Big City Darkened Nights
#30 - Of Paladins & Thieves

Hoping down Avilo is confronted by an attractive female acquaintance. She easily distracts him into a friendly chat.

Surprised to see Carr run up the elderly woman smiles, “You must really need a warm blanket? The nights are getting colder.”

Picking up one Carr examines the craftsmanship, “That’s why I stopped.”

Observing him she asks. “Oh, do you know how to sew? Are you looking for a certain color or perhaps some nice blankets?”

Pulling out a pale yellow and white quilt Carr checks it over, “Ma would like this one.”

“Ah, a very sweet young man to be thinking of his mother.” She whispers to him, “I like you, so I’ll sell you that one for three silver.”

Retrieving his coin pouch Carr lets her know, “I have no coins to give.”

The old woman sours firmly stating, “No trades.”

With a friendly smile and a wink Carr places a few small gems in front of her, “I do have these. I’m after more than one quilt.”

She holds each on up to the sunlight, “Sure, I can accept these.” She smiles brightly back, “You could take all the quilts for these.”

“Well I’m only after three quilts.” He spies a child nearby begging for coins. “Perhaps a dozen of your warmest blankets too.”

“Sure.” The woman is happy to cater to him, “You’re a wonderful young man what’s your name?”

“Carr.” He selects two more quilts, a multi colored one with many flowers on it, the other green and white, “And what may I call you?”

“Nona,” she refolds and stacks the quilts.

“Well thank you Nona.” Picking up a pile of the heavy blankets Carr takes them to the cart.

Nona carries over the quilts.

Watching him Avilo comments, “You’re certainly generous with someone else’s fortune. What are you going to do with all those blankets?”

Carr grins slyly at Avilo. “What are you going to do with them?” A delightful scent catches his nose. He scans for the source, “That’s the best thing I’ve ever smelt in this city.”

Quizzically Avilo looks over the boy, “Me?”

Nona points out the source of the heavenly aroma, “The bakery is making their pastries.”

“Pastries?” Thinking about the last time he ate pastries Carr’s stomach grumbles with hunger, “Ah, Captain. Just keep chatting with your pretty lady friend.” Like under a hypnotic spell Carr walk straight for the city’s bakery.

“Hey,” Avilo comments, “I didn’t plan on spending my day shopping with you.” Smiling at the ladies Avilo takes the quilts from Nona and arranges them in the back of the wagon.

Seizing a rare opportunity, the lady continues to talk with Avilo lightly flirting with him.

Exiting the bakery Carr has a warm flakey apple pastry in his mouth. In each hand a basket full, offering random people one as he makes his way back to the wagon, “One for you too Nona.”

“Oh, thank you good sir,” Nona gives Carr a kiss on the cheek and takes one of the pastries.

He even treats the hands helping him. With only two left, in one of the baskets, he holds the basket out for Avilo to take, “For you and your lady friend.”

“Well thank you Carr,” the lady takes one encouraging Avilo to take the other, “I’m Desirae. Captain Avilo has been telling me you’re the brave soul who returned the King’s treasure.”

“That’s me,” Carr smiles noticing Avilo’s rolling eyes.

Desirae quietly remarks, “I would’ve wanted to keep the treasure for myself.”

Grinning Carr answers, “Oh, I couldn’t do that.”

Not fully understanding his implication Desirae comments to Avilo, “I thought you were the only good and true man. Is Carr training to be a future paladin?”

Laughing at the thought Avilo chokes on the pastry. Clearing his throat says, “This young man has his own path he wishes to follow.”

Smiling Carr admits to the truth, “I do. Even though we don’t agree with each other’s life. I still try to do the right thing.”

Pointing out the blankets Avilo inquires, “And what am I to do with these?”

Eating his third pastry Carr spits out bits replying, “Remember yesterday I was telling you about Mrs. Basteal and her two children.”

“Yes,” Avilo wonders where he’s going.

“As a nice gesture you should take them the blankets.” Carr puts him on the spot, “You know to show that you and King Halford are concerned with finding out what happened to her husband.”

Desirae looks at them tenderly, “I know them. What a sweet idea Avilo. Do you always help out women widowed by war?”

The answer is no but Captain Avilo says to her, “In certain cases we try to do something.”

Seeing her look a little deeper at Avilo Carr gives them a few more minutes to talk, “While we’re stopped, I’m just going to run over and collect my armor.” Carr sets the other basket of pastries in the wagon.

Happy to spend a little longer with Desirae, Avilo responds, “That’s fine.”

Dashing into the armorist’s shop Carr sees Zei running laces through the leg coverings.

Zei greets him, “Hello Carr, you showed up a bit early. But by the time I’m finished with the calf covers you should be ready to put them on.”

“Oh, yeah?” Carr beholds the body armor, “Well I’ll get started then.”

Noticing Carr’s attire Elija queries, “Did you pick out those fancy red clothes just to go with the new armor?”

“No why?” Carr asks slipping his arms through the new body armor. “It was for dinner last night. I thought it looked the less fruity of the other choices.”

“Dinner, eh?” Seeing the colors together Zei notes, “Actually I think it’s going to look good together. The red will make people think. You just need a skull helmet to match.”

Getting the armor strapped together Carr glances in a mirror, “Maybe. Head gear gets in the way.”

Wanting to see the complete outfit Zei hands the Carr the four arm covers, “I think these will need to be adjusted a bit to stay in place.”

“Thanks,” Carr examines how they’re tied. “Oh, I think these will be perfect. It’s going to be hard to have a foe cut these bindings. They are certainly covered.”

Carr takes a while retying the covers until they fit well enough to cling to the arm sections. Zei finishes with the leg coverings in time to help Carr put them on.

With Desirae gone Captain Avilo advances the wagon to the armorist. Jumping down sees by the sun’s position its midafternoon. Not wanting to eat any more flakey pastries Avilo walks up the steps of the shop.

Standing to get a look at himself in the mirror Carr likes it. Zei and he both observe how it makes him look bigger. Avilo walks in taking a double look.

“Holy,” Avilo remarks, “Carr if I didn’t see your head sticking out that armor, I would have thought that a Lobsterman had stopped in town.”

“What?” Carr looks in the mirror again.

Zei stands back, “Oh yah the red underneath. I can see a Lobsterman, even Crab. I suggested a skull helmet.”

Avilo wants to laugh, “Yup, or a lizard boy.”

Still liking it Carr reminds them, “I stand out in town. But in the woods or even the tall grass, I could easily hide.”

“Aye,” Zei still likes it very much, “It’ll last longer than plate or leather.”

Avilo notices the shoulders and neck protection, “I like this up here can you make a plate with that?”

Hearing that Zei winks at Carr answering, “Aye. Easier to do with the plate.”

Wanting to test and show off the improvements Carr inquires, “Do you have a sword handy?”

“Something safer.” From behind his counter Zei pulls out a hardwood carved practicing sword. “This way my stuff doesn’t get cut up.” He points to the armor on display, “Don’t hit the plate.”

“Okay,” Carr envisions the two racked, leathers as foe. Going through the basic swings Carr stops the blade before connecting.

Zei and Avilo lean against the counter watching Carr’s movements. Increasing the swing speed Carr starts moving around practicing attacks. Both older men are surprised to notice that the young man has definitely been trained to fight.

Avilo speaks to Zei, “I like the way those shoulders move. Make me a suit in plate.”

Thinking about going away Zei inquires. “Can it be done in the spring?”

“Oh, you got paid well for this?” Avilo thinks about it, “Sure. I can’t see a reason for conflict, I can wait.”

“Excellent.” Zei grins, “I did get paid well. A ship is leaving tomorrow. Its’ Captain has allowed me along.”

“You’ll enjoy that.” With the young male handling a safer weapon Avilo would like to know exactly how the Lord of Kapigorn was taken, “Carr show me how you got Krang. I’ll be Krang if it helps?”

Happy too, Carr amuses Zei in the process by ordering Avilo around the shop in different positions. Reaching the final fake out move Carr without warning slashes towards Avilo’s neck.

The Captain jerks his body back. Seeing Carr spin around Avilo was about to point out how he could easily chop him. Carr completes the rotation and thrusts out the sword poking the Captain’s belly as he finishes his thought. “You left your back exposed.”

Stepping back pretending to sheath the sword Carr lets them know, “I think that’s what Krang thought too.”

Laughing lightly Zei is amused, “A skilled Orc warrior killed for thinking he was dealing with a mere Human youth.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Carr grins, “Gets them every time.”

Mindful that after the physical display Carr’s not breathing hard Avilo compliments, “I think one on one you could best any of my men.”

“Really?” Carr smiles wide, “Thanks for thinking so. But I’d rather not prove that today.”

Laughing Zei remarks, “I think the Captain’s also saying the same.”

“Yeah.” the Captain sighs, “They’re only good for a short time on the ground.” He asks Carr, “Do you practice or fight regularly?”

Carr chuckles, “Farming.”

The men look at each other.

Thinking of the physical work involved in chores causes Carr to sigh, “Mainly keeping fires going. Hauling wood out of the brush takes a lot out of ya. The fall harvesting is brutal, that I want to give up into an hour of it. Turning the soil isn’t too bad but I lost the ox in the summer.”

Seeing that as physical enough Zei nods, “Don’t envy that part of your life.”

“I can’t believe all you told me was true,” Avilo extends his hand, “I’m sorry for having no faith in your person Carr.”

Shrugging Carr shakes his hand, “It happens to me all the time. After all I do things, you wouldn’t.”

“So nice,” Zei points to the door, “Now I must ask yous to leave so I can get some sleep.” He suggests to Carr, “Return next year so I can see how its’ doing.” He shakes Avilo’s hand, “Good sir I will get to your armor. Until then I wish you both well.”

“You too Zei,” Avilo exits first to see how the citizens will react to Carr.

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