The Brotherhood of Dwarves: Book 01 - The Brotherhood of Dwarves by D.A. Adams

tune unfamiliar to Roskin. Both dwarves stood without talking for nearly a minute.
    “Tell you what,” Grussard said, taking the sword back from Roskin. “Make it four coins, and I’ll give you some of the local currency to get you around.”
    “Agreed.”
    “Come back in a bit. I need to sharpen this thing and find something for you to carry it in. And I’ll take half my pay now.”
    Roskin gave Grussard the two coins and went outside to get Red to show him to a tailor’s house to get local clothing. The old man was still on the bench, and the bottle was less than half full. His speech had become slurred, and he wobbled when he stood.
    “May I?” Roskin asked, reaching for the bottle.
    “Sure. Anything for you, my good friend.”
    Roskin corked the bottle and slipped it into a small sack on his belt.
    “That’s mine. I paid for it.”
    “I’ll let you have it back, but take me to the tailor’s.”
    “Okay, but that’s my whiskey. I’ll not be swindled.”
    “Just lead the way.”
    Red looked around at the buildings, trying to get his bearings, but the liquor was doing its job too well. He sat back on the bench and closed his eyes. Roskin helped him lay on the bench, and he began muttering about some battle he had been in long ago. Disgusted, Roskin left the old man there and started back to Molgheon’s place. She could give him directions, and by the time he could get fitted, the sword would be ready. Then, he would pick up and pay for the clothes and feel less conspicuous. On the way, he got lost twice and had to backtrack to find the right alleys. As he neared the tavern, the dark fear began to rise, not as suddenly as with the orcs but steadily nonetheless, and as he reached the back entrance, he heard human voices coming from inside. He crept to one of the rear windows and peeked inside.
    Several guards were there in full arms, and two were badgering her about where the stranger had gone. For her part, Molgheon kept repeating that he had left before sunrise and that she knew nothing else. Roskin wanted to help her, fearing that they were about to get violent, but he had no weapon, save the dagger, and there were too many of them to grapple, so he watched as the interrogation continued. To his surprise, the humans didn’t touch her, despite raising their voices and knocking chairs from the tables.
    “He was just passing through,” she said. “He paid me a few coins to sleep upstairs.”
    “Dwarf, if we find out you are lying, we’ll tear this place to pieces.”
    “Yeah. He’s worth a lot to the slave trader, which means he’s worth a lot to us. You wouldn’t want us to have to collect that money from you, right?”
    “I got no reason to help a dark beard,” Molgheon said, still not showing any emotion.
    “That’s good. You’ve always been good, for a dwarf.”
    “If you remember anything, let us know. We’ll consider it a favor, if you understand.”
    “I’m loyal to the Great Empire,” she said, staring down.
    The two soldiers in charge barked instructions at the others, telling them to pair off and search the whole town, but Roskin didn’t wait to hear everything. He hurried back down the alley towards Grussard’s shop and made the right turns this time. Red was asleep on the bench, wheezing in a steady rhythm, and Roskin shook him mightily. The old man coughed from deep in his chest and slowly opened his eyes.
    “I need out of town,” Roskin said.
    “Follow the road.”
    “Wake up, you old fool. I’m in trouble. Help me.”
    “Where’s my bottle? Give me my bottle.”
    “I’ll give you the bottle when I’m safe.”
    “That’s not fair. I paid for it myself.”
    “I don’t have time for this. The soldiers are after me for killing three orcs.”
    “Orcs!” Red growled, stumbling to his feet. “Where? I’ll tear them apart.”
    “I already killed them.”
    “You killed them all?”
    “I think, but the soldiers are after me.”
    “I’ll help you kill more