Grukr's Cup

"Oi, 'nother round, boy!"

 

The young man weaved expertly through the crowd in the pub. He put the tray on the table as four filled mugs was placed on it. The bartender huffed humorously as he looked at his helper run to and fro, making sure to keep his eyes and ears open for any cues for refills.

 

The young man swiftly delivered the ale to the table, with four soldiers sitting around it. The man who shouted earlier made an impressed laughter.

"You're damn fast at that! What's your name, boy?"

 

"Thomas, sir. If I may, what sends you here? I thought the Culled Duck at the other end of the town offered free drink and lodgings for soldiers," Thomas noted. The soldier chuckled.

 

"You're bright, to boot! Well, we're celebrating. Duck's ale tastes like piss and we wanted som'ing special for Eric here!"

 

The soldier punctuated the name by slapping the back of the guy next to him.

"We had a skirmish earlier, and were vastly outnumbered. But Eric here, he just up and challenges the leader of the enemy platoon to single combat! Struck him down like a sickle to wheat!"

 

Thomas gave an impressed nod. "Did they lay down weapons or something?"

 

The man gave an incredulous shake of his head, wiping away the sweat from his face.

"See, you'd think that. What they actually did was charge at Eric. Yet he must have been possessed by some demon or something, for he alone must have taken down about twenty of them before we made it over to him. He was standing on a god damn PILE of bodies when we had beat them back. We didn't have any casualties whatsoever! So once more, to Eric!"

 

The whole bar resounded with a "HURRAH!" as most of the patrons lifted their mugs in unison.

 

"Mighty impressive," Thomas admitted. "Know what? Have that one on me, Eric. You sound like you earned it."

 

Eric lifted his mug at Thomas in a gesture of gratitude. "Thanks, mate. I see why people prefer this place now."

 

The other guy nodded as Thomas walked away.

"No saucy wrenches to distract you, but drinks're top notch and the service is brilliant!"

 

Thomas went back up to the bar, waiting for new drinks to deliver.

"Take a mug from my pay Frederick, decided to give Eric a freebie."

 

Frederick laughed as he poured up some more mugs of ale.

"You're gonna starve yourself if you keep that up. I'll let that one slide, make it a completely free one. This squad is going to pay well more than one single mug of ale can. Table four, two mugs. Table six, four mugs."

 

Thomas was swift in delivery as the soldiers slowly began to sift out of the pub, having drunk their fill and started waddling back to their beds.

 

Eventually, everyone but the regulars and Eric was left. Knowing that there was not much to do by now, Thomas sat down at Eric's table, placing the tray next to himself.

 

"Why aren't you heading for bed yet? Your squadmates said something about an early address."

 

Eric looked up from his half-empty mug.

"I don't know. I feel weird somehow. It's like some veil was lifted from my eyes, only to be replaced by another. Hell, it didn't even feel like I was in control when I suddenly challenged that bloke. I think I'm not giving this my all, either. Something's holding me back and I don't even know what it is."

 

Thomas gave him a quizzical look as he backed off a bit.

"How much have you had so far?"

 

Eric made an amused noise.

"I've still not finished the one you gave me. I suddenly got to thinking after you presented it to me."

 

He turned towards Thomas.

"What do you think? It feels like something is pulling me in seven different directions, yet I don't know how to act on it."

 

Thomas mulled it over a bit.

"What about adventuring?"

 

"What about it?"

 

"I think a guy of your... What, prestige? I think prestige anyway, I think you're better served battling the more dangerous things, like the orcs or even manticores if you get that far."

 

Eric thought hard about Thomas' words, eventually coming to a conclusion of his own.

"You know what, you might be right. Hell, I might even strike it lucky and find a large treasure early on. You know what, thanks. If I ever see you later when I'm and powerful, I'll be sure to remember you and pay back on this favor."

 

As Eric suddenly got up and finished the rest of his drink in one gulp, he thanked Thomas and left.

 

All Thomas could say after he'd gone out the door was "But you don't owe me anything."