The Red Maw stank of sweat, smoke, and old beer.
Places like this didn't ask any questions—perfect.
Silas and I found seats at a corner table, backs to the wall, and eyes on the room. I knew a few things about the Freelands—bars were crawling with criminals. But this bar, The Red Maw, was close to the Freeland coast; it was popular with off-duty navy men from the Empire.
A waft of sizzling steak hit my nose, and my stomach growled like a beast. I wiped my mouth just as a leather-aproned waiter shuffled over.
"What'd y'all like?" he asked, tone dry with disinterest.
"How much for steak?" I asked.
"A plate is four copper. But since you're new here, I'll do two plates for seven."
I turned to Silas who was counting our coins.
When we arrived on the Northern Kesan Coast, we sold our horse to a shady merchant for four silver coins. Three coins went to buying a dinghy from a fisherman—cheapest transportation we could find. Ferry tickets cost triple the amount due to some kind of military operation in the area.
"We'll be left with three copper," Silas muttered.
"What other food y'all got?" I asked again.
"Cheapest we got is veggies on a stick. Two big sticks for four copper, no discount." The waiter put his hands to his waist, expecting a decision.
He'd evidently heard our math; no charity for broke strangers. But we would need money in the future, so I supposed getting the veggie sticks would be the best choice...
Seeing my expression, Silas said my thoughts aloud: "We'll take two sticks, but we'll need change for a silver."
"Raiye, you a'ight?" Silas asked, worried about me.
"We should've squeezed more outta that damn merchant."
"If we need money, why don't we..." Silas gave me a look. His mischievous brown eyes were all too familiar.
I laughed aloud, drunk on adrenaline and spite. "Why not, right? Some bums have more than they need."
"We can always sell our stuff though," Silas pointed out.
"Sell my sword?" I scoffed at Silas and joked, "I'd sell you out before I sell this beauty of mine."
A chuckle resounded, smooth yet rough. But it wasn't Silas or I who was chuckling.
"I heard something about selling swords, I just couldn't stay quiet. Mind telling me where you got that sword?"
We froze as a shadow loomed over our heads. I glanced up, hand drifting to the hilt on my side. A man stood at the end of our table, face shadowed by the sunlight behind him, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"Who the hell are you?" Silas whined.
"We're not selling anything," I said firmly.
"Oh, but you'll know me soon enough. And I'm sure you'll love to sell your sword," The man answered both of our questions. "But how much would you take for a Rwelai-issued sword?"
If I wasn't uneasy before, I was now.
"It's my only blade," I answered, careful not to seem defensive.
"Ah~ that makes sense." He turned to Silas, "What about your dagger? Rwelai-issued. Fiery sun. Gorgeous but out of style."
Silas and I exchanged glances. This man asked too many questions. He also knew too much.
"It's my only dagger," Silas said, echoing my answer.
"What do you boys think about the Rwelai extermination, then?"
"Cruel genocide," I said flatly.
"Unjustified," Silas added.
"Where are your families?" The man asked with a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Dead," I said.
"Real dead, right?" The man smiled, "Dead on Rwelai soil."
He reached for his sword. That was all the confirmation I needed.
With a swift motion, I kicked the table into his knees. It smashed against him and knocked him off balance, and I closed the distance in a blink, blade drawn and a layer of aura trembling on my blade.
He replied instantaneously, blocked my strike with trained reflexes, and regained his balance.
"C'mon, puppy. Show me some Halua skills," I provoked him with a grin.
Behind me, Silas got into the action, and threw his dagger.
Steel resounded, and the dagger ricocheted away. But I wasn't waiting around. I lunged, slashing as he attempted to jump backward; but he was too late—his thigh exploded in blood.
The man screamed in pain, cursing us out.
But we weren't any safer than before. Three more men, just as big and armed as him ran towards us, brandishing their swords.
Silas fired an arrow. The biggest one dropped with a hole through his chest.
But the other two were too close for arrows.
I feinted left, then twisted and slashed right. The warrior caught it in time and parried, launching a series of jabs at my head.
I leaned back, veins bulging as my neck stretched. But to my surprise, the large man quickly shifted his feet from being off balance and struck again, slashing low and at my torso.
Splinters of wood flew in the air.
Silas had deflected the deadly blow with a chair, saving me enough time to notice that the other man was closing in on me.
I impaled my sword through the second man's heart. I withdrew it instantly, splattering the floor with blood.
Now, there was two men, one was screaming with a bloody thigh, and the other, stood away from us, unharmed.
"Oh damn," I cursed as I noticed something was off.
Our final enemy growled. His blade began to tremble as a bright hue of blue light enveloped it. He was no ordinary man, he was using aura.
"But that doesn't change what happens to you, ya dog!" My own blade began to shine in an azure aura. My blade was sharp before, but now, it was different.
I was the first to move.
Like an arrow I blitzed through the air at an astounding speed. Albeit startled, the man raised his sword.
Sparks flew in the air. I swung down hard, slowly stepping to my right.
The man knocked my blade aside and lunged. I parried and sidestepped again, letting loose a slash full of power.
The man blocked it and lunged at me.
I grit my teeth as I barely blocked his blade in time.
But it was finished.
Even in the heat of the battle, I glanced at Silas who had the same thought as me.
An arrow glided through the smoky tavern air...
...And met its target.
With wide eyes the man tumbled to the ground, blood pouring from his thoracic region, right below his neck.
I examined the fallen man's sword and realized: his sword was better than mine. "Don't mind me if I do..." not that he could anymore. I swapped blades and wiped it on my tunic, even though it was already clean.
Those men were easy.
Of the four men, only one knew how to use aura—he wasn't even good either.
"They make anyone a soldier these days," I muttered.
"Bounty hunters," Silas corrected, "Just Halua affiliated."
"I guess—"
Interrupting my sentence was a scream.
"Ah, I forgot about him." I gave a scornful look to the crying man holding onto his bloody thigh.
The slash was deep, deep enough to guarantee the man's retirement.
"You gonna finish him?" Silas asked.
"That'd be too kind. Let him crawl."
Silas eyed me, "Genius."
"I know," I gave a toothy grin.
A smoky scent wafted into my nostrils. My stomach growled louder than ever, excited at the thought of food.
Then: slow claps.
We turned warily, facing an unfamiliar man. -
Thick boots, toned body, trimmed beard, and brown mustache. The man had a soft smile, one that seemed impressed, humble, but confident. A longsword hung on his waist with a ragged sheathe that made it clear of its usage. How did I not notice him earlier?
Brown eyes, like Silas', gleamed in a light that I could find no meaning behind.
"You want next?" I asked.
"No, no." The man's voice was softer than expected. "I was impressed."
Silas perked up, "Impressed enough to buy us food?"
"Oh shoot, nice one," I whispered, silently hoping the stranger would reply enthusiastically.
But lady luck had other plans.
"The name's Dunin," The man ignored Silas's question, "I'm Dunin, leader of the Nomad Marauders."
The tavern, once buzzing in activity, swarming in delightful smells, and bright in sunlight, was hushed, dimmed, and heavy in atmosphere.
Silas and I looked around, confused. Suddenly, I heard the faint ringing of coins and rustling of clothes.
"Oi! Why are you taking my loot?!" I shouted at a little boy crouched next to a corpse of one of the bounty hunters.
Responding to my incredible presence, the boy sprinted out of the tavern. I lifted my chin a little higher and returned my gaze towards the man known as Dunin.
"What's up, Dunin," I shook his hand. "Nomad Marauders? That's a nice name."
"What do you want?" In contrast, Silas was straight to the point. Apparently, he was bummed out that the stranger wasn't going to buy us any food.
Dunin smiled, the tavern seemed to overflow with light. "I run my lil' ragtag group with a few friends, but I've realized that I need some extra hands."
He took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolded it and raised it so that both Silas and I could see it.
The paper was a wanted poster.
[WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
Nomad Marauders: 300,000 Khins (payable via platinum)
"A group of criminals who routinely harass national guard posts," I read aloud and glanced up.
This man? Harassing national guard posts? How could this lean, soft spoken man be the leader of an infamous group like this?
"So," Dunin said, "You boys want in?"
I stammered, "The... the pay. I-Is the pay good?"
Dunkin was about to answer, but noticing that Silas had something to say, he paused.
Silas licked his lips and asked with a serious face, knowing that his words would change his future one way or another. "And... and food?"