One Small Favour (Solo)

[Dimitri]

Spring 7, 511 AV

Dimitri awoke earlier than usual to the excessively loud snoring of a fellow squire. He sighed and woke up, not realizing today was not going to be a normal day in the training life of a squire. He considered flicking the ear of the inconsiderate beast roaring in the bed nearby. He decided against it, and he got up. As was his usual morning routine, he grabbed his sword and shield. As he prepared to polish them both, a note fluttered out from inside his shield.  He sighed. He knew the many notes his master left him meant more work for himself. He shrugged it off, training is training, no matter the form. He picked it up, broke the seal, and opened it.

To Squire Dimitri,

Would you be so kind as to do me a small favour? Upon completion of this favour, you will have the rest of the day off to do with as you please. There is a copy of Advanced Sword and Shield Combat: Siege Defense beneath your bed, along with just enough mizas to pay for it and nothing more. I recommend All Things Leather. Nabinu is a very nice and interesting shopkeeper. Be polite and honorable. You know where to find me when it's done.

Sir Adamal Brinkaas

He sighed and put the note in with all the others he had from over the years in the false bottom of his drawers. He quickly polished his sword and shield, and began his morning exercises. He strapped his sword inside of his shield, then strapped it to his back. He then began with pushups. He kept his hands shoulder width apart, his body a rigid board. He lowered his chest until it touched the floor, then exploded upwards, clapped his hands, and repeated the process seventy four more times. He then grabbed his shield, stood up, and held it out with straight arms in front of him. He spread his legs wider than his shoulders. He took a deep breath, squatted down low while swinging the shield above his head. He then exploded upwards, leaping a couple feet upwards, landing quietly in the same position and continued his reps of squat jumps. He then finished with working with his abs, and then grabbed the book from beneath the bed. He walked out of his dormitory, and headed in the direction of All Things Leather.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri continued along the many corridors, his shield swinging gently bac and forth as he walked casually. He had his sword at his hip, shield in hand, a simple open white shirt, his simple leather breeches, and leather boots. He had never been to All Things Leather before, but had been near it. He did not look forward into delving into the smell, but would have to stomach it. As he came closer, he began to smell urine baking in the sun. He refused to let it show it bothered him. As the shop came in sight, two new smells joined the first, dung and rancid meat. He was approaching from behind the building and saw the many workers hard at the process.

He had never seen how leather was made before so he took this time to learn. He saw a worker passing around dirty skins, many covered in mud, blood, or both. Many he couldn't recognize but he saw a few he did, the light tan of a deer, the huge skin, dark brown of a bear, and surprisingly the sheen of a snake. The workers first dipped the skins in water to soak. He then watched them pulled out older skins, soft and flemsy now, and lay them out on rocks. They then would beat them with rocks and wooden mallets, which Dimitri assumed helped to soften it. They then took knives or sharp rocks and began scouring off excess flesh and fat. They would scrape it off, and fling it to the ground with a sickening plop. He watched them scrape dirt and blood out of the fur sides quickly and efficiently.

They then took them and soaked them in a vat of urine. Dimitri had no idea as to why but did know it smelled awful and was surprised how the workers didn't lose their stomachs working with it. He watched workers pull skins from the yellow, odiferous vat and place them on flat rocks. They then began scraping the fur sides. He watched the hair seemingly just fall away. An effect of the urine he guessed. Unpleasant but effective. Once all the hair was removed, the now hairless skins were placed into a vat of water and dung, and the skin was kneaded against the sign, the workers' arms going elbow deep in the foul mixture. They must work it for a while because he watched for twenty chimes and not one stopped. Eventually one finished and pulled the nausea inducing skin out and it was dried. He then rubbed it down in some oil and proceeded to stretch it out taut on a large, flat wooden board. He saw various skins in different states of dryness. One was pulled down and cut into long thin strips. The worker took the strips around front and Dimitri followed him. The worker handed the strips to a dark Myrian man sitting in a rocking chair with a giant orange, white, and black striped tiger laying next to him.

Dimitri watched the man quickly punch holes, feed leather through them, his hands moving rapidly. Dimitri could barely follow them with his eyes until the man had a newly fashioned belt. He handed it to a worker and then looked at Dimitri, "Yes? How may I help you?" "I'm here on errand for Ser Adamal Brinkaas to have this book," he held out to be seen, "Rebound in leather." "Yes, Ser Adamal has this done quite often. I will do this for him, however would you be able to do me a small favour?" Dimitri figured a small favour wouldn't hurt and he would still have plenty of the day to relax. He nodded, and the man continued, "Well, my friend here," he patted the massive tiger, "Isn't feeling well, would you walk with him to Tooth and Claw? Lirelle may be able to take care of him. And don't worry about him, he's friendly but he's not allowed to walk around on his own and I can't leave the shop. Just walk with him, he doesn't know the way. Just don't touch him or stare him in the eyes. Tell Lirelle Nabinu sent you." Dimitri looked over at the tiger and for an instant locked eyes with it, and immediately looked away. He could see hunger in those eyes. "Yes Ser Nabinu."  

[Dimitri]

Dimitri stepped down off the porch and took a few steps, and found his face in the snout of the massive tiger. It could walk so silently on it's padded feet, it snuck up on him. It shot him in the face with a cloud of warm, steamy breath that smelled like a dead horse. It walked out beside him and he turned and left All Things Leather. They began toward the docks. As they passed citizens, they stopped and stared or scrambled out of the way. Dimitri was quite relieved that the tiger was on good behavior, because if it attacked someone, he doubted that he would have the ability to stop it. From what he'd heard, Myrian Tigers were one of the most fearsome predators in existance. They rounded a corner in a corridor and saw a Knight blocking the path down to the docks. "I heard you two were coming, turn around and head back. You are disturbing the citizens." The tiger, after apparantly understanding what the Knight said, walked up and stared the knight in the face. He then let loose a deep guttoral growl. The Knight paled, "T-t-turn around." This time the tiger snarled, baring his massive fangs. The Knight stepped out of the way and disappeared hurriedly. They continued down to the docks, receiving many stares from the many travelers in the area. Eventually Dimitri found the warehouse titled, The Tooth and The Claw.

Dimitri opened the large door, and he lead the striped beast into the large warehouse. Crossing the threshold he could smell the slight stench of having a bunch of animals in one place. He could make out a rash of barking, loud bird twittering, a few mews, and slight low moan. As the scent of the Myrian tiger spread, all of the creatures grew silent, save the low moan. As the unlikely pair walked along the many cages Dimitri noticed the creatures huddling into the corners of their cages. He finally reached the back where there was a makeshift animal hospital. As he approached the low moan grew louder and more beastly. On a large table was an average sized brown bear. Standing over the bear was an attractive brunette woman. Dimitri watched intently as she appeared to be attempting to help the creature with an injury. The leg bone of the creature appeared slightly bent at an odd angle. She placed a large chew toy in the creature's gaping maw, and strapped down the matching leg to the injured one. She whispered delicately to the creature and appeared to be calming it. She then placed a hand above the injury, and one below. She counted down, 3... 2... 1... SNAP! The creature thrashed as she set the bone. She then quickly wrapped it up with some wooden splints and calmed the creature down. She then unstrapped it and walked it to it's cage nearby. She turned and looked at Dimitri, "And why didn't Nabinu come himself?"

"Ah he was too busy he said. His tig--" "Of course it's not feeling well! I can tell by it's lack of luster, it's less than regal stride, and the pain in it's eyes." She beckoned the tiger over, and much to Dimitri's surprise, it complied. She had it open it's mouth and she began poking around inside. She even went so far as to stick her head inside it's mouth, sniffing at it's breath. She lifted it's tongue and smelled and then pulled her head out. "It has worms and an upset stomach, from eating a worm ridden bear. I would recommend treatment with a combination of ground oats and baby grass. However I must stay to watch over the animals, and I think the tiger should stay. Wouldn't want it's mood to change out in public. Would you mind going to Windmount Stables and picking some up? I could go later but you could consider this a small favor, if you'd like to get this done quicker."