Lending A Hand

Writers: Arale, Paula
Date Posted: 8th July 2012

Characters: Arzel, Puwul
Description: Arzel gives Puwul a hand.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 14 of Turn 6

"Puwul? You here?" Arzel shouldered open the door to the storeroom
that the server had directed him to. His arms were occupied with a
large crate filled with several different bottles of liquor, which the
Tavern Master had ordered. Each bottle was wrapped in a cushion of
straw to keep it from breaking while in the crate, but they were
packed in quite tightly and the crate was not exactly light.

"In here!" Puwul called, his arms full of keg of cider.

Hearing the Tavern Master's voice from inside the storeroom, Arzel
pushed the door the rest of the way open and entered. He soon spotted
Puwul who was just as loaded down as he was. "Need help with that? Let
me set this down."

"Thank's, that would be appreciated," the Tavern master replied. "It's
going to the bar," he said and hefted the keg.

Arzel set his crate down and moved to help the older man with the
large keg. "I'll take one end," he offered, moving to do so. "Do you
have others that need to go up too?"

"Two beers," Puwul said with grin that showed his white teeth. "I had
me lad helping out, but he seems to have done disappearing trick."

"That seems to be a common skill amongst lads these days," Arzel
returned the grin with one of his own. He liked the old Tavern Master.

"Aye, he's probably after some pretty lass," Puwul said. "Watch the step."

"Thanks," Arzel took the advice and made sure to avoid catching his
foot on the step. "A lass, or some mischief. If your lad is anything
like the apprentices I deal with one is as likely as the other."

"Well, he's bit older than your apprentices now. I really should get
him married. A wife should pull in his leash," Puwul replied. "In his
age, I was already a father."

Arzel made a face at that, though he hid the expression quickly. There
were people who said the same thing about him now and again after all.
"Well, depending on the lady, he might show up to work more or less,
if you marry him off."

"Right on," Puwul laughed. "Let's place this under counter," he
instructed his helper.

Arzel lowered his end and helped slide the cask into position beneath
the counter.

When they were done, Puwul straightened and rubbed his back. He wasn't
a young man anylonger. "So, what did you bring me? I noted you had
something when you came in?" he asked.

"Just the bottles you ordered from the Hall. I was headed down here so
I volunteered to bring them. I included a new liquor I'm trying, so if
you'll let me know how it goes over, I'd appreciate it." What better
way to test a formula than to have actual people try it. Not that he
and his fellow vintners weren't people, but they had too much
knowledge. Sometimes being able to pick apart a drink took something
from the actual experience of drinking it. And, Arzel wanted to know
what people who just enjoyed the drinking thought of his work. They
were the ones who'd be buying it, after all.

"Oh, good," Puwul said, "I'll be happy to test-sale any experiments
you and that clever young fellow with bad foot come up with," his grin
showed white teeth.

"You're a good man, Puwul, and I appreciate it. I'm sure Key does as
well." He smiled at the Tavern Keeper. "Now, let's get those other
kegs up here and then I think I'll have a bite to eat. That stew I
smell has been calling to me since I arrived." He gestured for the
older man to precede him.

"You're not a bad fellow yourself, Arzel. I'm sure my wife has
something good with your name on it waiting," Puwul replied with
amiable tone and headed back to the store.

Last updated on the July 17th 2012

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Lending A Hand