Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Alfvaen)
Subject: Maleiu: [inn, near fire] TO Tvarne and Serene
Message-ID: <1992Jun2.154641.18786@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca>
References: <1992Jun2.113002.5992@uniwa.uwa.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1992 15:46:41 GMT


Characters: Maleiu, Tvarne, Serene, others in inn(tangentially)

> A tall strongly muscled black man wearing only a loincloth enters and
> sits near the fire.  Tvarne studies the scar around the man's neck, and
> then stands and wanders to the bar, ordering a meal, to be delivered to
> the man.  Collecting his cloak from the rack before returning to his
> chair, he offers it to the man in a low voice.  "Here, warm thyself, and
> cover that accursed mark."

Maleiu looks up in surprise at Tvarne, not comprehending for a moment.  He  
shook off thoughts of his faraway village and slowly takes the cloak from  
Tvarne.  "Thank you, sir.  I am in your debt."  He speaks in a deep baritone  
voice, and his Common is strangely accented, with almost an educated lilt to  
it.  Tvarne realizes that as the man says this he is totally serious.  He  
puts the cloak around his shoulders, and then remembers the end of Tvarne's  
statement and brings it up around his neck.

Serene comes by with a plate of steaming stew and fries.  Maleiu looks at  
Tvarne again, eyebrows raised.  "Is this courtesy of that gentleman too?" he  
asks Serene.

Serene nods, and Maleiu takes the plate from her.  "Could I have a cup of  
goat's milk, as well?"  His question is directed as much at Tvarne as  
Serene, but Serene goes to fetch it for him.

"As I said, sir, I am in your debt.  I do not take these things lightly.  I  
hope you will allow be to offer you equal recompense, at some point.  My  
name is Maleiu, and I am of the Nariawah tribe.  And you, sir?"  Maleiu digs  
in hungrily to the meal as he awaits Tvarne's answer, eating slowly and  
carefully as one who has been fed meagerly for days.

--
---Alfvaen(a.k.a. Aaron V. Humphrey)
Canadian Network For Space Research, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Her hair spilled out like rootbeer...
Current Album--Comedy Classics