“Wizards are Trouble” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 28: Granthurg

The sun was shining on Granthurg’s face when his eyes opened. It took him a minute to adjust his sight. He saw the blanketed form of Thissraelle sleeping on the other side of the barge’s steering platform. There was a cool morning breeze blowing the smell of the early morning fish catch being cooked and sold off the wharf. The swirling air also carried the sounds of carts and people starting their day along the RiverFront.

He rolled over and sat up. He was surprised to see Rinkmorr down on the cargo deck, a few feet away. Once they were in a city, Rinkmorr usually spent his days at the inns and shops, finding more cargo, and an occasional passenger. Here, he was kneeling in front of a large open chest. It was wooden, reinforced with iron straps and corners, and Granthurg recognized this as the chest where Rinkmorr kept all of his personal belongings. Rinkmorr was looking into a smaller wooden box that he had resting on some blankets and folded shirts inside the larger chest.

Before Granthurg could see what was in the box, Rinkmorr closed it and tucked it deep underneath the clothing and bags in the Chest. Then, with a heft, he swung the chest lid closed and locked it with a key from his pocket.

Granthurg called out, “Good Morning!”

Rinkmorr jerked, startled by the greeting.

“Oh!” He hesitated, “You’re up!” He glanced at Granthurg and then back at the chest. He pushed it back into its place sternward on the cargo deck, then stood and walked toward the platform. As he stepped up, he gestured to Thissraelle’s still sleeping form.

“Look, what you do and who you’re with is your own business,” He whispered, “But be careful. She’s a wizard. A lot of people don’t like wizards. I like them less and less, the more I hear!”

“She’s fine! She’s just a lost elven girl.”

“Yeah? Well, I trust elves even less than I trust wizards.”

Granthurg thought about this, then smiled out of the corner of his mouth. “Wait. Aren’t you a wizard? You use magic to drive the barge upstream. You’ve used it to heal me, and many other times, too.”

“That’s different! I’m a merchant and a riverman who happens to know a few tricks. She’s a full wizard!” He paused and glanced back down at the chest, then gestured up at the city. “And don’t get smart with me, either. Remember they pay me, and then I pay you. And they’re not going to pay me to haul their goods if there’s a mage on the barge. Especially that one, after that clash on the quay yesterday!”

Granthurg just stared at his boss, wide-eyed and surprised.

“Don’t give me that look! Unless she’s a paying passenger, get her off the barge!” Rinkmorr turned and stepped off the platform. He strode toward the loading plank. “With any luck, I’ll have some good cargo by tomorrow and we can get back on the river! We’ve still got these few loads to take to PortsTowne as well.”

Granturg watched him stride up the pier and onto the quay.  That’s not like him to be so unfriendly! I wonder what got him so upset? We did really well with the loads this run, so it’s not about money, unless he lost it all throwing lots...

Granthurg shrugged and bent to fold up his blanket.

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing.


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