Night.
A traveler was walking in a raincoat in the pouring rain. Looking around, from all dishonesty, he walked, lighting his way with a lantern.
Noticing lights in the distance, the traveler headed towards the light. A village appeared in front of his face. The traveler entered it, surprisingly at this time, the houses were full of life.
Passing by another stall, the traveler reached an inn. When he went inside, he saw a half-filled bar.
The man took a glass of warming liquid and went to the far table.
After taking a couple of sips, the traveler was lost in thought, when suddenly the halfling bard came up to him and said.
— Hey man, why are you sitting tired? If you want to listen to my fairy tale?
The traveler sighed, but decided to listen out of fatigue.
— Come on, how much?
— Oh, it's not worth it, I don't charge for the first one. Moreover, it is so good that it is inconvenient to ask for coins.
— If so, I'm listening...
— Ho-ho, it happened 10-15 years ago, or even 20 years ago... or maybe there was no such thing...
One very hot night thunder rumbled over the kingdom, sparks flew, the earth and trees burned and so... he was born — a madman capable of incredible feats, a hero who is capable of the nastiest things, a rogue halfling — Gallonite.
The boy's father loved him very much, gave his best, so sometimes he had no choice.
Time passed, the boy grew up, got healthier, but he didn't even grow up to a cow...
For many reasons, his father had to change his place of residence all the time, in the end, as the boy was ready to stand up for himself, his father left him a roof over his head, and he left so as not to expose his son to his reputation.
But Gallonite did not want to let his family go so easily, and a few months later he left the house and went in search of it.
He wandered around a lot, and here and even over there. Once, he ascended to the middle lands.
I wandered into a dense green forest, went to myself, touched no one, did not take a vial of poison out of my pocket, did not cut an animal with a dagger, did not take out a relic of my father...
***
— So, what kind of relic? — The traveler asked, warming up.
— Yes, for whom it is a trinket, for whom it is a treasure, but usually only an object of fear.
— A staff or something?
— No, it's wooden... — The bard whispered something in his ear.
— Brrr... Isn't that it?
The Bard nodded and continued.
***
He did not get the relic, and somehow he stood up in the middle of the forest and thought: "Where to go?" - but suddenly I noticed – it glitters. And he's a rogue, he won't leave such a find unattended.
So he came up, saw a bottle with a health potion, and was delighted. And suddenly, once!.. the rope wrapped around the halfling's leg, wrapped it around, and in a moment our oars were turning upside down.
Rogue did not understand anything, but a silhouette jumped through the trees.
Before he could look back, a forest elf appeared in front of the halfling.
— Gotcha, goblin!
Gallonite was indignant.
— The goblin herself! I'm ly-y-ynx...
— ... Are you fucking crazy?
— And you?
The girl was embarrassed.
— So, wait, you're not a goblin, you're a halfling. Although all of you are dwarfs the same... Well, at least I'll bring it.
— Actually, I'm not a dwa..
At the same moment, the girl loosened the rope and the halfling fell to the ground. At the moment when Gallonite was recovering, the elf tied him up and dragged him into the depths of the forest.
At some point, the elf dragged the halfling to the village of the forest elves. After passing several houses, a bell and a shop, the elf reached the elder's house.
— FATHER! I got it! Some kind of lynx!
An old elf with a gray beard came out of a small wooden house.
— Hmm... You look like a halfling, what's your name?
— Gallonite.
— It's not familiar, come on, hold him.
The old man examined the halfling's pockets and tensed up. Taking out a wooden relic, a scream was heard from afar.
— Ahhh! IS IT HIM AGAIN?!— Calm down! Don't panic!
The elder turned to the boy.
— Halfling, tell me... Where did you get this?
— This is my father's relic, he's gone and I want to find him.
— It means the father... this is also how it multiplies... Felucia, let him go.
Elfica was indignant.
— How so? And if he rebels?
— Don't worry, it's not in their preferences...
Felucia untied the Gallonite and left, but she did not stop watching the halfling.
The old man offered to come into the house. In it, the elf asked.
— So you're looking for your father?
— Yes, but do you know where he might be?
— No, but he's been here more than once, and I can only guess where he's going.
— Well, a-a-and?...
The elder sighed.
— I'll tell you straight out, he's not welcome here anymore and I'm more uplifted than anyone else by the fact that he disappeared, but if you help us with the goblins, then I'll give you a tip.
— And the fee? I don't work without her.
— ... I'll think.
They went outside, the old man said.
— So, one elf got lost in the west, your task is to bring him back. You can find everything you need in the store.
The halfling went to the shop, the elder caught up with him and returned the relic.
— Keep him out of the village...
Gallonite went up to the gun shop.
— Hello, big-eared, show me what you have.
An elf peeked out from under the counter.
— Hmm... for the little guy, there are these wonderful shoes, with their help your stealth will increase a hundredfold... For a reasonable fee, of course.
The halfling looked at the shoes, then looked at all the shelves. A dagger caught his attention.
— Well, put your shoes down for now, where did you get that dagger from?
— Yes, I found it on the castle, I passed by the elder's house once, I see he was lying new to himself,
I thought he dropped it, while he took it to himself, maybe it would be useful to another.
— I want him.
— So, 15... no... 17 gold pieces.
Gallonite lowered his voice.
— Actually, I have an important task. An elf in trouble, you know...
— No, no money – no dagger...
— No, no dagger – no elf...
— Hmm... Okay, my bag fell into the well recently, if you get it, I'll give you a dagger.
— That's how it would be right away.
The halfling approached the well. Looking deep into it, he scratched his head. Looking back,
Gallonite noticed an elf passing by.
— Uh, come here, help me.
— Me?
— Yes, yes, you.
— Why should I help you all of a sudden?
— It is necessary for the shopkeeper, he asked me.
— Well, since for him...
Gallonite climbed into a bucket attached to a chain and asked to lower it slowly. The elf carefully turned the mechanism, lowering the halfling.
Almost at the beginning of the water, Gallonite noticed a bag that caught on a stone ledge. The halfling took the bag, shook it and, hearing the characteristic ringing, pulled on the chain.
The elf started to lift the bucket, but halfway there he relaxes his hands for a moment, which is why the Gallonite almost fell down. Then he calmly picked up the bucket with the halfling.
Gallonite struck five to the elf and went to the shop. Ringing the bag near the merchant's face, he said.
— As agreed.
— Oh, about time, give me the bag.
— No, no, the dagger first.
— No, first the bag.
— Hmm... Come on, I'll give you half the gold, you give me the dagger, and then the other half.
— Won't you cheat?
— Pfft... Still in doubt? Of course not!
— Okay...
Gallonite poured the coins into his hand and gave half of them. The merchant, in turn, put down the dagger. The halfling took the dagger and put the other part of the coins. The elf spoke.
— Look, really didn't cheat.
— A deal, there is a deal.
Gallonite threw a bag to the merchant, who poured coins into it, but one fell out of the hole, because of which the elf bent down to pick it up. The halfling looked back...
a moment later, he was already passing by the elder's house, and a voice was heard from the shop.
— And where are the shoes?!
The halfling did not hear this, because he was admiring his father's dagger and new shoes.
Gallonite left the village and went out into a clearing in the middle of which there was a stone. The halfling approached the cobblestone. A voice came from nowhere.
— Stop!
— I'm standing...
— Who is this?
Gallonite smiled.
— I am a horror flying on the wings of justice, I am the wind that will blow away injustice, I am the one who will improve this world... I - ly-y-ynx..! And who are you ...?
A silhouette appeared from the stone, after which an elf with a bow rolled right in front of the halfling.
— Sathis...
— Oh, are you an elf?
— Well, yes...
— Then let's go.
— Where to?
— Where, where – home! I was sent to get you.
— No, I'm not going anywhere. As long as there are goblins roaming around the village, I will not return...
Gallonite sighed loudly.
— Okay, I'll ask for a separate fee... Come on, show me where they are
The elf pointed towards the river.
— I drove one in that direction, but the arrows ran out.
Gallonite walked to the river, wandered along the shore, and saw two black wolves. The halfling tried to jump up a tree, but could not reach the branch and fell to the ground.
The wolves took notice of him, and Gallonite had no choice but to scream.
— Agh! Come on, one at a time!
One wolf accelerated and jumped on the halfling, Gallonite pierced him with a dagger, but the predator also managed to bite the boy.
With the second dagger, the halfling struck directly at the head, killing the attacker. The halfling tried to jump up the tree again, but this time it did not work. Then he scratched the second wolf with two daggers, and the predator bites Gallonite hard.
The halfling pushes the animal away with his foot, and then, running over the wolf's head, jumps up a tree.
The predator unsuccessfully tried to get the halfling. Gallonite took aim and threw a dagger at the wolf, but the weapon flew past and landed in the water. The beast continued to try to jump up the tree, and the boy, taking out his father's relic, jumped down on the wolf along with the dagger.
The halfling fatally wounded the predator, the beast ran away from the Gallonite and fell to the ground.
The boy took a dagger out of the water, washed the weapon and looked around. In the distance, he saw an incomprehensible body, and very loudly crept up to it. This unknown turned out to be a goblin who was no longer breathing...
Gallonite returned to the stone, where Sathis was finishing arrows from some sticks.
— There is no one anymore. Where to next?
— Hmm... It seems that they also passed from that side.
— Come on.
They went towards the forest and climbed into the wilds, saw two goblins. The elf and the halfling hid behind a stone.
— Listen, big ears, I'm going to beat them right now, and you cover up, okay?
— And if they attack me?
Gallonite handed the relic to Sathis and, having worn the dagger, ran at the goblins. At the last moment, the halfling hides behind a tree, the goblins are in turmoil.
At this moment, Sathis charismatically pulls the bow, lowering the bowstring and, as if according to a textbook, the arrow flies along an ideal trajectory, but at the last moment, due to the wind, the projectile hits only the goblin's eye, he moves back.
Gallonite ran out from behind cover, a second goblin stood in front of the wounded goblin,
Gallonite wounded him in the arm.
Sathis fires a second time and finishes off a nearby goblin.
The one-eyed goblin tried to hit Gallonite, but either because of the boy's height, or because of his blindness, he misses. The halfling subsequently loses his balance and falls. Lying on the ground,
Gallonite threw a dagger at the goblin, finishing it off.
Sathis runs up and picks up the arrows, and Gallonite finds the goblin's black horn.
— Maybe we'll blow and all the goblins will come running here?
— I don't think we can do it, I only have 6 arrows, it's enough for a maximum of 18 goblins...
— Okay, let's go on. There are only two corners left.
Walking through the forest, they were discussing something very noisily.
— Well, an ant can't lift itself 50 times – it's small...
— I'm sorry, but I'm ready to argue, because od...
at that moment two goblins ambushed them. The robbers flew out of the bushes epically, but did not calculate the force of the jump and flew over Gallonite and Sathis, who were looking at the goblins with bulging eyes.
The halfling quickly came to his senses and ran towards his neighbor, but after cutting off the blades, he dropped them.
Sathis did not stand aside and charismatically pulled the bow, but when the elf fired, he did not notice that the arrow was backwards, which caused it to fall to the ground.
The nearby goblin swung the dagger so hard that it slipped out of his hands and flew back. Gallonite reacted quickly and made a perfect somersault, flew with two legs into the goblin. The robber falls.
The distant goblin, baring his teeth, quickly approached Sathis. The elf couldn't think of anything better than to shove the relic right into the robber's mouth, breaking his teeth at the same time.
At this time, Gallonite picks up daggers and throws one at the goblin, but he dodges. Then the halfling goes into close combat.
Sathis plunges an arrow into the robber's shoulder.
The goblins are getting angry. They both jump on the opponents and hurt them badly. The halfling manages to get out and drags Sathis back in a graceful leap.
The elf pulls a bow and shoots. The arrow flies past the goblins, goes around the tree and returns directly to Sathis.
Gallonite takes the bow from the elf, and gives him a dagger and a vial of poison.
The halfling takes aim and shoots at the far goblin's second shoulder.
Sathis rises, pours poison on the dagger and attacks his neighbor, after two blows he hits and poisons the goblin. The robber falls to the ground, and the Gallonite shoots and hits the shoulder of the distant goblin again, which also kills him.
The guys calm down, change weapons, and Gallonite, catching his breath, speaks.
— What a horror... It's just awful... and I told you to be more careful, but I planted my ants...
they looked around and saw a small camp with five places to sleep, a campfire and a chest.
Opening the chest, Gallonite took out leather greaves and goblin clothes. The halfling immediately changed his trousers, and gave his greaves and goblin rags to Sathis.
They went to the last corner not examined.
In the clearing, the elf noticed two goblins standing by a large stone. Smoke from a blazing bonfire could be seen behind them. Gallonite looked at Sathis and spoke.
— I have a non-goblin plan...
the halfling put on a goblin rag and asked Sathis to put his hands behind his back, tying them with a thin straw, Gallonite led the elf to the goblins.
The halfling leads Sathis to the stone and imitates goblin speech in order not to arouse suspicion.
— Rorarar, I would like to release a couple of elves, rorarar...
the goblins did not pay any attention to them. Gallonite spoke in a whisper.
— It seems they didn't notice, okay, wait here for now, I'll take a look there, if anything, immediately kill everyone...
the halfling took a bow and put a dagger to Satis.
Looking over the stone, he saw a hopgoblin sitting by the fire. The gallonite with the bow went to the chest.
The Hopgoblin notices him and starts growling. The halfling growled in response. Then he takes out the horn and hints to hide it.
Hopgoblin knocks Gallonite on the head, takes and puts the horn back, then points at the bow and leaves.
The halfling was confused, but when he opened the chest, he saw a pair of poisoned arrows, a bottle with an invisibility potion and 20 gold coins.
Gallonite cleaned out the contents and closed the chest. The Hopgoblin turns around and comes up again.
The halfling drinks a potion of invisibility. The robber pulls out a tomahawk and swings, but misses.
Gallonite plunges an arrow into the shoulder of a hopgoblin and, after a series of blows, knocks out the robber.
The other goblins, hearing the sounds, went to the campfire. Passing by a stone, one goblin is dragged away by Sathis and stabbed with a knife. The second one did not have time to turn around, as Gallonite immediately knocks him out.
The elf spoke.
— It seems like the last one...
— It's better for them to be the last, otherwise I'll tear the next ones to shreds... Yes, you also need to bring a head to be believed.
Sathis took the knife in his hands and made a jeweler's incision.
The boys returned to the village. Gallonite went to the elder, he knocked on the door and showed his head with a smile. The old man sighed.
— Why would I do that?..
The halfling entered the house, carefully placed the trophy on the table. They sat down. The elder spoke.
— I see you've fulfilled your part of the bargain... even exceeded it. So listen up... Azamantriy left a big mark in our village, one that I don't want to remember. But fortunately, he left as quickly as he came. No one knows where he went, but in one of the conversations a certain Sharamyga from
Darvan was mentioned.
—Dwarves, then... and the name is familiar. Okay, thanks a lot, I'm off.
— Wait a minute... There is a suggestion.
— What is it?
— You and any member of your family will no longer enter this village.
— And in return?
— In return, I will not put you on trial...
The elder escorted the halfling out and slammed the door.
It was getting dark outside. Gallonite looked around, then disguised himself and lay down on the ground. After waiting all night, he went to the store. The seller spoke.
— Well, the hero... How's the hunt going?
— It's Okay, It's Okay... But what is that thing?
A few moments later, Gallonite was already wearing new gloves. Sathis was walking towards him.
The elf said
— Oh, and I was looking for you, I thought I'd already left. Here you go.
Sathis hands Gallonite his bow.
— It will remind you of me.
— Thanks, maybe we'll meet again.
They shook hands and parted. The halfling looked at the bow and looked back. When he saw a couple of houses, he of course passed by, after which he had an onion and two pieces of bread in his hands.
Finally, he stood in the middle of the village and shouted.
— Don't forget me – Gallonite.
And he blew into the forge as hard as he could. After that, he left the village with his head held high...
***
The wanderer held his head after the bard's story. The halfling spoke.
— Well, and then there...
— No, no, no, thank you, I've had enough for today, somehow later ...
The traveler went to his room. The bard was left alone with the bartender.
— Well, okay, okay, then you'll come yourself... Hey, Mr. Bukhtamalangor, do you want to tell me about ant hunting?