"Is everything alright? I heard... banging..." Before either swordsmen could reply, another could be heard approaching fast.
"
Whoa there, fellas!" "
Why were ya'll fighting? What happened?"
Clive was honest and straightforward and MacKensie was so caring, they both meant well but Barracker held back as he felt it wasn’t his place to spill the details. MacKensie knelt in front of him and he smiled, as she tilted his face up to the light.
"It's nothing guys. Barracker and I are just screwing around and it got a bit out of hand."
Barracker was not a big fan of lying so he restrained himself from saying anything at all. When MacKensie went over to Zell to check on him, Barracker gave a smile and a nod to Clive to reassure him that everything was ok.
"We're fine. Go on," he told them. "We'll be down in a sec."
Once they were gone, Zell took a breath and got to his feet. Barracker followed suit, then walked over and clasped forearms in a warrior's handshake, giving eachother a pat on the back for good measure. "Thanks for going along with that, mate," Zell said.
“No problem, friend. You can pay me back by letting me and James help rid you of this curse”.
"Everyone has enough on their plate, right now. After the battle, if everyone needs to know then, then fine. But let's just see about saving Valhiem before we go about tackling my problems, eh."
“Sounds good. As long as you know Second Chance needs you. Don’t let Baphomet tell you otherwise.” Barracker put his hand out towards the door.
“Shall we”.
The two swordsmen joined the rest of the group in the bar-room. Barracker greeted those he had not seen yet this morning. When Alison arrived and MacKensie introduced her to the group, Barracker was cordial, but knew a rogue when he saw one.
Interesting. He pondered to himself.
I wonder how someone like MacKensie would have struck up a conversation and acquaintanceship with such a person. Not that rogues were necessarily bad people, it was simply an adventurer class like any other, they just seemed like an odd pair.
When she said where the woman was from, it took Barracker until he had seen the reactions of his party to realise that Alison was from their world. Something that astonished the Paladin.
This is incredible, another that is not bound by the source.
He waited to introduce himself, he gave a warrior’s handshake, clasping her forearm.
“Barracker Kassel, it is good to meet you Alison.” he smiled warmly.
“I am not as special as the rest of you all,” he joked in a jolly spirit. He was feeling in a much better mood since all that tension with Zell had been resolved and the weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“I am a simple Valheim boy. But I’m here to help, and I can start by getting you a drink. What are you having?” He smiled and nodded after getting her drink of choice, then proceeded to go around asking everyone else which beverage they favoured. Then went with Frederick back to the bar to collect the tray of drinks.