The Green Dragon Inn - Part 6

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Niniel lost interest in the elf's story. As important as it might be, it also didn't do much for the pressing question of how she would replenish her steadily diminishing supply of cash. She looked around, half-thinking about picking a few pockets, but more out of boredom. She saw the stable-master--whose name she couldn't quite recall,Dervin...Durfin...Derufin, that was it--trudge up the stairs with a load of what looked like rugs, then he came down again, disappeared, then reappeared with a bulky rocking chair. It was a faintly amusing sight, but it also looked like the poor man needed some help.

She got up and walked across the room to the struggling man. "E-e-excuse me, b-b-but would y-y-you like some h-h-help with that? I-i-it looks h-h-heavy." Without waiting for a response, she took the quilts and picture frames from the seat of the chair and preceded him up the stairs.

"W-w-which room?" she called when she reached the top. Derufin seemed to be just slightly preoccupied with his burden and didn't seem to hear her, so she pressed her back to the wall and waited for him to pass, then followed him to a set of rooms under the eaves. He dragged the chair in and she set the quilts and things down in the seat.

"Thanks," he said gruffly. He looked tired and she wondered if his mutterings earlier had something to do with that. She had caught a few black looks in her general direction, but it was more likely that they had been cast toward Uien, who seemed to have gone completely soft-headed over the golden-haired newcomer. Falowik, or some such name.

"D-d-do you n-n-need help wi-with the horses, s-s-sir? I have-I mean, I used t-t-to trade i-i-in them. W-would I serve? A-a-at least u-u-until Uien starts w-w-work again." She refrained from telling him exactly what kind of trade she had done with horses; she somehow felt that he would not be impressed.

[ September 23, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]