Free Judgement (The Twelve) by Jeff Ashcroft Page B

hilarious for some reason. It took a moment for the laughter to die away, finally Afredo turned to Chris.
     
    “Where are my manners ? Allow me to introduce myself and my brother. I am Alfredo and this is little Alina.”
     
    Chris tried not to laugh at that as both stood no more than four feet high. “Very nice to meet you.”
     
    Alfredo nudged his brother, “Nice manners.”
     
    “Manners.” Alina echoed.
     
    Anvil didn’t need to tell them why he was here. The two dwarfs started to walk in a slow circle around Chris. There eyes slowly drifting from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.
     
    Afredo fingered the sleeve of Chris’s leather jacket and pulled a face, “Anvil my friend, why he wear old cow on his back!”
     
    Chris was affronted; this was the nicest jacket he’d ever owned. He started to protect, defending Anvil’s generosity but both dwarfs said, “Shush!”  At the same time.
     
    Then added Please a s an afterthought.
     
    They continued to size up Chris for two to three minutes before moving back to the counter, heads together they whispered back and forth for several more minutes. Finally both grinned from ear to ear and shook hands with each other.
     
    Alfredo looked solemnly towards at Chris. Bowing once he stated matter of fact, “You are one with Anvil s people now. We think the missing link eh? You called special name, Judgement we think eh ?
     
    So clothes with fit your name. Preacher man you be and Judgement of all.”
     
    Alina clapped his hands and smiled, “Call back tomorrow and your clothing shall be ready.”
     
    Chris had to ask, “What clothes will that be?”
     
    Both dwarfs spoke as one. It was like rock rubbing on rock, “Flat wide brimmed preachers hat with leather trim, black cotton, round necked shirts with leather trim around the neck and cuffs. Leather full length jacket , thin and fine, with studded cuffs. Leather trousers with denim running down outside seams.” Both grinned, “Because you are young and young humans like denim. Also lace up boots with steel toe caps, nice and shiny, with two inch soles, for extra height, until you finish growing. Nice calf skin black gloves to finish with all made from our finest black grain leather.”
     
    Finally Alina asked, “Black belt two inch wide with inlaid rune letters in blue silver for words of power? “
     
    Alfredo nodded, “ Yes but steel buckle for strength and reliability .”
     
    Alfredo stepped back ,” Judgement?”
     
    “Judgement.” Alina echoed.
     
    Both bowed politely first to Chris then to Anvil , “ Pleasure doing business with you. ”
     
    Anvil pulled a bundle of cash from his pocket. Without counting them, Anvil placed the money on the counter . Chris’s eyes bulged, they all appeared to be fifty pound notes and there must have been four thousand quid on that counter. At least!
     
    “See you tomorrow then . Oh and Slash needs a new jacket. Speed stitched a rip up.”
     
    Alfredo went white,” Not Speed, with all due respect , magic go out of cloth with his messing! He is all speed and no style. ”
     
    Anvil chuckled, it was the first time Chris had heard him laugh.
     
    “Dead right there.”
     
    As both Chris and Anvil left the shop and re-entered the In Between place. Chris asked who the two …he was about to say dwarfs but said tailors instead . Anvil chuckled again.
     
    “ Dwarfs, you can say it you know, nothing politically correct in using the name. It is after all what they are. Dwarfs; from the old country ”
     
    Chris smiled, “Like Middle Earth.”
     
    Anvil frowned, “No , never heard of that place before.”
     
    Chris shook his head, “Man ! Like Lord of the Rings. You know the books and the films?”
     
    “Never read a book, can’t read. Never saw a film.”
     
    Chris was amazed but tried to hide it, “Then from where?”
     
    “The old country . M y adopted home , Denmark as you call it now.”
     
    “You’re a Dane?”
     
    Anvil