Valan

Chapter 1 Ignition.

Brobin was the last town in the north before the Firune Desert which housed the great northern city Palenia. Brobin sat on the north and south banks of the Penny River it was a semi circle on both sides of the river and with a bridge connecting the two sides. It was the only bridge that crossed Penny River so the town was a great garrison. It's stone outer walls where high and thick. Many people passed through the town travelling north and south. Most of the town sat on the bridge itself. Nets were dropped from the walls into the river to catch passing fish, there was a small port housed under the bridge for moving supplies quickly to and from Fairwater which sat in Penny Bay on the shores on the White Sea in the west.

The rain fell dark and slow, it was almost midnight. The full pale moon lighting the land as it sat in the sky just on the edge of the rain clouds. Brobin was sleepy although one place in particular was still a little lively as singing and laughter spewed out into the wet night.

Swaying on the bridge,
Before its lost to the river,
Stable on the ridge,
Non in the water to shiver,
For in here it's warm and cosy,
Full bellies with cheeks all rosy,
Everyone will cheer,
You've not had enough,
Till you're sleeping rough,
So, have another beer!

The tower's guard,
Is never far,
Far away from here,
Smoked with mapled char,
Filling empty hearts,
So, have another beer!

Oh swinging on the bridge,
Lost into the river,
Hoovering little midge,
Planks of wood is what we give her,
For still in here it's warm and cosy,
Tongue relaxed cheeks still rosy,
Still everyone will cheer,
You've had too much,
Too much liquid lunch,
So, have another beer.

The tavern was called the Broken Bridge and it sat on the north side of the river. It took its name from the first bridge built in Brobin, a wooden bridge that collapsed. The Broken Bridge was built on the original foundations of the old bridge. The wood that was salvaged was used to make the tables chairs and even sections of the framework.

       "Okay everyone it's time to be leaving now." said the landlord. All who weren't asleep or muttering to themselves took the last few mouthfuls and left. Two brothers remained seated in the corner one asleep and the other half dosing. The landlord repeated himself but still they slouched in silence. He removed a club from under the bar. It was about four feet in length, it was made from a dark solid wood.  It's head the size and shape of a clenched fist. He walked lightly over to their table before slamming the club down hard on it. They stood to attention like the shock of falling through the ice on the frozen lake of Palnor. From this the same feelings came, although not numbness caused by the sudden drop in temperature but from the several drafts of Black Treacle Ale. Black Treacle named because it was sweet, really thick and dark bodied with a thin almost burnt golden brown head.

       "Where'd everyone go?" Asked one of the brothers stretching his arms and yawning loudly. "Sure there were a few in tonight."
       "Everyone left when they couldn't hear their own voices for your nose snorting and snoring!" Said the landlord sternly.
       "Beg your pardon sir but I don't snore." Mumbled one of the brothers while pointing at the other one.
       "Go on home now." Said the Landlord as he tapped his club on their knuckles. One of the brothers tapped the other several times as he had began to nod off again. They got up holding each other up straight as they started staggering towards the door. As they stepped outside before the door even had a chance to close, a moan leapt inside.
       "Ouch!" One of the brothers exhaled.
The rain had turned the ground to a sloppy mud. Not been the most nimble on their feet at the time one the brothers lay flat on their back, the mud squelching as they moved about.
       "You're drunk you are Ellardin." Said Mallardin who was still stood up.
       "You're talking nonsense you are. You're more drunk than me, you pushed me over to say otherwise, just to prove your point. That's what you did." Joked Ellardin.       
       "Come on let's get home, mum will be worried sick she will, and she won't be best pleased with the state of your clothes. If you don't beat the stains out your clothes, she'll beat the stains out of you! And you do have a birthmark and some bruises, yeah certainly some bruises, put some there myself, and now you'll be showing a couple more if you keep falling over." Joked Mallardin. "Come on now up you get, be more sure footed this time!" The two brothers went out of sight in the blanket of rain than ran off the taverns' roof.
       "Those two! Ones got the brains and ones got the brawn. Though I can never tell which way around it is." Laughed the landlord to himself as he closed the door and locked it behind him.