>>6137621“Well I hope it wasn’t too much trouble!” Says Obber as he gives you and Volka a once-over before remembering something! “Where are my manners? I didn’t introduce you to my friend, did I?”
Let me guess, you say with a wry smirk, his name’s Obber? Both Obber and Maybe-Obber frown in confusion.
“Huh? No, his name’s Bobber!”
“Pleased ta’ meet’cher.” Bobber grunts, his smile missing several teeth as he shares it with you.
“Bobber here’s runs a Snarin’ Business with his sons!” Explains Obber as he gives his pal a spirited smack on the shoulder! “Best Cholps in Crossroads!”
“Wouldn’t call ‘em the best, but they’re up there.” Laughs the uh, ‘Snarer’ politely. “You swing by to <span class="mu-b">DOCK 28</span> anytime, though! We’ll letcha’ judge for yerselves!”
“Oh we’ll <span class="mu-s">BE</span> there!” Gushes Volka, the Skog drooling like a tusked Niagra Falls! “W-we <span class="mu-i">WILL</span> be there, right, Rook?”
Sure, you half-nod, it’s uh… they’re <span class="mu-i">food</span>, right?
“Hah! Depends! Do ya’ consider steamin’-hot fried seafood coated in spice butter <span class="mu-i">food</span>?”
Yes, you stammer as the mental image takes root in your brainmeats, yes you DO!
“Then yea, it’s food!” Volka concludes with a wink!
Maybe being trapped here isn’t so bad…
“So,” Obber begins as Bobber excuses himself and Tzah-Tzie starts to stirr in Volka’s grip, “I take it this means I’ll be getting my scheckt soon, right?”
He takes it correct, you laugh! It’s all set, so he can get to brewing! Chop chop! When no one else laughs, you raise an eyebrow at the warehouse worker. Errr, please?
“Sorry, Ant,” Obber explains with a polite laugh, “Brewin’ a full shipment ain’t gonna happen overnight!”
You blink. So, what, two nights? Something about that genuine question causes the Gnok to nearly tumble over the counter in hysterics! You can’t help but feel a little hurt when it takes him five minutes to recover, and when he does Obber’s eyes are damp with tears!
“Tell… tell ya what, kid…” Ducking beneath the counter, a loud metal <span class="mu-s">CLANG</span> rings out across the warehouse causing you and Volka to jump and Tzah-Tzie to rouse from her sleep with a high-pitched yelp! As the latter falls from the Skog’s grip onto the floor, the rest of you simmer down when Obber stuffs a familiar <span class="mu-b">PIECE OF METAL</span> into your hand–the Innkeeper’s token now stamped with a maze of tiny grooves!
“Give this to <span class="mu-b">INNGO–</span> tell ‘em it’ll be about three days. That’ll make ‘em happy.”
Wait, you retort in disbelief, <span class="mu-i">Three</span>? Why’d he laugh at two, then?
“Two’s <span class="mu-i">WAY</span> too soon!” Snorts Obber as he gives his counter another slap! “Come on now, Ant!”
“Whazzat about two days?” Mumbles Tzah-Tzie as she rises to her feet like a zombie!
“HAH! It never gets old!”
>CONTD. 