here is my promised chapter for the week, though I should get at least one more in this week. i would once again like to thank rouge for his proofreading support, it brings a much better story.

without futher ado chapter 19

-------Therin’s POV----------------------

“You’d think it would be easy finding a human and a dragon in a city of elves.” I thought to myself as I navigated the city streets. I made my way through the crowded market place. I walked, passed the various stalls and shops as I searched for the missing duo. I searched street after street, between the different stone buildings, I looked in store after store. In the end, I found the pair in a back alleys armor shop. Glad that i found the duo, I walked into the shop and looked at the dragon sleeping on a table in the corner.

“You guys were fun finding.” I said as Atheros jumped a bit.

“Ah Therin, what took you so long ?” Atheros replied while buckling up some poorly made greaves.

“The meeting took longer than expected.” I replied, “More importantly what are you doing here, I said to meet in the market.”

“I was trying to find some new armor.” He replied as he checked the fit.

“And you came here?” I asked looking at the other poorly made armor in the room.

“Yah, it’s not as expensive here as other places.” He replied before taking off the greaves.

“Yes, because these are rejects for testing.” I replied chuckling a bit.

“What do you mean?” he asked dumbfounded.

“Look at the finishing on the greaves, they haven’t even been enchanted.” I said pointing out the lack of enchantment runes, “They are cheap, probably made by an apprentice, so you can test spells and such using actual armor. .”

“Dang, everywhere else it is at least several thousand gold coins!” He replied looking a bit defeated.

“Then you have been had.” I replied laughing. “A good suit of light mail should run about seven eight hundred.”

“Could you two be quiet, I am trying to sleep here.” The dragon growled from the corner.

“You know what,” I said ignoring the looks of the blacksmith, “let’s head back to my place, and we can figure out our plan from there.”

“Are you sure that the house is still owned by you?” Fafnir asked opening one eye.

“I checked with a couple of squad mates and they said it has not been sold off.” I replied, “And I should still have my spare key hidden where I left it.”

“It is better than having to listen to the clanking of ‘can’t put armor on quietly’” the dragon said before standing up.

We left the store and made our way to my abode. When we arrived I looked at the small villa which I lived in. It was a simple square two story stone house, set between two that were lavishly decorated, unlike the others around it. The house did not have the extra engravings as others nor was it trimmed with gold. It was an austere black stoned house that looked out of place.

“Hold up for a second,” I said to the pair before I walked to the side of the house I walked about halfway down the wall just past where the chimney juts out from the house, until I found the marking I had left on the wall. I reached down and I dug up the moss covered ground that was hiding the key that I had left there several years ago.

I headed back to the front door and unlocked it. We entered into the house; all the surfaces were covered in a layer of dust.

“You should dust more.” Fafnir said chuckling a bit.

“You don’t say,” I replied sarcastically, glaring at the dragon.

I quickly gave a small tour of my abode while making a list of the things that needed to be repaired and cleaned. I led the group to the back of the house where the practice hall was located. I opened the oak doors. It was the same as I remember, the two story room with obsidian floors, now gray due to the dust, and practice weapons of various sizes and shapes on racks mounted on the walls.

“Fafnir,” I said to the dragon, “I was thinking that this could be your room. It is big enough that you can be your normal size in here. After me and Atheros clean up, I will see about getting a few carpets to nap on.”

The dragon walked into the room and looked about. After a few seconds he spread his wings and he swiftly brought them down causing all the dust to fly into the air. I covered my faces as the wave of wind hit me. Coughing a bit, I watched as all the dust started to accumulate into a pile in the corner. I could see my face in the shine that the floor had acquired from Fafnir’s little trick. “Dang!” I said impressed.

“This room should be fine now.” Fafnir said as he started to curl up in the far corner of the room. “Wake me when we are about to eat.”

We both looked at each other before leaving the room and quietly shutting the door behind us. “Let’s leave the dragon be,” I said to Atheros.

“I agree.” he replied.

“Do you mind helping me clean up the place?” I asked.

“I don’t mind at all, though why do you have such a big space ?”

“One has to keep up an appearance, befitting a leader of the city guard.” I parroted the same answer that I was given when I asked that question. When I was told I had to move from my old home.

“That sounds wasteful.” Atheros replied.

“I also used to let squadmates stay here after some of the wild parties we used to hold.” I replied thinking of all the crazy things we used to do. “We never did find the rest of that sheep…” I said to myself.

Atheros and I spent the next several hours cleaning the dusty house. I also took the time to wash the sheets so Atheros and I had someplace to sleep that would not cause us to choke.

“Hey Therin,” I heard Atheros call out, from down the hall. I walked to where Atheros was standing.

“What is this room used for?” He asked looking into the tiled bathroom.

“It is a bathroom where one may wash himself,” I replied, “I suggest you use it later this evening.”

“I cleaned myself several days ago at the river we crossed.” Atheros replied.

“That is true, but we are in an elven city now where we clean ourselves more regularly.” I replied.

“I should probably start cooking dinner.” I said when we finished cleaning the house. I quickly left the house and bought the ingredients for the meal. Returning home I started to cook. I made a hearty stew out of boar, adding in vegetables and seasonings. After an hour the smell of the cooking meat had drifted through the house. I was startled when a tiny hungry dragon suddenly poked his head from the door, demanding food.

We were all eating in the dining room when I heard a knock at the door. I Went and answered the door and I was surprised at the elf standing before me.

“So brother, were you going to sneak back into town and not even let your sister know you had returned?” My sister said looking at me with crossed arms.

“Apparently I didn’t need to.” I replied with a frown on my face.

“It is not my fault that you still have issues with mother and father.” She replied holding her hands up.

“True”, I replied with a frown still on my face, “though you did not help any and you have not bothered to see me in several years. So something must have happened.”

“You’re correct.” She replied releasing a sigh, “Do you mind if I come in?”

“Sure.” I replied wondering what could have happened to draw me into family politics. “I am finishing dinner with a few friends and I will join you in the den when I have finished.”

“Your hallucinations do not count as friends you know that.” She replied chuckling a bit.

“Good thing these people are not my hallucinations.” I replied as I went back to the dining room to finish my meal.

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As always please let me know if we missed anything we are mostly human. Also let me know what you think In the comments below