"Wait you're telling me you fought off a giant spider and her brood with ghosts you ignited? I just dont' believe that." The smith who's name Dak had finished one of my shackles and was almost done with the other, I figured he was going to smash them open or something, but instead he had a set of small metal tools he was working the locks with, it was difficult and time consuming, though I was happy for how it was also not dangerous to my hands.
"That's the most unbelieveable part?"
"Yep, just can't buy that, you being a necromancer who's lived a long time, makes sense seen all kinds of things, but fire ghosts taking on spiders? Nope that will just not fly with me." Kachunk the shackle released and I felt the power return (damn anti magical garbage, all it takes is one completed shackle to lock your abilities, its so they can chain two magical people together and screw them both).
"You are a scholar sir." I felt better, I still smelt like crap and my ribs hurt all over, just breathing caused me pain, but I could use magic again, and like seeing an old friend it was welcome.
"Can I keep the shackles? This is the real deal and not the cheap shit they sell nobles afraid of boogeymen." He was holding the shackle up appraising it gingerly.
"Sure might as well give you something for your trouble, though be careful those were military."
"And they'll be melted before anyone comes looking for them, the metals good though, should be able to sell it for something." He tossed the shackles into an empty cauldron, they clanged rather loudly.
"So how did you..." I was interrupted mid question by a looming shadow approaching the entrance. The shadow belonged to a guy that looked like he hadn't missed a meal, ever. Under his considerable gut was a rather large looking pistol, his clothing was stretched to the brim to hold him in but looked rather clean. Clean shaven with long blonde hair, I couldn't see his eyes because of some weird goggles. I didn't see an entourage, but again his size obscured the entrace well enough.
"Dak, who's your friend?" His voice was high, kind of squeaky even.
"Trezlan Lorentino Mayor, a new resident how just came to town." Dak responded almost with reverence of the larger man.
"Smells like shit, you Lorentino what are you doing in my town?" He sniffed the air like my very presence offended him.
"I'm a traveler just passing through, stopped in to Dak's here to see if he had some trinkets to sell." It was as good an excuse as any, and I figured it would be better to keep my true nature obscured, especially since I didn't know if the Ronerawth military was actively looking for me.
"And the shit smell?"
"An unfortunate accident upon my arrival in your lovely town." He gave me a sour look, but seemed satisfied.
"If he gives you any money Dak remember our arrangement, Lorentino I got my eye on you, if you cause trouble I'll have the Ronerawth military down here so fast you'll think the fire god herself has struck you down." With that he trundled off, I could see as he was leaving a meek looking shorty woman following after, she looked at Dak with the desperate eyes of someone begging for forgiveness.
"Who's that tub of crap?" I waited before he would be out of earshot and kept my voice low, never know who might be listening.
"Mayor of Undertown."
"Mayor? How progressive so you guys vote?"
"Nope, that's just what he calls himself, anyone who disagrees sees the business end of that pistol he was carrying."
"And the girl?"
"My daughter Jayna, his wife." The thought sent shudders down my spine, not that Dak would have a shorty daughter, that she would be that mans wife.
"Sorry to hear that."
"Best I could do really, lifes tough down here and after her mother died it was just me and her, when I got tossed from my shop up above things got worse, better to be fed and screwed, then just plain screwed."
"Sorry all the same, you wouldn't happen to have a room for rent or anything would you?"
"Nope, but I do have a room for share and you seem decent, aside from of course being a necromancer who tends to overexagerate, all I ask is one thing."
"And that is?"
"Clean your self off, you reek like day old ass." And so I had a place to stay after I found a place to wash off, which turned out to be in the form of a natural spring that wasn't too corrupted from the stink of Undertown. And so my first full day in Undertown came to a close, I left my clothes hanging near the old man's forge much to his look of anger at doing so and found a dirty old cot where I could sleep in the back. Sleep was nice, if only a little painful with each movement. Damn ribs. Tommorrow I shall tell you of my date with the mayor! And yes he is as dreamy as I thought.
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