EGGS AND BACON
“You ever had eggs, Edric?”
The man across the big fancy door sighed. “What are you on about now, Maurice?”
“Eggs. Have you tasted them?”
“Yes, Maurice. I’ve had eggs.”
“Yeah, but from crabs.”
Edric looked over at him.
“Crab eggs?”
“Yeah.”
“There is no such thing.”
“Of course there is. They are a delicacy down in Carnezo. All the fancy nobles love em. It’s like a million tiny eggs. You can scrape it on bread or just swallow them whole.”
Edric gave him a long sideways look.
Before he could decide, a short man came towards them, all covered in black cloth. It was even wrapped around his head. Only his eyes were visible.
Edric saw him coming and immediately pushed himself away from the wall. “Oh thank the gods, I’m out of here.” He walked off quickly. ″Finally someone who is actually on time.″ He barely looked at the newcomer “Good luck, Yetyan demon.”
The new man looked annoyed as he approached Maurice.
Maurice looked him up and down.
“Yetyan, huh? So you’re a demon then?”
The man looked even more annoyed.
“That is a silly fairy tale.”
“Mayhaps, but... Isn’t that what a demon would say to trick a mortal like me hmm?”
“I am not a demon.”
Maurice squinted at him like the answer might be written somewhere on the cloth.
The man was about to say something more when Maurice interrupted him.
“I’m just yanking your chains. I’ve been to Aku’balar many times. Their Tersala Paste is to die for.”
The man’s annoyance disappeared.
“Aku’balar?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Pirate.”
The man blinked.
“You’re one?”
“What do you mean, am I one?” Maurice pointed at his hat. “See this hat? This eye patch? It’s the pirate uniform, mate. I even used to have a fake peg leg.”
“Fake?”
“Yeah. Made fighting a pain though.”
Maurice thought about it.
“Also walking.”
The man stared at him.
“I didn’t realize pirates had uniforms. From what I have heard, they are free folk.”
Maurice studied him, trying to decide whether the man was painfully naive or taking the piss.
Somehow, the bastard managed to look like neither.
“Not very well-travelled, are ya?”
“No.”
“I assumed ninjas were sent all over to do...” Maurice waved his hand around vaguely. “Ninja stuff.”
The man bristled.
“How... did you know I’m a ninja?”
Maurice stared at him.
Then at his clothes.
Then back at him.
“Mate...”
The ninja frowned. “What?”
“Ninjas have a uniform too, and you’re wearing one.”
“Uniform?”
“You think most people walk around with every part of themselves covered in cloth?”
The ninja looked down at himself.
His arms.
His legs.
The cloth wrapped around his hands.
He slowly touched the cloth covering his face. “Now that you mention it...”
Maurice nodded.
“I suppose that is rather counterintuitive now that I’m going solo.”
“You’re not that good at being a ninja, are ya?”
“Not particularly, no.”
Maurice laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I’m a terrible pirate too.”
The ninja tilted his head.
Maurice shrugged.
“I even hate the sea, and can’t hold my liquor.”
There was a moment of silence between them.
Maurice leaned back against the wall.
“Say, do you like eggs?”
“Eh... yes?”
“Have you tried crab eggs?”
“No.”
Maurice’s face lit up.
“How do they taste?”
“Sweet. They’re great with some bacon.”
The ninja considered this with surprising gravity.
“I will have to try some then.”
Maurice smiled.
“I have a feeling you and I are gonna get along splendidly”
The ninja went quiet for a moment. ″By the way, what is bacon?″
Maurice put his hand on his saber ″You take that back″
