Crossroads
On came the pig-faced monster only to be shoulder slammed by Ezekiel, knocking the orc to the ground. Despite the fact that a man just laid low one of their own, the orcs came charging on anyway, screaming and whooping as they barreled down the hillside on the three companions. They had come charging at the travelers, thinking to overrun them with their large numbers. A good enough plan, but these were not ordinary travelers!
An arrow found the next orc, blasting it square in the face and sending it tumbling to the ground, only to be trampled by its excited kin. Ezekiel turned to give an appreciative nod towards Kara, who returned the nod and continued laying waste to the oncoming orcs with her never-ending arrows.
Vines and weeds suddenly began to sprout from the ground as Ezekiel extended his gauntlet, entrapping many of the beasts. That gave the rogue Faux plenty of time to slice more than one throat.
In no time, the group of orcs was depleted to only a few, who scrambled back to the woods.
“Good work. We make quite the team.” Kara congratulated the other two as she rode up beside them with Schiroi. “A fine choice in a companion.” She added, directing it to Faux, who stood there at ease, his arms crossed over his chest easily. He glanced up to regard the paladin, a grin finding his face.
“Well of course. Only a fool would miss the greatness that is Force of Nature!” Faux responded, patting Ezekiel on the shoulder.
The big man grimaced at the reminder of one of his many titles he had earned over the years of his adventures. Too many. “It was nothing. Any man with any skill would have done the same as me.” Ezekiel didn’t change his expression as he regarded the dead orcs around him.
“Perhaps…but none would have done it so magnificently.” Kara said with a warm smile. “But this is no time for idle talk, we are almost to Tolley.”
Tolley, a large trading center rivaled only by Notpyrk, was the place to go for information. The only thing notable about the city, other than its size, was the beautiful flags that flapped in the wind at the top of the four guard towers of its walls. Those walls were the saving grace for the people of Tolley, for they fended off countless attacks from orc tribes that live in the area. It brought a smile to Kara to think that they had just stopped one of those tribes from making a charge on the formidable city. The army alone could defeat the orcs, but not without losing a few of their own men. Few indeed, for the soldiers of Tolley were valiant men and women who specialized with the use of halberds. How famous they had become for their glorious display of dance with those otherwise brutal weapons! Faux intended to see some of that show for himself, somehow. Ezekiel, of course, had seen it all before. He was more intent on checking out the local taverns.
“She has a point, let us hurry.” Ezekiel said, resting his scythe over one of his sturdy shoulders.
The three hurried off to the city, all with separate intentions, but with the same final cause.
**********
Thalys walked through the southern gate of Tolley in the early afternoon. He had heard from a caravan of merchants that if he was looking for information, he’d have a good chance getting it at the Great Library of Tolley. So here he was in the grand trading center, the flags flying above. The problem was, he had no idea where the Great Library was!
With a sigh, the nobleman gave a slight shrug and continued walking down the bustled main streets. “You’d think it would be easier to find a library if it is so great…” He mumbled to himself as he looked around. All of a sudden, he spotted it. Down one main street, a large building sat, a single tower going up from the side, but not peaking above the large buildings. He spun around and quickly headed to his destination.
**********
Faux and Ezekiel separated from Kara near the center of Tolley, the two old friends heading to a nearby tavern as the paladin continued her search for the Great Library and the desired information within.
As soon as Faux entered the tavern, named “Bloody Tip”, he knew the name fit well. As if on cue, almost every single person within looked up to regard the two, many of the larger men giving cold glares to Ezekiel, as if challenging him. Faux shook off a bit of uneasiness he had and pulled up a chair at the only vacant table. Ezekiel took a seat likewise. The two were immediately greeted by a burly man, much larger than Ezekiel, and certainly much hairier. The burly man spat on the table and gave a grin of missing teeth.
“The two of ye comin’ in har and takin’ me table, eh?” He asked in gruff tone, slamming his club on the top of the table, which groaned in protest the weight of the weapon.
“Please, we mean no quarrel with…” Faux began to respond, but Ezekiel quieted him with an upraised hand.
“Don’t start with us, or I’ll carve your bones into a necklace for my friend here to wear.” The wise adept said defiantly, motioning to the fishbone necklace around Faux’s neck.
The statement meant nothing to the burly man, but the fact that anyone was brave enough to act defiantly towards him sure did. With a low growl, he slammed his free hand on the table, causing the already taxed supporter legs to collapse. Faux intentionally fell back out of his chair to avoid the falling table. Ezekiel, however, was on his feet before the table gave in, his cold, one-eyed stare directed at the burly man.