Chapter 102

You Make Excellent Company

Thrush

I walked the city a number of times, both on the streets and on the swaying bridges. I was attracted to selling beer to all the taverns and inns. Many of them said the same thing: “Sorry, fully stocked.” I drank at those establishments regardless. No one else had smoked fish, but I was fine with it since I didn’t want to affect my composition too much more.

There were still many more taverns and inns to explore, so off I went to Eye of The Barred Owl, a quaint, bustling inn, favored by travelers. I found out why from Larry, the innkeeper, just before he showed me to the first floor bar.

“We’ve got a lot of unusual offerings,” Larry said. “The locals prefer consistency. They want the same menu. The same drink. The same odds and ends for sale from our resident merchant. We don’t offer that. The last thing we are is consistent. Our products rotate on a daily basis. Keeps us as an exciting destination for travelers. Keeps prices a bit up too.”

“Certainly has me intrigued,” I said.

“Will you be staying overnight? Several nights?”

“I’m only here for a few more nights. You have a resident merchant, you say?”

“In the lounge opposite the bar, right after the stairs to the second floor.”

“Is there a chance the inn serves smoked fish?”

“Always a chance at the Eye of the Barred Owl,” Larry said with a wink.

“I think I’ll take a room for,” I paused to consider. “Three nights.”

“Excellent, Let’s exchange details and payment for a key.”

I paid for room 208. Two windows. Corner of the building.

With my room key in my inventory, I entered the bar and found it busy for the afternoon. There was just enough room for me to stand at the end of the bar where I ordered a stout. Not a very good stout. It tasted of over-boiled collards, seaweed, and clay.

“Brave,” the man next to me commented.

“Brave, the man beside him said, having leaned forward to see past his companion.

“I’ll eat anything,” I said.

“Anything?” the first man said. He nudged his comrade. “We might be in trouble!”

We shared a laugh together, though I tried to lighten the dark irony in mine.

The men were the bored and talkative sort. I listened and said little. They talked a lot but also said little. Fine with me, because I had my beer to finish, and I was waiting to talk with the bartender.

When a more interesting character sat on the other side of the lively pair, I was soon neglected. At that moment, my gaze moved to an approaching figure. The bartender.

“How’s everything?” He said.

“Small problem,” I said.

The bartender paused to listen intently.

[Merchant Options.]

[Merchant’s Intrigue.]

“I’m a merchant, you see. I’ve got more beer than I need. I’ve been to several inns and taverns today but they’ve all said the same thing.”

“And what’s that,” the bartender said, spreading his arms and leaning on the bar.

“I’m sorry. We’re not the type to carry a rotation of beers. We’ve got what we want. That’s what they said. I suppose Eye of the Barred Owl is just the same? Boring, predictable, offering the same beer day in and day out?”

The bartender’s eyes lit with laughter. His mustache danced over a half smile.

“You’re new here,” he said.

“I am.”

“Couldn’t have picked a better inn. We specialize in curating a rotation of beer.”

“I’m in luck,” I said. “Let’s negotiate.”

Bartender clicked his tongue. “Now’s not the time. I’m not the one dealing with inventory. That’ll be Veronica. She’ll be back in two days. Are you staying with us?”

“Room 208.”

“Wait until Veronica is here. She’d be delighted to buy beer from you for next week’s selection.”

“Thank you…” I searched for his name.

“Walter.”

“Thrush.”

“Anything else I can get you,” he said.

“Surprise me,” I said.

“I’ve got a trick then. We call it a snake-bite.”

“That doesn’t quite make sense to me.”

Walter angled a glass pint beneath the tapped keg of a crisp ale. The straw colored beer poured until halfway. Walter grabbed a spoon and moved to another keg. A stout. He trickled the stout over the back of the spoon until the glass was full, revealing two distinct beers, one atop the other, in a single space.

“This is a snake-bite,” he said proudly.

“It’s the name of a drink,” I realized.

“Enjoy,” he said, and moved on to waiting patrons.

Within the hour, the bartender asked if he could introduce me to someone. That someone was invited to sit beside me and we met over beer.

“Kyle,” the fellow said. “Resident merchant.”

“Fortuitous,” I said over a firm handshake. “Thrush.”

“Walter tells me you're also a merchant.”

I nodded perceptibly.

“Reticent,” he said. “Let’s cut the merchant bullshit. What level are you?”

“Six hundred forty-five. You?

“Twelve hundred. Now listen, I’m interested in trading with you but on one condition.”

“I’m interested,” I said. “What's the condition?”

“We do it without employing Merchant Options. We just use our gut. I respect other merchants, and I want respect in return. If we trade with our gut, one of us doesn’t have to walk away from the other feeling taken advantage of.”

“But I like the experience. It helps me level up faster.”

“That’s my condition,” Kyle said.

“I’m intrigued,” I said. “I have one condition too.”

“Now we’re getting messy. What is it?”

“I pay for the next round of beer.”

By Kyle’s smile, we struck a deal.

We traded back and forth over a few more rounds of beers, alternating who paid. I sold many things. I bought many things. The more of my expansive inventory I revealed, the more bewildered Kyle became.

“A tree? A whole tree? You’ve got a whole tree in your inventory? What about the weight? How heavy is it? How do you have space for it? Wait—is it fake?”

“I didn’t mean to unlock that so you could see it,” I said. “Yes, a tree. Might get hungry for it later.”

Kyle reacted as though I’d delivered the punchline of an excellent joke.

“You’re something,” he said, bursting with laughter. “You’re different. I like that.”

I chuckled but said nothing as I perused the rest of his inventory.

There was something familiar in the corner slot. A Fable Stone.

“How much for the Fable Stone?” I said.

“Oof,” Kyle said. He sipped his beer. “At least two hundred and fifty gold.”

“That’s almost all my coin,” I said.

“I like you Thrush. I’d be willing to part with it for an even two hundred.”

It was a deal.

“I know someone who's going to love this,” I said.

Kyle was naturally curious, so I told him it was for a goblin. He balked at first, but the more I described BarnacleEyes, the more intrigued he became. He couldn’t believe it. The more I shared, the more he laughed in bewilderment.

“Incredible,” he said at last. “You make excellent company, Thrush. You know that?”

“I think so,” I said. “Been with myself for a long time.”

Another joke to Kyle.

“Say,” he said after his laughter petered out into soft coughing. “Will you be around for a few days? It would be nice to talk merchant to merchant over some more beer again. What do you say?”

“I’m in town for another few days. I’ll be selling beer to Veronica when she’s back. I’d be delighted to continue our chat.”