《Tales of Lost Men》


 Where trouble walks

    Whispers filled the town as an atmosphere of excitement and unrest spread without any signs of slowing down. The people were expecting a visitor they did not know how to accommodate. A man shrouded in legends and mystery was said to be approaching their little town in the borders of a nation that pays them little mind. They were unsure as to what to expect of him for every legend painted him in a different light. The tales sung of him by countless bards each seem to not be related at all. There those who even claim that they speak of completely different men altogether. The Song of Great Lament speaks of a man that gone silent for years, not speaking a word, after losing his life. It is a beautiful song of lost love and sorrow. However, the Song of the Mad Defender speaks of a man that fought single handedly against countless invaders. He spread blood and death across countless battles.


    As the few craftsmen and guards that presided in the town gathered in a hall, the head of the families, mostly fathers and first-borns, followed after them so that may hear the latest news and ease the worries of their loved ones.


    "What do you suppose we are to do?".- Craftsman 1


    "Are we to do anything at all? This man has a thousand legends to his name but the only one that''s actually true is that he goes around solving problems and the like. He doesn''t care for anyone for he has no time for it. He wanders around, guarding the kingdom after all, by the king''s orders. I say we leave him to his business and give him whatever he may need." - Head Guard


    "Yes, that is the problem after all. What problem do we have that requiresthe Mad Defender''s attention. We have to know incase it is a problem that may get us all killed in the process. Last I heard of him, he was fighting Eastern raiders. What do we have that compares to that and how did it come about?" - Craftsman 2If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "Though that may be good point, it won''t be a problem much longer with him here. It may be wise, however, the make investigation after everything is done. We can''t go meddling now and get ourselves killed." - Head Guard


    Unbeknownst to them, it was a group of children at the edge of the town that would be the only witnesses that he was ever in the town at all. A group of children, no older than ten, were spending their rare free time playing at knights at edge of the forest that surrounded the town. They were filled with anticipation for the visit of the walking legend. However, the moment they actually saw him, they were left paralyzed. He stood at six feet tall in a full set of armor. He towered over them. None of the children were brave enough to speak out. He was nothing like they were expecting.


    When people speak of heroes and legends, they speak as though they were one in the same. However, there are legends who aren''t heroic in least. What stood before them didnt feel like a hero in shining armor. He felt wild and unrestrained. The armor was scratched and dirty. Pelts of beast surrounded his figure and his weapons felt unrefined; being made of bones of the beasts he hunted. Worst of all, chains wrapped around him holding in place a large black rectangular block strapped to his back. The block was tall but very thin; giving the impression that a large shadow followed him around. He seem like a more like a nightmare, a cursed warrior that protected the gates of hell instead a great legend that was assigned to protect the lands.


    He saw their fear and hesitation. He had seen them many times, but to him, it hurt the most when children were the ones to run from him. It didn''t matter where he went or if the people love or hated him, fear was ever present in all of them. He spent his life fighting and trying to become stronger. This was the obvious result. He had wanted to let the people in charge know why he was there but in the end, he decided it didn''t matter. They could do nothing anyway. He would fight and move on like he had done countless times before.

 Step Too Far

    The Giant with a feral appearance was known to many as the Mad Defender and to a lucky few as Stitches. A name given to him by his parents to their first born son. The mother was a seamstress and the father, a cobbler with a sense of humor. "He is gonna see so many stitches in his life, might as well name him as such" said he one drunken night which sealed poor Stitches fate. Stitches sighed as he thought of how things should have been. He should have taken over his mothers shop as the best tailor in town and lived happily with his wife. However, life gave him no respite from hardship. At the age of twenty-five, he already had one foot in the grave. The people of the nation of the Fallen Tree have short life spans, rarely ever reaching beyond the 50''s. The oldest person Stitches had ever met was still in his early 60''s when he passed on due to old age. Old as he was, he was still wasting his life paying for his sins. By the king''s orders, he was to defend the land from invaders and spirit beasts that roam and may bring ruin to rural villages.


    Such was the reason that had brought him to the remote town that number only a few hundred people. He had tracked down a beast known as the Misty Leopard. A beast weighing up two tons and whose shamanic powers allowed it to turn invisible. It was a swift and deadly assassin who traveled alone by nature. It would prove too much for any one man but Stitches was the one exception. He had hunted their kind before and knew their tricks. He set off after the beast certain that he would not fall to its cleverness. . .


    Stitches had in fact fallen to their cleverness. One fight and three Misty Leopard corpses later, Stitches could barely hold his ground. He had been lured into a trap by the beast he had been tracking. It was the first time he had ever seen a solitary hunter cooperate with others to lay a trap for a stronger foe. When he was upon the beast, he saw five shadows attack him; a common illusionary tactic used by the beast to confuse its adversary. What he did not account for was that two other Misty Leopards lay hiding behind the illusions. Only brute strength and thick armor saved the day. As Stitches examined the bodies, he could see that his prey was young, all three still in adolescence. He surmised that the three were of the same litter, explaining the camaraderie in an otherwise violently solitary creature.


    Injured and tired after such a heavy battle, Stitches decided put away his weapons and start the healing process. He placed his weapons back inside the black block that would disintegrate any object into itself to be carried. It was a one of a kind artifact that would make it incredibly convenient to carry things if not for the fact that the objects weight didn''t disappear. The black block carried all the things Stitches owned due to the fact that he could never stop patrolling the borders of his home. He picked up the incredibly dense block, chained it to his still injured back, and continued walking as he concentrated his power to heal his wounds. Under his armor, he was covered in scars from countless battles. He was no stranger to injury. He continued to channel his shamanic power to his wounds as he continued his patrol. This was until he took a step too far in the wrong direction.


    The scenery before him changed twice before he could even process what had just transpired. He went from seeing a thick forest to a dark city to facing the sky of said city when all his belongings suddenly became far heavier than they previously were. He found himself laying on the ground, slowly being crushed under his armor and chains. It was only luck that the block didn''t crush him under its immense weight. His wounds were no longer being healed by his shamanic power, as though it had disappeared entirely. Under the night sky in an alley way, the Mad Defender was being crushed under his own equipment and was slowly succumbing to his wounds.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    " So this is how I die. Ok." Stitches came to slow realization of his situation. He had heard stories of men being exiled to strange lands via foul rituals or vengeful gods. "The gods wish to punish me by not even allowing me to die in my homeland. Are my sins so great that I can''t even take my final rest besides her? So be it." He placed one hand on the block that was now under him and began to concentrate. His armor and the chains that surrounded him disappeared into the block, leaving him in only a bloody shirt and trousers. He looked a step away from death, bleeding in tattered rags. With what little strength he had left, he called upon the earth to bury the block deep so that none may ever find it. "That''s done, time to choose my death bed. I might as well see what forsaken land I have been exiled by the heavens."


    Stitches, the greatest fighter in the continent of Aureian, began his slow crawl to the street in front of the alley way. He could hear a great many people passing along with the sound of machines he had never seen. Even more surprising was the variety of beings that roamed the city. They were like humans, but different. Some were small and thick, while others tall and hairy like beasts. "I''ve lost so much blood, I can''t see very clearly. Are those people grey? What are those loud metal things? I need a closer look. I thought things here would be a little more ruin-y? What a strange land this is. Well, I won''t be here for long anyway." Stitches had finally reached the sidewalk near the street and was now being noticed by a few people passing by. They all either averted their gaze or stared in disgust, however, none would stop to help. He sat up, leaning on the wall of a random storefront as his blood slowly stained the floor around him. Stitches closed his eyes, ready for death.


    " What the fuck is going on here? Boy at least ask for help if you''re bleeding out in the streets like a dog. Or you too proud for begging? Get off it and give me your hand." Johnny, a local ragged drunk extended his hand to the bleeding stranger currently trying to get intimate with a grave. The stranger opened his eyes and replied "OOOO aaaa jjj". "Ah, you''re, you''re one of them foreigners. Well, yelling for help sounds about the same everywhere so come on then." Johnny again offered his hand. The stranger would push it away and Johnny would offer it again. This went on until the stranger had apparently become too weak to deny him. A few people would slow down to witness the spectacle of a drunk and a man speaking nonsense argue on the sidewalk. "I''m taking you whether you like it or not, I ain''t letting you die like this. Boy stop the nonsense." Johnny proceeded to drag a man twice his weight across several streets and into an old tavern. At the sight of this, everyone looked away and went hurriedly on their way. They didn''t know what trouble the bleeding stranger had gotten into but this wasn''t a town where heroes prospered. It was best to keep to oneself after all. You can''t go around paying for someone else''s mistakes.

 An Old Man and a Tavern

    Kit, an old lycan, was slowly cleaning his tavern. His youthful days far behind him, he stopped to admire the little he had left from those bygone days. The only things that kept him attached to world were his son, his grandson, and the old tavern known as ¡°The Nest¡±. He had less to his name than most but he was content nonetheless. He spent his days idly chatting with his patrons and had even taken in an interesting vagabond, whose odd behavior and drunken rants were the life of the tavern. He was at times trouble but useful about as often. He stopped his pondering to take in the smells of his home. He took smelled the old treated wood, the cheap brews, and the soap he was using to clean the tables.


    ¡°Hey Kit, look what I found lying about in an alley. Can you give me hand? He weighs enough that he may as well be 2 dwarves disguised in human clothes, Ha ha ha. Uff, no really, I need a hand here.¡± Kit¡¯s peace was disrupted by the vagabond he was just thinking about. He was about to welcome Johnny as he walked in before he spotted what Johnny was dragging in. It was a bleeding man in strange and tattered clothes.


    ¡°Johnny, boy, you¡¯re a good friend but I can¡¯t have you bring any in from any syndicate. Just because you¡¯re both human isn¡¯t enough for you to stick your neck out for strangers. Now it¡¯s too late to throw him out so I¡¯ll help you but you¡¯ll get us both killed if you¡¯re reckless.¡± "Oh Johnny why do you this to yourself. Your idealist spiel will get you killed around here. Now what do we have here."


    Kit began to help Johnny drag the bleeding man on to a table to better treat his wounds. Once on the table, Kit to a closer look at the man he had Johnny had just risked his life to save. "Now what did Johnny see in this boy. Johnny is a reckless madman but he ain¡¯t stupid." At a closer look, the man was clearly different than most. He couldn¡¯t place the feeling as he inspected the stranger.


    He seemed not quite right or just simply not the same, as though his bones and muscles were just slightly off. He was clearly heavier than any man he ever saw before but after taking off his shirt, he could understand why. The man seemed to be endlessly covered in scars and muscles. Fewer muscles could be found in a brutish ogre that was two heads taller. He turned to Johnny for answers but Johnny had gone to get tools to stitch the man up.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Well might as well clean him up. If we¡¯re doing this, we¡¯re doing things properly." Before Kit could begin to clean up the bloody stranger however, his smell hit him harder than a sprinting dwarf. "He smells of an old, untouched forest, half of this blood isn¡¯t even his. This blood, what is this? It smells of a powerful predator. His hands, no, his whole body smells of blood and steel. This smell is too fresh, as well as these wounds. Couldn¡¯t have been more than a hour. The beast blood is still warm. WHAT IS THIS? There isn¡¯t a forest near here for miles. This ain¡¯t no syndicate grunt, no."


    Kit, carefully checking the stranger was unconscious and no one was watching, stuck a finger in one of the wounds in order to check his magic resistance. It was a crude and old test that could measure one¡¯s magic power. The blood of those lucky enough to be born with magic will naturally resist the influence of foreign magic. The greater the resistance to the magic injected, the greater the magic potential. One¡¯s magic power was a very personal piece of information and what he was doing was considered something most would kill over.


    "Please be a normal man, please be a normal man." Kit pleaded to the gods that the man Johnny had just dragged in wasn¡¯t some sort of big shot that would get them both involved in some crazy conflict. However his prayers went unanswered as the stranger was completely unaffected from Kit¡¯s magic. He tried to inject as much magic as he could muster, though a feeble sum it was, but the stranger was a fortress.


    "Gods above, we are so fucked. This man is a monster of muscle and magic, and something actually got to him. We can¡¯t kick him out now, if he dies, we die. If he lives, whatever got him will come after us. It doesn¡¯t look like they had an easy fight. But the beast blood, maybe one of those new tamers you hear about now a-days. Is it still around? Oh Johnny." As Kit was cleaningthe stranger''s wounds, he thought about how they could possibly survive the situation.

 Tavern in Stitches

    Johnny came running back to the main room in the tavern with medical supplies at hand; medical supplies being a very flattering and lenient description. He handed Kit more towels as he tried to clean the strangers wounds. "You know, now that I can look at ''em better, this poor sod is built like steel mill and weighs about as much." Johnny could see the worry in Kit''s eyes as they went along with the task a hand.


    " Don''t worry Old Kit, I know a thug when I see them and this ain''t one of them. He is different. Now, you''re a Lycan who has seen enough to know as well as I, that the man before us just isn''t one of their ilk." Before Johnny could go any further with his tirade, Kit interrupted him while holding a needle to Johnny''s face.


    " His skin is dulling the needles. We need some more. Well, a lot more, looking at the stripes our friend here has." Without saying another word, Kit continued his work, leaving Johnny staring blankly at him.


    " Skin can''t dull these needles, well any needles really, but ESPECIALLY not these needles. These are my good needles I use on my favorite coat. No, no, no. That''s just not possible, maybe you''re just being clumsy with ''em, holding them at a wrong angle or . . " As Johnny stared at the now dull and slightly crooked needle before him, trying to come up with excuses to the spectacle he was witnessing.


    " Well Johnny, I''m gonna need a few more of your fancy needles because I don''t think regular one''s are gonna cut it, or well, pierce him at all really. This little rescue of yours is gonna cost a dwarves'' fortune if I am not misremembering the cost of these damn little things." A dwarves'' fortune it was, for the needles were made with the scraps of metal left behind from crafting with the finest steel from Summit Steel Yard. A Dwarven worker had hidden the scraps and sold the needles to trusted individuals for no small price. And though scraps they were, they were sold with the promise that one would never have to buy another needle again. Johnny wept a little for his lost needles.


    Few days had passed since the fateful encounter in the bloody alley and to everyone''s surprise, nothing happened. Aside from the odd informer snooping around, hearing the rumor of a bloody stranger, no one came knocking at their door. No mysterious fires or disappearances, it was all rather anti-climatic. As for the stranger in question, he lay unconscious in one of the second story beds; which took no small effort from the two to accomplish. The regulars at the tavern, a combination of aged dwarves, lycans and humans, were at first weary of returning but quickly realized nothing was going to happen. So life went on and their weariness turned to curiosity. After all, old man Kit had already picked up Johnny from the streets; they wondered if another odd one would join their ranks.


    One evening, while the chatter was at its peak in The Nest, Stitches silently walk down the stairs into the tavern. It took a while but everyone slowly turn their attention towards the ogre of a man making his way towards Johnny who was chatting with old Kit. His stomach was covered in bandages and he wore a jacket big enough that almost all his scars were hidden. The old men were eager to see what was going to happen. Stitches stood next to Johnny for a moment, getting his and old Kit''s attention. He then proceeded to take a seat next to them. A loud crunching sound was all anyone heard as the poor wooden chair gave out under him.


    "HAHAHAHA, boy, was that worth the wait." -old dwarve


    "HAHAHA, that poor thing ain''t but mush now." old human


    " You know, I knew for a fact that this guy weighed more than 3 o'' me but fuck if I didn''t think of getting him a better seat."- Johnny


    " Your foresight may be lacking but your hindsight is damn near impeccable"- Old Kit


    Stitches simply stood up as the everyone in the tavern was rolling over laughing. He checked to see what was left of the chair and found nothing worth scavenging. He looked around the room and saw an assortment of men and beasts laughing. Some of the men present were shorter than any he had seen before and the beasts spoke like humans. He had a vague recollection of what had happened to him and where he was. He walked over to old Kit and began inspecting him. Starting with old Kits'' ears, that were situated a bit higher at the sides of the head than Stitches was comfortable with, he look him over until he decided to pick him up. So it''s not a costume or an illusion. I''ve seen warriors wear pelts and transform into beasts in the heat of battle but never anything like this. Perhaps a bloodline of the Gerkan berserkers simply never turned back and this was the result? No, men go mad if left in such a state. Maybe. . .Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "In the name of Morten the mighty, what is this madman doing?" - old dwarve


    "I get the feeling he has never seen a Lycan before, or perhaps spoken to one" - old lycan


    " Maybe, where I was from, we only had humans. Terribly boring all around." - Johnny


    " Hey old Kit, you gonna let the kid just rustle you or what"- old human


    " Now, now, it''s ok. The boy is curious surely. He barely woke up from getting intimate with a shiv and as far as we know, he doesn''t speak a word of dhatmic." - old kit


    Stitches suddenly came to the realization that these beast looking people were people and what he was doing was very rude. He stopped, turned to Johnny, and looked right into his eyes. He wanted to see the eyes of the man who saved him. He saw the eyes of a man content with life. Johnny was a drunken vagabond that spent his days telling stories, singing and doing odd jobs for drink. Stitches had met kings and emperors but the man before seemed so much wiser than all of them. Truly blest is the man content with his slot in life. However, Stitches was not such a man. He had lost all his loved ones, his home, and now he was lost in lands unknown. He was done living. All the old patrons that could see Stitches'' face could clearly see the eyes of this broken man. The laughing died down and a somber air slowly filled the air.


    "You are my savior, my benefactor. You have welcomed me into your . . ." - Stitches


    "OXOOXOX ikjkjjikji tyrehajdheodmnf" -Stitches


    Ok, this is awkward. I have no idea what he is saying but it sounds serious. Come on Johnny, think. Johnny stood there listening to Stitches monologue while everyone else just watched the show unfold. He is almost done now, I know. He is slowing down. So I think he is thanking me or something along those lines; so why does he look so sad? I just saved his life, he could at least look happier. Well, I''ll at least try to cheer him up. He looks like a pup that''s just been kicked. As Stitches'' speech came to stop, he took out a pair of bloody scissors. They were the scissors Johnny had used to cut the bandages Stitches was wrapped with. Stitches held them up against his chest, the business end pointed to his heart. He spoke two words.


    "Xoxo nuj" - Stitches


    Kill me. He wants to die. Why? I went through all that trouble too. Well, I guess life is hard. But I ain''t doing that. Johnny struggled with his request. Everyone watched on but no one felt they could interfere with what was going on. It was just between the savior and the unwilling patient.


    " Look man, I know we can''t talk to each other all that well and I hardly know ye'' but surely you can come around to life. You only get one shot at this and that''s it. Life is hard, I know. I lost everything, myself a foreigner in these lands as well. However, I know that if you stick around with us you learn to . . "- Johnny


    Before Johnny could finish his motivational speech on life, Stitches stabbed himself with the scissors. However, panic soon turned confusion and then laughter as the scissors simply fell to pieces against Stitches solid steel chest.


    "HAHAHA, woo, boy, I was worried there for a second. You almost got me."-old dwarve


    " Ahhh, I have not laughed that hard in years. I like this guy." -old human


    "Old Kit, you, where do you find these bunch, hahaha."- old lycan


    Old Kit was the only one watching all these events pensively. As if that old pair of scissors could anything to that man. Bullets probably bounce off him like rain. Oh, I know better. Old kit had seen more than them. Johnny didn''t really pry or suspect enough to try anything but old Kit knew better.


    "Come now, settle down and have a beer. It''s cheap, watered down and all we have aside from Johnny''s crazy brew. Don''t go ruining our work." - old Kit


    After his failed attempt at his life, Stitches simply took the beer that was being handed to him by the beast man that was talking rather calmly, if intelligibly, to him. The moment had past and he was rather thirsty. Stitches took the beer, found a seat next to Johnny and was quickly reunited with the floor. The tavern roared with laughter once again. They quickly fetched him a seat that could hold him and the old boys of the tavern took turns animatedly talking to him and telling him whatever story they could remember. They couldn''t understand each other but that hardly mattered to them.


    Time quickly passed.

 We started the Fire

    A year passed rather uneventfully. Stitches quickly became known for being Johnny''s shadow. He followed him where ever he went and never spoke a word. No one was really sure if he was acting mute because he simply couldn''t learn the language or because he had nothing to say but it bother few. They were a famous duo that were easily recognizable due to the fact that they were the tallest humans around. Johnny and Stitches were actually one the tallest humans in town, standing at 6''5 and 6''2, respectively. Humans rarely grew over 6 feet so both of them were truly a peculiar sight. The strangest thing however was the fact that despite Johnny being taller than Stitches by almost half a head, Stitches dwarfed Johnny by his sheer size and mass. They were both rumored to be part ogre, despite the fact that such thing was impossible. Their passive and friendly attitude also made them more approachable than their intimidating stature would suggest.


    Stitches accompanied Johnny through whatever odd job he found, trying to lend a helping hand. All the while, Johnny taught whatever he could to Stitches. It was rather a pointless endeavor considering that Stitches couldn''t understand any of his lectures but it suited both of them fine. Johnny would go on about a particular job or subject and answer unasked questions in a strange, one-sided conversation while Stitches would silently listened. It took people several weeks to get used to sideshow of the teacher and the mute but people learned to ignore it.


    The people who most quickly took to the silent Stitches were the elderly. They could see the dejection and hurt in his eyes most clearly. He intimidated the young men and women but the older generation could see the years he carried heavily. This meant that when he was at The Nest, some old man or other was always at his side sharing their sorrows. They felt in him an unfortunate kindred spirit. Even old Kit grew attached to Stitches despite his reservations and suspicions.


    One evening, Johnny quickly realized that a festive spirit took over the tavern as young and old suddenly came in large groups. Even races, like low Elves and Ogres, that rarely showed their faces were among the crowd. He had never seen the tavern so busy. They even had to ask Stitches for help. Johnny turned to old Kit , who was talking to his son, Anton, and his grandson, Lyre. Anton was young at 26 years of age and Lyre a pup at 10. They, along with most in the tavern were apparently celebrating the opening of a new factory. The Tanners, a rich and powerful ogre family that dealt in steel had recently bought out most of the competition and were rumored to be quickly expanding.


    "Hey Johnny, ain''t it great? My boy and I got great contracts at the new factory run by the Tanners. They had so many openings that people from everywhere are moving here. Even the those low elves want jobs there. Ha ha, what great fortune we have." - Anton


    " That''s great to hear. That also explains all the new faces around here." -Johnny


    " All the other places were packed too. This will be great for business. Maybe this place will actually make you some money now, huh, pops." - Johnny


    " I don''t really mind either way. I''m just happy for you two. Maybe now you''ll live life a little easier."- Old Kit.


    No one was more content with the news than old Kit. All he wanted was for his children to live the good life. Johnny, however, was skeptical about the whole thing but kept it to himself. He didn''t feel like dampening the mood. Good things like these were few and far in-between for him to disregard with skepticism.


    "Ha, pops, you have no idea. Life is gonna change for the better. I already got my eyes on a good apartment that''s near the factory. I''m gonna get a car straight out off the line and send little Lyre to school in a year''s time." - Anton.


    Anton kept going on and on about his future and what he was going to do with his new found wealth. Quickly, Johnny looked at him with worry. He knew that with Anton in such high spirits, he couldn''t directly change his mind and decided to do so in a more subtle manner.


    "Hey Anton, for how long is the contract you signed? It must be rather long if you''re planning that far ahead."- Johnny


    "The contract is for 3 months but they said that we will have a 5 year contract afterwards for the ones that did well. They even said we''d get a raise if we were the top workers."- Anton


    "Sounds great but what I would do is wait for the longer contract before investing in anything too big. If they gave me a raise, I might regret not getting a bigger apartment!"- Johnny


    Even though Johnny tried to keep it positive, Anton still felt a little defensive about the situation. He couldn''t really get confrontational from just that because it would make him seem like he was trying to start a fight out of nowhere. Instead, he tried to keep calm.


    "Yeah, but one has got to act in opportune times. If I don''t take this great deal with this apartment I found now, it might be gone tomorrow so waiting for 3 months would be far too much."-Anton


    "By the way, where did you hear about such a great deal anyways? Never took you for a real-estate hunting kind of guy."- Johnny


    " The building that they finished near the factory is actually an apartment building. They haven''t told anyone yet. I overheard 2 ogres talking about it. You know how loud they get. After all, where are all the faces hopping over to work here gonna live? We''re already packed enough as it is in the West side and they can''t all live on the streets. Rumors were also everywhere later but I had already gotten one reserved for me by then. You know I got real lucky, most of ''em were gone by the time I showed up. The manager there told me himself."- Anton


    "Wow, sounds like you really got lucky then. To think that you would over hear something like that straight after you got a new job. Must really be your luck. I guess it''s just me that''s shy to action. After all, I would still wait and see. I must be part felire or something."- JohnnyLove what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Johnny still sounded very unconvinced despite Anton''s best efforts. Anton looked annoyed at this point and could hold his word no longer. He just wanted to celebrate some good news. He drank his beer in one gulp and turned directly to Johnny.


    "Johnny, you''re getting on my last good graces so you better speak up before these streets lose one of their bums. Your chest ain''t a warehouse so spit it out"- Anton


    "Anton, c''mon, I am just being cautious is all, no need to. ." -Johnny


    "JOHNNY" -Anton


    Johnny and Anton were good friends. They got along well enough throughout the last 4 years that Johnny spent with old Kit. Despite Johnny being a vagabond, Anton came to respect him because of his knowledge in several areas that got Johnny to be widely known as the most competent jack of all trades. His aggression aside, Anton really did want to hear what Johnny had to say.


    "Fine, fine. What I think is gonna happen, no, WHAT WILL happen is that that new contract is not gonna be anywhere as good as the one you signed . They probably only made it that good to begin with so that they could sucker you guys into a much lower one with empty promises of getting it back. The new apartments? Probably. ." -Johnny


    " That''s enough"- Anton


    Anton nervously tried to stop Johnny''s rambling that were starting to get the attention of the happy crowd. They began to seriously and angrily stare at Johnny. Anton was afraid of what Johnny might incite but wasn''t fast enough to stop him.


    " . .owned by the same guys that made the factory to make their money back. Someone probably got paid to spread the rumors so that people would rush to rent without really looking at the lease. You mentioned a car right? Same deal. It''s just a trap, probably. These guys want to get you guys in debt. They want you to plan your life around a salary that they''ll quickly take away and then leave you no choice but work yourself to death. You think they bought out the competition just so they pay their workers well? They OWN the steel market. They can pay you whatever they dam well feel like it."- Johnny


    When Johnny was finished with his passionate little rambling, he realized that everyone was looking at him. He had completely killed the festive mood. He looked around sheepishly and didn''t really know what to do next. From the corner of the tavern, 3 drunk and angry ogres walked towards Johnny.


    " You useless puny bunch of street trash are damn lucky that the great Mez''bur Tanner was kind enough to give you a job and now you''re calling him a cheat!" - Ogre 1


    These ogres were between 6''6" to 7 feet tall and totally eclipsed Johnny. Ogres were already known to be the most physically powerful race, only behind Drakens and high Demons. Furthermore, they were grunts of the ogre syndicate so no one dared to stand up to them. Johnny took a step back and raised his hands to pacify them but they continued to walk towards him.


    "C''mon guys, let''s talk about this. I just drank a few too many and was really jealous of everyone''s good luck. Really. ."- Johnny


    "Shut it human "- Ogre 1


    Ogres were never the talkative type and much less the type to hold back when angered. Not even Anton or old Kit could save Johnny because no one could stop an ogre''s rampage, much less 3 of them. When the 3 ogres got close enough that Johnny was planning his escape, something completely unexpected happened. Stitches stood between the 3 ogres and Johnny. Stitches and Johnny were very tall for humans but still were much smaller than a regular ogre. However, Stitches seemed like an insurmountable wall. His eyes were no longer beaten but burned with great fire. Johnny got even more worried.


    "Suturis, you don''t have to. . "- Johnny


    Suturis was the name he had given his new found friends. It was one of the only things he was able to communicate before he decide to play mute. Johnny didn''t want for Stitches to get hurt but Stitches stood resolute. He looked at the 3 without fear or hesitation but filled his aggression.


    " Sit down"- Stitches


    All the people who knew him were taken aback. He could actually talk! It was an unexpected turn of events. More surprising still was that it made the ogres hesitate.


    "And who the fuck are you"- Ogre 1


    "Sit down"- Stitches


    "I guess trash always comes in piles. Fuc'' off before I paint these walls with y''r face."- Ogre2


    Just then, the tallest ogre of the bunch took a swing Stitches. Stitches quickly fell upon them. He caught the ogre''s fist and broke his arm at the elbow. His screams were met with a punch to the throat. Stitches threw him aside as the ogre choked on blood and pain. The next ogre had his knee broken with a kick and ribs cracked with a punch to the chest. The third one that tried to run was caught by his arm that couldn''t break free from Stitches grip. Stitches simply squeezed until his arm began to feel like it was going to pop. The ogre began to plead for mercy. He cried out but Stitche''s fury would not abate.


    "Suturis, THAT''S ENOUGH, really, too much overkill, STOP"- Johnny


    Johnny was the first to come to his senses and tried to stop Stitche''s onslaught. Even though he was glad that he was saved and knew that anyone from the syndicate was scum, he still pleaded for them. Stitches relaxed his grip but didn''t let go of the ogre''s arm. With his senses returned, the ogre began to threaten Stitches.


    "We are syndicate you over stuffed piece of shit, you think you''ll get away with this? Huh, you''ll be fuckin'' dead by tomorrow. We''ll burn down this dam tavern with you all innnn, AHH"- Ogre 3


    Stitches squeezed his arm again which had him howling in pain. Stitches looked at Johnny with downcast eyes, begging him to let him tear the ogre in two. Johnny looked at Stitches with great exasperation and confusion. Is this really the same tamed guy that tagged along with me this whole year. What happened to my mute, little buddy. Johnny greatly missed the quiet and downtrodden Stitches that he had grown accustom to.


    "Look, thank you really, but don''t you think that was a little over board? Being that, huh, brutal wasn''t really necessary."- Johnny


    "These men were going to kill you."-Stitches


    For the first time since they had met, Stitches and Johnny actually began to have a conversation. The circumstances were terrible and Johnny was reprimanding him but it was their first real conversation still. There was a quiet "So you can talk" atmosphere going on but Johnny swept it aside.


    "You know what, that''s not important right now, ok? How about you help me take these two guys to a clinic and we''ll talk about this later."- Johnny


    "If that is what you willed, then so be it"- Stitches


    "Wait, really?"- Johnny


    Johnny was expecting more retaliation from this violent version of Stitches but all he found was mild irritation. Stitches let go of the squirming ogre and walked towards the other two. He picked one up in each shoulder and awaited further commands from Johnny. The ogre that could still walk simply ran away as soon as Stitches had turned his back to him but nobody bothered to stop him. Everyone was too busy gawking at the man who was carrying 2 ogres like they were made of feathers. Johnny hesitated a moment before leading Stitches to the nearest clinic.


    The next day, it was the talk of the town in hush tones. Nobody wanted to gain the ire of the ogre syndicate, whose actions had been emboldened by the expansion of the Tanner family. They talked about the man who claimed the new factory contracts would turn out to be a scam and the man who tore apart three ogres. All they knew about these two men was that they were unusually tall for humans but that was enough.

 The King Meets his General

    In an early morning a few days later, an awkward atmosphere could be felt in the Nest. It was far too early to open so the only people inside were its proprietor and the two vagabonds he housed. Johnny was uncertain whether he could address the elephant in the room. He felt slightly betrayed by the man he could''ve called one of his best friends only days before. For how long could he understand us? Why didn''t he talk before? Does he even consider us friends or he just here for the beer? The more he thought about it, the more insecure Johnny grew. He would try to start a conversation but he felt a strange divide between them. He was at a loss at what to do. They had been like this for a couple of days now. Interestingly enough, it was Suturis who broke the silence.


    "Is it true that you could get to the moon? You said before that you could fly to the moon." - Suturis


    Suturis asked as he looked at Johnny with expectant eyes.


    "What, I ahh, when did I say that I..." - Johnny


    Johnny was confused with the sudden question. He had thought out how the next conversation with Suturis would be like. He had prepared answers and questions the nights before but this was out of his expectations. He recovered quickly from his confusion and became slightly angered.


    " Oh no, you ain''t getting out of this one by trying to be slick. Do you think I''m just going to accept the fact that you could talk all this time? I''ve been trying to talk to you for the past year without so much as an answer. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep up a one sided conversation without sounding insane?" -Johnny


    Suturis paid close attention to Johnny as he went on. His eyes looked at him apologetically. Johnny could feel Suturis puppy dog eyes on him. They were the eyes of his friend that he had rescued and lived with for more than a year. Johnny''s temper was somewhat pacified but he wasn''t going to let it go just yet.


    "Hey, don''t you look at me like that, I''m being serious here. You''re going to answer my questions or else I''ll, I, . . . I''ll think of something ok, but you better answer me" -Johnny


    Suturis and Johnny looked at each other as old Kit simply continued about in the shop. He could hear the conversation but he simply decided to let things take their course.


    "For how long have you been able to talk, or even understand us?"- Johnny


    "I understand, two seasons ago. I talk, hard, if I no thought."-Suturis


    "Wait, you''re not playing with me now right? You were talking just fine a moment ago and yesterday."-Johnny


    "I talk ok if prepare but I talk bad if not. I prepare for fight and talk of moon, but not talk this."- Suturis


    Johnny looked at Suturis seriously. He was in so much shock that Suturis could speak, he never noticed his terribly think accent. The night of the fight, he only spoke twice and now he could see him trying to piece sentences together. Johnny at the very least relaxed a little.


    "So you have to prepare beforehand but otherwise you''re ok. Well, how come you never said anything before then, we could still talk like now. You obviously need the practice."- Johnny


    " Me no know what to say"- Suturis


    Johnny felt dumb for a second. Even if Suturis could learn how to speak the language better, he probably wouldn''t talk much either way. All the accumulated stress he had built up the night before left Johnny in that moment.


    "Ok, ok. Suturis, I actually had more questions about the way you fought the other day but since I''m the one that patched you up last time, I could see that you were covered in scars. I''m sure you lived a violent life before but I can see you''re a good person so just promise me you won''t be so . . . violent anymore ok? It''s not good for my heart."- Johnny


    "Yes, me fight less, but now talk of moon."- Suturis


    Suturis cleared his throat and looked intently at a very confused Johnny.


    "I mean, sure, let''s talk about the moon?"- Johnny


    "Can you fly to the moon? You said before that you could. Can you take me there?"-Suturis


    Johnny was lost. He could see that Suturis was being very serious. A certain intensity surrounded him that made Johnny nervous. Suturis said that he needed time to prepare in order to talk so he must have been thinking about this for quite some time. He only had a moment to choose his words.


    "Cmon, Suturis, that''s just something we say, you know, fly me to the moon, aim for the stars. All that nonsense is just, ahh, metaphors and stuff. I ain''t got wings so I can''t fly you anywhere I''m afraid, haha."- Johnny


    "Did you know that you talk quite a bit when you''re drunk? The brew you make and only drink on occasion makes you especially talkative. You talk about all sorts of interesting things. Impossible things. I''m guessing that''s how you got the name of Crazy Johnny but I don''t care about that. You talk about kingdoms unheard of, machines that do the impossible, metal men that control entire cities. And most impossibly, you talk of ships capable of traveling between worlds. That fly to the moon and back." - Suturis


    Johnny was under heavy fire. Suturis'' stare bore into him, looking for truth. He didn''t understand where Suturis was going with this. It seemed to be extremely important to him but Johnny could not figure out why. He began to panic a bit.


    " And you believe me? You believe all the shit I say in my drunken rants? Cmon, Suturis, they are just ramblings of a drunk" - JohnnyA case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    " I believe you." - Suturis


    " Why" - Johnny


    "Because you''re different." - Suturis


    "You''re also different, why can''t you do it"- Johnny


    "Tell me no, tell me it''s impossible and I''ll stop asking you about it. Just promise me you aren''t lying and I''ll trust you. Give me your word. But if it''s possible, I will swear my life to you for this dream."-Suturis


    Johnny was taken aback. Suturis was being wholeheartedly serious. He was backed against the wall. What is he saying? Is he actually insane? I can''t read him at all. Swear his life to me? Johnny, however, quickly resolved himself to face Suturis honestly.


    "It''s possible"- Johnny


    Suturis nearly jumped from excitement. The fire in his eyes burned to even greater degrees than that night before. A broken man was pieced back together in an instant. However, he was quickly interrupted.


    "BUT, it''s not possible to us. I can''t take you to the moon."-Johnny


    "We can, you said it was possible"- Suturis


    " Yes, it''s possible, in theory and theory alone. It''s impossible for US to do it" -Johnny


    " Why? You very smart yes? You can"- Suturis


    "NO, I can''t Suturis. Look at us, we are beggars literally trying to touch the moon. It''s also physically possible for me to marry an Elven princess but that ain''t ever happening. We would need nearly unlimited resources for research, materials, testing, permission from I don''t know how many government organizations which would NEVER let humans get the upper hand on anything and a thousand other things. Why do you even want to go to the moon? It is just a USELESS ROCK"- Johnny


    "Because I promised my wife"- Suturis


    " Wife..., you''re married?"- Johnny


    "Was; Widowed."- Suturis


    "Oh" - Johnny


    Silenced settled between the two. Johnny could feel Suturis'' loss from just those two words. Suddenly, his friend''s downtrodden attitude made more sense. Some men don''t get back up from a loss that hard. He sympathized with his friend but needed for him to see the reality of the world.


    "Look, ok, I get it. This is important to you but it''s as I said. It''s theoretically possible but not for us. We are just two vagabonds. Look at us, we couldn''t rub two dimes together. We simply don''t have the money, power, or influence necessary to pull that off. Think about it. If the Draekons and the Elves haven''t done it, what chance do we have?"-Johnny


    Suturis sat silently for a second. He pondered a bit and he thought so more. After a while, he turned to Johnny and smiled.


    "But it''s possible."-Suturis


    "You''re not giving up on this? Please, Suturis."-Johnny


    "If you had all that could you do it?"- Suturis


    "I mean, yes, if I had unlimited money, power, and influence, yes, I could do it."-Johnny


    Johnny didn''t understand where Suturis was going with this. Getting all that would be more difficult than getting to the moon itself. We''re two dirty, hairy, bearded, unkempt, poor, and irrelevant vagabonds in a city filled to the brim with corruption and crime. If anyone tried to rise to power and gather money, they would be beset at all sides by very violent and scheming enemies. It''s already practically suicide to get into politics without Family backing and approval. What is Suturis trying to get me to do.


    As Johnny pondered all this, Suturis had stood up and gone to the cellar. Johnny was just waiting to see what his crazy friend had up his sleeve. What he never expected was to see him come back in full plated armor while holding several valuable looking things. Suturis placed down what seemed to be a green and white battle standard.


    "My name is Suturis. Once Gate Keeper of the Walls of Atrous. Mad Defender. Bloody Widower. Son of Storms. Born of Fire. Heir to the Pillars of Heaven. Master on the Mountain. . . ."- Suturis


    Johnny held up one hand to stop Suturis from talking. He stared blankly at him. Johnny studied his armor. Genuine. He studied the valuables that he had brought. Jewels and precious metals. Make up unknown. He looked at the battle standard. The background, green, few symbols. Main design appears to be roots. Strange words. Maybe names? But he didn''t say any other name besides his first. Maybe not his name at all? Title. Johnny''s mind slowly turned.


    " Can you bring more of this stuff, maybe different things? "-Johnny


    "Different?" -Suturis


    "Yes, different things. More variety, you know."- Johnny


    Suturis nodded and went back to the cellar. Johnny sunk more deeply into thought. Old Kit looked at all the things Suturis brought. I hope the they don''t make too much of a mess. He continued his work after such a thought. However, he hands stopped when Suturis had comeback with a rather elegant looking tankard along with his growing pile of shiny things. What a beautiful thing. Ah, to own a thing like that. He walked towards it and held it in his hands. Cool to the touch. Beautiful craftsmanship. It''s weighted just right. These carvings are a masterpiece. The wood appears to be ancient. Burned? Strange treatment. The metal, I''ve never seen it before. In all my years. His thoughts trailed off. Such a thing would be a treasured heirloom in any family. Despite the fact the tankard looked stronger than most walls, old Kit still held it delicately.


    "Suturis, may I have this?"- Old Kit


    "I present it to you with great honor."- Suturis


    "Thank you"- Old Kit


    Just like that, old Kit was given such a valuable thing. He accepted it and placed in a very special spot on his shelf. Yes, you''ll be the crowned jewel of this place for quite a while, Hehe. Johnny was irritated by old Kit''s lack of interest in all the this.


    "Old Kit, you just found out Suturis could not only talk but appears to be some sort of rich mercenary that wants to go to the moon. And you just asked him for a tankard. Can you please explain to me your thoughts in all this madness."- Johnny


    " At least he is being honest, and it only took him a little over a year. After more than four years of living here, you have yet to tell where you''re from, why you''re here, and why you, such an educated man, choose to pretend to be a crazy nobody."- Old Kit


    Old Kit struck Johnny out of the blue. There was truth behind his words. Suturis and him were no different so he had no place to criticize Suturis. Johnny was reeling back from the attack when old Kit spoke up again.


    "You know, I get the feeling two aren''t human. I don''t mean that you''re half breeds or something but you two aren''t like the other humans. Your bones are all wrong. The way you walk and talk are different. I''m not just saying it because you''re both rather large but I always get the feeling you two just are strangers if you get my meaning. Now see, when I took you in, I took my chances with you. And when I took Suturis in, I also took my chances with him. I know you aren''t actually crazy and finally some else sees that too. Mind you, he terrified me at first, with being another giant and all but I trust him now. You are very smart and he is very strong and I am getting old."- Old Kit


    "Why are you telling me all this. You have a point in all this right?"- Johnny


    "Because my boy just got his contract broken, on his very first day actually. They started him with an increased workload and hours down at the factory. Not a lot, but enough for me to notice. But he won''t me tell that, no. Because there is nothing he can do about it. Everybody knows it but they won''t call it what it is. They call it an adjustment. You were right. Things are only going to get worse so I''m putting my bet on whatever it is you all are up to. I actually have no idea what you two are up to but anything you do is better than what those crimes families are up to."- Old kit


    "You do know he wants to go to the moon right?" -Johnny


    "Are you gonna go?" - Old Kit


    ". ..Yeah, yes. We are going to the moon."-Johnny


    "That''s good. Doesn''t make much sense, but it seems good." - Old Kit

 The Worried Dwarf

    After only a month, the number of the newcomers halved as new bars opened to accommodate the unbridled demand for drink. This suited the old boys just fine as they had picked up a habit of coming in earlier to have a little more time to themselves and old Kit. They could even coerce Johnny into playing a few songs only the old remembered. It was a little haven from their troubles. One dwarf, however, had brought his troubles with him.


    Diarmiud sat quietly, sipping his drink. He sighed to himself as the conversation carried around him. Many tried to set up the conversation so that he could get a word in as he was usually a centerpiece among the group but he had yet to take the bait. Diarmiud was well respected and liked by the old boys since he could be considered the most successful among the bunch. He owned a lucrative mechanics shop and was always helpful and generous. Whenever one of their cars broke down or needed parts, he would insist of dropping by for him to repair in his spare time. He was also the source of probably half of Johnny''s income as he had hired him for many odd jobs in the past years. Not one among them could speak an ill word of the old dwarf. It was old Kit, his oldest friend, that decided to broach the subject.


    "Diar, how hav'' the last few days been treatin'' you? You seem more tire than usual"- O.K.


    "Oh, no. . .no, everythings'' fine fellas. I''m fine really. Just, lack of sleep is all"- Diarmiud


    "Now, I''ve seen you be more well rested during the Problems than right now, so excuse me for worryin, but I ain''t lettin'' up until your bags empty."- O.K.


    "Kit, I come here for a bit of rest and so does everyone else. Don''t wanna ruin that by whining like some tot looking for his wet nurse''s tit."- Diarmiud


    "Come now, we might be able to help. Stitches and I actually make some decent change from the whole music thing we got going on. Let us help you out for once."- Johnny


    "(sigh) It''s not a problem so easily solved. It''s but a couple of days for ma'' wife''s and I''s Coming Spring."- Diarmiud


    Everyone but Stitches gave a sympathetic look at Diarmiud. The dwarves most of all knew what kind of trouble he was in. Downing their drinks in one gulp, the old dwarves averted their eyes in fear of showing more pity than sympathy for him. As quiet fell upon the group, Diarmiud sighed again, scratching his chin through his thick beard. Stitches was very confused as the context of the conversation was lost to him. He looked to Johnny for an explanation. Johnny began to fill him in a softer voice than usual.


    " Well, you see, a Coming Spring is basically a dwarf''s 50th anniversary. It stems from an old story that says that a couple has to live through harsh times but their spring still comes every year. It''s not all romantic stuff though, as the family gets involved. The bigger the better is the name of the game. The family can get judgy if it ain''t up to their standards."- Johnny


    As Stitches tried to put together the concept he was just explained, the dwarves in the room almost scoffed at the very simplistic version Johnny had provided. He had understated and underplayed the importance of the event by several magnitudes. The old story he was referring to goes back to the old dwarven gods and the Coming Spring was an ancient tradition they had practiced for millennia. They, however, let it go because they knew Johnny well and he was only a human after all.


    "I am really surprised that its already your Coming Spring, I hadn''t realized it until now. " - O.K.


    "That''s because we haven''t been able to celebrate our anniversary for the last few years. It has been one problem after another. My daughter got sick that one year, son got in a wreck the other, and the syndicate has been demanding more now that they have half the city under their boot. But every year, my dear city flower would look at me and say ''spring always comes''. Oh breaks me heart, that does. But no, I''m outta time and dime to prepare for it now." - Diarmiud


    At that, the atmosphere turned somber. The old dwarves now seemed in physical pain from their old friend''s tale of sorrow. It wasn''t a problem that they could solve even if they all pooled their money together. The celebration called for the gathering of all the family and friends. Not inviting someone or not being invited was considered an incredible insult that could not be forgiven. Once all had gathered, a grand celebration would take place and the husband would prove to all that he both has provided for and loved his wife for fifty years. It was not uncommon for dwarves to save up for up to a decade for the occasion or to sell their cars in a hurry when they accidently go over budget. If Diarmiud truly had nothing for his Coming Spring, with what face would her wife explain this to her family. Their marriage and the legitimacy of their children would be called into question.


    The depressing atmosphere seemed to be affecting everyone but Stitches, who had just returned from the cellar with cloth in hand and a smile on his face. Everyone jumped a little, none having realized that he had left. Startled, they all focused on what he was up to.


    "We have to start putting a bell on this boy. How can someone so large go sneaking around. Bad for ma'' heart."- Diarmiud


    "You need gift yes? Me give this."- Stitches


    Stitches handed to Diarmiud what he had brought. It turned out to be fabric of the finest silk he had ever seen. He held it in his hands, feeling the 3 different colored bundles he had handed to him. They appeared so fine that he didn''t want to place them on the table for fear of soiling them.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Ay, where in the world do you bunch keep these things."- Diarmiud


    "Present good yes?"- Stitches


    "(sigh) Yes, these are beautiful, but that''s not the way things go. We need something bigger, though I do appreciate the thought. Even if I sold these, I couldn''t get together a feast in two days."- Diarmiud


    "Maybe not you but maybe we could. Stitches let''s go."- Johnny


    Stitches nodded and followed Johnny down to the cellar as Diarmiud passed around the fabric for everyone else to see. They looked to old Kit for hints of what was going on as he seemed to be the only one unfazed by Stitches'' surprise. He just shrugged and waited patiently for them to return. When they returned, Diarmiud didn''t know what to expect since they appeared cheerful but empty handed.


    "Yeah, I''ve got a plan in mind, if you don''t mind us meddling with your affairs."-Johnny


    "Johnny boy, I''d put a roof under your head me''self if it ever came down to it. I trust well enough to know you wouldn''t be up to no good in such a time" - Diarmiud


    "Good, because you''re just going to have put a lot of trust on us this time cause we''re both gonna be flying blind. Also, Kit, we need to close this place till the day of the party. Is that ok? Oh, and can we remodel this place a bit, you know move around a few things?"- Johnny


    "Hmm, sure, I can''t see why not."- O.K.


    "Nice. . .So, everyone has to leave right now, we have work to do. Also, is your guest list mostly men or women?" -Johnny


    "Well, the women outnumbers by a smich"- Diarmiud


    "Ok, then we are mostly set. 3 days time, hear, 10 in the morning. Come dressed well as can be. Don''t worry about anything."- Johnny


    "Now Johnny, I''m placing the life and face of ma'' family in your hands. For that, I apologize."- Diarmiud


    "No worry, we can do good"- Stitches


    Sighing, Diarmiud and the rest couldn''t really know what to expect from the two vagabonds turned musicians. They had technically never failed a job but this was way bigger than any odd job or errand they had ever ran. The two, however, exuded such a aura of confidence that one began to try and believe in them despite the task ahead. With Johnny ushering them out, the old men left. Only Johnny, Stitches, and old Kit remained.


    ------------------


    Diarmiud spent the next two days in a state of limbo. He could barely eat anything or think straight. All his thoughts would wonder back to Stitches and Johnny. What were they doing? Could two humans and a lycan make a good Coming Spring? Is a bad one better or worse than none all? He contemplated more than once if he should "accidently" blow up his shop with him in it to spare his family the humiliation. There were rocks in his stomach and lead in his boots. He counted the minutes down as his family watched him closely with suspicion.


    The event coming up was one that required careful planning and arrangement but he had not asked anyone for any help. Diarmiud hadn''t asked anyone to help set up appointments catering or barrels of bitter sweet ales. He didn''t ask around the older dwarves for ideas either. The family, however, didn''t say anything. The subject was on everyone'' mind. It''s shadow was cast over every conversation. The one most affected was Muriel, his wife. She was on pins and needles, waiting for something, anything, to reassure her that he husband hadn''t gone and done something unforgiveable. It was only on the day before that a clue about the matter surfaced.


    All his friends and family across the city found an invitation on their front door. It was ordinate, with practiced penmanship detailing the location and occasion. A few of his cousins who lived in the shop asked more about the invitation and why he hadn''t said anything in person but he just avoided the subject.


    The evening before the big day, Muriel was at her wit''s end. She could not skirt around the issue any longer and had to confront her husband about their Coming Spring. She had heard nothing from Diarmiud, who was acting reclusive and would avoid all conversation. She had nothing to wear, no idea what was going to happen and was the most confused out of everyone when people came to her about the strange invitations to their supposed Coming Spring. If it was a great surprise prepared by Diarmiud, no one in town would have been able to escape his talk and boasting of it but he remained silent. Muriel and Diarmiud were a team and loving couple, talking about everything together. She was not used to being completely unaware of her husband''s plans.


    "Diar'', you''ve no spoken a word of what''s going on. Our Coming Spring is due by ''morrow and still I''m as lost as everyone else. Now you won''t even look at me''. What''s going on. You send out these strange invitations at the same time to everyone instead of the proper order of things. Father will ignore it but my brother is gonna believe we ain''t giving him the proper respect. There were no yellers to announce us and its far too late now. JUST TELL ME. Talk with me." - Muriel


    Diarmiud was finally cornered in their kitchen, uncertain how to answer his wife''s reasonable pleas. Any other woman would have skinned him alive for what he has had to put her through. Uncertainty in such important matters and with very little time left would''ve made anyone mad. He sighed, and decided to simply tell her the entire truth. He had run out of money time and again. He had not prepared anything at all. He then left everything to his two favorite vagabonds because they said they had him covered. He had no idea what they were up to, however, and could not explain the invitations.


    "How much money did you give them?"- Muriel


    "What, I, ah, what do you mean, how much money?" - Diar


    " The boys, they are the ones doing all the work. How much money did you give them to prepare"- Muriel


    "Well, hmm, none, not a pence. The moment Johnny said he had an idea, he kicked everyone off and closed the bar. Haven''t seen ''em since." - Diar


    Muriel, who was standing throughout all the discussion, walked to fridge. She moved the fridge a bit and pulled out a box from behind it. Inside was an undisclosed amount of money that Diarmiud was not aware of. She stood in front of a slightly surprised Diarmiud and, in a calm demeanor, began to speak.


    "Ey, I''ve been saving up some incase what you had saved up wasn''t enough. Scrape together whatever you''ve got and we are gonna go help those boys."- Muriel


    "You''re not angry."- Diar


    "I am very angry. I am furious. But I know the fool I married. I married you when you was bastard and I''ll be married to you after this whole mess is done. This ain''t over but that does no one no good. We are gonna go help those nice boys that decided to try an'' bail out your ass and we are gonna go be the laughing stock of half'' the town tomorrow. And you will greet every guest, accept every sneer and taunt and we will be just fine. An'' you''re going to thank those nice boys for given'' more of a shit about your own Coming Spring than you."- Muriel


    "Ay"- Diar


    Diarmiud went to get what little money he had hidden away in the shop and drove in silence with Muriel to the old tavern. He felt lighter than he had in days, now sharing his terrible and self imposed burden with his wife. He had no idea what to expect but knew he would forever in debt to crazy Johnny and Stitches.

 Business Proposal

    The old tavern known as "The Nest" was surrounded by abandoned, dilapidated buildings, empty lots, and was only a few levels above what one would call a trash heap. However, Diarmiud and Muriel could hardly believe their eyes as they stared at the building now standing where The Nest should''ve been. It had, apparently, cannibalized the buildings behind and next to it. It now stood a story taller and almost twice as wide. There hanged a sign in front of the building, calling it "The Nest". They were in near disbelief. They heard movement and talking inside and decided they needed to know what was going on.


    Inside, they saw Kit smoking his pipe while Johnny and Stitches walked around shirtless, carrying supplies. Old Kit saw them and beckoned them forward.


    "Ah, aren''t you a bit early?"- Kit


    "Ey, don''t play games with me Kit, you old lycan. What in the name of Ragnir is happening? Where did you get all this stuff and what is Johnny thinking?"- Diar


    "I thought you said you didn''t give ''em a pence. What''s all this then."- Muriel


    "I don''t quite know. Actually, I''m rather certain that I know about as much as either of you at the moment. Johnny asked me if he could redecorate the place and I told him to go ahead. He then started to tear the whole place down. Hahaha, imagine my surprise. I don''t really know though. Those two have been working, without sleep or rest since you left. Hm, the youthful are truly something. Stitches seems especially motivated for some reason. Haha." - Kit


    More than slightly stunned, both of them simply stared at Kit without knowing what to ask or say. They only turned to see the two, now very mysterious, boys as they approached them both only wearing pants. They appeared alien in that moment. Neither appeared wholly human. Johnny''s skin was perfectly white, without blemish or flaw. Stitches'' skin was covered in scars that told of injuries no man or beast could ever hope to survive. Johnny had a smug smirk on his face while Stitches looked at them warmly, a pure and excited smile on his face.


    "Ah, Diarmiud, it''s a good thing you showed up. We were working non-stop to make the deadline but barely realized none of us have actually been to a Coming Spring or whatever, aside from the one Old Kit went to but that was so long ago, he isn''t of much help at all. I can only improvise so much you know, Hahaha." - Johnny


    "Johnny, what is going on and what are you up to? I trust you boy, but right now, I am in no'' mood for games." - Diar


    "Oh, stop that, that''s no way to speak to these nice boys after all they have done. Now, Johnny dearie, what''s all this now. You''ve always been a schemin'' sort but you don''t ''ave a mean bone in you. But before that, put some clothes on, you''re gonna catch the death of ya''." - Muriel


    "Come now, aren''t we all friends here? Look at Stitches, you''ve no idea how excited he got when I actually explained to him what a Coming Spring was. Should''ve seen his little eyes light up. Let''s not ruin the mood around here, so can we talk business later?"- Johnny


    "Talk. . .business? What business?"- Diar


    "Like I said we can talk business later, right now we need to cover a few things about this whole thing going on tomorrow because we are actually clueless about it ourselves."- Johnny


    Johnny never took the smirk off his face as he talked. Stitches waited patiently for his turn to talk, a big smile on his face. Diarmiud was at a complete loss and felt he couldn''t match up to the young man. He knew he truly meant no harm but he couldn''t have him have him at a disadvantage. He had to take charge of the situation or else Johnny would run wild with it. Just then, Muriel stepped up to Johnny.


    "Johnny, son, we can do both just fine, I assure you. Talking business and planning are things we''ve been doing since your parents were in diapers so it don''t bother us none to do both. Also, Suturis, child, put on a sweater, it gets cold in the evenings."- Muriel


    Johnny''s smirk faltered.


    "Well, that''ll suit me fine too, why not. Stitches, also go get the things you want to talk about with Ms. Muriel as well."-Johnny


    "Ey, Johnny, how many times do I got to tell you. Don''t call the boy that weird name, he has one that is perfectly fine. Suturis is a good name." - Muriel


    As the exchange went on and Stitches left somewhere in a hurry, Johnny was left to contend with Muriel and Diarmiud. They stared at each other until Johnny gave up his act. Deflated, Johnny began to try to spin his tale.


    "So, uh, I''ve a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this. I swear. It stared when I got drunk and .." -Johnny


    "Johnny, boy, you''re babbling again." - Diar


    "Johnny, stop. Tell us exactly what it is you''re doin'' and we''ll take from there."- MurielIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Ok, but you''re not listenin'', it''s Stitches, he wants to go to the moon so first we have to.." - Johnny


    "Johnny. Stop."- Muriel


    Again, Johnny seemed at a loss. He had been so busy working nonstop that he hadn''t actually prepared for this inevitable confrontation. He had never been good in communicating his crazy ideas well.


    "Johnny. Who are we? I''ve cared for you as though you''re one of my own because I count you as such. I ain''t gonna bite your head off. You''re doing this huge favor for me and I stand in your debt but you have to be honest here with us boy cause I can''t see where you are going with all this."- Diar


    "You don''t have to tell us everything. We are short of time as it is. Just tell us most of it. We''ll ask the important stuff for now and get everything sorted out after this mess is over. But you will tell us everything once it''s over."- Muriel


    "Ok, ok, well, um, where to start. Ok, so Stitches was actually secretly a very wealthy son of a famous seamstress who became soldier who fled his war torn country after it was over and accidently smuggled all of his belongings here because he didn''t understand taxing laws. I am actually a runaway genius from another land as well. Are you with me so far? So, me and Stitches need a good cover to explain why we have all this stuff. We want to use your Coming Spring as a cover to explain how two vagabonds "found" all this treasure. We are gonna pretend that you and Kit were actually saving up money all this time and are gonna open up a new business with us in charge." -Johnny


    "Johnny, of all the maddening things you have ever said to me, this has got to be the worst of it. You''re telling me Stitches has riches big enough that he needs a cover?"- Diar


    "Johnny, what is the price."- Muriel


    "I, ah, what now? Price of what?"- Johnny


    "The price for all this. You said it yourself, we are talking business now. This ain''t a favor from the bottom of your heart any longer. What do we get in exchange for coverin'' for you? It''s too late now to go back but that doesn''t mean we don''t get to have a fair deal. So what''s the price for our name and face in all this mess?"- Muriel


    Johnny smiled at them as he saw Stitches coming back with more than a few manikins and accessories. As Stitches, now fully dressed, counted the things he brought with a bright smile, Johnny opened his arms wide as though he were revealing something grandiose.


    "You get to have us at your disposal for the entirety of your Coming Spring. We will spare no expense in making sure that you get the greatest Coming Spring possible. I don''t like the circumstances that began all this but I at least want to make sure I ain''t cheating you out of a dime. Whatever you want, you get, for this little party of yours. Actually, your demands would be very useful right now because as I said previously, we have no idea what we are actually doing."- Johnny


    "No, we celebrate your long marriage yes?"- Stitches


    Finally, it seemed that Stitches could no longer hold his tongue as he excitedly tried making conversation with Muriel.


    "Come and see what I''ve made for you. They are beautiful and lovely. This day is very important, yes? Married for such a long time. You are very lucky, 50 years are a lifetime. We must celebrate this joyous occasion! Come, come, your most beautiful feature, your hair. It must be focused. Your hair, most beautiful I''ve ever seen. I no see such thing in my country." - Stitches


    "Oh stop it you. If only more boys were as polite as ya'', these streets would be far nicer. This crow''s nest of mine isn''t such a thing to look at. I''ve more white than color in my hair anymore" - Muriel


    "Say no more, your hair is lovely. Like warm dawn after lonesome night, your hair great. Come, these dresses my favorite for you. These greatest." - Stitches


    "Oh, I can''t stay mad at you, Suturis my boy. You''ve always been too sweet."- Muriel


    Muriel and Diarmiud were both once charming and youthful but age had taken a toll on them. Running a shop where they lived and the general problems of the city would eventually wheedle down even the most resilient of spirits. Muriel''s vibrant, orange hair had considerably dimmed but a few bright rays remained. She and Stitches happily talked over the clothes and shiny things he had brought over. Stitches even brought clothes for Johnny to wear.


    "You are teaching him too well. Honeyed words can land him in trouble with some lads if he ain''t careful. Not that I think anyone is foolish enough to pick a fight with him. Women might even be a bigger worry than the men actually."- Diar


    "Actually, old friend, I haven''t been teaching anything like that. That''s all him. Mind you, I don''t think he does it on purpose. I don''t think he understands the way he says things sometimes. So what do you say? We promise to give you a day to remember guarantied. Do we have a deal?"- Johnny


    "A day to remember? One day? You really have no idea how these things work? The Coming Spring lasts between 3 to 5 days and involves a ton of ceremonies and other things. You really have no idea what you''re getting into, do ya."- Diar


    " 3 to 5 days? Ceremonies? Do we need a priest?"- Johnny


    "Ah, Johnny, if you were any smarter I might''ve started to suspect ya'' cheating me but it seems some things don''t really change."-Diar


    "You trusted me and Stitches to prepare something that would span several days and then just left without telling us anything? Are you mad?"- Johnny


    "You''re both idiots. The only good one among ya'' is that sweet roll, Suturis. He went somewhere to get me some shoes he wanted to show me, so now we can get back to business."- Muriel


    "That boy seems rather excited about this whole thing. Did you explain it properly? Can''t help but feel like he might be misunderstanding something or other" - Diar


    "No. He understands perfectly. He is just very happy for you and that he is part of this."- Johnny


    "That can''t be all. Doesn''t seem right"- Diar


    "He is a widow, you know. Don''t really know how he lost his wife. Doesn''t really talk about himself, or anything for that matter. Might''ve lost her to the war. Don''t know."- Johnny


    "Oh."- Diar


    "Oh that poor boy. Been through too much for someone his age. See, I told ya''. He is the only decent man amongs ya''. Now, you said no expense will be spared?" - Muriel


    "Yes, nothing spared." -Johnny


    "Well the, Old Kit, stop pretending this don''t concern you and get over here. We are gonna fix this mess right. No time for yellers or proprieties or talking to the elders but we can solve this if we just throw enough money and false prestige at it." - Muriel


    "Yellers? Talking with elders? What does that have to do with a party?"- Johnny


    "Johnny, just hush up and listen." - Muriel