Finally arriving at their destination, Konnor jumped from the horse to look around. Never before had he been in such a city. He was used to living in the wild but now for the first time in a long time he would be able to sleep under a roof. Richard slightly stumbled while dismounting the horse, he really needed to rest. His injuries were not healing as fast as he hoped but he was lucky to be alive in the first place.

  " Follow me boy, time for you to meet a friend of mine, grab this bag from the horse, I got mine. "

  Konnor took the bag containing the wine and followed Richard inside. The tavern was busy, the waitresses were running everywhere and Malik was nowhere to be seen. They sat down at a table near the kitchen, Richard was looking around for a familiar face and managed to find Jess' running between tables. He waved his hand at her and he understood her saying "one minute" from across the room. While waiting he started doing breathing exercise to ease his pain. His young companion was looking around in awe, this tavern may not be the most rich place on earth but to him it was already great. The place was filled with life, the scent coming from the kitchen, the improvised songs by the already tipsy customers, the sound of the boots on the ground, the laughs, all of this was new. Finally, Jess came to their table and gasped as she saw how bad Richard's state was.

  " Oh by the creator! Richard what happened to you? "

  " I had an encounter with .. a really big bug during my last job but anyway where is Malik? "

  " He ran to the general shop because we were out of wine! He forgot to go get it because he was still drunk from our evening. "

  Richard raised an eyebrow.

  " Our evening? "

  Realising her mistake, Jessamine started blushing. Richard laughed at her but stopped as soon as his ribs started hurting again.

  " Well while you are here, bring us some water and can we have some chicken? "

  " Will do! "

  " Also Jess, take this. " Richard took two bottles of wine from Ryzeon from the bag and handed them to her. " Store them in Malik's room I got two for me too, maybe he'll share it with you. "

  She took the bottles, walked away and smiled at Konnor. He blushed as he looked at her walk away. Richard leaned over the table and smacked the boy behind the head with his left hand.

  " Ouch! What was that for?! "

  " Don't look that much, she is taken Or were you too busy looking at her legs to hear what she was saying? "

  " No I was .. it's just that this place is huge and there is so much noise and things to observe. "

  " Well keep your eyes away from the waitresses if you can't do it without being noticed. "

  A few minutes passed and Jess came back to serve the two of them. They ate and when they were done they went upstairs. Richard opened the door and had a sigh of relief when he noticed no one had occupied his room when he was absent. He dropped his bag on the floor and layed down as slow as his injuries allowed him to. Konnor walked around the small room and noticed the absence of a second bed.

  " Hummm Richard? Where do I sleep? "

  " In this very room why? "

  " But I have no bed! "

  Richard sat down on his bed. Obviously he wanted to sleep in his own bed but it would be cruel to the young man to not grant him this one favor.

  " I will sleep on the floor tonight don't worry, you can have the bed. "

  A smile appeared on the boy's face and he sat down next to Richard.

  " Humm thanks for .. not killing me back there and giving me a chance.. "

  " It's ok, when I was your age, I too was given a few choices and I didn't always make the brightest one. "

  " What made you decide to stop making wrong choices? "

  Richard had a small chuckle.

  " Boy I think you are asking the wrong person, I never stopped making wrong choices. I just don't do them as often. The biggest one did cost someone important their life. "

  Konnor looked at the wall in front of them.

  " Most of my short life I've made mistakes, I never had a good place anywhere I think. I was always on a slim line and I feared I would fall into the abyss if I moved the wrong way. My own brother died because of me, and before that, I disgraced my parents beyond redemption and ran away from my village. "

  "I'm sorry to hear this, but how did it happen ? "

  Konnor took a deep breath.

  "It was two years ago, we were living in a small village in the west, life was boring for me but my brother he was fine. He could survive on his own, he could hunt, he never wanted to teach me how to fight or how to shoot a bow and arrow. He always said I would never need this kind of skill because I was a boring kid anyway, fucking prick. He was of course poaching and was sneaky enough to never get caught. One day I took his bow because I wanted to prove to him I could have some value. I went into the forest, found a deer and shot it. I missed it and straight after I heard a scream ... there was never anyone in this forest! Never! And just now apparently I hit someone, so I ran away .... Later that day, men in armors, mercenaries came to our village and asked if the village had a hunter. Obviously everyone knew my brother hunted but no one gave him up. They ended up looking through everyone's house, beating up those who refused them the entrance. They ended up finding the bow in our house and my father said it was his bow, as a punishment they sliced all his fingers one by one. And my mom ... since she was crying they said " Milady you seem awfully sad and we don't like sad women". Then these animals they ... they gave her a permanent smile to her going from one ear to another. Both my parents were now marked and the rest of the village knew it was either me or my brother. So one night, my brother tried to take off but I followed him and we have been on the road ever since, I haven't had a roof over my head until today."

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  Konnor was now sitting silently, waiting for a judging gaze and a moralizing saying. Instead, Richard simply put his hand on his shoulder.

  " It's ok boy, an old friend named Ramos once told me. 'Life is like making a sculpture, you don't make mistakes while crafting it, you make adjustments to it, and then after many adjustments, you will end up with the sculpture you wished for' . So I will help you make those adjustments. "

  Konnor simply smiled. He was relieved that somebody understood him a little bit and not only judged. Someone knocked on the door. Richard got up and opened the door, Malik was there ready to hug his best friend.

  " Don't hug me you brute! Can't you see I'm fucking hurt!? "

  " What? I can't even hug my best friend after a few weeks away from me? "

  " Don't say it like this please, have you seen my gift? "

  " Yeah! I took a sip of it and damn boy this wine ain't shit! Is there a way you could bring more from them? Maybe play a bit of that heroic favor? "

  " No."

  " Damn I tried my best." Malik then looked at Konnor " Well Richard, I knew you were desperate but going for such young fellows, and a boy at that?! Did the lil redhead reject you? "

  Slightly annoyed Richard slammed the door in his friends face and heard him fall over on the other side.

  " AH my nose for fucks sake Richard! "

  " Serves you right! Let me rest and I'll explain things tomorrow! Go annoy someone else! "

  He then heard malik standing up and insulting him under his breath.

  " I swear you are lucky I only have one arm you son of ... "

  It was early in the night and Richard was already close to falling asleep where he stood. He turned to Konnor still on the bed.

  " Well, here was my bestfriend Malik, the plan is that you will be working for him, take his words as if they were mine ok? So you will have this room for you, and if I ever need you to run an errand you will do it. We clear? "

  " Will I get paid? "

  " What was rule number one?

  Konnor sighed heavily.

  " Don't question back .... "

  " Good, rule number two, trust me! And the answer is that you will be paid if Malik believes you deserve to be paid . Now we sleep and you'll help me bring my armor to the blacksmith tomorrow. "

  Richard sat down on the ground, his back against the wall, Konnor laid down and for the first time in years, had a good night of sleep in a bed.

  When the first lights pierced through the curtains, Richard woke up. It was not the most restorative sleep he could have had but this would have to do. Konnor was still deep in his sleep. Richard decided to not wake him up yet. He put on a clean tunic from his wardrobe and went downstairs to have breakfast. His whole body was creaking like an old building on the verge of collapsing. " I just have to give my armor to Senob then tell the duchess I have accomplished my task and I'll be done for a while. I can then rest over at Isabella's place. ". At the thought of her, he felt he could endure anything. " Come on Rich'! Just a few hours and you can rest. ".After he was done eating breakfast, he saw Konnor coming down from the room.

  " Sleep well boy ? "

  " Yeah, best night of my life."

  " I already talked with Malik about you working for him, he is ok with the idea. "

  " Perfect, so what will I do? "

  " You do anything he asks you to do, errands, being a waiter, cleaning the latrines, whatever he needs, you provide alright? "

  Konnor took a bite of the bread Richard left and had a heavy sigh.

  " Yes Richard. "

  " Finish eating on the way, we need to meet someone, can you grab my bag from the bedroom and put it on the horse? "

  The boy simply nodded and went upstairs. A few minutes passed and he came back down with Richard's equipment. Painfully standing up, Richard followed him outside. Once the horse was loaded with everything, they walked towards the blacksmith workshop. It was still early when they arrived but Richard knew Senob was an early bird. He was at the back of his studio tickering on some of his inventions.

  " Sen'! I'm back from my job. I have something you need to look at. "

  The blacksmith grumbled and barely looked at Richard while making a hand sign to drop on the table whatever he had for him. Konnor was looking around the shop at the diverse sets of armors and weapons available.

  " That's incredible! You made all that sir? "

  " Nah I opened ma arse and shat it all! Ya focking stoopid or wot?! "

  " No need to be so aggressive .... "

  Senob turned around and looked straight at the boy. Then he looked at Richard.

  " Who the fock's that eh!? "

  " He works for me Sen', can you look at this? "

  Senob stood up and limped towards the table. He carefully looked at the destroyed armor, feeling something was off because he was awfully quiet Richard leaned forward.

  " Sen'? Say something Sen'... "

  Instead of answering, Senob slowly walked towards his tools rack and took a hammer. Seeing what was going to happen Richard ducked. A second later, the hammer was flying in his direction.

  " Sen'! Calm down! I almost died!! "

  Senob was already grabbing another tool to throw.

  " Ya should have fookin died then!! Look at wot ya did you son of a fook! "

  Richard dodged yet another tool.

  " I'll pay anything you want me to pay alright?! I'll get the money! I always pay you in time! "

  " I don't give a shite! You fooked up some incredible work of moyne! Do ya know how long I worked on dat armor ah?! Not just a day! Not just a day for sure!! "

  Richard dodged yet again another tool. Konnor was watching this scene unfold. " And these two are friends? So far his friends seems to disrespect him more than regular people... "

  Out of breath and out of tools, Senob finally calmed down and sat down.

  " Most of these were pieces of leather I brought with mey from the south Rich'! People here they don't know shite about good leather! I need the one from me hometown! "

  Richard took time to think and had an idea.

  " Fear not, I know someone who can get you rare stuff but I have to ask you right now. Did you complete the order? "

  Senob growled and started waddling towards the back of the shop, he came back a few minutes after with a carefully wrapped bag that seemed pretty heavy.

  " There! You betta be fooking gratefull for dis! "

  Richard opened the bag and a smile appeared on his face.

  " It's great Sen'! Exactly what I wanted, if I had both arms available I would hug you. Konnor, take the bag, we are going to the next place. "

  Konnor carefully wrapped the bag and took it on his shoulder.

  " I'll see you later Sen', I'm keeping the boots and leaving you the armor. "

  " Ye now get the fook out mo shop! "

  They put the bag on the horse and walked back to the tavern to drop it. They then mounted the horse and made their way to their next destination : the duchess's castle.