"What are you doing?" Casavir watched as Avera dug her foot into the ground and started making a ditch then turning it into a line.

"Making a circle."

"What for?"

"The game silly paladin!"

He chuckled, "That isn't a very thick line."

"If it isn't thick enough for you then follow me around and enhance it."

With a sigh he followed her instructions, "As you wish."

Suddenly people came streaming out the back of the Flagon and stood watching the two creating the circle.

"I told ya the lass was going to crack soon."

Avera threw a rock at him and missed, "Hush up dwarf! We're making a circle."

Khelgar moved his head from one shoulder to the next, "Aye it sorta looks like one. But what is it for?"

"Some recreation she calls 'murder ball.'" Casavir announced as they got to the end of the circle making.

"It sounds like a scrap. I'm in!" Khelgar strode over to them.

Qara looked about at the circle, "I don't think I want to play whatever this thing is."

"It will get you out of cleaning tables for a couple of hours." Avera announced with a smile.

"I'm in."

"As much as I'd like to play sports with all of you …"

"Oh the bookworm is scared he'll loose his page if he leaves his book for too long. Or maybe he is just afraid of contact sports."

"Look you slip of a …"

"In or out Sand?"

Sand adjusted his robe and put his nose in the air, "In. Most definitely in!"

Next thing they knew, there was fifteen people ready to play this game. Avera walked around while tossing the ball in the air. On one toss it did not come back down and she halted to watch Casavir's eyes narrow.

"Hello Bishop."

"What do we have here, Chickadee?"

"It is a game but I'm sure you don't want to play any children's games." She looked over her shoulder at him and stuck her tongue out.

"Don't be too sure about that."

"Really? So what do you say?"

"I'm in."

"Good. An even amount of people." She smiled at everyone, "The game is murder ball. Wolf will be our referees."

"He is a child. How can a child watch over adults?" Grayson's question had merit.

"They can whap you with a stick."

There were some chuckles over that.

"Seriously. We are all adults. Or at least sort of …" She stopped and looked at Casavir's face, "Bishop, would you mind going over by …" She looked about for a suitable location that wouldn't cause any problems, "Sand and quit making faces at Casavir?"

Elanee and Neeshka started to laugh.

"What is so funny?" Casavir asked.

"She has eyes in the back of the head! She'll be a perfect mother!" Elanee giggled.

Avera looked to the skies for help, "Two teams. I need leaders for the teams." Hands went up fast, "Khelgar and Callum."

"Why them?" Called Qara.

"Because they can barrel over anything. I want to keep things even so I thought that since we have two dwarfs that they would make perfect leaders. We also have two magic users and two bards so we have to be equally distributed."

There were more giggles from the girls.

"Simple game. Simple rules. One team gets to go in the center of the circle. The other places itself out as even as possible around the circle. The team on the line throw this ball at the poor fools inside the circle until there is none left to be hit. Once that happens then the teams switch places."

"So how do you score?" Grobnar had to know.

"Each time you throw the ball and don't hit anyone in the circle it counts as a point off. When you do get a hit you get a point. So the more times you hit the better chances of winning." Murmurs could be heard, "But there are rules. No hitting in the head. One point off for that."

"But that means I can't wallop the gnome!"

"That's no fun." Bishop complained while looking directly at the paladin.

"Three points off if you get someone in the groin."

Laughter and some chuckling.

"That just shows you what is more important to the general populace. Copulation over intelligence every time." Sand sniffed.

"I'm quite sure you would change your mind if one of these larger gentlemen managed to get you in a crotch throw."

Sand looked over the larger, bulkier men and nodded, "I suddenly see your point."

Avera looked about at everyone and noticed Sir Grayson, "Uhm … Grayson?"

"Sir Grayson, squire."

"Uhm Grayson?"

"That is Sir Grayson."

Nevalle, Darmon and a knight named Edmund huddled together like a pack of school boys laughing at the exchange.

Casavir strode over to Avera and she pointed to the armor, "Sir Grayson, would you like to borrow some trews and shirt for this game. It may be difficult for you playing in your armor."

"Thank you for your concern, Casavir, but I will be fine. I can assure you of that."

"Very well." Casavir announced and stayed beside Avera.

Avera waived for Khelgar and Callum to come over, "Time for a coin toss."

"Can't we do a gnome toss instead?"

"No Khelgar. The gnome is not a tossing toy."

"Fine. Let's get this over with then."

"Call?"

"Heads!" Yelled Khelgar before Callum could even speak.

Avera tossed a coin and it fell to the ground, "Tails! Callum gets to call who he wants on his team first. Now gentlemen … please remember to try to keep it somewhat even. No all short people in one side and all tall in the other or some such. First though, we'll divvy up the magicals and bards."

"This sounds like fun." Callum smiled, "I call for you Avera."

"Hey that's not fair! The lass has been my chum a lot longer than she's even known you!"

"Heads or tails?"

"Heads!" Called Callum.

"Heads it is."

"For magical."

"Heads!" Yelled Khelgar.

"You got it. Who do you want? Sand or Qara?"

"Damn that's a good question."

"I can feel the love." Sand mused allowed.

"No kidding." Qara snapped.

"I'll take Sand over that yappy fire queen."

"If you don't watch out this fire queen will fry your beard off!"

"Qara?"

"And what do you want?"

Avera cocked her head to the side, "Here or tables?"

She rolled her eyes and grumped, "Fine but he better watch that loud mouth of his!"

"Ok. Start calling! Callum first."

"I take that slip of an elf."

"My name is Elanee. Why would you want me? I thought dwarfs did not care for elven folk."

"You look wiry and can probably dodge a lot quicker then beer gut over there."

"Watch it you! We'll kick your hairy ass you know!"

"Not if we kick yours first!"

"Well it's my turn to call so I want Neeshka."

Neeshka walked over to Khelgar's group and patted him on the head, "That was sweet of you."

"Don't go calling me sweet, tiefling. It's just I've seen you move and you're right fast."

"Casavir!"

"What? Hey! You have two of my favorite people!"

"You should have been faster. What were you thinking? Were you picking your next meal out of that unruly beard of yours?"

"Well look who's talking!"

"Fine! Shandra lass get your ass out here!"

"Hey!" Shandra strode over to the dwarf, "That was really uncalled for."

"Just learn to shake your booty out there enough to avoid the ball and you'll be fine, lass."

Callum looked at the rest, "Darmon."

"Nevalle."

"Grayson."

"Hey … you other knightly fellow. Your name?"

"Edmund."

"Well hoof it over here, willya."

"Who's the ranger?"

Casavir glared at the ranger and Bishop waved, "That," There was ice in his tone, "Would be Bishop."

Callum seemed amused, "Well he seems like he can really move." The dwarf peeked up at Casavir and noticed the snarl. He couldn't help but enjoy teasing his friend, "Sorry lad but I've seen Cormick move and he's no young runner like that ranger of yours."

"He is not our ranger. He's kind of like a stray, rabid dog."

"Hey Bishop! Over here."

"Well that one ye can have, Callum. I'll take that watch guy anyway."

Avera walked between the two dwarfs, "One more coin toss men. This is for first in the circle … whoever looses this one gets to have the ball thrown at them first."

"Very well. I call heads."

"Tails. I guess your group gets their tails in the circle first, Callum."

"You heard the lady! Time to move into the center."

Nnn

Everyone in the circle huddled around Callum and Avera. They were about ready to start the game but both teams were checking out what to do.

"So how will this go?" Casavir and Bishop were on opposite sides of each other, still glaring at each other jealously.

"We try to avoid the ball. Simple as that."

"We don't get points for getting a team mate hit?"

Casavir, Grayson and Darmon glared at Bishop. Oh good Bishop. Now you have the three largest of our team against you. Good work. All in less than a minute's open mouth time!

Darmon shook his head, "I believe the object of the game is to not get hit so the opposite team gets points put against them. If you get your teammate hit then that is less points they have against them."

"That's too bad." His eyes turned towards Casavir.

"Is everyone ready?" Wolf strode over to Khelgar to give him the ball, "Only one other thing to the game."

Everyone perked up, "No spell casting and no bard song!"

Qara gasped, "Is that kid joking?"

"No Qara. He is not joking."

"Ok, time to start!" The boy blew a whistle.

"How in the world do they expect me to do anything if I cannot use my powers?"

WHUMP … Qara fell to the ground in a heap.

"Oh great. We get the spellcaster who can't run." The ranger threw his hands into the air.

"Shut up bush breath!" Qara yelled as she stood.

"What now?" Khelgar asked as Nevalle caught the ball.

Avera smirked in chagrin, "I guess I forgot to say. If someone is hit they get out of the ring. The people throwing the ball stop until that person is out then resume throwing. So whoever catches the ball throws it."

Bishop leaned over Avera's shoulder and breathed onto her neck as he whispered to her. He had found her reaction to breathing on the neck rather interesting so he made sure that he was close enough to feel what happened. Sure enough she shuddered, "But no one has offered for me to play with any bushes. How can I have …"

He felt her stiffen for a moment, then she did the splits. The ball went right over her head and Bishop pulled to the side just in time but ran into Casavir who had been coming over to get him away from Avera.

"The game guys!"

Casavir pushed Bishop away from him then swirled as Neeshka caught the ball and threw it straight at them. The two split quickly and were missed.

Sand caught the ball easily to the amazement of his team mates, "It isn't like I've never played anything before. I was a child once you know!"

"That was a long time ago, pointy ears!" Called Khelgar, "Now don't just hold onto it! Throw the gods be damned thing."

"Very well."

The ball spun past the group without hitting anyone for a couple of times. They whipped past and around each other without too much problem then Khelgar did something strange. He threw the ball towards Grobnar and the gnome whipped it right into Grayson's chest.

Grayson went down with a very audible thud and an also audible, "Ack!" Sounding off from underneath him.

Avera had dodged Darmon and Elanee but had accidentally gotten right behind the knight. Grayson lay across her and they kind of looked like a weird "x" from above.

"Why in the world do the big, heavy ones fall on me?" She put her chin in a hand, "We can't fall on the big dwarf or burly big guy. Oh no they fall on the hobbit. Always the hobbit. It's a damned good thing that I know how to hold my freaking breath and that I can hold a lot of air in my damned lungs!"

Darmon and Bishop looked down at the hobbit with amusement as Elanee, Callum and Casavir ran to her aid. Callum and Casavir pulled Grayson off of her and pushed him towards the place that seats and tables were. They had been placed out there for patrons who enjoyed the summer sun.

"Time!" Hollered Wolf as he ran into the circle to check on Avera.

"Are you ok, my lady?"

She wiggled her jaw in mild irritation, "I feel like one of Khelgar's deluxe pancakes."

"I take that as a 'no.'" Khelgar yelled.

"No I'm fine." She pushed herself to her knees and gave Grobnar a look. The gnome looked worried.

"I'm sorry, Avera!"

She laughed, "No that was one heck of a good throw! I'm thinking of buying you throwing knives."

Grobnar perked up and danced about cheerfully.

"Just keep your mind on the game, gnome, or we are going to play gnome toss!"

Wolf chuckled as he walked out of the attack area. He turned around, "Ok!"

The ball kept whipping past them. The men and Elanee were getting around each other and avoiding the ball easily but sometimes they forgot about Avera and she had to duck and tumble from them almost as much as the ball. They avoided Callum easily but he was wide enough to be seen quickly. She and Callum once ran into each other, fell and had to scurry to get out of the way.

Darmon was the next person out of the ring. He and Grayson stood together looking dejected.

Qara sat in a shady area easily sipping at a cold drink. She had to admit that she had done rather well by playing in this game. One hit and she was able to sit back, relax and laugh at the others spinning about in the circle. She chose a spot where she could watch the men easily. And no cleaning tables. Ah blissfulness!

Khelgar caught the ball in mid stride and got an evil grin on his face. He sighted on the ranger and threw but Elanee knocked into Avera to get out of the way and the ball planted itself into the side of the hobbit's head.

She fell and rolled but hit Casavir's boot. There she lay, looking up at faces checking her out.

"You ok?" Someone yelled but the ringing in her ear made it so she couldn't figure out who had asked the question.

Avera nodded, "Once the ringing stops yeh." Why everyone gets upset that I fall down in a game is beyond me. It isn't like we've fought orcs, githyanki and trolls every other day but they worry about me getting hurt in a game, "I'm just glad that I had that fight this morning. There's just no luck for me this evening."

Casavir helped her stand and whispered into her ear, "You may be wrong about that, my lady." It made her shiver deep down and she had to wait a moment before she could leave the ring.

She got to the side and watched as the last three dodged and spun out of the way. The nastiest thrower was Grobnar. If she'd known that before she would have had him with thrown weapons quickly instead of the bow and arrows.

But something bothered her. She tapped Darmon's leg and he leaned down. She made sure that he had to move near her ear and over her neck to speak to her, "Yes?" The feeling of his breath on her ear and neck only gave her a slight tingle.

"Did you guys bet on who would be the last one in there?"

"Are you kidding? With Grayson?"

She peeked over at the knight. All stolid and stiff. Darmon raised an eyebrow as she nodded, "I forgot myself."

Darmon snickered as she walked over to Grayson and tapped on the armor of his leg. He went down on one knee and sat with his hands on the other, "Yes?"

Nothing at all. Not even a twitch.

"How did you like playing this game?"

"It was actually pretty good. I may use it to train some of my squires to be able to move fast and avoid attacks."

The idea coming from Grayson surprised her. He seemed more like the type who would want his people to do a stand up fight, head to head making it all "honorable combat." She hadn't even thought he would think of a real fight.

"But Avera …" He turned his face to look at her, "I do need to speak with you upon a matter that has been brought to my attention."

"What is it?"

"I was told that you danced in an erotic manner, not once but twice for people in the Sunken Flagon. Is this true?"

Avera raised an eyebrow while squinting with her other eye, "Why?"

"It is not proper for a squire to be doing things like that. Now, I know that these actions had been performed before you became my squire; however, I request that you never do it again. It would become a stain upon my name to have a squire who was dancing like a trollop for men in a bar."

"Excuse me?" Her voice lowered aggressively making both Casavir and Bishop look over between mad dashes.

Casavir started to become concerned as Bishop was itching to watch the woman get into a scrap with the knight.

Others also started to look over due to the change in the hobbit's voice but they kept playing the game.

"It is not proper and I want you to never dance like that again."

The hobbit rolled her shoulders and turned to the man, "You can not tell me what I can and cannot do on my own time!"

"As my squire you must withhold the dignity of my name. Erotically dancing for men would only tarnish it. You cannot do thus in a public place. If you wish to do it behind closed doors then that is your option."

"What?" She sputtered, "So you don't mind if I dance for a private viewing?"

Grayson opened his mouth and shut it a couple of times. He looked aghast, "Oh my no! That would be even worse! Your name would be slimed through the mud and mine with it!"

"You had no trouble with me dancing with you."

Bishop showed up as if he'd accidentally been hit by the ball. He had a feeling that this was going to be much more fun than that game so he let the ball hit him.

"That was a normal dance. What you did with that …" Grayson glared at the ranger who sneered back at him, "Ranger … that was reprehensible."

"If you got that sword out of your ass then you may enjoy stuff like that yourself. But I see that whatever woman you chose to bed has a board to deal with." He snorted, "And I thought the paladin was stiff."

"You, ranger, do not understand honor and mine and my wife's bed manners are none of your concern."

"No I am sure that it is more of a concern to whatever boy toy she has found to replace you."

"This is not your concern."

"So you are saying I can only dance for my lover?"

"If you wish but therein lies another topic to speak upon."

Casavir walked over to them, having just been hit by the ball, and stood behind Avera, rubbing her shoulders.

"The two of you are too open with this relationship. People look upon what you do and judge you as a harlot sleeping around."

Avera's eyes narrowed, "Excuse me?"

"Many people know Casavir. After he left it became common knowledge that he left his order and Neverwinter due to killing a man over a love affair with a prostitute. You spending time with him only puts you in the same light as him and Ophala. And it disgraces my name."

"Neither Avera nor Ophala are," Casavir balked at Grayson's words and his grip on Avera's shoulders got tighter. He was trying to calm himself as the little woman leaned against his leg in frustration, "PROSTITUTES!"

The game stopped. Faces turned with a mixture of shock and apprehension as the ball spun past Neeshka.

Bishop had to fight back laughter by having Karnwyr go to him so he could hide his face.

Well, there goes that temper.

Grayson snapped at the paladin, "Very well. Ophala is a Madame who has private audiences and anyone who sees Avera dancing like a scarlet woman and associating with you romantically in public will believe that she is a common hooker!"

"Take that back Grayson. Take it back now." Casavir's eyes darkened and so did his voice.

The man stood to look into Casavir's eyes and put out his chin in defiance, "I shall not. It is the truth."

"Take it back."

"Not on my squire's life."

The paladin took Avera by the shoulders and gently moved her to the side. He then sneered contemptuously and punched the knight right in the face. The two began punching each other.

"That is enough!" Nevalle yelled at the men but they did not listen.

Casavir was beyond incensed by Grayson's words and Grayson viewed the fight as recourse for his dignity. Neither man wished to step down. The paladin had the knight by the front of his armor and was bashing him in the face as the knight hit mostly the paladin's chest.

"Does it not feel good to have knightly men fighting over you, Chickadee?" His breath on her neck made her react.

"It does not."

"Most women would be overjoyed."

"I am not 'most women'." Avera walked forward and threw a hold person spell on Casavir then got between the combatants. She forced Grayson back with her shoulder before he could take advantage of the paladin being unable to move. The man turned to try to get to Casavir but Kathin materialized in front of him with a loud roar.

"One more move Grayson and Kathin will remove your codpiece with everything inside it!"

An assortment of reactions rounded through the crowd and most of it was fairly quiet but everyone could definitely hear the howl of, "That's my lass!"

Grayson stopped as Kathin opened her jaws, ready to act upon Avera's command. He licked his lips and glared at her.

"Being your squire may not be the best thing for either of us."

"You became my squire and pledged allegiance to Neverwinter. If you are dismissed from that office then it will disgrace Neverwinter."

Avera squeezed Casavir's hand then looked over to Nevalle who nodded, "We cannot have such a disgrace at this time. You are now in the public's eyes as a hero but if you are removed from being a squire … well, Lord Nasher would be very upset."

"I will not allow anyone to push me around or affect my relationships."

Callum grumbled, "There is another way to resolve this."

Casavir came out of the paralyzation with a start and the hobbit put her hand in his.

"Go on." Nevalle ordered.

"We could just have her change knights to have her as their squire."

"There is no one that I know who would take on …"

"I will do it."

Grayson turned his head towards Sir Edmund, having forgotten that he was even there. He looked Edmund over and snorted, "If you wish to have her then she is yours. It looks like we will not be able to come to terms with anything and I require loyal squires."

Edmund shrugged, "Would you be my squire then?"

"I hope you do not want to ask of me to take care of your horse dung and get cuffed if you do not like what I do."

"Not at all. You don't even have to go through that stupid ritual again either."

Nevalle nodded, "I will inform Lord Nasher about this after I return to Castle Never."

Grayson turned to Avera, "I will take my leave of you then squire. I hope your service with Edmund is more successful than that as my squire." Kathin smacked her lips, "And I would appreciate if you called off your cat."

Kathin backed off as Grayson turned and left.

Avera shrugged, "Back to the game then?"

Yowls of appreciation could be heard as the second team got into the circle.

Avera looked over the bruises that were appearing on Casavir's face and chest. Since he'd not had on his armor, Grayson was able to do some damage there. She healed him then Cormick moved over to her with a smile, "Would anyone mind if I go sit by the young lady over there? You are out one member of your team so it is only fitting that one leaves the other team."

The hobbit looked back and saw Qara was looking at Cormick appreciatively. She patted him on the shoulder, pushed him towards the sorceres and got back into the fray.

They played with Callum's team throwing the ball but did not play any more rounds of the game as they had lost count of the points. They all had fun and were surprised that Sand was the last person standing.