19th Bell. 47th, Spring, 515 A.V
It was quite unfortunate that Vequil had to walk behind this interesting pair on his way to the tavern. The two only added to Sunberth's commotion, and Vequil had been looking forward to a day of peaceful rest.
"...As I've said time and again, there are none here but thugs, thieves and beggars. Listen to me for once, Roln. The honor and glory you seek does not exist here!" The man was in his middle years, clad fully in plate. and the size of a bear.
"Hyl, listen. We've sailed here all the way from Zeltiva, months on the ship. Throughout the entire trip you've done nothing, Hyl, nothing but repeat again and again what you've been telling me since the first day. That there'll be no honor in Sunberth, no glory. You know nothing of the honor I speak."The boy was blonde of hair, a fist's height shorter than Vequil himself. He wore velvets, and he walked as if dancing some dance that only people too rich to worry about survival would know.
"What did you just say boy? You're merely seventeen years of age and you say I know nothing? It is for the very honor you speak of that I keep to my oath and serve you!" The man was enraged. Evidently the boy he served did not appreciate his company much. "I swore an oath to your father to protect you from others!" The man said, face reddening with anger.
"My father is dead, and your oath along with him. How many times must I tell you the same thing before you understand you stupid bear?"
"How many times must I tell you the same thing before you understand? Sunberth is not the place for you. The vilest of men roam the streets and you are but a pup with hair just grown."
Roln turned, the anger now evident as well. "Pray tell, what are these lowlifes going to do to me? They dare even touch me I'll slice their hand off. Or have you forgotten who taught me how to kill a man?"
"He taught you to protect yourself, not kill. Killing people here won't save you from anything." Hyl said, coldly.
"It'll save me from whatever you're afraid of." Roln responded.
The boy and the bear grew silent for the rest of the trip, much to Vequil's delight. The boy's ramblings reminded Vequil of someone, long lost from the past. The old had at least a grasp of what Sunberth was. The boy called Roln completely oblivious. He'll learn the hard way, eventually, Vequil thought. He doubted even that would be too hard for the boy. From the clothing and equipment the two wore Vequil could easily infer that they came from a more than privileged background. The boy don silks and velvets, his half-cape hung across his shoulder, draping in elegance. Though only a little more than a year younger than he was, he looked as if he had only just matured. A sword with a leather and silver hilt was sheathed at his waist. Hyl's armor was ornamentally decorated and polished enough to reflect a man's own teeth. Vequil hoped the duo wasn't headed for the Pig's Foot, their presence their could only spell trouble, and the last thing Vequil wanted this day was trouble. He set foot out of his home to enjoy himself for a change, and getting swept into some affair that had nothing to do with him would ruin his mood.
Vequil cursed under his breath as the two turned at the tavern and entered. He thought of switching to some other place, but was too tired to bother. He followed behind and took his usual spot at the bar. The two found an empty table a few feet behind and took their seats. A few of the tavern's patrons raised their mugs at Vequil as he entered, he returned nods to those familiar and asked Merv for his usual drink. Vequil wabted to have a refreshing taste of honey then listen to a few stories, and that was his idea of a relaxing night.
Except, even before his drink had come, the boy rose to his feet and began causing a ruckus. Vequil covered his face in frustration.
"Listen, you lowlifes of this pitiful excuse of a city! I am Roln of the Carins, and you had better remember that name."
"[b]What[b] are you doing sire!" Hyl shouted towards him, at a loss for any other action.
Roln ignored the bear. "My companion has been diligently informing me that any single one of you lowlifes would be able to harm or kill me if you wanted. So I hereby announce that anyone here with the intention to forfeit their miserable life may come and prove their mettle, and I'll gladly grant them the honorable death of being slain."
The tavern was silent for at most a moment before everyone broke into laughter. Some were laughing so hard they were in tears. Vequil shook his head.
"I see you all laugh yet I see none who wish to rise up to my challenge. Are you all lowlifes nothing but cowards?" His taunting seemed to take effect on a few people, now visibly irritated. Vequil nod towards Merv as he received the mug with his drink. Today wasn't a day where he cared.
A man rose and stepped towards the boy. Hyl placed himself in front of the man to block his way, staring down at him.
"It's fine, Hyl. He won't be able to do anything to me anyways." The bear moved to one side and let the man pass. Whoever the man was, he was evidently angered by Roln taking him lightly. He roared and charged the boy before Merv could direct them out of his tavern. Hyl simply watched. The boy unsheated his sword and directed it towards the man's neck where the man's armor failed to cover up his flesh, all in one swift motion. It gained him a few looks of awe from the crowd, and the man could only attempt to stop himself lest he wanted steel to impale his throat like a skewer through chunks of meat.
The man managed to stay just out of the blade's length. Except Roln took a step forward and thrust the tip of his blade towards him.
"Hmm." Roln looked bored as his sword went clean through the man's throat. He slid the sword out of the man and wiped off the blood on his blade with a cloth. Blood sprayed out from the gash in at the man's neck."At least this lowlife is a man. Are all of you others cowards with no manhood?"
Merv shook his head, "Wrong move, kid." It was an unspoken rule that people do not kill in within these establishments. Brawls and fights were accepted, but murder...it crossed the line. An obvious anger rose within the room. The dead man's friends all stood up, stares of scorn focusing on Roln as a few walked out.
"...As I've said time and again, there are none here but thugs, thieves and beggars. Listen to me for once, Roln. The honor and glory you seek does not exist here!" The man was in his middle years, clad fully in plate. and the size of a bear.
"Hyl, listen. We've sailed here all the way from Zeltiva, months on the ship. Throughout the entire trip you've done nothing, Hyl, nothing but repeat again and again what you've been telling me since the first day. That there'll be no honor in Sunberth, no glory. You know nothing of the honor I speak."The boy was blonde of hair, a fist's height shorter than Vequil himself. He wore velvets, and he walked as if dancing some dance that only people too rich to worry about survival would know.
"What did you just say boy? You're merely seventeen years of age and you say I know nothing? It is for the very honor you speak of that I keep to my oath and serve you!" The man was enraged. Evidently the boy he served did not appreciate his company much. "I swore an oath to your father to protect you from others!" The man said, face reddening with anger.
"My father is dead, and your oath along with him. How many times must I tell you the same thing before you understand you stupid bear?"
"How many times must I tell you the same thing before you understand? Sunberth is not the place for you. The vilest of men roam the streets and you are but a pup with hair just grown."
Roln turned, the anger now evident as well. "Pray tell, what are these lowlifes going to do to me? They dare even touch me I'll slice their hand off. Or have you forgotten who taught me how to kill a man?"
"He taught you to protect yourself, not kill. Killing people here won't save you from anything." Hyl said, coldly.
"It'll save me from whatever you're afraid of." Roln responded.
The boy and the bear grew silent for the rest of the trip, much to Vequil's delight. The boy's ramblings reminded Vequil of someone, long lost from the past. The old had at least a grasp of what Sunberth was. The boy called Roln completely oblivious. He'll learn the hard way, eventually, Vequil thought. He doubted even that would be too hard for the boy. From the clothing and equipment the two wore Vequil could easily infer that they came from a more than privileged background. The boy don silks and velvets, his half-cape hung across his shoulder, draping in elegance. Though only a little more than a year younger than he was, he looked as if he had only just matured. A sword with a leather and silver hilt was sheathed at his waist. Hyl's armor was ornamentally decorated and polished enough to reflect a man's own teeth. Vequil hoped the duo wasn't headed for the Pig's Foot, their presence their could only spell trouble, and the last thing Vequil wanted this day was trouble. He set foot out of his home to enjoy himself for a change, and getting swept into some affair that had nothing to do with him would ruin his mood.
Vequil cursed under his breath as the two turned at the tavern and entered. He thought of switching to some other place, but was too tired to bother. He followed behind and took his usual spot at the bar. The two found an empty table a few feet behind and took their seats. A few of the tavern's patrons raised their mugs at Vequil as he entered, he returned nods to those familiar and asked Merv for his usual drink. Vequil wabted to have a refreshing taste of honey then listen to a few stories, and that was his idea of a relaxing night.
Except, even before his drink had come, the boy rose to his feet and began causing a ruckus. Vequil covered his face in frustration.
"Listen, you lowlifes of this pitiful excuse of a city! I am Roln of the Carins, and you had better remember that name."
"[b]What[b] are you doing sire!" Hyl shouted towards him, at a loss for any other action.
Roln ignored the bear. "My companion has been diligently informing me that any single one of you lowlifes would be able to harm or kill me if you wanted. So I hereby announce that anyone here with the intention to forfeit their miserable life may come and prove their mettle, and I'll gladly grant them the honorable death of being slain."
The tavern was silent for at most a moment before everyone broke into laughter. Some were laughing so hard they were in tears. Vequil shook his head.
"I see you all laugh yet I see none who wish to rise up to my challenge. Are you all lowlifes nothing but cowards?" His taunting seemed to take effect on a few people, now visibly irritated. Vequil nod towards Merv as he received the mug with his drink. Today wasn't a day where he cared.
A man rose and stepped towards the boy. Hyl placed himself in front of the man to block his way, staring down at him.
"It's fine, Hyl. He won't be able to do anything to me anyways." The bear moved to one side and let the man pass. Whoever the man was, he was evidently angered by Roln taking him lightly. He roared and charged the boy before Merv could direct them out of his tavern. Hyl simply watched. The boy unsheated his sword and directed it towards the man's neck where the man's armor failed to cover up his flesh, all in one swift motion. It gained him a few looks of awe from the crowd, and the man could only attempt to stop himself lest he wanted steel to impale his throat like a skewer through chunks of meat.
The man managed to stay just out of the blade's length. Except Roln took a step forward and thrust the tip of his blade towards him.
"Hmm." Roln looked bored as his sword went clean through the man's throat. He slid the sword out of the man and wiped off the blood on his blade with a cloth. Blood sprayed out from the gash in at the man's neck."At least this lowlife is a man. Are all of you others cowards with no manhood?"
Merv shook his head, "Wrong move, kid." It was an unspoken rule that people do not kill in within these establishments. Brawls and fights were accepted, but murder...it crossed the line. An obvious anger rose within the room. The dead man's friends all stood up, stares of scorn focusing on Roln as a few walked out.
