"So, let me be absolutely clear. You've pet a dragon?" the innkeeper asked as he dropped a tankard of ale on the counter and slid it towards the lady.
She caught the mug, tilted it backward, and drained half its contents in one swift motion. With the back of her hand, she swiped at the faint film of foam left just above her upper lip.
"Petting it was the easy part. Getting it back in the dungeon...now that required a little more nuance. They can be feisty, those female dragons, especially when you stand between them and a scorched field of fresh goat carcasses."
The lady tipped back the rest of her drink and gulped it down. She let out a large belch that reverberated off the inn's low ceiling and flipped her long golden hair across her shoulders.
"What do I owe you for the drink?" she asked.
"Oh, it's on the house. We rarely encounter a knight around these parts, especially a female knight," the innkeeper said as he wiped down the counter.
The lady smiled. "Yes, well, I get that a lot. But thank you for the drink. I'll be sure to sing your praises during my travels." Her suit of armor clamored as she stepped down from the stool.
"Where are you headed next?" he asked.
"I'm actually on my way to retrieve a piece of stolen jewelry for the Queen. It's a very dear family heirloom, and it seems some scoundrels from the Western Provinces have managed to get their dirty paws on it."
As the words left her lips, she noticed a few of the patrons at the surrounding tables start to stir. Suddenly, a wooden chair slid across the floor. Then another. She slowly moved her hand to the hilt of her sword. A trio of ragged men approached her menacingly.
"Never known a female knight before," the tall one said. He had a scar running down the left side of his cheek. "Never seen one fight either." He turned to the man next to him. "Think the three of us can take her?"
"I'd say so," the short, fat one said. He lifted up his shirt, revealing a dagger.
The lady knight watched as the third man maneuvered around the perimeter of the tavern.
"I think you boys are making a big mistake," she said coolly. "I'm going to warn you once, and the only reason I'm being so generous is that I don't want to dirty this lovely innkeeper's tavern with your moldy, rancid entrails."
"Tough talk," the tall one said, revealing a dagger of his own. "Let's see if you can back it up."
At that point, all the other tavern patrons were clinging to the wall, watching eagerly as the events unfolded before them. A cloaked figure could be seen taking particular interest in the spectacle.
The short one approached first. The lady knight didn't even bother taking out her sword. He thrust forward with the dagger, aiming for her neck, but she slipped beneath the lunge and grabbed him by the wrist. With a quick twist, the bone snapped, and the dagger clattered to the ground. The remaining two men approached. One got bashed in the nose with her elbow guard and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Seeing the fate of his companions, the final attacker decided to turn tail and make for the exit.
The cloaked figure stepped between the man and the door and extended an armored hand of his own, which he used to wrap around the man's throat. With feet dangling in the air, the thief begged for mercy, but all that could be heard was a sickening gurgle. The cloaked man tossed him aside, and he crashed into a nearby cluster of tables and chairs.
The lady knight wiped a stray strand of hair away from her face and surveyed the damage. She took a gold piece from a small satchel attached to her waist and put it on the bar.
"Sorry I caused a stir," she said politely. The innkeeper nodded quietly. Then she stared ahead at the cloaked figure. "Thanks for that," she said. "Do I know you from somewhere, or are you just one of those Good Samaritan types?"
The man grunted. He stepped towards her and removed his cloak. His head was completely bald, and his body was clad in makeshift scraps of armor. On his hip was a broad sword that looked like it had recently seen action.
"Just lending a hand." He scanned the room. "Not that you needed it."
She smiled. "Well, thank you. You seem like quite the proficient fighter."
"Likewise," he said with a smirk. "And I hear you're going on a quest. I'm in need of some coin and I figured you might want some company on your journey to recover the amulet for the queen."
"You may have figured correctly. But I'm not sure I ever specified that the jewelry in question was an amulet. How are you privy to this piece of information?"
"I am from those Western Provinces," the cloaked man muttered. "And I know the barbarians who took it — and what they plan to do with it. Let's just say time is of the essence."
The lady knight pondered the proposition. Then she shrugged. "Very well then. I guess we should be off then, shall we?"
The cloaked man smiled. "Yes, we shall."
