Aldric Holt · human · Alliance · Elwynn Forest
EU · Roleplay PvP
I made a tent. My own leather, a seam down the middle, sewn twice. In Stormwind I put it on the auction block and named the price: two silver and ninety-nine copper, eight hours. A fair price. I know what the leather cost me.
I had spent the money already, in my head. A new string for the bow, salt, a second waterskin.
The auction house smells of tallow and old paper. A boy by the canal told me there is a golden fish in the water, and three wishes for whoever catches it. He said it like a man who has already spent them. A beggar on the bank shouted that he was not blind after all, that he could see, that it was a miracle. A guard did not know where the hunter trainer was. He told me to ask another guard.
That evening I was at Crystal Lake, killing murlocs for the kelp. They come out of the water one after another. Then there were too many, and I said the word I do not say. Help.
A man said: i save u man. Willy Wozza. I said thanks. Later the other thing. I owe you one.
That night I fished until the reeds were still. Then I carried a bottle of liquor to a girl at the vineyards, so she could slip away and see a boy. She said: here goes nothing. I did not wait to see if it worked. I took a room at the inn before light.
I spread fifteen new patterns on the bed and read them until the candle gave out. Gloves, a belt, a quiver, boots named after the moon and a black whelp. Leather is the only thing I read easily.
By midday the tent came back in the mail, wrapped as I wrapped it. Nobody wanted it at that price. I read my own name on the paper and put it in my bag.
I built a fire outside the inn and sat with my back to the wall, so it was in front of me. I always sit that way. One man said thank you for sitting with me. Another thanked me for the fire. Somebody said it looked like a sitting protest. It was not. It was a fire. I told them I know three songs, two are bad. Somebody asked about the third. Then: enough talk, drink. I said out loud that it was warm.
Then north, for the taming. Three beasts for the lesson: a boar, a wolf, a young bear. Then one for myself. The first try failed. A bandit hit me and the bear broke loose. The second time I stood still and let it hit me. A hunter stands still for that. When it was mine I could not hold the bow straight. I did not name it. It is not a dog.
In the mine the kobolds had a geomancer, and the geomancer had a shout: Spider no take book! He called up fire, and the fire walked. Three of them and one of me. By then I was hitting them with my hands, which is not a plan. I remember the floor, and the taste of dust. Then I was outside, in the cold grass, and the walk up the hill took longer than it should. The bear went down with me. I brought him back and fed him.
A warlock took me into a group to fight our way out of the mine. We got out. I said: good fight, good luck.
I carried a book back to Northshire and a report to Goldshire. The priest took the book. The marshal paid me. Nobody asked what it cost.
That afternoon I made another tent. Same leathers, same seam. I set it up in the grass by the fire and sat under it. A stranger walked up to the fire. Bonjour. Almayril. I moved my bag off the dry ground. Sit, I said. Fire's warm. Room for one more. My name is Aldric. I hunt.
Almayril sat. We did not talk much. The bear slept against the canvas. It was the best hour of the two days.
Before dark a farmer asked me to kill a boar called Princess. She had a court of smaller pigs and ruled a pumpkin field. A foolish job. I did it anyway. She was heavier than she looked.
Later I went back in, because the work was not finished. The fire came again. A fireball first, then the rest of them. Twice that day it put me down. The first time I was angry. The second time I was only tired. Then I came back and finished the mine.
After that I was at Stone Cairn Lake and found two guards who never came home. Only their badges were left.
Then the murlocs were on me, and when it was over I said it to a stranger: I owe you one. The list is getting long.
I carried the badges to the camp and the report to Goldshire. The marshal read it and paid me.
In the evening I was at the fire again, cooking boar meat until it was black at the edges. A traveller stopped with a pet at his heel. He asked if I was cold. Then he offered to keep me warm for a couple of silver. I said: not today. Then: rest, I'll watch. He said he was on a journey and had to be on his way. I said: sleep if you want, I am not tired. He said: cute pet. Then he went.
The fire is low. The meat is done. I am not tired.