Third Party

She had just finished nailing the board against the double doors to keep them locked and secure. Well, as secure as she figured she could be with such short notice. Taking a step back, she crossed her arms nearly hitting her chin with the hammer as she admired her small work. Well, the board was nailed in tight two feet from the ground, so I suppose it wouldn't be of much help after all. All it would take is a good kick and the drinks would be free for all.

"Gur, blasted ol' heep!"

Not too far behind her, Felix and Janette were assisting in moving some rather large crates filled with who knows what inside. Well, his box was making a lot of rattling noises from inside so that gave them something of an idea. Looking back at the dwarf, an idea emerged from his head althought admittedly silly. Stacking the crate inside, he decided to go for it.

Nyitzcha was struggling to land a nail above waist height for normal folk, standing on her tippy-toes with shivering legs and arms. Placing the nail onto the wooden surface, she could see her fingers trembling while squeezing the nail tight, trying her best to keep a still target while wiggling the hammer over her head. One strike down and the nail skidded and skipped away onto the dirt beneath, with an impatient Nyitzcha tempted to use the hammer to vent her frustrations. Oh yes, so very very tempted.

"If I didn't own the dam' thin'," She turned around to see Felix behind her. "What!"

"Want me t-"

"No, I don' need it, I can hammer a nail in me'self, thanks!" She barked back, grumbling as she fished out another nail from the small pack. Stretching her arms up high, she gave out tiny groans of pain and struggle to keep the nail in its place before swinging her hammer again. From Janette's point of view, it looked like she couldn't reached Felix's shoulder height. It gave her a mix of humor with a touch of pity for good measure, she felt bad wondering about the tiny dwarf in such a big world. In fact, how do all dwarves manage with their tiny stature?

But it was still funny, so a chuckle wouldn't hurt.

Nyitzcha growled when she heard that laugh, her eyes twitching and on the verge of seeing red.

There it is again, that damn laugh! Go 'head then, laugh! I ain' nuthin' more but a dam' show for ye afterall, eh? Lousy snot-nosed good-fer-nuthin' plebs! Then they 'ave the gall to ask me for help, me! Was it outta pity maybe, was it one big joke? Am I the subject of anuther prank?

Or at least, that was her initial thoughts when they returned to her after several days, asking for resources.

Could ye believe it, nuthin' but the clothes on 'er backs an' a mare in heat to boot. O' course I had to say no, who 'n blazes would be stupid enough to say sure, 'ere 'ave me money in fact, take me wife while yer at it she make a good cook!

Not that she had a wife, but that is besides the point.

It wasn't until he made his offer that she came to realize the enormity of the situation they were stuck in. He must have really been in trouble of losing it all if he gave his own body up for a chance to rescue her.

That kitten who walced in 'n made a mockery of me before scattering up with 'er wee legs, plah! Let the man keep his pet cat, fat lot a good that will do 'im! Sleeping with one o' them critters, how sad! How foolish! How...

She shook her head.

Don' think about it. Ye didn't do it out of pity, 'n ye certainly didn't do it out of empathy. They laugh at ye 'nuff as it is for yer wee size, don' give 'em no more reason to make a foolery out of ye yet! Yer nuthin' but a good fer nuthin' dwarf, bottom of 'e barrel, scraping the stains of those taller then ye, mistakin' yea for a kin! Or worse, comin' at ye with them weird offers as if ye needed the money so desperately, plah! Go take yer coins and shove em where ye talkin' from, I don' need no 'special favors' to manage! I build me wee bar by me-self, 'n now look at me! Owner o' me own tavern, just like ye said! I should be proud, I am proud! This place is me home, me treasure, me life.

So why leave it at risk for these lot?

"Hey!-Hands off me hammer, ye!" She yelled, waving the hammer at Felix who pulled his hands back. "If I say I need yer help, then I will say! Now be gone!"

He shrugged with Janette placing one of the crates near them. She took his hand to lead him away, with Nyitzcha glaring back at her and the crate.

"Ey! Was with this?"

Janette shrugged. "Figure it out."

Nyitzcha spun around, mumbling insults and unspeakable slangs to herself. Reluctantly, she put the crate to use and hoisted herself over before finding herself three feet taller, around perfect height to nail her bar doors shut for good. Once finished, she jumped off with Felix putting the crate back being their mode of transportation.

She sighed, feeling her chest as a wave of uneasiness washed over her. Janette and Felix approached her from each side, staring at the closed sign nailed into the doors where she was staring.

I'm... really grateful for you wanting to help us so much, Nyitzcha." Janette said.

"You didn't have to, but thanks." Felix added. She brushed them aside with a loud spit to the ground.

"Ain't doin' ye no favors, I just don' trust no one with me stuff. Now let's get movin', the more days spent the more coins lost!"

Both of them nodded with Felix glancing at Janette seeing her keep away from noticing him back. Ever since they made the deal, she's been awful quiet and cold around him. He felt bad, well he knew she opposed their deal but he fealt it was... well, no use for regrets now. What's done is done, and their deal paid off with more than he had thought. They hopped inside the large carriage with Nyitzcha hopping up front, snapping at her horses to get moving quickly. Janette parted her book open for the directions, and Felix felt a bit good about everything they were packing with for the trip.

They had a new member to help them now.