234 Finding a Place in Zurden (1/2)

”Can I help you?” A scruffy faced man rose up from behind the counter with groggy and tired eyes.

Rydel looked back to him without a hint of hesitation. ”Just looking around for the right place to stay. Can we have a few brundies while we check out the place?”

In a blur, the man filled several mugs and the stench of aged alcohol found its way toward the party. ”Sure. Got any questions for me?” asked the man.

”At the moment, no. But we'll let you know if something comes up.” Rydel sipped his drink and smiled as he motioned for the rest of the party to sit down beside him.

The tattered man returned to his duties or whatever else it was he was doing earlier before the party arrived and started their mental conversation.

'What are you thinking, Rydel?' asked Jack.

'If you want things to stay secret, then sometimes places like this are where you can find the best option. For now, just listen carefully to see if you can learn anything.'

Everyone stayed quiet as they each tried to find a conversation within the tattered tavern. There were plenty of people there but they mostly kept quiet like the party. However, there were a few groups who stood out and didn't fear to make noise.

”What do you mean it got away?!” A scarred and muscular man reached across a table to grab one of his companions by the throat. ”I hope you got a good explanation for this?”

The threatened man didn't appear scared as he shook his head. ”It's just like I said, the beast got away and we couldn't find it anywhere, not a single trace.”

The hand around the man's neck tightened as the large man pulled his victim closer. ”You call that an explanation? I call that excuses. I hired you to do a job, so why didn't you do it?”

”It's impossible to find that thing now.” The man now held in the air started to show some signs of worry. ”Not even you could find it, so how you expect me to?”

”Because I hired you! If you can't do a job right, then you should've told me before I hired you.”

”Hey! That's enough!” shouted the scruffy man from behind the counter. ”If you can't play nice, then take your game somewhere else.”

”Don't worry, this won't take long.” A gnarly grin twisted its way onto the man's face as his untrimmed fingernails started to pierce the other man's skin.

”Ahhh!”

Just as the large, dirty fingers were about to crush the smaller man's throat, a knife was suddenly stabbed into the large man's arm, forcing him to drop his subordinate. ”Who dares?! If you're a man, show yourself!”

”Oh, you're asking for it!” bellowed the man. ”Men, let's show him how we like to play!”

”Stop!” The man behind the counter slammed his fist into the bar and glared angrily at Rydel. ”See what you've done! Now, I'll have to--”

”Don't worry about it.” Rydel finished his drink and turned to look at the man's scarred face while letting out a long sigh. ”Hurry and get lost, because I play dirty.”

The burly man wanted to laugh but didn't find himself able. Before his laughter could leave his lungs, an arrow was in the midst of reaching his face.

Haphazardly the man lifted his arm, letting his toughened leather bracer take most of the blow, but was startled to see the arrow pierce not just his skin but completely through his arm. ”Who are--”

Suddenly the man found himself unable to move. He shouted angrily, ”Get him!” but the moment he finished his commands the others at the table stiffened up just as he did. ”An enchanter?”

While he was trying to figure out who was aiding the archer, the large man started to sweat but it wasn't from nerves. The mug in his other hand suddenly burst into flames, burning his flesh down to the bone.

”AAHHH!”

The scruffy middle-aged man who was at one point scared of the gang was now shocked by the party sitting in front of. They weren't even standing and they had already rendered the large man and his gang completely unable to fight. Two of the women were obviously casting magic, one to immobilize and the other to set fire to the mugs, while the hunter, the apparent leader of the bunch, had his bow drawn and ready to fire yet again from the comfort of the bar stool.

”So, would you like to keep playing?” joked Rydel.