7.37 - Baby Duelist
Things had calmed down significantly in Broken Tusk. Rowan, of all people, appreciated how unexciting life had gotten. It was back to the old days of stomping through the swamp, poking turtles, and getting up to trouble as often as possible. That didn’t mean there weren’t important tasks he could ignore, though. Even when he wasn’t serving the archduke, he was often given side-quests. Today was no different.
Shifting from the shadows, Rowan came out into the wide, open-air market and smelled the stink. He nodded to people as he passed, searching for anyone that fit the bill. Theo had given him specific instructions. Vials of potions clattered in his leather bag. He could have brought them into his inventory, but he liked the sound.
Now that the healers weren't busy with the space elves, he had been freed from his spare time duties, but it didn't hurt to prowl the popular areas of the city. At any moment somebody could get injured, and those in charge of the town saw it as their responsibility to keep people safe.
"There's a foul wind blowing from the north," Rowan overheard a dwarf muttering as he passed between two vendors' stalls. He stopped leaning against the shoddy counter and raised a brow at the man.
"Where did you even come from?" Rowan asked, drumming his fingers on the counter. "I know dwarves don't sail."
"That's moderately insensitive of you, half-ogre," the dwarf said, his bushy brows knitting. “I came overland from the north. There are finally enough bridges, and lacking necromantic power, we can travel again.”
“So, the whole thing with Balkor didn’t even shake the dwarves?” Rowan asked with a booming laugh. He smacked his hand on the counter, perhaps a little too hard, as it shifted to one side.
“Careful with your giant meat paws.” The dwarf grumbled, adjusting the counter. “But yes, that's the advantage of living underground.”
Rowan had fun going around the market, but there weren't people to help, so he grew bored. Fortunately for him, something rang out from the north. A wind that dwarf was talking about came to visit Broken Tusk. The air rumbled for a moment, sending some people clattering sideways. A sound issued from far in the distance, shaking the very ground. And then the stampede started. Panicked merchants rushed for the eastern gate, finding refuge deeper inside the city.