Rather than hang about in our Lasital abode, I walked Loosh to the Siroth Portal. It was good to get out moving, plus the portal here was under a tavern that served particularly fine ales.

Despite the dangers of the city we lived in, she walked huddled inside her coat, only the merest glimpse of her little white face showing through the fur hood. I scanned for danger, half hoping one of Peralt's men would come after us. That didn't happen, but as we drew close to the tavern I noticed a Grunir in a leather apron with a big red beard and an angry expression as he shouted at a shady-looking man with a jagged scar down one side of his face.

The Grunir reminded me of Dwim, so I looked past the two bickering men, first to the Shop sign, 'Akerash Hardware store'. Then into the wide window that framed two rows of sloped shelves displaying mainly tools. There were hammers, pliers, tongs and the like, but what really caught my attention was the leather aprons and gloves off to one side. I had an urge to go and inspect the Grunir's wares. I filed the location away for later, then pressed on toward the tavern.

"You might as well come with me now you've come this far," Loosh said as we'd stepped into the entrance hall. "You might be more convincing."

I chuckled and shook my head. "I very much doubt that. I won't take no for an answer and probably make the whole situation worse. Anyway, I've got total faith in you."

She snorted. "You mean, if you aren't directly told by Onlan not to do this thing then you can't be held accountable."

"So smart," I replied, patting her on the back with a wide grin. "I'll keep the bar warm while I wait for you." With a flourish I opened the door for her to enter the main room.

She headed past scowling and made a beeline to the back of the room while I sauntered over to the bar.

Treve, the barman welcomed me with a wide smile. "Joren! Good to see you. I have a new ale on this week. Inoran Black. Can I tempt you?"

"You most certainly can, Treve. But not just yet. There's an errand I need to run. I'll be back in an hour at most."

He waved the empty mug he was drying at me, and I headed back out into the rain. Collar up, I retraced my steps back to the store.

The jingle of the bell above the door announced my presence as I entered, the Grunir now stood at the sales counter fidgeting with a riveter. I waved and identified him.

Name: Galin Akerash

Title: Master Craftsman

Level: 26

Class: Tradesman

"Can I help you with something?" he asked, voice gruff and raspy, like he was ready for another shouting match at a moment's notice.

"Just perusing for now. What are the best gloves you have for sale?"

He eyed my identifier. "Level eighteen. We could do you something decent. But you don't look like no worker and I don't exactly craft fashion accessories. What do you want them for?"

"That's my business. You make them as well?"

"Aye. All the leatherwork in here is by my hand. The metal work is my brother's."

"Nice. How long does it take to learn leatherworking? It doesn't look as hard as smithing."

He bristled but I hadn't meant any offense. "It's hard enough. Like anything, you can pick up the basics fast enough if you're not an imbecile, but it takes years to master. Now about those gloves." He made to move, but I stopped him. "Wait. I recently started a Trade in stonework but I fucking hate it. I'd be interested in learning to work Leather. How would I go about it?"

He turned and thumped his hips with his fists. Are you in here to waste my time? I've got orders to complete and little patience for fools."

"No, I mean it. I need a trade to help me level and I think this is the one for me. Might be my grunir blood."

He eyed me suspiciously. "Grunir blood you say? I can see it. What else is in you?"

I wrinkled my nose as if I'd smelled something bad. "Archon."

He gave me a look of sympathy. "Aye, well, from what I hear those bastards don't like mix's more'n they don't like the rest of us."

"Ain't that the truth," I agreed. "If you don't have glittery skin, you don't mean shit to them."

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He nodded and his expression softened toward me. "Well the best way to learn a trade is by a master craftsmen. I don't know where you'd find one of them willing to teach you. The next thing you'd need is lots of practice, and lots of leather. I don't know where you'd get either of those. Leather's common enough but it's not cheap."

"How much would it cost me for you to show me the basics and get me started? Oh, and for some leather to practice with."

"Nothing," he snapped. "Because I'm not doing it. I've got more than enough on my bench."

The bell at the entrance rang to announce another customer. I was in the process of thinking on how to convince him, when he started shouting over my shoulder. "I told you you're not welcome in my shop ye robbing bastard!" Then the he paled. I turned to see why.

It seemed the earlier ejectee had returned with some friends. I scanned them all in a moment. Seven men, only three of them were ascended. Two Warriors, Level 17 and 16, along with a Level 15 Mage who held a small fireball in his hand.

The shouting man had no level. "We want the goods now Grunir. Or we smash this shop up and take what we need."

"You want the goods you pay the agreed price," Galin replied and pulled a long handled hammer from behind the counter.

"You can take them all, right?" I asked him. "Level 26 you should smash them all."

He shrugged. "I'm no Warrior, and definitely not a mage."

"Sweet. It seems like I might have something to offer you for that Leather working knowledge then?" I said grinning.

"What are you two whispering about," The Level 17 warrior growled, then pointed at me. "You. Joren. Get outta here now before you get caught up in a whole world of pain."

"Seems like you might after all," Galin answered.

"Help me with this and you've got a deal. One lesson, one roll of leather."

"Two lessons, and two rolls of leather, and I'll clear them out myself?"

He frowned. "If you think…"

I strode toward the Mage first. Panic flared in his eyes and the fire ball intended to burn the shop was thrown at me instead. It bounced off my chest, leaving a sizzling circle on my jumper.

As it hit, the Level 17 darted toward me swinging his cudgel, while the Level 16 followed in with his knife. I took the cudgel blow against my left arm and batted the knife wide with the back of my hand before applying a surge of speed to grip 16's throat. He tried to bat me away but didn't have the strength, not the space to move and my fingers wrapped around his windpipe with little trouble.

I squeezed, digging my fingers in as 17 hit me over the back of the head with his cudgel and the mage blasted me in the face with another fireball.

The cudgel stung, but nothing serious with against my Durability boons, the fire ball was like splashing warm water over my face. It was actually quite refreshing. I chuckled at the thought, and ripped out 16's throat.

The mage gasped in horror. Be it through the loss of his friends throat, or the uselessness of his fire ball. Either way, his open mouth made a wonderful target and I threw the lump of flesh in my hand at the gaping hole.

"He shoots, he scores!" I cried as the Mage coughed and spluttered. Level 17 shook out of his stupor and came on fast and aggressive. Useless fucker was like a puppy nipping at my arm with his cudgel.

Sucked for him was that he was now my sole target. I cracked him in the jaw with a straight left and as he staggered back, thundered a right into his jaw.

He was about to fall into the shelves, but I was too fast and caught his dirty shirt before he toppled. With a sharp jerk I hauled him back toward me and smashed my big bald head into his face.

When I let go of his shirt, he drop to the floor like a dead fish which left the Mage and the unascended ripe for plucking. The Mage tried to get off another fire ball.

"You better have money on your corpse, because you owe me a new coat you bastard."

"I…" He started backing off. The unascended men who had been plucking up the bravery to attack but had just witnessed how horribly outclassed they were, tried to run, but in their haste got in each other's way at the door.

I shot forward, smashing the mages nose to keep him occupied for a moment then pulled out my daggers and dove into the men at the door, stabbing through to the one at the front who was almost out.

Blood squirted from his throat and he fell in front of the partially open door making it all the harder for the others to escape. It was all too easy. My strength combined with their lack of Toughness meant their skulls were like cheap plastic under my knife.

As the last of them gurgled his last breath, I turned back to the Mage. He was still on the floor, dragging himself behind one of the shelves as if he could hide.

Our eyes met and he knew his time had come. "Please don't. I can pay you more. I have more money at home. I'll get it for you. Just let me go."

I stamped on his knee, a delicious crack preceded his desperate cry of pain.

"Wait!" Galin shouted. "Don't kill him, Joren. There's already been enough death today."

I turned to face him, and shrugged. "Sorry . That's not really how I operate."

He stared at me slack-jawed and I jumped as High as I could in the air. I impressed myself. From a standing jump I must have reached six foot at the highest point. When I came down, I added a little extra umph to my landing. One foot on the mages head, one on his chest. He didn't scream this time as his head popped open and his ribcage snapped like dried noodles.

I winked at Galin. Stepped over to the Level 17 who still had a little life left in him and pushed my dagger into his eye to make sure of the job. With that done I wiped my bloody hands on his shirt, then headed over to a white faced Gallin. "Throw in an extra roll of leather and I'll even help you clean them up."

I had to wait a while for a response. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me? I didn't expect you to kill them."

"What did you expect me to do? Fucking bore them to death with childhood stories?"

"I don't know what I expected… not this."

"Just cool your fucking jets, Red-beard. Let's focus on getting rid of the bodies. Neither of us need this heat and if you get rid of them, no one will know what happened. Any ideas?"

"Everyone's gonna know!"

"I couldn't give a shit what everyone thinks they know. I care about what everyone can prove."

He thought that over and after a little pondering, threw his hands in the air. "Okay. Get the bodies down stairs… I can do something with them. It'll take time but I can get rid of them."

"That's more like it, Galin. I like to see a little pro-activeness in my Leatherworking mentors.

He growled under his breath, then shook his head. "You'll have to help me break them down into manageable portions before you leave."

"Portions? You having them with peas and spuds?"

He ignored me, moving first to the blinds to pull them down, swiftly followed by locking the front door.

"Come on then," he snapped, seeing that I hadn't moved. "Grab a body."

He grabbed the Mage by the arms and started dragging him toward the back of the shop. There was no doubt he was strong, and thankfully not squeamish as the Mages brains were hanging out like a busted pumpkin. I grabbed Level 17 and dragged him after.

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