Blackdrift Blues

Chapter One: Hollish Detective Agency

Desmer Lindon

I stumbled backwards as the man's giant fist crashed against my face with a sting, but I shook it off and locked eyes with him with a smirk. "Heh, are those muscles are just for show or are you gonna at least put up some kinda fight?" I mocked him as he threw wide heavy punches my way. He was much larger than me no doubt but slow; to slow, I ducked under his next heavy hit and popped him twice in the jaw with two quick jabs and threw an uppercut that sent him stumbling backwards against one of the many tables as everyone in the saloon cheered. The man grunted and ran at me tackling me to the ground knocking the wind out of me, he got on top of me and started swinging and I felt everyone of them with full force this time one after another. This isn't how I was planning on this to go, I thought to myself. I grunted as I grabbed the big fist that was coming my way and slammed my forehead into his nose dazing him enough to barely manage to shove him off of me. "Now that wasn't very nice now was it big guy?" I taunted him as I stumbled up to my feet wiping the blood from my nose.

"You talk to much little man," He growled in a deep voice. he wasn't that smart, but he sure was strong I'd give him that. He was some lumberjack from the town. You know the type, big, bearded, and dumb. I noticed Aidon and his brother walk through the door and knew it was time to end this just as he swung at me again with this wide and open right hook, I dodged backwards out of the way and up onto the table behind me and  then proceeded to heave my foot right into his jaw. I had him.

I thought about all the gold I was about to win, the huge man looked at me angry as his eyes glazed over and rolled into the back of his head as he slumped over, He did make me earn it, that's for sure. I thought to myself as the bartender, Norman Dalhurst, a short balding man with a dark handlebar mustache ran over and held my fist into the air. "And the winner is Mr. Lindon!" He exclaimed as I was met with cheers and boos alike from the rough country crowd, it's been awhile since we've been in this little old town, bounty hunters and mercs  have been following us all over the state. I can't believe I actually missed it here.

I smiled brightly and bowed,"Thank you everyone, I really did have a good time, I'd love to entertain you again sometime in the future! But for now I must make my leave." I looked over to the brutish man on the ground and extended my hand to him helping him to his feet.

"You is quick little man, that was fun." the man said in that deep growling voice of his. "We fight again soon, no?"

"Sure thing buddy," I said patting him on the back causing him to roar a mighty laugh and do the same, his meaty hand came crashing down on my back but I ignored it. I looked over to the owner of the bar, "So how much did I get Barkeep?"

"Aye, bout two hundred gold I suppose." he said tossing a large sack with coins spilling out the top to me, I looked down at it and grinned before walking over and setting the sack on my table where I noticed my two friends sitting with someone I didn't recognize. A woman. But not the one I was expecting, I wonder Where Hal is?

"Aidon, Morgon." I nodded to the two Fitch twins as I picked a drink up off the table. The only way you could really tell them apart is their hair; while Aidon keeps his shaved completely, Morgan has his shoulder length golden locks. The twins both had small amber eyes and were covered in freckles, Morgon the older of the two, had a crooked nose from the many fights he's been in over the years.  "So boys, who's our new friend here?"

"Ah, Desmer Lindon, as charming as ever it seems." The woman said as she sipped on her drink, as she did I noticed a spider tattoo peek out of her coat on her right wrist. Hollishers, I thought to myself. I looked up and Aidon nodded confirming my assumption, well so much for a quiet retirement huh. I joked to myself.