After we finished our breakfast i gathered up all the plates and placed them on the serving tray in a neat little pile in the middle of the table. If anything i wanted the hostess to know we tried to be courteous. Cassa went to get her little cloak and our two bags of gold coins then we left the Inn and followed the road to the blacksmiths home. "I think we need a formation for the next battle." Gro nodded in agreement. "That worked good. I watch behind next time." Cassa spoke and I patted her head to reasure her but i thought about it as we walked. If she gets that scared of those undead things, whats going to happen if she gets cornered or separated from us? "Around the back of the shop. I hear the blacksmith working," Gro spoke and brought me out of my thoughts then we walked to the back where the forge was.
"Oi you lot, what can I do ya fer?" the blacksmith was an older halfling male with a smudged face and bald head with two strikingly blue eyes. His short white beard was dirty and looked like it had been singed in places. He was wearing a very dirty white cotton shirt and brown leather pants. His apron had many little burn spots in it as well as more then a few blisters on his arms. Apparently he must have been at the Inn last night because he only smiled when he saw me and a little hooded face above my shoulder. "My companion here could use some light armor." As i spoke Cassa jumped down and stood in front of me with her fists on her hips and a big smile plastered on her face.
"Ah, cana do that, lad. Only heavy stuffs 'ere." He started to quickly glance around as Cassas' arms dropped to her side and she hunched down, looking very deflated. I couldnt help but chuckle at her. "Oi oi! Take this with ya. Go to Fenta a few stores down 'ere at way. She fix ya right." The little man handed me a few large cured leather pelts and a handful of metal bits. Cassa dug around in her pouch and we could hear the sounds of coins rattling, "Ey, little miss, no need for 'at now. You lot just be safe from now on, eh." Cassa just looked at him all confused, he winked at her, then she glanced back to me and i shrugged. "My gift to ya for 'elping the town and such." The man started to wave and we thanked him before leaving in the direction he indicated.
We came to a shop that had an image of an animal hide embossed on a hanging sign and figured this was the right place. Light brown walls with faded paint of an off white color for the door. I opened the door and went inside. Gro had to duck down when he entered as the door was alightly bigger then the others of this town. " 'Ello and welcome to Fentas' Leathers!" This rather tall and shapely halfling woman came out from the back room behind the desk when she heard the door open and stopped cold in her tracks when she saw it was us. She had a light yellow blouse tucked into a dark blue dress that stopped at the tops of her dark brown boots. He hair was a golden brownish color and was parted in a few braids that hung to the floor. Gro immediately stood straight up and bumped his bald head on the ceiling rafters.
It was the same lady from this morning trying to sneak out of his room from the Inn. "He rubbed his head and scrunched his face and the lady sort of giggled at him. "Ey, you 'ok' over 'ere, love?" Gro just smiled at her and nodded. The lady leaned over her small desk and smiled now as she watched him. "I want armor please." Cassa spoke up and the lady jumped a bit when she saw Cassa standing right next to her. "Sure thing, Miss Hound." Fenta half smiled being a little frightened that Cassa was so close to her. I stepped up to the desk and set down the hides i was carrying, "Can you use theses? The blacksmith gave us these as a gift."
She inspected the hides but saw something else and reached for my left forearm, "Oh deary me! This wont do at all!" She glanced around her shop then sprang for the far wall, her dress flowing out around her feet, then came back to me, " 'Ere Quickshot. " 'Is should stop 'at string burn." and she fitted a leather piece around my forearm and fastened the leather buckles. "Not too tight i 'ope?" she smiled at me then went back to the hides and Gro set the metal bits on her desk. She looked them over as well and nodded at each one. "Alright then, Miss Hound. Lets get ya measured" Fenta pulled out a long light green leather strip with evenly spaced markings stamped into it. "You'll "ave ta take off the cloak so i can measure ya proper." She waited for Cassa to remove her little cloak and she handed it to me. Me and Gro watched as Fenta worked the tape all around Cassa. The little princess gave me a few weary glances at times but she endured the close attention. "Right then. I think 'at'll do. I'll 'ave ya fixed up in a few days." She gathered up all the materials on her desk, winked at Gro, then left for the back room.
Gro leaned down and spoke in a low voice to me, "She is half human and half halfling," I snorted and he sort of smirked, "She is half a halfling." i said and we burst out laughing like a couple idiots. Fenta came back at hearing us and frowned then smiled at Gro. "I think i will join you later." I saw his smirk as he looked at her an I waved for Cassa to come with me. She thanked Fenta profusely then ran to me as she put her cloak back on. We left the shop then headed for the towns book seller. "Gro likes Fenta." Cassa commented and i agreed.