Chapter Three:

The inn's atmosphere was boisterous, full of laughter, singing, and merry-making. Even though it was early hours in the morning, not a single person cared. If you were patron at the angry horse, then you would know you can sleep when you're dead.

'So this idiot decided to charge straight at the damn creature, nicks his sword on the cave wall, gets pushed back by the beast... And falls into a drake vipers nest.' Dhan exclaims. He was recanting our most recent mission to a small group of regulars we had met while staying at the inn.

'Weird how you chose not to mention got up smashed in the beast skull with my shield the dashed the snakes head against the wall of the cave.' I replied 

'What the snake that bit you on the bum?' He yelled. He was now swinging his mug back and forth in exaggeration, doing his best to keep the ale out of it and on the bar's floor. 'After that, he throws his only weapon at a fire witch!' His infectious laughter caused even the innkeeper to join in. 

'At least I was doing something. What were you doing? Hiding in a tree again; are you part elf or something? I shouted back 

'Awww, looks like someone's feeling sorry for themself.' He jested to cheers and laughter again. He had the crowd with him now, and there was no winning.

Jasper was leaning against the bar on the other side of the room.

'I want a hammer or maybe an axe.' I said as I joined him at the bar. 

'What do you want one of those for? If you're getting a sword stuck, you definitely can't swing an axe.' He said with a snigger 

'I could have a shortsword for close combat.' I said back sharply. 'why are you always leaning on things? Do your legs not work properly?

Jasper was probably at ease pretty much everywhere. He was better than everyone else at most things. He had earned him the right to.

He wore black breeches with a brown overcoat that came down to his waist. He never did it up, letting all see part of his chest as again he never did his white tunic up all the way. It's as if he was inviting the world to come at him and see who was faster, him and his rapier or you.

His face was rugged but handsome, and his hair always seemed to be perfectly cut into a quiff. The only blemish to him was a small scar on his left cheek. I had asked him before about it, and he said, 'I did it to myself; women don't tend to like men who are prettier than themselves.' That smelt more like bullshit than his bar, and half of the patrons in here are stable hands.

I'm not sure what time we passed out, but I was woken by the sound of a young boy running into the inn. 

'Isaac, Isaac, is there an Isaac in here?' I was propped up on a barstool; my head stuck to the bar by spilt ale. 

'Isaac, Isaac, is there an Isaac in here? I remember. That was the name I had given the guild when I registered.

'Over here I said, lifting my arm into the air but keeping my head on the bar.

'A message for you, sir.'

'Can you read it to me first, then I see if I need to get up?'

'It's a request straight from the governor, sir. It's about your discovery yesterday, apparently. That's all the note says. He requests you urgently. 

I lifted my head and accepted the note. 'Okay, tell him we'll be there, one thing lad, the manner and the sate you found us in. Keep it quiet.' He nodded, and I tossed him a coin. Standing up, I stretched my arms out, cracked my neck then launched a cup at Dhan's head.

I heard him moan. He had heard everything already; he was being lazy. 

As I walked to the door, I saw jasper in the corner; he had the innkeeps daughter for company. I smushed my hand into his face to wake him up.

'Come in, Jasp; it will be your line of work, and I'm sure there'll be enough coin to go around. I walked out into the street; it was still early, but the sun was already streaming down, causing blinding pain. To my right was a trough of water probably intended for the use of mounts, but it was perfect for dunking my head in to wash away the sleep.

A few moments later, Dhan and Jasper had done the same.

'Right, I'll get my new gear from the blacksmith; we'll meet at the guild then go to the governor together.'

Dhan nodded. It was still too early for him to take charge. As we parted, Dhan reminded me, 'no axes.'