Chapter 176: Old Tarsus

Einar started his legs along the bazaar without much thoughts in his head. His eyes glancing at the magic circles that surrounded. The tower was wrapped in ethereal looking chains. He knew that whatever was making havoc inside the tower was strong enough to make the protectors of the tower seal it.

The bazaar was unconcerned. There was no sight of panic or even worry on their face. Einar thought that it just one of the perks living near the tower of Nimrod. They all have nerves of steel, and it was impossible to tell their worries. Einar blocked the sun with his left arm and passed a stall selling jewelry. He heard the sound of hammering steel and went to it. He watched dwarf blacksmith pound the hammer and heat it.

“Is that a great sword?” Einar asked.

“Oh, Einar lad,” the dwarf said. “Done with dance?”

“Yes. Trying to have some fresh air. Still using charcoals instead of coals?”

“You bet I am. The coals these days are too pricey. Had to skip on my favorite pastime hobby. Old Dan, the bastard next to me even stopped using coals as well.”

“Old Tarsus, skipping his drinking, what a tragedy.”

“Bah,” Old Tarsus spat on the sword. “You can see that I’m using charcoals because of it. Look at me, my swinging arms are weak and I barely can make anything strong. Oh, you buying something?”

“Not really. Just walking around after battle.”

“You fucking stink, lad.”

“I admit I do. Had to kill a lot for my dancer.”

Old Tarsus measured the sword, “Was she cute?”

“Yes. I think I pissed her off. But what do I know? A woman is the most dangerous creature in the world.”

“My wife was asking me to buy her old wooden doll for her collection. Do you know that bastard in zinc street, that guy who usually smokes a pipe; that elven retard who sells charms? Heard he got his ass kicked by a human. So he went to a healer to had his face healed, but you know, he met a customer who felt like she was scammed so this warrior girl kicked the retard as well.”

“Ah, no wonder I haven’t heard someone’s squeaky voice when I passed that stall with that guy selling bronze wares.”

Einar leaned on the wall, “Old Tarsus, can you make me small knives?”

“Would cost you gold,” Old Tarsus pulled a bucket close. “Why would you need it when you have a good dagger?”

“A good dagger means I can’t just throw it away. I want disposable throwing knives that I can chuck around.”

“You doing that thing?”

“I am a follower of Lady Claudia. We trust you for your skills, Old Tarsus. Also, I’m pretty sure that your old bones can tell what’s going to happen around.”

It was no joke since he was a dwarf that lived in this city for over a hundred years. He had seen things come and go and was one of the few who settled here permanently. Old Tarsus had fathered warriors and have many active grandsons. He was a master of his craft.

“I’ll make you handmade knives myself. Bout to finish this sword so might as well create your knives. Should I send the bill to your house or you’ll pay? Or are you going to shoulder it to the Lady?”

“And have her think that I am buying knives to attack. Old Tarsus, are you ignorant of the lady? I’d punch you if you say ‘yes’.”

“I am, I am, she thought I was trying to kill her. Can’t you believe that the lass just started waving her decorated sword? If I didn’t drink that day then I would have my poor head cleaved. Claudia, that Lady has it hard, and now that the Dance is over. Ain’t that Lady going to be tested by the nobles?”

“And that’s why I’m gathering materials. People tend to think that the four cities are nice when its full of greedy nobles as well. I mean, who wouldn’t want to rule above everyone?”

“That’s people’s nature alright,” the dwarf snorted. “Always looking for the clouds and looking down. Oh, will you be using those steel wires?”

“I don’t plan on hanging someone.”

“But you plan to skewer them with a lot of daggers.”

Einar reached for his pockets, “Here you go, please make them for me, and can you add belts and pockets to hold them?”

“You really are treating my shop as your equipment store. Why not buy a breastplate lad? Can’t be too careful now can you?”

“Breastplate clang too much and it would hinder me.”

“Don’t be overconfident now, lad. I want to see you grow up and bring me your kids.”

“You know what my dream is.”

“I know, and it is a stupid dream. A man should father many children. You are an odd young man, and one day you’ll understand. Oh, but looking at that face of yours, I really do think that maybe you won’t. Talking to you is the strangest thing, you don’t feel young, you don’t feel old, and there are blurred lines around. I mean, who the fuck chats with an old dwarf so casually?”

Einar finally turned his attention to the crowded street and the eyes of the bystanders who were watching a young man chatting it up with an old dwarf. Dwarfs like Old Tarsus was not rare in cities like this, but they are known for their tempers. They were business-minded and they are even worse when you disturb them while they were working. So it was a strange sight to see a young man acting like that to a dwarf.

“Dwarf lover,” the dwarf said. “They’d think that but you are here for wares. Good heavens, if they only know how much of a bloodthirsty fool this young man is.”

“Okay, I think I stayed too long here.”

“Where are you going?”

“Annoy Claudia?”

The Dwarf stopped pounding the sword and pointed at him, “I think you got dropped once by your parents, lad.”

“I wish,” Einar grinned. “See you later, Tarsus.”