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Alphonso and Bombok Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: Moving Day

     Castleview Hamlet was a bustling place.  Its well-kept stone buildings and immaculate, open courtyards made it essentially a smaller version of North or South Qeynos.  Elegant stone-inlay plazas and sparkling fountains – not to mention its easy access to Qeynos Harbor – made it a popular homestead for many adventurers.  Civilized heroes and heroines looking for an inexpensive but “classier” place to live chose Castleview Hamlet…and so the streets teemed with all manner of being: from Elf to Dwarf to Froglok to Human, and even the occasional Kerra.  Those who called Castleview Hamlet home could be excused for becoming jaded to the menagerie of races that walked the streets…but on this afternoon a singular sight caused a great many of them to stop and stare.

     A sweating Ogre in a colorful robe struggled to pull a comically-overloaded ox-cart of furniture behind him…while an upright-walking rat in plate armor doggedly pushed the cart from behind.  Moving day was here.  Alphonso was finally getting his own residence!

     “I still feel a little guilty at leaving you, Bombok…after the attempt on your life…and my…failed… mission to find the assassin…”

     “Heh!  ‘We STILL on this?  Alphonso SAVED Bombok’s life…and exposed weakness in Qeynos!  NOW the city guards have increased in Baubbleshire, and the tower mages of the CONCORDIUM have placed MAGICAL SEALS on BOMBOK’S dwelling.  Soon, ALL Qeynos homes will be so protected!”

     “Hmmm…Your near-death really did open a jug of worms, didn’t it?  The city reacted quickly.  Reportedly, Queen Antonia herself took notice!  Nonetheless, I feel as though I’m abandoning you –“

     “ENOUGH, Alphonso!  BOMBOK is safe enough…and soon will be even SAFER.  Bombok has met some powerful new FRIENDS in Qeynos….”

     As the cart bumped over the grooves and channels of the stone paved streets, it abruptly came to a halt.  Alphonso called forward, “What ho?”  “OH! Bombok’s aching back!”  The Ogre surveyed his surroundings in disbelief.  “STAIRS!  Who would put STAIRS in the streets??”  “Stai-?  Oh right! They are fairly shallow.  We should be able to muscle the cart over them.”  Ironically, the 3-foot tall Ratonga was quite probably stronger than the 7-foot tall Ogre…and it was beginning to show.  “MUSCLE IT?  Heh!”   Bombok wearily dropped the staves of the cart.  “BOMBOK has ‘muscled it’ all the way from Baubbleshire.  BOMBOK needs BREAK!”

     “HELLO, tall, dark and…well…TALL.” called out a sultry voice.  Across the street, leaning against a pillar, was a fetching red-headed female of the Elvin variety.  She stood outside the aptly – but unglamorously – named “Hole in the Wall Pub.”  The words almost purred from her lips.  “If it is a break you desire, then a break you shall acquire...my big Bombok.”

     “Heh heh!  Oh STOP IT, Faeadaen!  People will talk!”  

     Bombok giggled like a school boy, while Alphonso curiously peered from behind the rear of the cart.  A sly grin immediately appeared on Alphonso, as he recognized a familiar face.  He called with a commanding voice.  “Well, if it isn’t Faeadaen: mistress of ales, and jewel of fair Qeynos.”  The diminutive knight wasted no time cutting in front of his startled Oggish comrade, and continuing his banter.  “Dear woman, your abounding beauty chases away the soreness of a day’s labor.  My poor heart races to again witness your alluring radiance.”  Faeadaen smiled.  Bombok was upstaged, but not upset.  He was too occupied marveling at how the austere, caustic knight transformed in the presence of a comely barmaid!

     Faeadaen sauntered over, every move of her body a silent promise.  “Come lads, but hoist a few flagons for me…and for a few silver more, I shall dance for you.  Thereafter, all your burdens shall seem light as a feather…and your troubles – naught but distant memories.”  Bombok smiled broadly, “What SHE said!”

     The hours passed quickly and soon the sun set behind the walls of Qeynos.  Blinking in disbelief at the streetlamp-lit avenue before them, the “well-rested” Alphonso and Bombok stumbled into the street - several silver poorer, and yet still faced with the task of getting the cart up the stairs and around to the front of “The Bed and Book.”

     “BOMBOK must confess…I hoped SOMEONE would steal your cart.”

     “sigh”…”Everyone’s a jester.”

    They took their places at either end of the cart.  Alphonso determinedly put his shoulder against the back of the overloaded gurney and heaved - to little effect.  The cart did not move.  The weary Paladin then heard Bombok cheerfully shout, “PET!”  Alphonso grumbled aloud, “Bombok, we have no time for more barmai -“

     Then Alphonso saw her.  She was a tall High Elf; clad in opulent, polished plate armor; riding a statuesque white horse though the nearby gates of Castleview.  The gate guards saluted her as she passed.  This was clearly a woman of importance and she rode with a serene, regal bearing…yet Bombok greeted her as he would, well, anyone.  “PET!  Over here!”  The beautiful Elvin lady had barely dismounted from her horse when Bombok swept her up in a great bear hug!  Alphonso was filled with apprehension, for he had been the recipient of several of Bombok’s enthusiastic (and painful) bear hugs!  Yet when Bombok put her down, the armored Elf seemed no worse for the wear.  She slapped Bombok on the arm and said, “How are you faring this evening, friend Bombok?”

     Bombok heaved a dramatic sigh and said, “BOMBOK is helping Alphonso move, but we still have these STAIRS to conqueror.  And THOSE stairs…  And stairs INSIDE the Inn…”  The armored Elf looked about, puzzled.  “Who is this Alphonso?”  Bombok looked around for his friend and found him watching from around the corner of the cart, his eyes wide with wonder.  Bombok gleefully pulled Alphonso from behind the cart and said, “Heh heh!  This is ‘PETRAZION’, Sir Alphonso!  Say HI to the nice lady!”  Petrazion held out her shining, gauntlet-covered hand and Alphonso stared at it for but a moment – and then the spell was broken.  A shudder ran though Alphonso and he cleared his throat.  Alphonso took Petrazion’s hand and reverently kissed it.

     “I am Sir Alphonso Salvador D’Antoni, Paladin of Mithaniel Marr ‘theTruthbringer,’ and you have enchanted me.  If there is any small task that I might perform you have but to ask it, for I am your most humble servant.”

    A brief look of amazement crossed Bombok’s face.  Again this was not typical Alphonso behavior.  The dripping sarcasm and distain which were the hallmarks of most of the Ratonga’s first meetings was noticeably absent.  The High Elf smiled and curtsied saying, “Sir Knight you flatter me.  I am but a Paladin of Tunare, ‘the Mother of All’…and I serve fair Qeynos as one of its Guildmasters.  My guild, “The FORSAKEN KNIGHTS,” offers fellowship to all noble misfits and outcasts who would fight for honor, freedom and redemption...and that includes a certain Ogre wizard.”

   Bombok grinned.  “Yep!  Now BOMBOK has a posse!”  

     Petrazion turned to the Ogre.  “Bombok, my friend…you never told us you had such a charming companion.”  Bombok was even more confused.  “I DIDN’T?  But BOMBOK thought…” and then he saw her secret wink.  “OH!  Why, yes!  YES!  This is SIR ALPHONSO: a noble Paladin who just LOOKS like a Ratonga.  He’s questing for the return of his humanity!”

     Placing her hand on Alphonso’s shoulder Petrazion said, “Surely a knight on such an important quest would not wish to join our guild    …would he?”  

     Without hesitation Alphonso pulled his Halberd from the harness on his back and knelt before the stately Petrazion.  “I would be honored to pledge my weapon to the service of The Forsaken Knights.”  “Then rise fair Paladin, for I accept your pledge.  I will gather the other Knights who are in Qeynos this evening to welcome you into our ranks.”

     Bombok bounced enthusiastically.  “YES!  MORE hands to help move this FURNITURE!”

     “Not so fast my boisterous friend” said Petrazion.  “First there is the matter of the initiation.”  Bombok seemed to deflate.  “INITIATION?  You didn’t mention initiation for BOMBOK.”   The High Elf smiled slightly, “I didn’t?  Well forgetful me.  I mean we can’t just let anyone join.  You both must prove your worthiness in a suitably heroic way.  Like…say…descending into Blackburrow to retrieve a cask of Gnoll Ale.  Being that you two are Gnoll slayers of some renown this should be a walk in the park.”

     “MORE Gnolls??” sighed Bombok.  Alphonso elbowed the Ogre in the leg and then said, “It would be our honor to relieve them of some ale.  But do we have to do it before you’ll help us with the furniture?”  Petrazion laughed and said, “But of course we’ll help you finish moving…and we’ll leave first thing in the morning for the Gnoll caves.”

     As Petrazion got back on her horse and rode away to gather the other Knights, Bombok sat down on the edge of the cart.  It creaked under his weight.  “CAVES again…and Bombok GUARANTEES they are NOT Ogre-sized caves.  “groan”…Scrawny little Gnolls… Why do our adventures always go UNDERGROUND?”

     Alphonso nodded sympathetically – but in truth, his mind was elsewhere.  He was already thinking of the blissful sleep to come…in his own room, in his own bed…and without a snoring Ogre!
A fairly light-hearted chapter.
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