Hours later, the lord and his company were still there.
Damn pigs, eatin more'n an army, fumed Jaemath. And he had a right to fume. The lot of hooligans had consumed a good quantity of his best ales, and now were starting in on some harder drinks. Furthermore, they had been growing generally louder and more obnoxious. Jaemath's common room, once bustling with people, was now empty of everyone but a few die-hard drinkers.
Kernos Eyes, they be cuttin my profits by two! With rest day a'commin an all, I should be packed full-up! M'Lord over there be owin me at least a gold chit is what!
Suddenly, Hosh's massive form leapt up, overturning the lord's table with a great crash.
"Hey! Tavern man, what are you starin at?" roared the brown man, his tone growing more petualant with every syllable. Intimidatingly, Hosh pushed toward the bar where Jaemath stood, swaying with the effects of alcohol. "I'm tired o' drinkin. I think maybe it's time to have some real fun. Come on Alec, err.. I mean m'lord, let's have some fun with this bunch."
A half-smile began to twist around the Angel's face, making Jaemath's stomach knot and turn. He was a trained fighter, but so were at least four of the five men he would be facing. Slowly, he began to reach his arm under the bar for his sowrd. If he were armed, that should even the odds considerably.
"Aww. I think the little man is trying to get at a weapon," mocked one of the lord's merc fighters.
"How positively unoriginal," sneered the young lord, fixing Jaemath with a look that somehow made movement impossible. "Hosh grab the weapons. You four, get all the drunkards before they get away. I think we've intruded on this poor man long enough. We should really repay him for his kindness. After all, 'if only he knew my Papa M'Lord, he'd suggest I get a hiding.'"
Jaemath paled at the voicing of his past thoughts. Unable to move and eyes wide with fear, he whispered, "mind-magic."
"Oh! The idiot has at least half a brain. Well to bad it won't do him any good anymore. Hmm, kill those drinkers, starting with that filthy lout on the floor. Let the tavern keep " ordered Alec, as his men herded the few remaining tavern customers to the center of the common room. It was quite comical for a moment, swaying louts rushing toward equally unbalanced drunkards. Then the killing started. Long, sharp hidden knives were pulled from boots and the inside vests. Blood began to trickle, then cascade, onto the floors.
Alec began to laugh as the red liquid splashed everywhere. A crazy light seemed to fill him, and he danced between puddles toward Hosh and Jaemath. Hosh returned a wicked looking knife to Alec, who's eyes started to burn with cold fire.
"Now, I think, you and me are going to..."
The rest of the young lordlings words were cut-off as a young woman burst in behind Jaemath, holding a broom as if it were a sword of finest metal.
No! Jaemath's mind shouted. Ari was not a fighter, she was not going to stand a chance against these villians. They were going to kill him, then take her. Arialla, the pretty little girl with the beautiful smile. If they felt kind, they would kill her. The pretty little girl, they would kill HIS pretty little girl. If not....
NO! I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!
With a sudden burst of fierceness Jaemath broke free of his paralysis. Throwing himself at Alec, he managed to get a strong hold around the young lad's neck. The other men, confused by this sudden attack on their leader went still with shock before angrily swarming toward Jaemath--ignoring Arialla.
"Run Ari, RUN! Dammit gurl, go!" shouted Jaemath as Hosh grabbed his legs out from under him.
Looking around for a moment, understanding seemed to suddenly dawn on her. Darting around the bar, she rushed out the tavern door into the stillness of the night.
.
Damn pigs, eatin more'n an army, fumed Jaemath. And he had a right to fume. The lot of hooligans had consumed a good quantity of his best ales, and now were starting in on some harder drinks. Furthermore, they had been growing generally louder and more obnoxious. Jaemath's common room, once bustling with people, was now empty of everyone but a few die-hard drinkers.
Kernos Eyes, they be cuttin my profits by two! With rest day a'commin an all, I should be packed full-up! M'Lord over there be owin me at least a gold chit is what!
Suddenly, Hosh's massive form leapt up, overturning the lord's table with a great crash.
"Hey! Tavern man, what are you starin at?" roared the brown man, his tone growing more petualant with every syllable. Intimidatingly, Hosh pushed toward the bar where Jaemath stood, swaying with the effects of alcohol. "I'm tired o' drinkin. I think maybe it's time to have some real fun. Come on Alec, err.. I mean m'lord, let's have some fun with this bunch."
A half-smile began to twist around the Angel's face, making Jaemath's stomach knot and turn. He was a trained fighter, but so were at least four of the five men he would be facing. Slowly, he began to reach his arm under the bar for his sowrd. If he were armed, that should even the odds considerably.
"Aww. I think the little man is trying to get at a weapon," mocked one of the lord's merc fighters.
"How positively unoriginal," sneered the young lord, fixing Jaemath with a look that somehow made movement impossible. "Hosh grab the weapons. You four, get all the drunkards before they get away. I think we've intruded on this poor man long enough. We should really repay him for his kindness. After all, 'if only he knew my Papa M'Lord, he'd suggest I get a hiding.'"
Jaemath paled at the voicing of his past thoughts. Unable to move and eyes wide with fear, he whispered, "mind-magic."
"Oh! The idiot has at least half a brain. Well to bad it won't do him any good anymore. Hmm, kill those drinkers, starting with that filthy lout on the floor. Let the tavern keep " ordered Alec, as his men herded the few remaining tavern customers to the center of the common room. It was quite comical for a moment, swaying louts rushing toward equally unbalanced drunkards. Then the killing started. Long, sharp hidden knives were pulled from boots and the inside vests. Blood began to trickle, then cascade, onto the floors.
Alec began to laugh as the red liquid splashed everywhere. A crazy light seemed to fill him, and he danced between puddles toward Hosh and Jaemath. Hosh returned a wicked looking knife to Alec, who's eyes started to burn with cold fire.
"Now, I think, you and me are going to..."
The rest of the young lordlings words were cut-off as a young woman burst in behind Jaemath, holding a broom as if it were a sword of finest metal.
No! Jaemath's mind shouted. Ari was not a fighter, she was not going to stand a chance against these villians. They were going to kill him, then take her. Arialla, the pretty little girl with the beautiful smile. If they felt kind, they would kill her. The pretty little girl, they would kill HIS pretty little girl. If not....
NO! I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!
With a sudden burst of fierceness Jaemath broke free of his paralysis. Throwing himself at Alec, he managed to get a strong hold around the young lad's neck. The other men, confused by this sudden attack on their leader went still with shock before angrily swarming toward Jaemath--ignoring Arialla.
"Run Ari, RUN! Dammit gurl, go!" shouted Jaemath as Hosh grabbed his legs out from under him.
Looking around for a moment, understanding seemed to suddenly dawn on her. Darting around the bar, she rushed out the tavern door into the stillness of the night.
.