The favour

“You’re sure we’re going to be welcomed?”

“Absolutely, Akout…” Treveyo said, hurriedly.

“I only ask because the traps seem to indicate…a less than social person.”

“Oh that’s just for show; he acts like a bear with a sore head, but once you get to know him, he’s as sweet as a kitten.”

“Even kittens have claws, if memory serves,” Akout pointed out, with a slight shudder.

“Trasmo would not have sent word to bring us here if it were not important, he gave us a map round the traps too, what more proof do you need?”

“I’d have preferred a tad more than get here soon,” Akout said. He had joined the two shortly before Trasmo had retired; it had always felt as though he was being compared to the legend, never given credit for his own skills. He may be a novice, but didn’t all legends start out as that? Akout started out of his thoughts as he felt a hand on his arm, further evidence, he was sure, of his suitability to adventuring.

“I find it best to follow the map and avoid the traps myself,” Treveyo said.

“I got distracted, it will never happen again,” Akout said, angry at himself.

“It happens, you want to do the honours?” he asked as they arrived at the small log cabin.

“Are you sure? He’s your friend, he will barely recall me,”

“If you don’t want too, that’s fine. As you said, he’s my friend.”

Without another word Akout hit the door, the next he knew he was in the dirt, a swollen ear and a head that wasn’t sure whether to spin or just blackout.

“Are you okay?” a voice asked.

“He’ll be fine. So what’s so important we need to be here?”

“That’s complicated…you’d best come in.”

(word count 299)