DnD Wife Stories

The group of travelers moved away from the scroll stall after their purchase and continued walking down the path. Drexla hovered in front as the scroll weighed her down a bit. After a few more moments she managed to reach the cart and stash her new treasure away. Bricky had a confused look on his face for a long time before he spoke up.

“Why is everyone being so rude here? I just vanted to see his vares.”

“Well, they are here to sell, you know,” Luna pointed out, “So when a potential customer doesn’t have money, it makes them a little grumpy.”

“I did not know.”

“They are also amenable to trading, if you have anything to trade but no money.”

“Vell zat is a problem as what you see…”

“Is what you get. I see.”

“Ja, I come with only ze clothes on my back.”

“Well you let me know if you’re feeling hungry or anything.”

“Oh nien, nien, I have not been hungry for…a season.”

“Ah, I don’t quite know what that means, but if you need anything, let me know.”

“some of dese guys seem really mad at you Tobias. why? did u steal someting?” asked Bogbean with curiosity in her eyes.

“No.”

The others eyed Tobias with scrutiny for a long time after that answer. They each took their assessment of the answer given and Tobias’ deeds along the way. As they were all pondering, Luna went rigid all of a sudden. Her eyes went white and she slumped over. Bricky caught her to keep her from falling.

Some time passed as they all watched her with vigilant eyes for signs of recuperation. Eventually, the white in her eyes faded back to her normal vibrant violet and she regained her senses with a loud gasp. A cold sweat had broken out on her skin and it was clammy from the experience. She held a hand to her head as the jarring nature of whatever had happened still resonated through her. The sounds of her worried friends came to her as if approaching from far away, getting louder as time passed.

“Ya alright?” asked Captain V with wary look on his face.

“All is gut?” Bricky chimed in.

“Ya okay”

“I-I’m fine,” Luna brushed the concerned off and looked at Tobias, “From what I remember you’re supposed to be a hero not hated. What happened? You were once loved by all the MyrRin.”

“Not for as far back as I can remember. Long before my time.” Tobias replied with a solemn expression.

“How long?” asked Bricky.

“Hmm, before my grandfather was born. Before our kingdom was stripped from us.”

“wait ur a king?”

“No, no. It was just a time when all of the Rhomar existed together, in one large settlement, instead of roaming around in separate tribes. That was about four generations ago now.”

“I remember a strange name. Do you know someone called Tarjan, Tarjan Shadowmane?

Tobias knew the last name. He did not know the first name and he had a suspicion he knew why. It must be the name of the Betrayer. It is the only name he did not know in his clan, because it was never spoken since the day of the Betrayal. Luna realizing she had said this out loud, looked around to see if anyone had heard or was upset about their conversation. She soon realized that the unintended boon of Tobias being shunned was that people gave them a wide berth and did not linger nearby. Their conversation was as safe as could be.

Luna even noticed that the scroll vendor who had been so inviting and accommodating, had rolled down his curtain and closed as soon as Tobias had appeared.

“Oh jeez,” she murmured to herself in displeasure. She turned back to Tobias with a sorrowful look.

“I’m so terribly sorry for, whatever happened.”

“Again, it was long before I was born.” Tobias tried to deflate the situation a bit.

“I thought you were champions of your people not outcasts.”

“To some people at some time perhaps.”

“Always to the MyrRin people. I’ve seen many in the past line up to praise to your family and their name.”

“Well, not in newer generations. No.”

That was about two hundred and fifty years of being outcast from the MyrRin.

“It is nothing new to me.”

“Zat is curious. I zought you did not know each ozer?”

“We don’t. It’s just that being here, in this place, with him, I was hit with a wave of, what I can only describe as, remembrance.”

“Wow, vell ze closest I got to zat feeling was when eating his buns. I vould very much like to know how you do zat, Tobias.”

“Ah, no.”

“Vhy not?”

“It is a trade secret.”

“But vhat if I need to remember more?”

“Then I’ll feed you.”

“Ah, vell scheisse.”

“hes just interested in doze shini things.”

“What shiny things?”

“u call it moni or someting.”

“Oh, gold coins!”

“yea he jus wants those coins.”

“Hey!” Tobias exclaimed, a bit offended by the statement, “It helps you do a lot of things. Like live. And not get your teeth kicked in when walking in certain places.

Luna gave Bogbean a knowing wink, “If you do things for people, they can give you some shiny coins as payment.”

“oh!”

“So, perhaps if you offer something to these people, they might pay you for it.”

“Are you absolutely sure zat’s how zat vorks?”

“Well, I don’t interact much with people, but I’ve seen people give shiny gold coins for other things like food and supplies. I’ve done it myself.”

“Vell, zat is a new concept to me. I vorked nearly every day of meine life and vas not paid a single coin.”

“Well, that’s slavery. Forced labor.”

“At ze end of ze night ve vould sit in a chair und sometimes ve vould get a yellow elixir to drink. Usually, about once a veek.”

“Well that sounds like a payment but it doesn’t sound like a lot to me.” Captain V scoffed.

“Vhen ve vere done sitting in ze chair ve alvays felt better.” Bricky replied with a shrug.

“Well now you can take jobs and get paid.” Luna said with a cheery look, “Then you can make some money. You’re big and strong. You can help people move stuff or something and get paid for it.”

“Then you can buy your own chair and weird yellow drink.” Tobias chimed in.

The group of traveling strangers shared a laughed at the quip.

“Vhat about payment for all the chores I did for you on ze vay here?”

“You got here didn’t you? I fed you and gave you a place to sleep. How rude.”

“I did not eat your food!”

“That’s too bad, I still gave it to you so…” Tobias just shrugged.

Bricky just smiled faintly and shook his head.

Drexla was busy looking around for something. She spotted fairly quickly as two vendors packed up an left in a huff at the sight of Tobias, leaving open stalls for Drexla’s pick. She quickly picked up a bundle and flew down to set up a makeshift shop.

“Trinkets! Get your trinkets here! Entertain your loved ones with a mechanical wonder!”

She shouted and shouted, hoping for some customers. Customers to give her shiny coins so she could buy more parts for her elaborate ideas. Oh how she longed to bring some of her contraptions to life. Perhaps, with enough gold coins, she would one day make whatever she wanted anytime she wanted.

As she shouted, there were no customers taking her up on her offer. They were largely avoiding the areas where Tobias walked and talked with people. However, some large steps were felt stomping in their direction. A large hand clamped down on Tobias’ shoulder from behind him and he cringed with dread at who it might be.