4 Black Tower
"You want to borrow again?"
"Yes, Old Legis but this time I promise to pay it-."
"The next two days?".
"Yes... Old Legis.. the next two days", listening to the old but sharp voice of the old woman, the man has no alternative but to answer yes.
"Well, Well, you can't blame me if, in the next two days, someone will knock on your door forcibly pulling one of your daughters by the hair, I mean, you can't fight or else that someone will also take your life," the old woman warned the man.
" Yes, I promise, I'll bring the money personally," the man shakingly respond, drop of sweats are flowing from his forehead.
"next two days, next two days or else," she continued.
The old woman slowly walked to the other room and after a minute returned clutching a small pouch.
"There are 10 gold lions in there, you can check", she said after throwing the pouch on the desk, she then sat in the oak chair observing the man count the coins.
" Do you think I'm blind or something?", she whispered the question.
" Excuse me, Old Legis," the man was confused by the question.
" Why do you have to count the coins, that's what I'm asking, I'm not stupid to wrongly put the wrong amount of coins in the pouch," she explained.
" you can say I can check-"
Just Go!!!
She shouted and then the man hurriedly walk out the door but quietly closed the door behind him.
"Dumb men in this world," she exclaimed.
She relaxedly sat in the chair, checking the papers in front of her, laying on the rectangular table. About one meter on her left is a bookshelf that can at least hold fifty books, about three meters on her front, the door where the man exited, on the right side about a meter, the door where she got the coins from.
Knock! Knock!
" Come In," she demanded, it came from the door where she just came from.
The door opened and-
" Ohh...Midea, did Thorin asked for something?", she asked tenderly.
" He said that I'll tell you that the 'Little Devil' is here," Midea answered dutifully.
"It's been a long time indeed, who's free to take care of the business here?", she asked again.
" There's Lisera," he responded after five seconds.
" Then call her, I was getting dull anyway," Legis stood up and stretched her back.
Legis followed Midea, Midea of course slowly paced so Legis can keep up then Midea took a glance at Legis.
" Are you interested about Hanzo?", she swiftly asked.
" I can't say I'm not," Midea said.
"Let's just say that a few years back, the kid assisted the master, Thorin was not as rich as today, Hanzo killed someone that fortunately brought fortune to the master," the old woman continued thinking.
" I really can't remember the specifics, Midea, I'm really not the one that should narrate the story," she gave up.
" I guess the mystery is better in this situation," Midea smiled.
When they turned in a hallway, they finally reached the tavern room.
" I hate the noise in this place," she stated.
------
Hanzo and Thorin were still discussing their own past experience, Hanzo laughed and Thorin humorous stories while Thorin was gravely focused on Hanzo's stories about his previous missions.
"Hey Hey Hey, isn't quitting the group impossible?", Thorin retrieved something.
" Normally, yes," Hanzo smiled.
"Ohhhh...I remember", he was about to ask another linked question but stopped.
"So you're saying, you suddenly came to the realization, that doing those kinds of things are not for you? because of what I've apprehended those were some pretty good days", Thorin said.
"Honestly Uncle, I've although about it, somehow I was brave enough to tell the boss about it surprisingly he agreed," Hanzo revealed.
Thorin made a gesture, Hanzo tilted his head leftward, he saw Helga approaching their table.
" What is your order master?", she asked respectfully.
" I want red wine this time," Thorin ordered and looked at Hanzo.
" Just another cup of ale will do," Hanzo ordered too.
" I'll return in a minute," Helga strolled away.
" You sure you don't want her?", Thorin swiftly asked.
"Uncle!!", Thorin laughed after teasing Hanzo.
"Master!", Thorin turned his head and saw Midea with an old woman alongside him.
" Old Legis!", Hanzo beamed with positivity when he saw the short old woman with a bent back, short grayish silver hairs, a pair of sharp eyes and long nose.
" I did not expect you to come back this early, it's been 3 months", Legis smiled and then hugged Hanzo.
" I've heard you need my assistance," Legis went straight to the point.
"Ohh...Yes, Legis, Hanzo want some money to buy a home", Thorin explained.
" How much?", she turned his thought to Thorin.
" I estimated five hundred golden lions," Thorin whispered.
" That's possible, I don't have to remind you about that amount of money right?", she asked seriously.
" No you won't, I can take care of myself," Hanzo turned his head on every side, checking if the other customers were engrossed in their talks.
" We can go back to my table if you want it now," Legis suggested.
" What the hell Legis, Hanzo just got back, can't you at least join the table," Thorin offered a seat.
" I understand, you can stay here for a while kid," Legis accepted the offer.
"Sorry I have to decline, I guess I'm really thrilled to smell the aroma of a real town," Hanzo smilingly declined.
" You mean the smell of feces and urine," Thorin laughed.
"I really resent this kind of chair, not made for ancient people," Legis complained, with a visible pain on her face.
Helga arrived with two cups," Helga, darling, can you get me something soft to eat," Legis requested.
"Of course Grandma Legis," she then went.
Hanzo watched Helga ordering the request from a male cook.
"How old are you now kid?", Legis suddenly asked.
" Nineteen," he answered," seems I can call you a man now," Legis commented.
Helga then arrives with a plate of porridge with a sprinkle of onion grass on the center, of course, accompanied by a wooden spoon.
" You really know your stuff darling," Legis appreciated.
" Of course Grandma," Helga warmly smiled.
After the cups were dry and the plate was empty they immediately go back to Legis' room, Lisera then goes back to the tavern seeing her job is done.
There were only Hanzo, Thorin, Midea and Legis on the room, Legis sat on her own chair while Hanzo and Thorin sat on the opposite side of the table while Midea stood beside Thorin.
They had few discussion, Legis suggested that Hanzo will be gifted a Merchant Wagon so he can travel quickly, and so the bringing the money will be made possible since such massive amount of coins requires at least a huge-size chest.
"So that's it.", Hanzo spoke.
"I know I don't have to lend you some soldiers since you can probably manage it, be careful of some bandits though, you know how tough the situation of the kingdom been this day," Thorin warned Hanzo.
"Bandits against an ex-bandit," Hanzo smiled.
Hanzo hugged Old Legis and Thorin, Midea and another guy were ordered to help Hanzo bring the enormous chest to the wagon which took a lot of labor to be done. Midea and the other guy rested under an old live oak tree after the job was done, a few minutes later, the other guy excused himself leaving Midea with Hanzo, Hanzo was still preparing something inside the wagon.
Midea was about to go back the Black Tower when-
" Hey! you forgot something", Midea heard Hanzo call him.
Splink!!!
" I can't accept this," after catching the small pouch and opening it, Midea saw about twenty golden lions, he nervously fluttered his hands.
" It's for the service you've done to my Uncle, although ten of that you should give to Helga," Hanzo naturally explained.
"It's too much Master Hanzo, worth a year service," Midea explained nervously.
"Uncle proffered me more than half of that, it's nothing, if you don't accept, you can just give the twenty to Helga," Hanzo insisted.
" It seems that you took a liking to Helga, Master," Midea spoke.
" You too...", Hanzo chuckled shortly.
Hanzo then takes a long glance at the Black Tower, it got its name from the black stones that surfaced its wall and the four towers above the fourth floor, there were at least 2 guards in every tower watching the surroundings from above.
" I thank you Master Hanzo!," Midea bowed to Hanzo. Hanzo just replied with a smile, Midea then walked towards the Black Tower, the intense heat of the sun covered his face as he hurriedly runs to the building.
Hanzo then took a sit on the wagon preparing to ride the brown stallion Thorin gave him, he then took a last glance at the Black Tower and said:" I'll be back."
