[Poor Grallus, the Rogue – 13]

With his gaze still locked and following the girl, Grallus steps up to the guards. Once again he hears the loud but perfectly practiced line from the guard.

“Name, position and reason for entry or reentry!”

Clearing his throat, “Ahem, yes I’m uh Grallum and I’d like entry to your fine city please,” he ends with a smile. Both guards slowly raise their head to meet Grallus’s somewhat crooked smile. They say nothing for an awkward few seconds.

Looking at each speechless guard in turn he decides he has to break the silence, “So yes I have a bit of a grumble in the stomach so if that is all,” he says as he attempts to move forward. The guards move in his way to block the path. They both are locked on Grallus’s eyes.

“Grallum huh,” the interviewer finally says, “and uh you aren’t looking for reentry but entry?”

Attempting a slight faux irritation to speed things up, “Yes that’s right, now if there isn’t anything else I’d like to get something to eat,” again he makes an attempt to move forward pulling his hood further down his brow as he moves. Once again the guards move to block his path.

Shaking his head slightly, “Right okay, uh Grallum is it, uh what is your profession or trade?” Both guards stand with furrowed brows staring at Grallus. The constable has his hand poised over the tie-board as if waiting to write something.

“My profession or trade you say?” Grallus responds.

“Tristel is a trade city, if you have no trade or profession you will likely be turned away,” he states looking quite dumbfounded.

“Right of course, I uh…” he looks down at Punkins who suddenly jumps in his arms. “Oh… I yes, I sell cats, do you like this one, yes even he is for sale.” Suddenly Punkins jumps, stomps and spins to meet Grallus’s eyes. A wide smile slowly grows on Grallus’s face, “yeah this one is really… cheap…”

“You have a cat? I mean you sell cats?” the constable asks in sheer confusion.

The guard softly elbows the constable in the ribs while looking directly at Punkins, “Did you see that? Did that cat just look upset?”

Looking back to the guard while lightly scratching Punkins’ head, “Yes I uh breed them, this one here is just the sample I’d like to show around.” Again Grallus pushes forward between the guards, this time they let him pass without interruption but turn following him with their gaze as he starts his walk through the opening and into the city’s main street.

After thirty or so paces Grallus feels a rush of victory and smiles gloriously at the little cat in his arms, “See that was easy! We’re in! Now let’s find an Inn, get a room and have something to eat shall we?”

Punkins holds his stare with Grallus. “Oh what? I was only kidding about selling you!” Punkins looks slowly away for a second but snaps his head back to meet Grallus’s eyes again. “What…? Oh and yes, yes, even if you were you’d never ever be considered cheap…”

Continuing down the main busy road Grallus laughs out loud at himself as the cat curls up in his arms. He has to suddenly excuse himself as he sidesteps a gruff pair of men obviously in a heated discussion not paying attention to where they are going.

[739] Words : The Gatekeeper