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She followed the riverbank, and crossed the nearest bridge to the other side,both for Aldrec to be there, and at the same time, for him not to be

The reek of ale painted the breath of both huhed with hearty abandon, swapping their best jokes and stories

"Hey … hey, Aldrec," Garen said, still not having fully overcome his fit from the last joke's punch line, "have you ever heard the one about the dragon who got fired?"

Aldrec stared at him blankly

"Come on, man, think about it!" Garen bleated as he knocked back another long draft fro

"Sorry," Aldrec said at last, his voice slurred so "'Don't know that one"

"Sure you do!" Garen said encouragingly But seeing that Aldrec was still clueless, gave up

"Dragon? … Fire? Get it now?"

"Ahhh!" Aldrec said, his drawl of dawning realization breaking into a cacophony of roaring laughter between the wench, indicating his e He pressed a small pile of coins into her hand as she passed

"But seriously," Garen said, leaning contentedly upon the bar, "you've got to be one of the most unusual elves I've ever seen Even the ones I ouldn't go within one mile of a tavern You'd swear that the place had varinned broadly as he took a first s of the new pint of ale that the serving wench had quickly fetched "But you … You actually drink ale, and drink it down like it's water!"

"Well, ue, "your-guess-is-as-good-as- "Truth is, I've been different all my life But if you ask me, I think that a human who married an android seee as you think," Garen said, his gaze drifting into old uy who had a real opennew And so when androids came 'round, especially Alerian'em He was as aware of the sterility crisis as anyone, and knew that it was better than going the way of the dwarves"

"So it didn't bother hiht Noroa home?" Aldrec asked