From A Seed Gifted

II. A thief's share

There were long lines snaking out through the tavern's door, and into the thick crowds of people milling in indecision near by. Knowing that it was a risk, she inhaled deeply when the whispering of voices reached her.

"I heard that once he signed his name, he was set upon. His bounty was just too tempting."

"Yet he escaped, but not before killing three knights and two enchanters."

"How do you know, did you see him?"

"No... but I heard and saw the bodies."

Keeping an eye on the slowly moving line inside, Fallon pulled her eyes away from the tavern window and calmly lifted the hood of her cloak, being careful not to conceal herself completely, to avoid looking too suspicious. Her slim and lightly chapped hands clenched as she joined the line, prepared but still hoping that those next to her failed to recognise her, and the generous bounties upon her head. She stood with half-feigned indifference, the line shuffling forward now and again as a steady flow of bodies passed her by after signing their names. Some buzzed with excitement while others paled with nerves.

Inside, time stretched as the beginnings of a storm cast shadows beyond the tavern windows, a reflection of all that she kept hidden behind her clouded gaze. She turned back as the person in-front of her leant upon the table, dipping the quill into the inkpot and scribbling their name across the parchment, sealing their fate. Once a signature adorned the contract, there was no turning back. Stepping up to the table, a steeliness flashed in her gaze as she dipped the quill, shaking off the excess, she wrote her name in a difficult to read script. Looking up, just as her name shone silver, emitting a royal blue flame, the colours of Anthore kingdom.

Straightening, she caught the eye of the tavern's head barmaid, the woman's shiny black ringlets glinting in the candlelight. Her eyes studied Fallon as she smiled and mouthed, 'good-luck'. Fallon nodding with a smile of her own, as she turned to leave. She made her way in almost slinking strides that slid effortlessly around those blocking her path, all the while avoiding attention. Her former experience of pick-pocketing aiding her. She was nearly to the door when a whisper of her name sounded, and she could feel as the air thickened and many eyes turned her way.

Suddenly her escape seemed miles away and the tavern, a rapidly shrinking cage. She stiffened, her muscles tensing and her head clearing, even as her heartbeat quickened and she listened for the slightest move toward her. Desperate and looking for an opportunity for distraction, she found her prayers were answered when shoving and pushing broke out, as everyone began to move toward her at once. After a few moments, a full on scrum had broken out, as elbows, fists and bodies fought their way ahead. Ducking, she just missed a blow to the face and an elbow to the chest, but not a moment later, she was roughly yanked backwards by her shoulders.

Furious, Fallon turned, bringing the heel of her palm up to hit her attacker under the chin. The woman staggered back releasing her, while clutching her own chin and jaw. Not waiting for the woman's next attack, she reached out, palm facing upwards as she conjured a black flash which she sent streaming towards the stranger, knocking her unconscious. The linkus-loopa spell always worked, providing her opponent didn't have time to block it, but then to her, that was half of the challenge.

Looking around, Fallon jumped aside as another tried and failed to grab her, but happened to see the back of a dark haired young man fending off one attacker with a second approaching him from behind, a chair raised. Not thinking twice, she moved in his direction, picking up the leg of a small broken table as she passed by. Climbing over the splinters of what used to be furniture, she swung, hitting the man in the small of his back. Letting out a pained yell, and still unsteadily clutching the chair above his head, she swiped him twice more across the back of his knees. His legs buckling as she stepped back to watch the chair, previously held aloft, smash down upon his head - but moments later, she herself was pulled backwards, and roughly pushed down onto the floor.