The Shelf had become ever so slightly busy with the chill of autumn. The flow of shop seekers had increased, and with it many had managed to find their way down the alley to its entrance. The appeal of the shop was lost on many, the quirks only entertaining a few potential customers to a point where they seemed that they may one day return. At this present moment, a young pair of entwined lovers stood in the entrance, more interested in each other than where they had entered. The author, true to his post had tried his best to record their names for the guest book, but they were lost to a fit of giggles as they whispered to one another in warm spoken words breathed into blushing ears. The girl bit her lip and stroked the underside of the boy’s chin causing him to sway slightly. He was at an utter disadvantage to maintain balance as the door came crashing open.
The couple found themselves knocked to the floor, suddenly laying in each one another’s embrace sooner than they had planned. A grizzled old dwarf stood in the doorway. The struggled movements of the now entangled couple caught his attention, the dwarf’s dark head of tangled curls tilted in curiosity.
“Huh, city folk still be strange,” the words rolling out with a rustic, heavy accent.
The stocky figure pushed on into the door, his frame decked with a coat of thick furs that were far more than necessary for the mild weather outside. The door frame scraped the coat causing plumes of dust and dirt to be cast into the air. He took a few steps inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim setting as he shut the door with an echoing pound. The dwarf paused a moment, noticing the dirty state of his clothing, and regarded his boots. They too looked rather traveled, in a sense that the journey had been through a swamp. And back again. His face twisted about in thought, his bottom jaw moving about which caused his beard to writhe. He spotted the old bench, still covered in boots. No one seated inside had bothered to even consider removing their footwear, but the dwarven patron had his boots added to the pile without lingering on the thought. The young couple had retreated back inside, unable to escape their embarrassment and slip past the newest entry. Eustace waited with aged patience, his eyes studying over the figure, hundreds of theories playing out in his mind and what character had just approached. When the broad face turned back which let their eyes meet, he smiled and nodded.
“Welcome, might I ask your name good sir?”
The dwarf bared his teeth in a smile, a large palm thrusting forward to the surprise of the greeter.
“Name’s Salkri.”
His loud voice was full and echoed into the room, but it was apparent that he meant well. He waited, posed with his hand out until the half-elf composed himself to meet the embrace of the gesture. The greeter was shaken firmly. The dwarf turned into the central room and inhaled deeply.
“Ah, smells like someone ‘as a good sense of cookin’. I haven’t eht this mornin’.”
He walked up to the bar, tested a couple of stools by leaning on them, and settled on one in which he deemed study enough to bare him. The barkeeper waited, his standard smile in place, as he shifted to align himself with his newest guest. The dwarf caught sight of the magical movement as he shifted around on the hard stool.
“Mmm, your like my son, addin’ magics to all you do. I dunno how yal manage it.”
The barkeeper gave a nod, as if that was all the more answer he was willing to draw to the conversation.
“What can I get for you? Food or drink?” The barkeeper inquired. The larger figure tapped his nose with a broad toothy grin.
“Ah, whatever I be smelling would do nicely. Ah, and a glass of Regal Tea.”
The barkeeper only nodded at the request while a couple of nearby patrons gave varied reactions towards the bar upon hearing such a stout drink order so early in the morning. The general gathering as a whole began retreating farther from the bar as scents of wild hides and potent bare feet began to waft slowly farther from the source. Salkri turned his head left and right. Bright eyes looking around for any who may return the attention. Only one other pair of eyes remained focused on him without breaking away. In the back sat an average looking human man. Salkri waved in the favored greeting of most travelers and was acknowledged in return. A click behind him regained his focus. Twisting back around he took in the sight and smell of a well-prepared bowl of stew.
“Oh yes, this be wut Oi was lookin’ fur” He said as he rubbed his palms together in an excited tick.
He reached for the spoon placed on the counter but paused. He looked back at the barkeeper.
“Do you accept trade?” the dwarf asked with the first sign of hesitation.
The barkeeper nodded, “So long as you provide a good of equivalent value within sensible boundaries.”
Salkri’s eyebrows joined a moment as he remained quite still, thinking over the response to ensure the barkeep had agreed.
“Gud, gud.”
The dwarf settled in to enjoy the first decent meal he had had since he had left the last city he had traded at more than three weeks ago.