Lizardfolk Boyfriend: Thruun (complete)

The inn isn’t usually what I like, but the owner is a dear family friend and I do enjoy helping her out whenever possible. The work is tough, but I tell myself that there are silver linings to everything. Oftentimes the tips are good. The people are strange and sometimes mean, but there are far more interesting and kind people than those.

The Dry Bone Inn was once home to my family and I. My father, mother, sister and I stayed in one of the boarding rooms, in exchange for doing odd jobs around the place. My dad did a lot of repairs and guard duty for the inn - the pub often got a bit too rowdy. My mom would clean and cook when necessary. My sister and I would clean the rooms, and Lady Medda, who owns the inn, would let us keep things we found.

I found a charm in one of the rooms long ago, small and dingy, but it was such a mysterious and pretty thing to me. The charm is gold and embellished with an intricate stamp. I’ve kept it with me ever since, always wearing it as my good luck charm. I hope to one day find out what it really is; perhaps I’ve been carrying a bad luck charm all this time and have simply never realized.

Lady Medda has gotten older, and while she tries to figure out what to do with the Dry Bone, I help her. I mainly work at the apothecary, while my father and sister go out and travel on their adventures. Being paladins, they find the call to adventure easily, although my father has recently retired and has taken to training young men in the village. I sometimes get jealous of my sister and her journeys; I would love to have my own adventure someday.

One evening, I’m helping Lady Medda after one of her waitresses got sick. The pub is pretty quiet, but a group is taking up a large area in the back. Apparently, they’re traveling through on a quest. There’s a wide array of people in their party, and the dragonborn lady, she’s very pretty. There seems to be a bunch of dragonborn returning to their homeland as of late. But beside her is another reptile person, and I don’t think he’s dragonborn. There is a sleekness to him, and his scales are less vivid than hers. I bring them their food and drink, but this man doesn’t accept any of the plates and only takes water. He seems very stiff and agitated, like being here offends him.

“Oh, ignore him,” an elf scoffs. “He’s pouting because we’re not camping again.”

The dragonborn lady gives the elf a scathing look. “Ignore her. She likes to poke the bear, but she should know better by now.”

The elf scowls and turns to her food.

I smile shyly, then look back at the man. “If there is something he wishes to eat, I can ask the cook if she can do anything. She’s really quite good.”

“He’s lizardfolk, and they’re quite picky,” the elf continues to tease, despite the dragonborn’s unrelenting glare.

I haven’t met any lizardfolk before. It’s often too cold here, so not too many made their way into these parts. He’s quite striking to look at. His scales are a muted red-brown and dull yellow, collecting in thick, rough clusters around his strong jaw. He has a very defined bone crest around his eyes, giving them a sunken look. Around his neck is a necklace made of bones, certainly not chicken bones; I think they might be fingers.

“Just water is fine,” he snarls. I notice his gaze flickers over me for a moment, looking at my good-luck charm before turning aside.

“If there is anything you need, just ask me.” I fidget, wanting to offer more help to him. “My name is Ama. Ask for me by name.”

His sharp eyes pierce through me, then he looks back down at his water.

“He’s a wild animal,” the elf titters.

The dragonborn jabs her under the table, and the elf whines in agony. “You’re lucky I am around, or you’d be one of Thruun’s trophies.”

I leave the party alone for the most part, returning occasionally to refill their drinks or bring them some bread. Thruun still eats nothing, and he seems to tolerate the people around him rather than join in on anything.

As the night wears on, everyone goes to their rooms. I’m cleaning tables when I see him leave the inn altogether. Through the window I see him climb into the back of a carriage outside, and I can’t help but worry. I know how much my sister and father used to eat when they came home from their journeys. Travel isn’t easy, and it takes hearty meals to keep one’s energy up. I go to the kitchen and collect what remains of the ham-and-potato stew. I take a big bowl and a few rolls out to the carriage and stand before the carriage with the bowl in hand, gathering courage to speak.

“I brought you some food, sir.” I expect no response. “It’s some of the stew that is our cook’s speciality. Oh, and some rolls.” I set the food down on the back of the carriage. “You really should eat something. You’ll get sick if you don’t.” I push the bowl closer to the fabric curtain hanging down over the back. “If you need anything, I’ll be at the apothecary tomorrow.”

I don’t know why I said that. He probably won’t be here tomorrow. I start to walk away, then hurry back. “It’s on the house! By the way.” One of the rolls is missing. I smile, pleased, and head back inside.

In the morning, I’m heading to the apothecary and have to pass by the inn. The carriage is still there, and an empty bowl is sitting on the end. I smile to myself, happy to know Thruun got a meal. I wouldn’t mind seeing him again, but I have to get to work.

I’m cleaning jars today, so I have the cauldron bubbling as I boil the empty decanters.  I have my dreadlocks tied back so they don’t get in my way, and a silk wrap around my head which makes me feel comfortable. I know I’m not cute, but at least I have something pretty on me with the colorful headwraps on. I hear the bells on the door ring as I take bottles from the cauldron to set aside and cool. “I’ll be with you in a moment!” I smooth my hands down my skirt and mop up my face as I walk out to the front.

There, I see Thruun looking over the things set up in the front. My heart pounds wildly as I look at him. He’s so tall, and he takes up a lot of space. “G-good morning!” I’m still wiping my hands on my apron. “Can I help you with anything?”

Thruun steps towards the counter and drops a bag down before me. “I need stock.”

I nod. “What do you need?”

He looks around, eyes going over the shelves behind me. He never looks directly at me. “Something for wounds and burns.”

“I have a calendula balm that works for both.” It’s hard to believe someone like him would sustain any injuries. His thick scales are like armor, and he looks like fierce competition.

“That will work. Give me what you can.”

I take tins from the shelf under the counter. “I have five. Will that do?”

“That’s fine,” he grunts.

I place the tins on the counter for him as he goes through the bag. He lays coins down before me, but what he’s trying to pay with is already too much. I place my hand over a portion. “Just these two will pay for everything.”

“Then keep the rest.” He gathers up the tins and tosses them into a bag on his belt. “You earned it.”

“No, I-I couldn’t.” I offer the change to him, but he simply sneers at it.

“Then give me the charm on your necklace for it.” He points to my good-luck charm with a sharp, thick finger. “That should take care of it.”

I press my hand around it and shake my head. “It’s not for sale. Besides, it's practically worthless.” I offer the change again but he ignores it.

“Is that what you think?” A smirk appears on his face. “I’ll find something to get my money’s worth, then. Later.” He turns on his heel and heads towards the door. He ducks down as he leaves, and I let myself breathe again.

My pulse is thrumming, and I feel so excited after having spoken with him. He doesn’t seem like the complete grouch I met in the inn last night. Maybe he’s just not used to social places. Being around a few people may be better for him. He’s so handsome too, I feel quite silly to think he could possibly ever notice me. Usually men like him are only interested in the bare minimum of women, at least from what I’ve been told.

A little later in the day, I have to go down to the well to get clean water for the cauldron. As I’m coming back with my buckets, I see the dragonborn and elf from the pub standing outside the cobbler shop, seemingly in the middle of an argument.

“I’m not leaving until this is fixed!” the elf huffs haughtily.

The dragonborn rolls her eyes. “Then you’ll be the one paying for our rooms. I’ve never seen someone act so ridiculous over a pair of boots before.”

I quickly walk back towards the apothecary. This seems like a usual thing between them, and I can only wonder why they’re traveling together. I go through the garden behind the apothecary, and I don’t notice the figure lying between the rows of herbs until the figure sits straight up. “Are they still fighting?”

I scream and dump half the water bucket on me. Thruun just stares and clicks his tongue against his teeth.

“I didn’t see you there!” I fight to catch my breath, but my heart is racing so fast.

“That’s sort of the point.” He raises one knee and rests his chin on it. “Those two have been fighting all day. I just want to stay out of it.”

My clothes are soaked, and the water is half-gone. I set the bucket aside and attempt to wring out my skirt. “They’re still fighting, or at least they were when I walked by.”

Thruun stands and picks up the bucket. “You need this?”

“I’m washing today,” I grumble.

“Can you go fetch dry clothes?” he asks. “I’ll get the water for you.”

I try to take the bucket back, but his grip is far stronger than mine. “Really. It’s okay. I’ll go and fetch more.”

“This will save time.” He yanks the bucket from me and holds it above my head. “You won’t be of use to anybody with your clothes like that. Least of all yourself.” He walks away without letting me have the benefit of an argument.

I go inside to change quickly, and by the time I return to the shop, Thruun is back with a bucket of water. “I appreciate the help,” I tell him.

“It’s the least I could do.” His eyes focus on the good-luck charm again. “After startling you and all.”

I unlock the back door and hold out my hand to take the bucket. “As long as you don’t harm anything, you can keep hiding in the garden if you need to.”

He places the handle into my palm. “I’ll take that offer.”

Thruun stays in the garden most of the day, lying in the sunlight. I steal glimpses of him when I can, often when I have to dump out the dirty water from washing. He looks at peace nestled among the plants. Maybe he was raised more in nature than the city.

By the time I close up shop, he’s gone. I find something sitting on the window - a small carved figure of a round cat with a large ‘A’ carved into its belly. I wonder if he made this. Maybe I can dream he made it for me.

Over the next couple of days I find other little carvings or smooth stones on the window. Each has an ‘A’ somewhere on it. Thruun isn’t always in the garden, but he does appear there from time to time. I’m a bit surprised at how long he and his companions have been staying in town; they’ve become regular fixtures. I’ve even noticed them doing odd jobs around the city. I wonder why they are lingering.

One quiet afternoon, I have the day off, so I take the chance to go out and pick berries. There’s a large blackberry patch in the woods I have frequented since I was a child, and every year it yields the best berries I have ever tasted. As I make my way down the narrow path, I hear grunting and huffing. I look ahead to see Thruun holding his broadsword and striking a tree. He’s training to keep himself limber, from the looks of it.

His back is broad and strong, and I see the muscles shift, moving his scales and making them change color. There are spiny ridges down his back all the way to his long tail. His raised arms give me a proper view of his body, elongating it to reveal every curve and dip of his form. I shouldn’t be staring. It’s rude. But he’s a feast for the eyes. I step forward and a twig snaps, making Thruun spin around and glare up angrily. He quickly goes from anger to shock. “What the hell are you doing here?” he pants.

“Sorry, I was...” I hesitate to say. Something about him makes my mouth go dry. “I’m picking berries.”

“Berries?” He stabs his broadsword down into the ground. “What kind?”

“Blackberries.” I point behind me. “There’s a huge patch of them.”

His dark tongue flicks over his teeth. “That must be what makes your skin so lovely.”

My face grows hot. “Excuse me?”

“You are aware, right?” He picks up his sword again and wipes away the dirt. “You have a beautiful complexion.”

I touch my cheek. “Oh, uh… thank you.”

“Blackberries must be to blame, right?”

I smile shyly. “I get it from my mom.”

Thruun sheaths his sword. “Lucky family.”

I stand in place, running the same question over and over in mind as I build up the nerve to say it out loud. “Would you like to come pick them with me?”

He glances over his shoulder with a smirk. “Do I look like the sort of fellow who goes and picks berries?”

“No,” I shake my head. “But it’s something to do.”

He arches a brow, then shrugs. “That is true.” he climbs back up the bank and stands beside me on the path. He’s still shirtless, still far too handsome to look at directly.

“I’m surprised you’re still in town,” I say shyly.

He sniffs. “Me too. But that elf has a mind of her own, unfortunately. And since she’s the one with money, well...” He rolls his eyes.

“Did she hire the rest of you?”

“I guess that’s what you can call it,” he grumbles. “What about you? What do you do with these berries?”

“Well, we eat them.”

He smirks. “No need to get smart with me.”

I smile up at him and giggle. “I like to bake. If I get enough I like to make preserves, so we’ll have something nice in winter.”

He licks his chops. “I bet your preserves are very sweet and juicy.”

The hairs on my body stand on end. He sounds so suggestive, but surely I’m thinking too deeply. “Over here.” I rush up to the patch, which looks to be heavy with large berries.

“I wonder how many birds shit here to make such a huge patch.” He plucks a berry and pops it into his mouth.

I sit down and start to fill my basket. “I always try to bury a few berries further out so that the patch gets bigger and bigger every year. The more there are, the more people can have. Especially people who are traveling and may not have as much.”

Thruun looks around then turns back to me. “I had a feeling you were sweet.”

“I have no idea about you,” I reply. “You seem more talkative out here.”

He grimaces. “I hate the city. I hate people. Being around them makes me sick sometimes.” He continues to eat the berries he picks.

“Is that why you didn’t eat at the inn?”

“How could I?” He licks his lips, his tongue stained dark purple. “Too many people around. I felt suffocated. I had to get out of there. I’ve been sleeping in the carriage this whole time trying to get some peace.”

I smile up at him. “Feel free to use the garden whenever.”

“It does remind me of home.” He looks back at me with a slight grin. “Don’t tell anyone about this. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about me.”

My heart pulses, making my fingers tremble as I pick berries. “Deal.” If this was something just for me, I was going to take it.