The Green Dragon Inn - Part 4

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman barely noticed the dwarf as he came in, standing at the top of the stairs and peering down.

"Derufin?" She called.

A stream of curses came in reply. Aman felt almost relieved- he was alive, anyway. She started down the stairs slowly, not waiting even to grab the lantern from where it always sat behind the bar, and behind her a curious Silvanis following her. "Derufin, what's wrong?"

"I'm here!"

"Good Gods..." Aman ran over to where Derufin lay, as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. The drinks machine- well, contraption- had fallen right over lower right leg. Quickly, she hastened to his side, grabbing one side of the machine, and nodding to Silvanis to grab the other. The man grudgingly assisted her in lifting off the machine, then quickly scooted from the cellar so as not to be asked to do anything else. Aman knelt beside Derufin's side as he sat up, rubbing at his ankle and wincing.

"Grief, Derufin, what happened?"

The stable man hesitated, and seemed about to speak, then shook his head slowly, then more strongly. "No...no, it was nothing, Aman. I just...slipped."

"You slipped?" Aman was doubtful and it showed in her voice. She knew how reliable and solid Derufin was, and greatly doubted he could have slipped just like that.

Derufin nodded forcefully. Too forcefully? "Yes, indeed Aman. I wasn't concentrating?"

Wasn't concentrating? Derufin?! Aman was about to speak again, to question the truth of Derufin's story, when she heard a noise behind her, and turned her head quickly, jumpy because of what she had heard when down in the cellar before. She searched the gloom with her eyes. "What is it?" Derufin asked in a low voice.

Aman hesitated, as he had before. Should she tell him? No, foolish thoughts- she was simply imagining things. She shook her head, as he had. "Nothing. I just thought I heard...no, its nothing."

Derufin contemplated the Innkeeper for a moment, his expression puzzled, then struggled to his feet, with the help of Aman. "Come, we'll get an ice pack on your leg." She supported him across the floor and up the stairs. It was only as they reached the common room and Cook began to fuss worriedly about Derufin that Aman realised the likeness of her denial to Derufins story...