Clayton left the armory and headed down towards columns of market stalls, hundreds of people we're passing the stalls browsing wares and the food on offer. Some weapons were on display for the passing travelers.
He stopped and looked along the wares on offer then headed towards a stall selling all sorts of fruit, some recognizable some of it not.
As he bustled through the crowds he came face to face with the unclean merchant, he'd clearly just come off working his crops and was covered in dirt dressed in rags and had very few teeth left.
"Whatta ya buyin stranger?" the merchant cracked out of a broken voice.
Clayton smiled and browsed the fruit a little longer. Apples, grapes, something that was supposed to resemble bananas, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. He picked up two apples, the cleanest and juiciest ones on offer.
"I'll take these please" he replied and juggled them in his hands.
"1 cap-sir" the merchants said, in his slurred accent probably more from having no teeth, holding out his hand for payment.
Clayton stopped juggling the apples and reached into one of his pouches and pulled out the cap of the Nuka-Cola bottle he drank earlier.
"He he Thank you!" the merchant said quickly placing the cap in one of his pockets like it was the last cap in the world.
Clayton looked at the strange speaking man curious about his strange way of speaking, then he smiled took a bit of one of his apples and turned round flat into the chest of a very tall and muscular man. stunned and a little shocked at what had just happened he stepped back and looked up expecting to see Brick in front of him coming to get him for some reason. He looked up and it wasn't, that was a very bad thing.
There were two men in Stablestown known for their great stature one was Brick, the other was Ox it wasn't his real name. Clayton had no idea what his name was, didn't care what it was. All he knew was he was a troublesome man. Who considered himself judge, jury and executioner in Stablestown. He had no affiliation to the governing council, and was nothing more than a low level gangster. He ran with a group of men who picked on outsiders for passage money and "allowing" them to use the shops. They were the bane of the guards lives and it was difficult to prove anything against them. As the always seemed to disappear quickly whenever real trouble started.
Clayton took another bite of his apple casually looking up at the monstrous man.
Rumor was that his father was a super mutant half breed, which was highly unlikely. His looks could vouch for it along with the giant forehead. He wore a large leather vest type shirt that he'd made a ham handed attempt to stud with little metal spikes most had fallen off, he also wore some big black trousers that were ripped in various places and probably two sizes to small for the ape. He had two companions either side of him that weren't any where near as tall but were similarly dressed.
"Ox...*munch*...what can I do for you or have you just had to stop there a minute for some air...*munch* I've heard the air up there is rather thin* Clayton grinned whilst delightfully eating is apple with his mouth open.
"Clayton how are you and the rest of the rats?" Ox boomed in reply, clearly not even acknowledging Clayton earlier mock.
"Oh, fine as usual, what's it to you...*munch*...and your friends?" He gulped down the pulped apple.
"Well it's just strange to see you here, as last Rat that was here we made it very clear you hadn't paid your tab. You owe the "community" a lot of money." Ox said looking and smiling over his shoulder as he said "community".
"Ha...*munch*" Clayton said looking at his apple the whole time.
A silence passed between the four men, and the two behind Ox shifted nervously. They briefly glanced at one another waiting for their signal from Ox.
A few had stopped amongst the market stalls to watch the stand off. The merchant behind Clayton was clearly making an effort to tidy up knowing his stall would be involved in the ensuing brawl.
"...*munch*..." Clayton swallowed again.
"Did I say something funny?" Ox said his tone switching from lighthearted bullying for a serious deadpan one.
"Yeah...*munch*...that joke you made" Clayton dropped the apple core to the floor and flicked his other apple from his left to his right hand.
"I see, well unfortunately for you and the rest of your Rats, until you've paid your tab, you ain't welcome IEEEEEE" he broke off as Clayton launched his apple straight into the giant's groin. Ox keeled over to grasp his scrotum and as his head came down Clayton's boot came up striking him in the face and probably causing him to loose some of his precious few teeth.
Ox's companions launched forward and pushed him as Clayton was still of balance. He collided into the poorly made stall and he toppled over it causing it to fall with him. Fruit sprayed off in all directions. One toppled with Clayton as he planted a hand on his shirt cuff and yanked him along for the ride. The other was left watching the chaos unfold in front of him.
As the pair landed Clayton landed a flurry of blows on the opponent. He got on top and continued his punches. The man tried in vein to stop the blows. The other man had quickly followed them round and he stuck Clayton in the back with an old crowbar. He yelped and rolled off the man. He was quick to his feet though and saw the two men, the one having helped the other to his feet. The crowbar man grinned at Clayton and the other bent down and picked up a chunk of broken wood.
He knew he couldn't pull a gun on them, doing so would resort in a ban from the settlement, even if it was in self defense. He tossed to rifle of his back and flung his cloak over his left shoulder getting it out the way and he reached down for his saber and drew it from it's sheath. He smiled at the two.
He issued a "bring it!" action with his left hand. The man with the crowbar was first going for and overhead strike. Clayton parried upwards and his sword got caught under the hook over the crowbar. He was quick to bring his foot up into the other man's gut to push him away. The man made a whooshing sound as he was winded by the blow. The other man was coming in at the same time with a lump of wood. Again with an overhead strike.
Clayton altered his angle to face the new opponent, he swiped across and sliced the wood in two leaving it useless as a weapon. The man glanced down at the wood and Clayton followed it up with a smash from his pommel. The man went down quickly like a sack of potatoes. He span and ran to the other man recovering from his winding and smashed him in the face with his boot knocking him out.
He was about to revel in his own victory when something smashed the side of his head. He scattered on to his hip away from the fallen stall. He let go off the sword as he fell and while he was recovering he saw Ox marching towards him and the same apple he thrown into the man's groin lying on the floor near him. Clayton lunged for the sabre but Ox was there too quick and kicked it away from him.
"I'm'a gonna kick the shit out you Rat!" he spat as he reached down and grabbed him by the collar hoisting up above his own head. Clayton flailed the big man's grip trying to break free as a fist struck him in the centre of the stomach. He cried out as the air left his lungs.
Then suddenly like he saw a blur shoot out from the crowd it was man gunning straight for Ox. He shoulder barged Ox straight in his side hitting his ribs. Ox toppled over and let go of Clayton and he fell clumsily like falling out of a tree. He struck the ground and rolled to see the other man engaging Ox.
He was dressed in a pair of jeans that were still quite new, along with a pair of military boots. He had two revolvers on his hips much like an western gunslinger. He also wore an old oilskin duster coat over the top of a plain t-shirt and a criss crossed bandoleers on his chest. He also had an old gas mask underneath his chin clearly hung there for ease to put on and off quickly.
Ox looked up at the gunslinger man as a fist came down at him. Ox took the punch squarely in the face. It didn't seem to face him one bit. He reached up and dump tackled the gunslinger down into the mud. Getting on top of him ready to probably beat him to death.
Clayton scrabbled up and rushed for his sword, scoping it up he rushed to the aid of his own aider. He reached Ox before he managed to land a blow on the man. Clayton slid the sword beneath his chin. Ox recognizing the feel of steel against his throat held his oncoming punch in the air.
"That's it Ox...now get the fuck off him and back up!" he said guiding the man with his blade.
Ox got off the man and backed up stood at his full height as Clayton keeping an eye on him.
"Hey you drop your sword now!" A guard shouted, Clayton saw them bustling through the crowd. He recognized a few from his previous visits, the first too him forced his hand down away from Ox and he took the sword from him a few others followed behind him began to put him in handcuffs. They did the same to Ox.
"You put that young man down." A voice shouted, Clayton glanced over his shoulder and saw Caesar hobbling over towards them accompanied by Brick.
"My men saw most of the fight and our young traveller did not start this he was defending himself." he beckoned the guards.
"Oh of course sir," the guard with his hand on Clayton's shoulder said and undid his handcuffs.
"Thanks old man," He turned to see his helper in the fight and recognized the grinning face instantly.
"Mordred! What the hell are you doing here?" He gasped
"I've been sent to fetch you" the gunslinger replied.