World Tree Chronicles Pt. 1

Chapter 1

Amos downed the last of his beer, letting out an impressive belch as he slammed the empty mug onto the table right beside two similarly void cups. His companion scolded him, saying: "Slow down, do you really want to meet the informant drunk?"

"Ah Lay off it Jerome. Rovanian brew is the best stuff on this planet. I refuse to waste this trip by only enjoying one sensible portion." Amos held up his hand to get the attention of a passing barmaid so he could order another. In his intoxicated state he misjudged the space around him and accidentally slapped the back of another patrons head sitting at a close by table as he was taking a drink. The poor man choked on his alcohol and spilled much of it across the front of his shirt. He pushed his chair back, swearing as he tried to clean up the mess while his companions chuckled at his expense. Amos laughed quietly too, but stumbled to his feet trying to apologize and help clean up. A barmaid quickly came by with a rag to help them. Amos saw a different barmaid passing by and reached out to snatch a brimming mug of the brew off her tray. The sudden shift in weight nearly made her lose control of it and spill the other cups, but she managed to maintain control and moved on. "Here, let me get you this to make up for it." Amos insisted, trying to push the cup in front of the still swearing man.

"No, it's fine." He said through gritted teeth.

"I insist!" Amos pushed, stepping forwards to put the full cup right under the mans nose. He tripped over something and accidentally splashed nearly half the tankard onto one of the mans friends, who was much drunker and less accommodating.

"What is wrong with you?" He shouted, snatching the cup from Amos' hand and upending the rest of the tankard into the older mans face. Amos laughed giddily, slowly wiping alcohol out of his eyes and beard. Jerome saw the inevitable before it happened, but was too slow to stop what came next. Without warning Amos snapped. His fist flew forwards and caught the second man square in the face.

"DON'T WASTE BOOZE!" He bellowed, veins pulsing on his forehead. The man flopped to the floor moaning, cupping his broken nose. Immediately everyone nearby had their eyes on Amos in stunned silence. Then pandemonium broke out. The first man recovered almost immediately and pushed Amos backwards. He stumbled backwards and fell onto his own table, knocking over his cups. Jerome immediately tried to pin Amos down as two others from the table stood to defend their fallen friend. The bystanders nearby created space and looked on. "I was trying to be nice." Amos mumbled to himself as he tried to push Jerome's arms away. "But if you want a fight, then you've got one!" He shouted in a fit of rage.

"Amos, you started it." Jerome said, struggling to subdue the older man.

"No!" He protested. "I'm drunk, it was an accident. He did it on purpose." He pointed an accusing finger at the bleeding man. His friends were coming around the table, and if it weren't for Amos' flailing legs they would have already delivered their own blows to him.

"Exactly, you're drunk, let it go!" Jerome pleaded as he struggled to keep Amos from making the situation worse. He could see the bouncers moving in from the corner of the room.

"NO!" Amos shouted again, throwing Jerome off for good. He dove headlong at the nearest man and they both went down where they began wrestling in a pitiable display of drunken rage. The mans friends tried to help him beat down the crazed man, but could do little except acquire several bruises each from the wildly swinging limbs. The bouncers arrived and pulled the two men away while Jerome was able to get ahold of Amos again. He put the man in a choke hold, and after several seconds his protesting stopped and he fell unconscious. The crowed cheered and laughed, but quickly went back to their drinking. Jerome apologized to the bouncers and was able to convince them not to kick anyone out for the fight. The men left of their own volition, helping the first man tend to his recently broken nose. Jerome dragged Amos to a remote corner of the bar, occasionally getting patted on the back or joked at for his part in the fight. He propped Amos down into a chair and slumped into his own. He sat there for a while, just waiting for the bar to calm down and forget about the fight before he ordered some food. Thanks to Amos' outburst, everyone was aware of his presence. Even if they hadn't been, when the food came out it was hard no to notice. Two barmaids brought out enough food to feed three full grown men, and Jerome quickly dug in. He knew people were staring but he didn't care. The platters were piled with two loaves of bread, a huge mound of spiced pork covered in a creamy sauce and a load of other items. He ate at a respectable pace, maintaining etiquette and cleanliness. The shocking factor was that a 20 year old man of average height and weight could eat so much. He hated pegging himself so clearly as a mage, but it couldn't be helped. He was hungry. The man he and Amos had been waiting for arrived about halfway through his meal.