Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 4: A Friend's Letter

274 I.C.
Sacren
Ordain Kingdom
Shadow Pass
Fortified city of Parthas

"The best adventures always start with a good brawl!" Tarn exclaimed. The dwarf ducked the human's mighty swing and meaty fist only to feel blinding pain shoot through him as the human's big foot slammed into his belly. He fell backwards and slid under a large, square table. The foul smelling, smoky tavern, The Drunken Wolf, was in chaos.

Tarn noticed the excellent woodwork on the underside of the old table he was under. "Must'a been made by a dwarf," he gasped as he began to get his breath back.

Humans fought all around the table, and Tarn felt thankful the table held as a man was slammed onto it. When his breath returned, the dwarf rolled out from under the table and back onto his feet. The human that had kicked him was waiting with a look of glee on his face.

"Lucky shot!" the dwarf roared as he came in low at the man.

The human tried to kick the dwarf a second time, but his foot only hit open air. Tarn dodged the big man's kick and came down on the outside of his leg with a vicious punch. The man wobbled on his stunned leg and fell to the ground. Tarn quickly stomped on the man's groin and kicked him in the other leg when he rolled over.

Tarn ran towards the bar looking for Olis. The halfling was on top of the bar hurling insults at two ugly brutes who were attacking each other. There were two humans lying on the floor with their backs to the bar. Both had bloody faces.

Tarn hurried over to Olis. "What are you doing? We need to get out of here!"

Olis looked down at his flustered friend and hopped down behind the bar. "Hurry, back here!" the halfling called.

Tarn jumped on top of a bar stool and hoisted himself over the bar. He landed next to his small friend. "You sure know how to start'em you crazy slob!"

Olis looked surprised. "Me? I didn't start anything! That human was the one who swung first."

Tarn shook his head and hoped it would be over quickly, but soon it was apparent the brawl was escalating. They heard the sharp sounds of swords being pulled from sheaths. They peaked over the bar to see the entire tavern fighting. It had been localized to the bar area, but now it was heating up quick. A bottle flew over the two and smashed on the back wall. Ale and glass splattered them, soaking parts of their earth colored shirts, trousers, and cloaks.

The two moved down the bar to the back of the tavern and kept a quiet vigil. Tarn put on his helm. "This just might get a little too dangerous."

"I agree!" Olis said as he pulled his cloak's hood over his head. He noticed a bottle of mead and pulled it from under the bar. "Yummy!" he said as he opened it. He took a swig and then spat all over the floor. "Nasty!" he complained. "This stuff is nasty!" He took another swig to make sure.

Tarn shook his head and peeked around the end of the bar to see more trouble appear. The door slammed opened to the tavern, and a river of Parthas guards hurled themselves into the brawl. They were like a rushing flood taking people down left and right.

Tarn turned to his little friend. "I think it is time for our exit."

"I agree," Olis replied peeking over the bar top.

The two crawled across the floor to the door of the kitchen and quietly entered. At least Tarn hoped no one would notice the thick door open and close. The two quickly jumped up and ran through the kitchen proper. Cooks and barmaids stared at the two in disdain as they made their way through the room. The side door stood wide open, and the dwarf led the way. A teenage boy was coming back inside with trash bins and had left it open for a moment.