"Ahhhhh thats better!" I said gulping down a frothy mug of ale. "Baaaarrrrp! Excuse me!" Someone in the corner muttered something about 'manners of a dwarf' but I let it slide. A couple of fellas were sitting near me at the bar.
"Did you see that idiot who smartmouthed Fred at the gate, haw haw!"
"Yep, sittin' on a tree stump with his head in his hands. He had a big-looking sword with him though! I hope he's not gonna give us any problems!"
"Members of the town guard." I figured. I sounds like JVB out there. "The fool's going to blow his cover...and mine!"
I tossed a gold coin at the barmaid. It landed with a plop in her cleavage. "Here you go, dearie. I'll be back in a second."
"I'll still be here, shortarse" She replied. I looked at her again. She was pretty, even for a human. Her long flowing curled hair draped over her shoulder. The darkness in it matched her eyes, mysterious and sultry. "There's more to that woman." I thought.
I walked back to the gate. "Hello again Fred." I called to the guard.
"Ah, Womble wasn't it? How do yer like our tavern? Especially the barmaid eh?" He said with a gratuitous wink. "Too tall for me!" I replied and laughed. Fred gave a toothless grin. "Yikes!" I thought.
"I heard you had some smartarse at the door?" I said.
"Yeah, some joker, I just thought I'd leave him out there for a while."
"Ah well, you see, that smararse is a messenger for me. I've been expecting him for a while and it would be nice if I could get the message he has for me, if you know what I mean."
"Well, I don't know."
"Maybe this will help..." I said holding a gold piece.
"Its starting to help!" I sighed. There was nothing more irritating than a guy who knew he had you by the short and curlies.
Fred finally agreed on three gold pieces and opened the door.
"Come in boy!" JVB smiled and started to speak but the look I gave him silenced him.
"Thanks Womble." He said sheepishly when we were inside. "No problem!" I said, "you owe me 3 gold pieces by the way."
