The Knothole Inn and thereby The Knothole Tavern located within was by far one of the most liveliest buildings in Pointe Nexus at night. There were three drinking establishments in the town; The Sultan's Harem, The Emperor's Goblet and The Knothole rounding them out which was also the largest of the three and most popular. As the Shaman and Robin re-entered town the Fox kept his eyes open and his ears perked, he didn't like to be around crowded places with the Shaman for it was difficult to watch over her. She on the other hand certainly did not seem to mind as he noticed that she had quickened her pace towards the building. A human man with an unshaven face spotted her and gallantly opened the door for her. She smiled and thanked him politely, he was about to follow closely behind when Robin nudged in front of him and smiled a toothy grin that was both a thank-you and a warning. The man then decided it was best if he went to a different tavern.
The inside was warm and inviting and Robin was not at all surprised that the Shaman wanted to come here. Friendly conversation drifted through the rafters swirling with the smells of roast pork and beef. Six round tables were clustered in the middle with eight other booths around the outer edge. The walls were decorated with paintings depicting forests and lakes and the whole interior had the look that it was a hollowed out tree.
The Shaman found a table in a far corner when two women offered it to her as they were leaving. Robin held a chair out for her and she nodded her thanks. Before Robin sat down however he looked down at the pile of equipment they had bought. "If you don't mind I think I'll just bring these up to our rooms."
"Alright then," she placed her staff beside her against the booth's wall. "Then I shall order us a meal, what would you like?"
"Something with meat." He grinned and picked up their goods. "What can I say? I'm a born carnivore."
She laughed at his humour and signaled over a serving girl. Robin strode out of the tavern and into the connecting Inn. The Shaman had given him the key earlier and the location of the room. He found the spiral staircase leading upstairs and started to ascend, but before he got halfway up he heard a door slamming open and raised voices.
"Get out, what kind of a lady are you?" A man shouted from the second floor landing. Robin looked up and saw a woman with dishevelled brown hair and wearing only a blanket and holding her clothes in her arms seemingly being tossed out of a room. Immediately his chivalry kicked in and he was making his way quickly up the stairs to the woman's side. The woman saw him and smirked.
"Oh good, looks like I can't get away from hairy rescuers." The woman said while rolling her eyes. She looked back at the man who had kicked her out of the room. He was large with a thick black moustache that matched the colour of his hair; he wore only a pair of pants that looked to be hastily put on. "What's the matter?" She directed at the man. "Expected a doe eyed innocent to come to your room? Sorry to disappoint, but with the things you wanted to do no innocent would consent to and even I had to think about it." She smiled crookedly which seemed to get him all the angrier. He came at her with balled fists. The woman started to reach into her belongings but Robin was at her side before she got out what she was going for.
"Out of the way Demi, this is none of your damn business." He hollered at Robin.
Robin didn't move from the woman's side. Being close to them both he could now smell the stink of alcohol permeating the air between them, they both had been drinking heavily, although the man appeared to be more inebriated then she did. The moustached man extended his arm and attempted to shove Robin aside but suddenly found his arm behind his back and his body pressed up against the balcony's railing.
The man who was a foot and a half taller then Robin raged in pain as the Fox pushed his hand close to his neck. "If you want to see if you can scratch the base of your neck the long way, then keep struggling." The man stopped. "Now here me once for I will not repeat it, if I ever see you about to strike another lady I shall split you down the middle. Do I make myself clear?"
"But she isn't…she wanted…"
"Better agree Zappa, I think he means it." The woman said from behind Robin, she had dropped her blanket and had begun dressing in the middle of the hall.
"I'll kill you whore, arrgh." Robin pushed his arm up further.
"Please my lady, don't aggravate him, it isn't…what are you doing?" He had just noticed her state of nakedness. "Shouldn't you be doing that in a room?"
"Whose should I use? Yours?" She winked as she pulled her shirt on. "I don't have a room anymore, he was my room."
"You mean, you were with him just for his chamber?" Robin didn't hide his shock very well.
"Well it wasn't for his personality, and I didn't want to spend another night in a hay barn. Your breaking his arm by the way." Zappa had tears in his eyes before Robin realized what he was doing and released his arm lock. The man cradled his sore limb, shot another dirty look at the brown-haired woman then slunk back to his room, locking the door behind him.
"I thank you for your kindness Demi, but I could have handled him, next time ask before you race to a rescue." She finished dressing and lastly put a belt around her waist with a pouch on either side containing a strange iron contraption. "Looks like I'll be spending another night with the fleas."
Robin crossed his arms. "I'd offer you money but I can't be sure that you'd not drink it away." He curled his lip.
"No, you couldn't." She responded. She then placed a hat upon her head one that bore a wide brim that encircled the whole of it, good for keeping the sun from her face. "Have a good night Demi." She said as she descended the stairs. Robin shook his head; surprised by the manners of the young woman he realized he had a lot to learn about the Human culture. He picked up their possessions and proceeded down the hall to his room. Unlocking the door he entered the room and lit an oil lamp. The room was small but comfortable with a single bed, a nightstand and a chair next to the window. A connecting door led to the Shaman's room. He stored his equipment atop the bed then entered her chamber, bringing the lamp with him. He placed her things on the chair then approached her window and opened the curtain to peer outside. The street was empty but for a few beggars. One caught his eye however; he seemed to be staring right up at Robin, a moment more passed and the cloaked figure moved on. Before Robin could take action he heard the clop of hooves and spotted his newly made Centaur friend canter into view. He smiled, forgetting about the dark cloaked stranger and left the room locking the door behind him.
When Robin reached the tavern the barkeep had already ordered his kitchen hands to create a space for the Centaur to stand by his table where the Shaman was seated. The two had just made introductions to each other when Robin reached them. Vess's already broad grin stretched even wider as the Fox came to the table he extended his hand and heartily shook Robin's (although not as hard as before) and motioned for him to sit.
"I have just met your lovely companion and already she has refused my charms." He laughed loudly while waving over a bargirl. "A bottle of your finest, fair Lolitta and some roasted beef for my appetite." He gave her a slap on the posterior as she turned to leave; the young girl scolded him and he feigned fear from her waving finger. The Shaman and Robin grinned in secret; Robin could tell the Shaman liked the boisterous nature of the smith. He started conversing with them about his time here at Pointe Nexus, he had been smithing for thirty years come last month and has been a resident of the town for six of them. He explained that when the God Mountain fell all the folk of the surrounding lands scattered. He found himself here and decided to stay saying goodbye to the rest of his tribe. Back then it was nothing more then a shantytown barely holding its own. But with the depravations of the Sorcerer spreading and forcing all manner of folk to the road a good many of them found themselves here.
"Most of the residents are good people, hard workers who were afraid of that self-styled despot. It's true that Pointe Nexus has acquired a reputation for housing the dregs of the land but as long as Sorcerer it keeps his eyes elsewhere, well then we'll hold onto our shady disguise, but enough about us, you wanted to know more about your magnificent blade." He retrieved a plain looking volume bound in leather out from a satchel he had carried in and placed it beside atop the table.
"Where did you come upon this book, if I may ask." Queried the Shaman.
"You may, an old hermit gave it to me after I repaired a few of his gardening tools, he had nothing else to trade, actually I thought the payment too rich but he insisted. It is a wondrous tome filled with weapons of every kind like Artemis's Bow, Neptune's Trident, The Shield of Perseus and many others I have never heard about, including your sword; Albion. He had placed a bookmark where the swords entry was. Both the Shaman and Robin marvelled at the illuminated writing and the picture of seven swords splayed out like a fan portrayed within.
"You say a hermit had this?" Robin asked.
"Aye, if yuir wondering where he had gotten it I'd say he stole it."
"Or written it himself." The two looked at the Shaman with disbelief. "Do not look at me as if I have lost all senses, sometimes the most innocuous of things can hold the greatest treasures. Take the tome for example; although drab in appearance we have opened it to reveal beautiful scripture and art. That old hermit may only to have wished his knowledge to be passed out into the world, and he chose you Vess to be his messenger."
"Hmph, well you are wise lady Shaman and that certainly sounds better then my explanation that he was a thief. I for one should not judge a tome by its bindings." The Shaman nodded her head in approval and together they turned their gaze back to the book.
But on this night the Shaman nor Robin would discover the origin of Albion for a man who looked like he had seen a ghost came charging into the Knothole with terror upon his features. All conversation ceased, as he looked around wild eyed and pale. The words that came out of his mouth justified his appearance.
"Gargoyles have come out of the stone keep."
