Harlea stepped inside and closed the door. The dining room was nothing special but it didn’t need to be for the food to be wholesome and the ale to be sweet. The people all had a sour look on their faces but he didn’t really give two shits about any one of them anyway.

“Oh wow, it’s busy.” Elayne commented next to him, “What town was this again?”

“Oft, I couldn’t tell you. And I am not asking Areli again.” Harlea stepped up to the front and grabbed Areli by the shoulder, “Let’s get ourselves something to eat, shall we?”

“Hello. Four of you?” A healthy looking maid stepped up to them holding them in a stern glare and wiping her hands with a cloth. She had a nice looking haircut with half of her hair buzzed and the other half down to her shoulders. She looked like she was more cosmopolitan than Harlea would have guessed, with nice looking clothes under her apron and several colourful rings on her hands. She stared at him and had an air of disdain as she stood blocking their way in.

“Uh, yes. The four of us. We were looking for a table and some food.” Harlea held up four of his fingers to help and hovered impatiently. 

The maid pursed her lips thoughtfully, “The table by the window. I will get you four stews. And you will have four ales?”

Harlea shuffled further into the tavern and peaked around the maid to the table she pointed to. It was generous to call it by a window. The table sat in the back corner of the room with only the very edge peaking out from the back of the booths that sat along the long windows. The table was just big enough to sit three chairs. Harlea sucked in a breath and checked to see if the others cared before he responded, “Sounds great.”

“A silver each then.” The maid held out her hand and watched him impertently.

Harlea sighed and reached into his coin purse to produce four silver. He dropped them into her hand and led the way to the table, “Very well then.”

The booths were packed considering the time of the day. Only just after lunch and there were several groups of people well on their way to being drunk. 

Harlea tried to get any of their attention but they purposely paid him little mind. At the final empty table before their table, Harlea picked up a spare chair. 

He let the others past and dragged the seat around to the back of the table. He posted up next to Areli who had chosen the corner seat and sat down heavily. 

He leant back in the chair and gave a half-hearted smile to Elayne, “Not sure if we will get that bed, Elayne.”

Elayne wrinkled her nose, “Maybe they’ll warm up though? A bit of coin can open up doors sometimes.”

“Doubtful.” Areli muttered, his mood returning to dark and ominous now he was back in civilisation.

Areli wore a long cloak most of the time that hid all sorts of blades and weaponry. It was rare that he wouldn’t carry some form of weaponry around with him and Harlea was sure he had something on him in a tavern like this. 

He was rarely relaxed and certainly never carefree but it was what made him iconic in Harlea’s mind. He was their eyes and ears when they were on contract, sharp as a tack, and always consistent. Harlea hadn’t expected Areli to stay when everyone had started leaving the Red Damnables but he had surprised him. When Harlea had broached the topic with him one night, Areli had told him that he was an idiot for thinking he’d leave them in the lurch. 

“We can always head on out towards Garrond Cross.” Harlea raised preemptively, “If we hustle and get there earlier, we can rest up for a night before we get started potentially.”

A general hum worked its way around each of his crew at the table. A man brought drinks to them and gave Harlea a stern look before he wandered off back to the bar. Around them, the room was still bustling with patrons, chatter, and a general sense of levity but Harlea couldn’t shake the feeling they were being watched closely.

Fiona raised her cup to the middle of the table, “To another contract. Our fourth one this month.”

Harlea joined her to take a swig of ale from his own drink, “Yesterday was more of a side quest, I’d say. But three contracts is still pretty good.”

He got the reaction he was looking for. All three of them scoffed at him and complained in unison. 

Harlea kept drinking to take a longer draught of his ale and let the others run out of steam. He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and continued, “Eh, differing opinions then. But it was some good coin and Garrond’s Cross will be another bag. Makes it easier to breathe when we’re home.”

“As soon as I get back, I am getting myself some new armour. Finally.” Elayne shared eagerly, “Mine is starting to smell.”

Harlea gave a hearty hum in agreement, he should buy new boots for the same reason but there was no way he wasn’t going to put his down payment on his new axes with Nicolas if he had the coin. That was if he could resupply his gear and get a good deal for his mending.

Fiona gave Elayne a curious look, “If it stinks, give it a wash out in the river, no?”

Elayne scratched her head and shook her hand out in front of her, “Kind of. But it is old and worn and a bit shit now. I think it is time for a new one. And I got the coin now; I saved up quicker than I thought.”

“We’ve been busier than usual.” Areli noted again while he glared at the room around them.

“Busier definitely. But it’ll slow down at some point.” Harlea followed Areli’s eyes. It wasn’t unusual for people to watch them in taverns but Harlea was used to more hospitality. The Red Damnables got a bit more love in the Valleys, he supposed.

Such a difference a neighbouring province could make. The name Red Damnables didn’t go far in the highlands. Harlea and his crew were like all the rest of the adventuring groups in Nohlan hills. 

Harlea took another sip and resigned himself to the fact that it was only going to be a brief visit in town. And no physician yet again. Only one person looked even happy to see them, with the maid giving him a wave as she headed out the front door. Harlea waved back and appreciated the friendly face.

“When we’ve got time, I would love to head into the Valleys for some dungeon diving. Maybe go and visit the Ancients.” Harlea proposed to the group. 

Elayne took the bait and leant onto the table, “Could we head to Light’s Cross?”

Fiona sucked in a breath, “Mmm, ghosts, I don’t know.”

“Could be a bit of fun though,” Harlea played with the idea in his head for a moment, “And it won’t be so cold on the coast by then.”

“Could do some of the Central Mountain ruins as well. Come back to enjoy the northerners’ famous hospitality.” Fiona pointed to the bar with her cup to the barman bringing over two of their meals. 

Harlea rotated in his chair and held out his hands. The bowls were deep and steam rose up from the deep brown liquid broth. Harlea's mouth started salivating at the sight and to his disappointment, the man walked to the other side of the table to place the stew in front of Elayne and Fiona. He gave Harlea a look and grumbled, “That’ll be four silver.” 

Harlea was taken aback and gave a look across at Fiona. She furrowed her eyebrows and then so did Harlea, “It is four silver. Or it was four silver.”

The man stood back up and kept hold of one of his stews above them, “It’ll be four silver at the front. And you’ll see no more bowls until you pay if you’re gonna be difficult.”

Harlea stared at the man blankly. He watched the stew hovering just out of his reach and frowned at the injustice of it all. Harlea responded sullenly, “We already paid your maid before. She was just up the front…” 

The man looked back at him, clearly unimpressed. He kept the stew far away from Harlea and said nothing. 

Harlea frowned as he remembered her giving him a final wave goodbye as she fled, “She told you our orders though.”

“I don’t have time to deal with you people.” The man snatched the bowl from Elayne and stepped away from the table, “Get out.”

“What?” Elayne reacted and tried to grab her bowl back, “You can’t be serious!”

“Elayne, wait.” Harlea began as he watched several large men stand up from a nearby booth. He turned to the barkeep and tried to force a friendly smile, “See, we already paid, man.”

“Get. Out.” The man pointed to the door fuming, “You outsiders come in here and act like proper shits. Get the fuck out of town if you know what’s good for you.”

The threat incited a flickering heat that stirred in Harlea’s chest. He felt it burn and ignite inside of himself, tempting him to take the bait. The men came up to stand by the barkeep, looking as intimidating as villagers could be.

Harlea ignored his fingers itching for his axe and responded through gritted teeth, “I was just saying we did pay. The woman told us to sit and she’d get us food and drink.”

The barkeep laughed bitterly, “You must think we are some easy Gods’-be-damned mark if you’re pulling this bullshit. Just take the fucking drink as a mercy and get out of my sight. You disgusting scalefuckers.”

Harlea slammed his hand on the table. He grabbed the hilt of his axe and took a step towards the barkeep but stopped when he saw the fear in the whites of the small man’s eyes. 

Areli grabbed his arm and spoke quietly next to him, “Leave it Harlea. Come on.”

Harlea choked down his rage and focussed on his breathing like Fiona taught him. He stood up and tapped his axe back down into its holster. The men stayed in front of them and Harlea met the barman face to face, “Well then, are you going to get the fuck out of my face then?” 

The barman grunted and stepped to the side. Harlea raised his hand to signal the others. Elayne pushed past him, then Fiona, and then Areli and they made off towards the door. Harlea waited until Areli was well past before he barged through the barman and the group of men. He grabbed the chair he’d taken from the table and dragged it along the ground as he moved in the small gap between all of the men. The barman hovered in the centre and Harlea shouldered through to get past him with the chair and felt the stew bowls flip up and tip onto the barman’s shirt. He sneered as he heard the man mutter darkly next to him before Harlea left the chair in the middle of the walkway behind him for good measure. 

No one moved after him and he walked out of the door to join the others. He shut the door firmly behind himself and took the lead again. No one said a word until they moved out to the fenceline again.

“To the bottom hell with this town.” Harlea muttered angrily while they walked, “Nohlanfolk, bunch of assholes.”

“Did you hear them? Scalefuckers? I thought you were going to put him in the grave then and there, Har.” Elayne came up next to him and spoke with hushed excitement.

Harlea let out a barking laugh, “His grave and then ours. It was the right call, Areli.” 

Areli walked quietly next to him and let out an affirming grumble. He spat on the ground, “Fucking inbreds.”

They walked back to the bridge in silence. Harlea could feel his heart beating in his ears, the anger still running like fire through his veins. Every fibre of his being wanted to go back and kick down the door and make a scene. If he did, there was a very high chance he’d get their heads kicked in but knowing that didn’t particularly dull his bloodlust.

“We’ll head out and see if we can’t find something to catch on the road. We could settle in early and go for a fish.” Fiona suggested next to him.

“I want the stew, Fiona. It’s bullshit.” Harlea grumbled back, lip snarling at the idea of the little barman standing there, bowl in hand.

“It looked pretty great.” Elayne hip and shouldered him, “When we get back, stew is on me, all the stew a silver coin can buy.”

Harlea put his arm around her shoulder and walked them both to the obelisk that signified the edge of town. Harlea gave one final look back as good riddance. 

His one final look back came with a shock. Leaving the tavern was the same group of five men who had joined the barman in the tavern and they were now storming in his direction. 

Harlea gently rolled Elayne’s arm off of him and turned to face them. They were stout looking lads with swords at their hips but they were dead wrong thinking they could come out of the tavern to catch them outside. Clad in nothing but simple armour and foolish arrogance, they walked up confidently to meet him.

Harlea opened his arms out towards them, “Well, I’m glad to see you mouth breathers are so fucking stupid to follow us.” 

None of them had bows or slings and they hadn’t touched their weapons. With any luck, it would be a good old fashioned fist fight. 

Harlea didn’t look back to the others and moved back towards the group. There were eight of them, fairly solid if not thick and overfed. With no guards or House officials, they were probably the five cockiest farmers around. And whatever mayor they had in Farfall had given them swords.

“You didn’t pay for your drinks. And we think you owe an apology to our friend, Maxime.” the one at the front called over.

Harlea smiled wide and felt a wave of exhilaration watching him come forward, “Oh well then, I’ll come on over, shall I?”

“Harlea…” Fiona called from several paces behind.

Harlea looked back eagerly and shrugged energetically, “It’s fine. He just wants us to apologise.” He let out another lilting laugh at the idea of it, “ And I love a chat.”

“Daelos’ Assflaps, unbelievable.” Areli muttered as he quickly stepped up to Harlea’s side. 

Harlea put his hand up to touch Areli’s arm and whispered, “Let’s avoid killing any if we can avoid it.”

“Fine.” Areli responded curtly and Harlea felt Areli put his dagger back under his cloak. He let Harlea go first and Harlea eagerly rushed towards the men. 

There was only five metres between him and the villagers. The front man stood with his hands on his hips with his chest puffed out. One of his friends said something that Harlea missed but they shared a booming laughter amongst themselves while Harlea closed the gap.

“You owe them four silver but I would hazard to say tipping a few extra coins would go down a treat if you wanted to come back to Farfall anytime soon.” The man began casually but stopped as Harlea stepped right to get in his face.

Harlea wasted no time, the thrill of the fight urging him to punch the big man right in the face. Harlea could almost smell the fear and relished the tension hovering in the centimetres between him and the frontman, “I want to punch you right in the face, big man.”

Harlea could see the man’s punch coming from a mile away. The man tried to step back and throw a right hook in a wide arc aimed at Harlea’s jaw. 

Harlea followed within the man’s reach to stay close so he could meet the man’s arm swing at his elbow. His fist swung useless around him to slap impotently on Harlea’s back before hanging on his shoulder. 

Harlea’s leg shifted between the man and he kneed him hard in the groin. The man crumpled down and Harlea met him with his shoulder and rammed his shoulder hard into his chin.

He heard the man’s teeth chatter from the impact and Harlea caught him before he could fall. He clasped both hands on the man’s shoulders and then headbutted him square in the face. The man’s head whipped back hung limply as tried to process what had happened. Before he could recuperate, Harlea shoved him backwards to collapse into his two friends.

Harlea moved to the right of the three of them and engaged a lankier boy to the side of them. He had long arms and a shitty looking dagger. He also had a look of confusion that meant he’d not be seeing Harlea coming.  

Harlea gut punched him hard and stepped in past the boy’s effective range. The lanky idiot folded over Harlea’s right hand and Harlea grabbed him by the back of the shirt. He forced him back quickly and then dragged him forward for his nose to meet his knee with a satisfying crunch. The boy’s head rocked back up and his arms swung madly around him. Harlea kept a fistful of his shirt and flung him in a half circle to join the first man and his two buddies who were still trying to untangle.

The lanky man’s hand tried to grip Harlea’s while he twisted and spun. He failed to get any purchase and slammed into the legs of his friends and bowled them over properly. The four of them crashed into the dirt and Harlea ducked back to get space from them and greet whoever stepped up to him next. 

Areli and Fiona had joined Harlea in the fray and had engaged with several of the others. One man broke out and moved in to catch Harlea. He was the sturdiest looking of the lot but Harlea hadn’t been overly impressed so far. 

Harlea took another step back and beckoned the man forwards gleefully. He watched the four men scramble to pick themselves back up and Harlea tried to figure out a way to throw this large gentleman into the pack of idiots. 

Then, the big man punched Harlea square in the nose. Harlea’s head whipped back and he stumbled back a few steps. Harlea threw out a wild jab in the man’s general direction and continued to get some space. He blinked impotently at the black spots that clouded his vision and made out the shape of the man coming in again. 

Harlea went to swing at him again but was instead pulled further back and a large form stepped in front of him. Elayne’s fuzzy outline intercepted the man, caught his fist, and punched him right in the face with a sickening crunch. 

Areli was on the other side of Harlea, fighting two men at the same time and he still managed to shift Harlea to the back of the group with a deft flick of his tail. 

Harlea stumbled back and covered his nose. Blood had immediately begun to piss out of his nostrils and his eyes watered almost immediately. 

Elayne had dropped the large man before Harlea could join in again. He looked over to Areli and looked for an opportunity to jump in and help.

Areli punched one of the men in the throat and spun on one leg to catch the other with the heel of his foot. The first man stopped in his tracks, clutching at his throat and the other man crumpled to the ground limply. 

Harlea moved through the fight to approach the four men that were still getting up, eager to get to them before any of his friends. He let out a roar and lifted his hands above his head, “Come on, then! Doesn’t Maxine want that fucking apology?”

The two men in the back faltered and bolted. The lead man came back to try Harlea again while the lanky boy just simply froze in place.

Harlea charged eagerly towards the front man again and slipped past two wild swings. Harlea used the momentum and ran headlong into the man’s chest. Harlea could feel the man try to brace for the impact but it did very little to stop Harlea from madly crashing into him and grabbing the man’s left arm as it flailed.

Harlea had an image in his mind of him flipping the man over his back and he was eager to give it a try. It was ridiculous and it was stupid but he didn’t live his life to be intelligent. He lived for dumb shit like this. 

He moved fast and ducked under the man’s armpit. The man panicked and tried to knee Harlea in the face with his knee. Harlea blocked it with his arm and propped his elbow on the man’s thigh so he wouldn’t try again. The man hopped backwards and Harlea surged up from the base of his feet to lift the man with as much force as he could muster.

The man flew up and over Harlea’s back. Harlea relished in how glorious it was. 

Harlea made a guess at the direction the man’s friends would be and tossed him, praying that he would be able to lob him into one of them. 

He swung around and watched in delight as the man sailed upside down and fell into the back of his friend. The other man was midway through standing up to have another run at Areli. 

Areli had spotted Harlea picking the man up and backed off several steps to watch him, unimpressed. 

The other man toppled over as his friend hit him right in the back, “Alix! Shit.” 

“Run, little man!” Harlea taunted them and wiped the blood from his nose. All but one of the other men had fallen back to the tavern and abandoned the two men next to Harlea. One of them remained next to Elayne but he was on the ground with Elayne standing over him. 

Harlea sighed and put his hands on his hips. He had really wanted to punch the first man in the face but he could feel the fight winding down already, whether he liked it or not.

“For shame, boys!” Harlea called out to the five men who stood ten metres away, “I was planning on beating you all black and fucking blue.”

“Harlea.” Fiona stated firmly behind him.

Harlea stood above the two men at his feet, both hardly older than twenty. He gave them some space and they scrambled back away from him on their hands and knees. 

He kicked a cloud of dust at them but let them get away, “Scram!”

The last of the eight lay face down with Elayne squatting over him. She had the back of her hand hovering over his mouth. She turned back to them non-plussed, “He’s fine, just passed out, poor kid.”

A crowd of interested villagers had started to form around the tavern and other buildings behind the group of battered young men. Harlea couldn’t see any of the other villagers coming to the men’s aid yet but they weren’t going to be winning any friends by hanging about.

“We had better go.” Harlea said quietly between them. 

“Yeah, I think our welcome has been worn out.” Elayne agreed and left the unconscious man on the side of the road to join Harlea and the rest of them.

Areli went first, moving down the road without a look back at Farfall. Harlea let Elayne and Fiona go next and took up the back of the pack. After they left, Harlea could see the men tentatively joined their unconscious friend to check on him.

“I think they’re letting us head out.” Harlea caught up with Fiona and Elayne and matched their speed.

“We’re always making friends wherever we go.” Fiona muttered darkly under her breath as she made space for him next to her.