I reach for a soot blackened kettle hanging above the fireplace.
A mistake.
My fingers immediately lets go- I hiss as brought them close, blowing cold air to cool the burn.
"Damn it!"
A minor burn, yet it hurt like hell
The steaming kettle rolls round its base, clanking aganist the hard stone floor.
Steaming
I give it a quick sniff, savouring its herbal and minty fragrance
"That oughta do it,"
A sigh escapes my lips
I grab the mettalic handle, with a rag this time, and carefully pours the concoction into a canteen.
Some spill as a bout of grating-wet coughs interrupt my focus
I sweep my gaze across the room- No, a stone hovel is more fitting.
Calling it a room would be an overstatement- bearing its current state in mind.
This is where I call 'Home' - it has been for as long as I can remember.
It more of a shack, just with solid stone as its walls.
On my far right, an assortment of herbs hung on metal spike pinned onto the wall.
Next to them lay a bunch of half tanned skins- acrid and stinging to the nose.
The herbs, hanging beside them, did a great deal in supressing their choking smell.
Besides from that?
There was nothing noteworthy- save for two beds and a bundle at the corner- Lum's work tools.
Within the corner bed lay an old man, wheezing as he struggled to sit upright from his back.
I carefully place the canteen at the foot of the bed and move to help the struggling man.
"Ahh" he winces
Resting his back with the head of the bed; his head supported by the stone wall, he gives me a look
~Cough~
"Ptui, The state I'm reduced to!"
He rasps, wiping a smudge of blood laced sputum from the corner of his lips.
I lean over, picking a clay mug at the foot of the bed.
reaching for the canteen I pour some of the brew into the mug, shakes to rinse and pours it to the floor.
The mess is quicky absorbed by the earth.
I refill the mug and extend it to Lum, the old man.
Lum gives it a sniff, savouring its herbal essence and takes a swig- pausing upon noticing my gaze of 'pity'
"Fret not ...son. I'm already getting bet-"
(halts, and releases a grating Cough, then another)
"See? Its starting to work already"
He forces out a smile, yet clutching his chest with his free hand, his face supressing a wince of pain.
Unconvinced, I wipe my brows,
Lum's state said all that was be said; even a blind person could 'see' a man at the end of his rope.
"I'm about to head out"
I say, whilst refilling the mug, emptying the canteen.
"I have to gather mushrooms...for tonights meal"
The old ratkin nodded, his whiskers twitching.
He gestures at an unlit lantern hung between the beds,
"Take this."
He pauses, noticing my hesitation
He locks a piercing gaze onto me.
"Rain, I will not listen to your excuses,"
I sigh, relenting - its not like I would light it anyways- just to make him calm down.
The lantern did nothing my eyes couldn't ....and it was tiresome to carry around.
Not to mention broadcast my location to everyone watching.
My eyes were quite decent in the dark- unlike the ratkin who could barely see a few feet beyond their whiskers.
Lum would hear nothing of the sort.
Sighing, I drape the unlit latern on my arm- grab a satchel on my way out.
We both knew the lantern wouldn't be lit.
~~
Lum sighs, releasing the breath he'd been holding, winces ; coupled with a bout of coughs.
He stares at Rain receding back, until he disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Life had given him a sour lemon- he wansn't complaining though.
"Heh! Serves me right "
He rasps with a self depreciating chuckle
Retrospective- he'd savoured and immersed in his craft with reckless abandon.
These were the consequence of his labour finally catching up to him.
Was it worth it really?
Damaging his lungs within his craft.
Back then, who didn't know Lum- the best leather craftsman to live?
Praises were sung, sonets composed, hell! A city was even named after him.
But now?
He could barely get by... If not for Rain
Rain, the boy he took in many Circles back.
He couldn't help but curse the timing- for he knew...
He knew, deep down- his kin would cast out the boy, as soon as he took his last breath.
~~
Outside, it was not as dark as Lum would have us believe, yet not that far off in his claims.
The sky glowed with an etherial green hue- no sight of stars though.
One couldn't hope to catch a glimpse of those here- bearing in mind that Lum's burrow was a subterrenean hold.
A society of ratkin and those brave, or insane enough to live under tonnes of overlying rocks.
Nevertheless, the city carved out a legacy of its own- within solid stone and thrived.
A blend of ringing bells from merchants advertising their wares, women haggling for produce in the market below, constant clanking of hooves of beasts of burden- all signs of the hustle and bustle of a busy city.
That fact carried weight, considering it was nighttime, yet still the activity.
My steps carried my further on, lost in thought.
The city's hum no longer stirred me- desentisized by living within for as long as I can recall.
Of my origins? I couldn't begin to imagine.
I have been with Lum for as far back as I can remember.
Him being my father? Not really.
More of a guardian...our looks vastly ....
One wouldn't confuse us for father and son
Hell, he was a ratkin for crying out loud- and me?
Well, I don't even know!
Not human, yet close....same skin texture no fur...but thats where the similarities ended.
Hillfolk? Not them either- I had long ears like them yet no more similarities with the elven kin.
I had longer limbs, green eyes aand-
"Oi ! GREYSKIN!"
A high pitched voice yells, almost comically
I pause, scanning my sorroundings
"Well, welll , well ....look what we have here! "
The voice continues
Staring back, I resist the urge to faceplam.
The subject of the voice showed up - after his botched up attempt at being domineering and mysterious.
He steps closer, followed by a group of lackeys- the mutts he 'commanded'
"What did I tell you about showing your filty gray face here...hmm?"
A sigh escapes my lips
"Rowan, I'm not in the mood to play your childish games today."
Frankly, I'm sick and tired of his never-ending antics.
"Childish you say, eh? BOYS ....GET HIM!"
He sics his mutts at me, a smug smile tugging at his lips.
His lackeys, beings the mutts they are, lunged at me.
A sidestep had them tackling empty air.
They let out yells as they circled again, trying to cut off my escape routes
They reposition, and pounce
Seeing through their motives, I ducked, avoiding their extended arms
The dodge- almost effortless
The result of their 'attempt' was nothing close to what they envisoned.
Rowan and his lackeys ended up bumping heads, landing face first onto the stone pavement.
Grunting and yelling .
I barely gave them a glance as I vault over a stall of wares, blends in with the ctowd and disappear.
Snarls of anger almost drown out the marketplace noise
"You can't get one person? Disappointing! "
"How can you claim you are better yet can't hold down a greyskin, huh?"
Rowan hisses, admonishing his 'incompetent' followers
"He's too fast boss!"
(Sighs)
"He'll come back, Don't embarass me again!"