Chapter 1 – Quartus and Bela

The tavern was dark and crowded. The serving wenches looked a tad worn and their dresses had probably seen better days. One of them walked up to the table where he was lucky enough to sit. Most of the guests had to stand to drink their chosen beverage, but on the other hand most of them was drunk enough not to care.

- What'll it be? The wench asked as she leaned forward showing enough cleavage to test if he wanted more than just a drink. Not very subtle, he thought but kept his eyes on her face to show that a drink was all he needed from her.

- I'll have a whiskey, the best you have!

She frowned as she understood that a drink tip would be all she could get from this customer.

- Fine, with or without ice? She muttered.

- Without, he smiled, and bring me a plate of roasted boar snouts while you're at it.

She wiggled her hips in an exaggerated way while she walked away from his table. He shook his head – wenches!

- I saw you tin man, still trying to ignore the wenches are we? A female voice said with amusement. He almost jumped up and grabbed his pole arm which was safely resting against the wall next to him, but something familiar in the voice made him slowly turn instead. He looked at the woman leaning at the wall behind his table. His face turned bright with recognition and he rose from his chair to embrace her.

- Bela, by Mitra, what are you doing here so soon?

- Now, that's a long story but it's nice to see a friendly face again, she smiled and sat down at the opposite side of his table.

- I thought you were going to visit your clan in Cimmeria; it's not possible you've already been there? We separated for what, like a week ago? He studied her face, he'd known Bela for almost over three years and her face always told him more than words ever could. Her green eyes turned distant as if she was pondering on how much she ought to tell him. They usually traveled the world of Hyboria together as partners in crime! For some reason she suddenly had felt she needed to visit her homeland, she never talked about home very much but whom, in this day and age, did? He had offered to come with her but she had firmly turned him down. He suspected she had unfinished family business and even though they were very good friends he didn't want to intrude. They'd gone separate ways but agreed to meet up in Old Tarantia, the capitol of Aquilonia in a month or two. He'd decided to take on smaller jobs and maybe visit his old colleges among the black dragon guards. He'd only been in Old Tarantia for five days so Bela turning up now was definitely cutting her travels short but he was glad! He might not say it out loud but he'd missed having her around, they made a great team.

- Well, she said with a low tone of voice, I kind of changed my mind. Can we leave it at that?

He met her pleading eyes with a nod. If there was something to tell she would tell him when she felt ready. Her expression shifted to one of curiosity, a smile lurking at the corner of her lips.

- Are you meeting someone?

- Of course, I wouldn't be in a place like this otherwise, you know me…

- Yeah, you prefer the more sophisticated taverns. A fact that keeps me amazed considering we travel quite a lot. A mere traveler can't afford to be so picky.

- I'm not picky, he protested, just because I prefer class doesn't mean I can't rough it up from time to time and enjoy it just the same.

The wench stopped at his table giving him the snouts and a dirty glass of whiskey. She looked curiously at Bela; there weren't many women at a place like this except the serving wenches.

- Can I get you anything Miss?

- Yeah, honey beer would be nice, you have it?

- Sure thing, I'll be right back, she smiled.

- So, Bela said with another teasing smile when the wench left, the big and mighty Quartus has a job going on, right?

- You know me too well, he laughed, and yes! I'm meeting a man. He's looking for a well armored warrior but more details would be delivered upon a meeting so I really don't know what this is about yet!

A drunken black bearded man staggered against their table and then he laid his eyes on Bela,

- Hey, he rumbled, aren't you a rare rose petal in this shady place? Why are you sitting here darling when you can be sitting on my lap?

Quartus gave him a friendly nudge,

- Leave the pretty lady alone, she's with me!

Bela cocked her eyebrows in surprise and scoffed,

- Like I can't take care of myself…

- I know perfectly well that you can, Quartus smiled, but the gentleman here doesn't know that and we wouldn't want him to come home to his wife with a broken nose, now would we?

Quartus pointed at the black bearded mans golden ring. The man lifted a finger and tried to point at Quartus face. The gesture was almost funny since the man couldn't keep his balance.

- Hey…, stop interfering you uptight Nemedian dog or I'll squeeze that broad chested body of yours until you can't breathe. The lady and I were just hitting it off!

- Were we now? Bela sneered and her arm rose faster than Quartus had thought was possible in this crowded place, she grabbed his beard and pulled his face down to the table with a loud thud. The man screamed in shock.

- Now, first! What in the whole wide world makes you think I want to sit in your lap? Second! You smell like a garbage bin and, third! You're drunk! Gives the expression "Eww" a whole new meaning!

- Let me go you Stygian witch! He screamed flapping his arms trying to get a grip around her.

- Not a chance you fat pig, she snorted.

- Bela…, Quartus warned seeing how some drunken friends of the man started to force their way through the crowd to see what was going on.

- No, problem, she smiled letting the black bearded man go.

He staggered to catch his balance and then took a swing at Bela which missed hugely.

Quartus then saw it in her eyes, the innocent girl in front of him changed and the animal inside her surfaced. She kicked the man straight in the groin before she lashed out at the other man coming up on her left. Suddenly the two handed hammer swung in her grip and like a hurricane she started swinging at anyone trying to come near her. Wild like an angry bear she roared and putting up a good fight worthy of ten men. Well, at least two.

Quartus didn't move, he would only intervene should she really need his help. He took a sip of his whiskey; damn she was good at handling that hammer! He knew she needed to get her point made in a place like this and to dogs like the men trying to stop her. She wasn't a girl to take lightly although she might appear that way at first glance. After a few seconds the men in the tavern backed off, quietly and amazed they stared at her. Some of them were covering their noses trying to stop the blood from flowing but she hadn't killed anyone. Not that he expected she would, she knew where to draw the line even though her frenzy might suggest otherwise to strangers. The black bearded man squirmed on the floor calling her all the ugly names he knew. Quartus kicked him in the mouth while still sitting down. The words turned to an agonizing mumble. Bela kept swinging at the crowd, provoking them to attack her when two city guards entered the tavern. Quartus stiffened and then recognized one of them; he rose and pushed his way through the crowd quickly to meet them halfway.

- Oliver, hey, Oliver! Remember me? Quartus?

- What's going on here? We heard screaming and fighting…, you're involved?

- Ehh, no. But my friend is! I'll take care of her if you would have the kindness to turn around and forget what you saw here for the rest of the evening. He gave the guard a silver coin.

With guards in the tavern his contact probably wouldn't show and Bela could end up in the jail for the night. He didn't want that for her, even though she probably deserved it.

- Fine, you make it stop, then we'll leave, Oliver said taking the silver coin.

Quartus moved to where Bela was swinging her hammer.

- Bela! He shouted but she didn't listen. She never did in this state of mind. He barely missed stepping on the black bearded man as he walked towards her. He then grabbed her from behind, locking her arms, hindering her from swinging her weapon any more. She kicked and gave him a struggle for a few seconds,

- Settle down sweetie, he whispered in her ear, you've proven you're point. No man in here will bother you again…

She tried to knock him with the backside of her head but he was faster and stronger than her.

He repeated his words and slowly she started to relax in his arms. A few seconds went by and then she yielded.

- Are you settled? He asked her in a low, firm voice, letting her know he needed her calm.

- I'm fine you big lug of a tin man, now let me go! …I'll behave…

He smiled and then released her; she put her hammer in the strap on her back giving the quiet crowd a pouting face before she sat down.

- As you were gentlemen, she said with a mocking tone and threatening glare.

The men around them flinched and the black bearded man still squirming on the floor were dropped by his friends, who tried to drag him to a safer distance from Bela, and he hit his head on the floor with a moan. Bela laughed and gave them a glare which clearly told them how pathetic she thought they were. Quartus sighed,

- Bela, don't tease them anymore…, please?

- Fine, I won't! She grinned; I believe your contact is here…

- What?

- See that tall man at the end of the bar? He doesn't exactly look like everyday scum to me.

Quartus followed her glance at the bar and he immediately agreed with her. That man didn't belong in this shady tavern anymore than they did! As the two city guards finally left the tavern the man swept his drink and swallowed hard, then he started making his way through the crowd towards their table. He walked confident and his body seemed as lithe as it was strong which meant he probably was some kind of swordsman. His whole appearance gave Quartus the impression he was dealing with someone who was honorable and logical.

- I'll do the talking and you my friend! You shut the hell up! Quartus hissed while pointing at Bela,

- Don't worry; I'll behave! She frowned, you want me to leave?

- No, this might be a crowded place but he couldn't have missed out on you're little swinging show earlier. If you left it would look as if I have something to hide.

The man stopped causally by their table, looking interested at both of them with sparkles in his blue green eyes before he settled his gaze on Quartus and said,

- You must be Quartus and I'm Xorenius. I believe you're expecting me!

- Excellent, I am Quartus and this is my good and most unexpected friend Bela!

- Nice to meet you…, both! Xorenius smiled and gave Bela an appreciative look, you sure have a nice swing in that hammer; I could use a good swinger like you.

- Really? She smiled, her face brightened.

- Sure, however you would have to prove yourself worthy of my trust first.

- I thought you needed a job done, Quartus intervened.

- May I? Xorenius dragged a chair from the neighboring table, your reputation precedes you Quartus…

- Snout? Quartus interrupted and offered the roasted snouts to the man. Xorenius looked doubtfully at the plate and then shook his head declining the offer as he sat himself down.

- Reputation or not, what do you need a well armored man for? Quartus grunted

Xorenius chuckled and glanced at Bela,

- He goes straight for the point, huh?

- He isn't big on small talk! She smiled teasingly giving Quartus a wink. He bit down making the jaw muscles in his face tense,

- What is there to talk about except the task at hand?

The serving wench returned to the table with Belas beverage, she had an admiring glance in her eyes.

- On the house Miss, she smiled and gave Bela a wink before she left.

- So why do you need a Guardian, like me? Quartus asked and looked Xorenius seriously in the eyes. The man nodded,

- Fair enough! I need you to enter the Arena with me.

- What? Belas high toned voice was filled with surprise and some honey beer spilled out on the table as she almost lost the grip around her cup. She fumbled to get it still and safely down. The Arena in the Noble District was a shady place with a fierce reputation but you could make quite a deal of money while fighting the monsters and men within. It wasn't really a legal business sort of speak but its popularity made the city guards look the other way.

- You seem to be a man with a lot of contacts, why would you enter a damnation of that kind with a complete stranger?

- I need you're expertise against one of the Arena masters newly gathered pet. The rumor says it's unbeatable. Now, the winning duet, or trio, gets a stone worthy a hundred and fifty pieces of gold – if you have the right buyer.

- And you have that?

- Yes, I do. However, I know of no other Guardian except you who has managed to fight through the troops of Aztel´s bandits and kill the dragon demons Vistrix all in one day and all alone. The Arena master has brought one of the demons back from the dead; I need your expertise on this. Can you imagine? An undead Vistrix!

- All in the name of entertainment for the rich! Bela snorted.

Quartus was quiet for a few seconds, he remembered that day all to well and it wasn't one of his good days. How ironic to get a rumor over a thing he himself had tried so hard to forget but he had to remember, no one knew the true story about that day except the woman sitting across the table. He could see her worried look but he'd be damned if he was going to back down on a tempting offer like this. A hundred and fifty pieces of gold was a lot of money. He leaned forward looking Xorenius in the eyes.

- How did you know I would choose to answer your notice? You seem so convinced of having me and no one else. You could have approached me on the street…

- I heard a rumor that you were in town and though I could have approached you directly on the street do you honestly think you would have listened? Xorenius smiled and Quartus knew he wouldn't have. Damn, the man was smart! He chuckled and leaned back on his chair,

- We would have a bigger chance of winning if Bela accompanied us; she has the healing touch when she wants to.

Bela inhaled sharply,

- You know I'll back you if you need me to but are you seriously considering doing this? She asked reaching out and gently touching his wrist on the arm he rested on the table.

- A hundred and fifty pieces of gold Bela, neither of us would have to work for almost half a year with that kind of money. I know we haven't seen each other in a week but this is an opportunity, can't you see that? We'll slay the beast – I've done it before and I can do it again. A sword, a pole arm and you're hammer. We can't loose!

Bela drew back her hand and nodded in agreement,

- I was actually hoping on getting a job while we were here once I had found you I guess this will be as good as any.

Xorenius smiled with excitement gleaming in his eyes.

- It's actually two swords, a pole-arm and a hammer! I'm a Conqueror and I've dual wielded since I was nine years old! This could be the biggest payday ever!

- We need to meet and discuss strategies if we're going to enter that damnation of a pit! Quartus grunted with a small amount of eagerness in his voice. He hadn't participated in a fight for over two weeks and that made him feel restless. He hadn't even been able to spar with Bela as he usually did. Xorenius nodded and thought for a few seconds before he suggested,

- How about I'll meet the two of you at the Armsman tavern in the Noble District bright and early?

- Sounds good to me! Quartus grinned. Xorenius rose to get back out in the cool summer evening. Before he left them he locked his teasing gaze on Bela and smiled,

- And try to keep that hammer of yours in check until then.

Quartus chuckled as he could see Belas cheeks turning to a flushing red.