he did need a new familiar ever since poor Iago met that unsavory end with a dire ape. So why not a steed that could also traverse him across the land? It seemed a flawless idea indeed. Artifacts such as brooms could be dispelled by other wizards, and that turned easy escapes into sudden death. A pegasus would also be less likely to be influenced versus any mundane mount.
But, above all else, he could already envision himself being the envy of mages for leagues around! Such a rare and majestic creature as his familiar would trump any rival wizard’s crow, owl, or toad. The thought of the sleek, proud pegasus carrying him around on adventures while allowing him to wield his magic struck him in a way he rarely felt.
The auctioneer put on an uneasy look as the frumpy wizard before her grinned and began to chuckle to himself. “Sire?”
Merlos brought himself back down to the earth and out of the clouds overhead, clearing his throat.
He queried on, mostly oblivious to any ongoings not in his imagination. “Sorry, where was I? Oh, the pegasus. I am sure it is strong and graceful?” Such were attributes that would be necessary in a purchase like a flying mount.
The woman stared a moment before answering. “It is quite strong, actually. More than you might think. It’s a very smart beast to boot! Keeping her contained has been quite the challenge. Capable of lifting seven times her body weight according to our handler. They had to fetch help just to move it.” She said everything with a smile and a nod.
“Impressive.” The description sounded a little peculiar, but salesfolk always were. Ones working for the government all the more so he would imagine. Nonetheless, the creature was still intriguing. He tried to think back to the last time he had read anything about pegasi. Truthfully, it had been ages, and he had never seen one firsthand. Depictions of them were of course what anyone would expect: lithe, tall, like angelic and noble versions of their land-borne horse cousins.
The Auctioneer nodded encouragingly to the wizard. “Were there any further questions?”
Merlos hummed, trying to think of what things you ask about buying livestock or such things. “Oh, let’s see… How old is it?”
The staff woman made an odd look, as if thinking about it even though she should know. “The mare is still pretty young from what we can tell, but old enough to listen to simple instructions.” She then flipped through a few papers. “They thought she was wild until she spoke up in her gibberish language. To be honest I didn’t even think that pegasi spoke. I would bet that means she’ll be great at learning commands and obedience. Surely better than what you’d expect of your typical draft animal.”
Merlos hummed and stroked his beard as he listened. “That sounds promising. Yes…” He was already picturing himself dive-bombing enemy monsters and bandits from out of the setting sunlight. The decision to make the purchase was nearly made, until he recalled he would have to actually bid on the animal, first.
“Well, I guess that will be all then! I can’t wait to win the creature for myself.” Merlos patted his coin-purse and laughed heartily.
The auctioneer joined in hesitantly as well, and nodded. “Very good, sire.” She looked down at her paperwork and turned to go, stopping as Merlos snagged her sleeve abruptly.
“Oh, wait, I almost forgot. Where can I get a look at this magnificent creature for myself?” His curiosity had well and truly gotten to him already.
The auctioneer smiled curtly, pulling away her sleeve, and gestured aside to one not far off building filled with barred stables. “Its the one at the end,” she replied. “Feel free to have a look, sire. Bidding starts soon.”
Merlos thanked the woman, his attention already zooming in like a telescope. Each stable seemed to hold a selection of strong looking horses for the crowd to mull over. That particular row of stalls appeared full, with the exception of the one near the end mentioned. Hm, the beast must be near the back? Or laying down perhaps? Surely it isn’t restrained...
He did spy in the neighboring stall a beautiful, pale horse nibbling away at some hay, its muscular features shimmering in the scant bits of sunlight going through its bars. A large blanket was draped over its back while it consumed its food idly.
Merlos looked over the creature, then nodded to himself in confidence. That silly woman must have been mixed up. I do believe that is the pegasus. Eager to meet the creature himself, he began to stride quickly to it through the crowd.
Amongst the onlookers Merlos glided through were whole groups of obvious adventurer types; bards, wizards and armed warriors, all of them glancing at the stock that was on display.
However, amidst the many strangers was a familiar face, a wizard half Merlos’ age which he knew all too well, and somehow managed to draw twice his own ire in the magical community: Farlington Wadsworth.
Merlos nearly tripped over his own robe, stopping short. His gnarled hands bunched straight up into barbaric fists. Wadsworth! His eyes widened in recognition and resentment, his beard bristled, and his pointed hat stood on end. Why that incompetent, disgraceful, smug little… What is he doing here!? He quickly looked about, then exited the stables again to hide around the corner. There, he peeked back inside down along the wide aisle.
The rival wizard seemed very interested as he looked over each stall, before taking obvious interest in the paperwork hanging on the one at the end. He wasn’t a bad person per se, just someone who knew how to get on Merlos’ nerves quickly and had no shame in seeking to do so.
Merlos grumbled to himself further, but stood his ground and didn’t approach. “Farlington...” he repeated. Bah, who names their kid that? Honestly! He thought of some good one-liners ahead of time while he was at it.
Meanwhile, Wadsworth read over the sign, chatting with two other grubby looking companions astride himself. All of a sudden he threw his head back in a raucous, irritating laughter that sounded like a mix between a squeaky wheel and a broken flugelhorn. He was joined shortly by his two cronies.
Merlos tightened his grip on the stable door, annoyed already. Still, he stretched his ear out to try and listen in over the background noise of the crowd. He was not eavesdropping, however, certainly. That was beneath him. What he was doing was reconnaissance. After all, you never know what upperhand can be gained from knowledge.
“Well it isn’t what I was expecting,” Wadsworth said to his toadies, still chuckling. “But I do think that this absolutely magnificent pegasus is still just what we’re looking for. Eh, fellows?” Wadsworth’s companions laughed along and agreed wholeheartedly. “It’s settled then! It seems we’ll be buying something out of this cesspool after all.”
Merlos sniffed derisively at the whole exchange. So, he’s got his greedy eyes on my noble steed, does he? He wasted no time, whirling around. Some ways off he spotted the same auctioneer from before, and charged forward.
Snagging the woman’s coat sleeve, again, Merlos loudly pronounced his proposal and well thought out plan. “I will purchase it! How much to have it delivered? The pegasus?” For once, he would have the upper-hand on his juvenile rival.
The auctioneer paused, looking annoyed. “Well, five hundred, if you win the bid,” she said sweetly.
“Oh, but what if—” Merlos was about to make a counter proposal, but was promptly spoken over.
“Sire, that’s the way it is. No exceptions. If you want in on lot six-sixty-five, I highly recommend you grab a bidding wand and take up a spot by the stage.” The woman sighed dismissively, straightening her paperwork and shuffling over to the door to make her own way to the bidding floor. “I wish you good luck. Bye now.”
Merlos grumbled in defeat, before gathering his wits and straightening his robes confidently. “Oh? Your Familiar can throw spears and speak broken draconic?” he whispered to himself, imagining the bragging rights that having the talking Pegasus would fetch him. Especially if he could teach the strange horse common speak. “Well, sirrah, mine can fly and carry an intelligent conversation. Take that!”
A grin split his face, and he couldn’t resist laughing at the mere thought of it.
A couple knights in thick plated armor stopped, caught off guard by the sudden laughter from a half-ragged looking old coot. They each gave Merlos a look like he was three planks short of a finished bridge.
Merlos noticed, and coughed, returning an indignant look. Don’t they know it’s rude to stare? Hmph. He strode past them and through the near doorway, following the auctioneer.
Plucking a white keyhole shaped stick with a number on it on his way in, he took his place amongst the crowd chatting and waited patiently. The auction was well and truly started it seemed, as men and women and stranger things were already placing bids on items.
But the current lot number was no where close to the one Merlos was after. So, he waited.
Over the next hour all manner of magical beasts and artifacts were brought up for all to see and awe over. There was a vorpal sword here, a wand of mystic delight there. Boring, mundane things to be sure. Still, the auctioneer that was on stage, despite his fast speaking, seemed as though he were barely able to keep up with all of the misguided fools purchasing junk.
Finally, Merlos stood up straighter, leaning forward intently as what he had been standing on his feet all day for was announced.
“Lot Six-sixty-five is up. A gray pegasus mare, as seen in the stables. This is no mere beast of burden, friends. Able to carry no less than seven times her body weight and still maintain flight. Listed as capable of talking, and rudimentary weather magic! Alright, let’s begin. Opening bid starts at eight-hundred, do I hear eight-hundred gold pieces?”
Merlos crossed his arms while nodding along to every word the auctioneer spoke. The creature can perform some magic as well? I’ve never heard about pegasi doing that. Amazing! And grey, too? She’ll match my robes. He chuckled. Something tickled his memory, but he ignored it in the face of great success.
A few wands went up into the air for the first bid.
“Eight-fifty? Nine-hundred?” The auctioneer gestured grandly to the air each time bidding wands rose up from the crowd. Surely his arm felt as if it had a barrel strapped to it after doing that all day. “Do I hear two thousand?”
More wands went up to the air. The crowd was quite clearly interested. The bidding war was on!
Merlos waited patiently. There was no sense in flailing his own hand along with the rest of the crowd until things reached a climax.
The amount bidded rose quickly, exceeding the majority of the other bids in mere minutes. Five thousand gold it became, and finally the number of wands began to become fewer and fewer.
Out of the crowd suddenly came a grandly spoken, yet grating and nasally voice. “Good sir! I see your five thousand gold and raise it to seven.” It was Farlington Wadsworth.
Merlos jerked his head over and beamed death at his rival with his stare alone. As if summoned by the ignorant oaf’s voice alone, Merlos quickly threw his own bidding wand up. “Seven thousand and five hundred!” he rebuttled, and in his own grand, commanding tone.
“Eight thousand,” the young wizard snapped back. “Nine,” some other voice said, and in unison both Merlos and Wadsworth shouted, “Ten!”
The auctioneer stared dumbfounded at the two men bidding without him taking any part. He was barely able to keep up as the bids began to stack further and further. At the same time, the crowd all but hushed, taking in the show.
“Twelve thousand and five hundred for the mighty steed!” Merlos declared once again, and throwing up his bidding wand as if casting a spell of fiery immolation. He locked eyes with Wadsworth, and grinned smugly after having jumped the bid by a thousand gold. Surely this young fool doesn’t have the coffers to keep this up? Oh, actually, I hope I do myself… He made sure to not let any doubt show, though. He could always take out a loan or something.
For a moment, Wadsworth stared at him in shock. Then, oddly and annoyingly enough, a smile creased his pointed features.
The auctioneer surveyed the crowd through the silence, then spoke for the first time again in minutes. “Alright folks, Twelve thousand five hundred gold! Do I hear six? Do I hear—”
Answering back, Wadsworth raised his bidding wand once again. “Twelve thousand and eight!” When he looked back to Merlos, he was chuckling, and still grinning.
Merlos put on an infuriated look, and raised his wand again. “Twelve thousand and nine! ”
“Hah, you fool!” Wadsworth declared, still laughing. “No one in their right mind would pay so much for a mere magical creature such as this! You truly are Merlos the maddened!” He faced forward again to the auctioneer, and coolly announced, “Fifteen thousand gold!”
The crowd gasped aloud, confused and amazed by both the theatrics and sheer amount of wizard gold being tossed around.
“Twenty Thousand,” Merlos replied just as calmly, and the crowd gasped again.
Wadsworth’s grin faded slowly, until it seemed calm, strangely calm. He bowed, sitting down. “I concede,” he said to the stage.
“Hah!” Merlos held himself proudly as his opponent backed down, considering how fantastic his new mount would be, traveling with the proud beast on adventures… “Take that!”
The crowd, alive with murmuring and whispering, became a mixture of congratulations and random commotion.
The auctioneer, pale and excited from the commission he would get from this, resumed after a moment. “Lot six-sixty-five, for twenty thousand gold, do I hear twenty thousand one hundred? Twenty thousand one hundred?” It scarcely seemed the crowd was paying him much mind. “Well, lot six-sixty-five for twenty thousand going once… and twice… and sold bidder to 579! That was exciting. Now, your attention again please, our next item is lot Six-sixty-six. A chandelier in several pieces...”
"I win, Wadsworth!" Merlos declared over to the obnoxious youth, only to see he was half swallowed in the crowd. Annoyingly enough, it seemed his victory would have to miss out on gloating.
Still, he beamed happily, having won his auction, and followed an attendee that had moved up to guide him outside and to where he needed to go. Outside was what appeared to be rows of armored wagons, each covered in an impressive number of arcane runes and surrounded by guards.
Unlike the rest of the former lord’s estate, there was a lot of security around the auction rooms and the money, which was primarily made up of humans and dwarves.
Merlos dismissed their presence as routine and was brought to a stop before a short, rather elderly and gangly looking gnome that sat scribbling behind an equally short desk. The gnome, apparently a woman, glanced up above her wire-rimmed glasses, then waved off the attendee after accepting some papers. A little name badge was on her simple uniform of the state, declaring her name was Gneilda.
“How do you do—” Before Merlos could appropriately make introductions he was rudely spoken over.
“Name and bid number,” the gnome flatly requested, before looking back down to her paperwork. Her voice had the quality of stones scraping over bark.
Merlos clamped his mouth shut and blinked, before trying again. “Yes, indeed. I am Merlos, Merlos the Magnificent. And I have just won the—”
“Bid number please,” the gnome grated again in the same voice, not looking up this time.
Merlos bristled, drawing himself to stand straighter. “Of course, Madame. But first, if you would just—”
“Sir, it’s hotter than the seventh layer of hell out here. Bid number, please.” The gnome continued to not look up from her scribbling.
Hot? Honestly, a simple enchantment of endure elements would clear that right up! Hmph, simpletons. Still, Merlos grunted, lip curling. “Six-sixty-five,” he muttered simply in exchange.
A slight hint of a smirk could almost be spotted before vanishing on the state official’s face.
“Was that so hard, deary?” The gnome finally laid down her quill. “Now then, it says here that ye’re winning bid was outrageously monstrous.” She briefly lifted a sheaf of paper, then whistled at the number she saw. “So, are ye’ paying up front or are we coming to collect? I don’t imagine ye’ have all of this hidden underneath those robes of ye’rs, Mr. Wizard.”
Merlos blinked in earnest consternation. “My good madam, I beseech you to leave the contents of my robes out of things. And I am called by Merlos.”
The gnome gave him a wolfish look that was almost invasion. “Suit yourself,” she grated. “So, which is it?”
Merlos huffed, and suppressed the shiver that had crawled up his spine. “I did bring a considerable sum with me within a bag of holding, but you’re earlier assumption was correct. I did not bring nearly that amount. I’m assuming that I’ll make a down payment and you’ll collect the rest from me at my estates?”
The gnome woman, Gneilda, chuckled and shook her head. “No such luck, buster. We’ll deliver ye’re article to ye’ and ye’ll pay the official there. Nothing fancy. Unless ye’re too out of the way, then ye’ll have to come back with it ye’rself.”
Merlos grunted again in acquiescence as the gnome woman went on with pushing his buttons.
“Now, that’s settled, let’s get ye’r information and location.” She again brought her quill to bear.
“Right.” Merlos straightened his hat proudly. “In that case, as I had… begun to say before, I am none other than Merlos the Magnificent! And I would have you bring my steed to my private home.”
The gnome woman stared up with a blank, weary look.
Merlos heaved a blatant sigh. “Hadley’s Hope tower,” he intoned. “The old fort just outside the southern mountain range…”
“Oooh, that dump? I’ve heard about that dilapidated old place.” She began scribbling once more. “Isn’t it haunted? Or was the nearby village claiming it had a troll living there… Well, that certainly isn’t too far for us.”
Merlos balled his hands into fists. Sure, it was a ‘fixer-upper’ but it wasn’t dilapidated! “Ahem, I just recently acquired it. And there is no troll...” He neglected to confirm the truth over much of the former outpost’s condition. “In any case, the state of my home is not a concern. I’ll expect the delivery at the stables out front.”
Gneilda rubbed her chin. “Of course, they’ll have Orloch and his company on it. He’s the closest to ye’ out there.”
“Orloch?” Merlos mouthed quietly. “I’ve heard of Orloch. A captain or some such? Orloch Stonegrip? I believe I know a friend or two of his.”
Gneilda looked up again, then made a slight inclination of her head. “Oh? Yes, that’s him. Needless to say, for such prestigious clients like yourself we make sure their purchases arrive safely. Will you be needing anything further, melord?”
Merlos almost opened his mouth in surprise at the infuriating gnome’s change of tone, but, instead kept his composure. “Not at all, madam. I do believe everything is in order.” He got out so little, he’d forgotten that who you know could change a lot in dealings.
“Almost.” Gneilda then pushed forward a slightly curled parchment with one bony hand. “Just sign here, sire, and the deal’s official. Congratulations on acquiring yourself a...” She looked down again at the bid. “A pegasus?”
Merlos walked away feeling both incredibly relieved to be done with that affair, and once again excited at the notion of owning a mythical beast. So much in fact, he decided to hurry and prepare her new home for her straight away. It was probably a bit late to consider it, but he really didn’t have much of an orderly stable, or one that could house so much as a family of rats, let alone a pegasus.
Knowing this, his next stop was to buy fresh hay for the stables, and to look up a spell or two for tidying things up. But first, he needed to get a bit closer to home.
With a simple flick of a wand produced from his sleeve, Merlos was suddenly standing just outside the town of Hesturbaer, the little hamlet just down the hilly countryside from his sanctum. Having predetermined areas set for translocation was by definition the easiest method of getting around reliably, but it wasn’t really the simplest to set up. Teleportation was anything but simple, after all.
“Ohh, I can hardly wait for that pegasus.” Merlos chuckled, and almost clicked his heels as he entered town, and already thinking about performing the binding ritual for familiars. After losing so many over the years, he had put off binding a seventh. But, seven was a lucky number, so perhaps the time was indeed right.
In any case, there were several reasons for bonding the animal straight away as a familiar, but allowing him to speak with it despite not knowing its language was a big one. He could cast a comprehension spell temporarily, but that wasn’t very convenient. And other perks included magical benefits akin to the creature’s natural strengths, such as perhaps improved hearing, or being able to direct his magic through it. All in all it was going to work out fantastic for him, he was sure.
Still thinking of finding proper research on pegasi, Merlos idly perused the farmer’s market.
Nearby and atop a hay bale, a particularly boisterous salesman was busy shouting to lure in customers, which included a grey robed wizard. “This is the best hay for your livestock to eat, my friends! Got horses? Feed them our fine mix of alfalfa and hay! And crude oats for a low-low price. Just step right up and let us take care of the rest. Kind sir! Do come closer, I beckon you!”
Merlos was drawn to the convenient advertisement, along with a few other customers looking over the board. His eyes scanned the crude listings. Pictograms of the animals and feed type were displayed for the illiterate alongside them.
“This hay, it’s fresh?” Merlos slowly asked someone standing beside the rowdy and fast-talking man. He almost did a double take when he realized this other man looked the same as the first, except for some additional facial hair.
“It certainly is, friend! You’ll want our product for your horse or otherwise! Fresh as the morning air! This isn't the junky hay from the side of the road, oh no. This is the genuine article cleared from a field grown especially for your animals to enjoy!”
Without looking like he was, Merlos glanced at the feed. Truthfully, this was very much out of his expertise, but he tried not to look like a rube all the same.
The first man went on again to the crowd. “That’s right folks, it’s one-hundred percent naturally grown as nature intended under the watchful eye of myself and my brother!”
Merlos nodded along. It looked fresh enough to his eyes, and there didn’t seem to be much of a selection in the small town, anyway. He quickly fetched out some gold coins and paid for both a prompt delivery of the stuff as well as a ride home. He didn’t bother bartering, and simply offered what was likely a generous sum.
As the ground seemed to drift past him underfoot, Merlos briefly considered how much had been spent that day. Twenty thousand gold was no laughing matter, after all. A bit of regret was starting to creep in. That much gold had taken him years to make from hard fought days of adventuring around the world. Still, idle gold was useless gold, and now it had a use.
Despite the matter of currency, Merlos’ eyes followed a bird up into the air, practically seeing himself riding upon a majestic pegasus and maneuvering as the bird did.
His attention was brought back into reality when he notice the cart was not only stopped before his stables, but the pair of men who had just finished unloading the bales of hay were looking at him strangely.
“A ride back into town will cost you,” one said.
“Will you be disembarking?” asked the other.
“Oh, of course. Thank you for the ride, gents,” Merlos replied, hopping off the cart and taking a moment to inspect his purchased hay. Hm, I hope it’s enough. He prodded the base of the hay bales and oats with one slippered foot. How much could one creature eat, anyway?
Behind him, the pair of men rode away, while he looked over everything.
There were a few stout ponies and mules hitched outside, but not inside, because it was horrid and a mess. Those were owned by tenants, who themselves were made up of a handful of dwarves currently renting out the property’s basement and catacombs. They ran a distillery, so it seemed, and came and went almost daily, but that was fine so long as they didn’t miss payments.
Merlos walked past his tenant’s ponies and mules, curious, which in turn nickered at his presence. Past them, the image of his latest acquisition stood there in an empty stall, teasing the wizard with its proud form and the prestige from owning it.
Brimming with excitement again, Merlos turned towards one of the pack animals pulling against its hitch and obviously looking for a treat.
“Hah.” Merlos snapped his fingers and leaned closer to the donkey. “An authentic pegasus. I’ll be the talk of the arcane community and the magic colleges for ages. I wonder what kinds of opportunities that could present…” Images of saucy sorceresses or even accomplished mage ladies started cropping up in his thoughts. He wasn’t too old for that, after all. He still had some years left in him, surely. Perhaps he could even attract a comely new assistant...
But for now, all he needed to do was wait for his pegasus to arrive.
The mule hawed back loudly, still awaiting a treat that hadn’t yet appeared.
“Lud, are ye’ talkin’ to the livestock again?”
Merlos jumped and whirled about, the grin flying off his face. “Wha— What? Who— Oh, Gavlan, good day to you. Talking? Livestock? Oh, uhm.” He looked back at the mule, then began patting its head appreciatively. “Of course I wasn’t talking to them.”
“Right…” The stout dwarf shifted his stance. He was what you would expect from an elder of his mountain kin. A grey beard twice the size of the wizard’s stretched to his knees, and wrinkles almost out-numbering the stars that appeared at night covered his face. Still, the old brewmaster looked the shape and acted like a dwarf a quarter his age, and was the chief employer of the other dwarves staying there. The lot of them used the property as a halfway point to human territory.
“Well, I’ll leave ye’ to your talking to thin-air then, since I don’t see nothin’ else out here. Eh? Haha!” Gavlan slapped his knee, chortling friendly.
Merlos’ eyes only betrayed him a little as they moved shiftily, before he coughed and made to change the subject. “Yes, thin-air… In any case, now that you mention talking to animals, you might be interested to hear about the beast that I just purchased. It’s positively breath taking—”
A distinct biting sensation, teeth included, shot up Merlos’ arm from his hand, and a pained cry escaped him promptly.
The mule released the hand, then made a noise of complaint in response to the human and his failure to produce food. At the same time, Gavlan began laughing harder while Merlos danced away, blowing on his injury and retreating to a safe distance from the cart animal.
Gavlan shook his head, beard shaking from chortles. “Hehe, if you’re as bad with that beast as yeh are a simple donkey, I don’t expect you’ll be having a fun time of things.”
Merlos ceased blowing on his hand and scowled at the mule. “I’ll turn you into a squirrel later, you,” he hissed to the impudent thing. “Gavlan, this is no mere beast, I assure you. But you’ll see, and be amazed, I’m sure!” He straightened his hat and made a proud look.
Gavlan shrugged as his brow raised briefly. “Will I?” he rumbled. “Well, I welcome a bit of excitement. ‘avn’t been able to go with the lads lately and it’s getting boring around here in this dump. Heh, no offense, eh? Hah. So didja get yourself a drake or sumthin’?”
Merlos looked up at his cobblestone ruin of a home and harrumphed. He didn’t mind Gavlan pointing out its condition in the least; it was his home as well. But he did mind just how much needed doing in order to get it suitable to his own image. He had only put it off for, what, three years now? Four?
“No, not a drake, but exciting or not, you will be amazed, I promise you that. I’m even considering adventuring again, as well, as a result.” I’d better, after spending that much. Merlos left the cost of his new pegasus out of the matter and strode with a confident step towards the former outpost’s front gate.
Gavlan snorted and shrugged again, leaning on a stable post. “I’ve seen an awful lot in my days, human. If ye’ can impress me with a mere beast, even if it’s one I ‘aven’t seen before, I’ll give ye’ a keg of my finest. Mark my words on that.” He chuckled again.
Merlos paused, turning back and raising an eyebrow. “Your finest you say? That’s a deal.” He did appreciate a good brew, after all.