"-={ FB: The Shadow Chronicles }=- --=C1=--" by B. D. Measor

Shadow

By: Bret D. Measor

The sky started to fade to black and slowly the lights of the stars turned on, and the spotlight of the moon hung over the bustling tavern with people from all over the world.  People who left the tavern made their way to the inn where they would sleep off their drunkenness and wake up with no money in their pockets.  Inside the tavern the dwarfs from the western mountains where sitting at their table with tons of half drunken or spilt cups and Dwarven ale around them, one dwarf was past out on the table, his face rested nicely in his food.  The rest of them where spouting off their Dwarven war songs but no one could really translate drunken dwarven talk, and no one dared to stop them. 

Near the fireplace was an old man dressed in black robes and a little hat, he wore a goatee and his hair was short white, the hat covered his ears but I could tell he was a half-elf.  He had a big crowd around him listening to the tale of a warrior and bard who slain a giant wyvern for the Dwarven jewel.  Janis the bartender was busy making drinks and ordering his barmaids around, and in the back the cook was lagging behind with the orders.  You could see the stress on his face since his little tavern has never had so many guests before. 

I sat in the corner where the shadows could hide me from anyone who was looking for me.  I was dressed in my black shadow gear that I killed for; even an elder elf could not see me in the dark.  The firelight glistened off of my face and my piercing eyes saw everyone and everything they did.  I like to watch people, its what I do; you can learn a lot from just watching people.  Then the door busted open and entered one mino (minotaurs) and a human the size of the mino, I haven’t seen any human that big before.  He is even bigger then most barbarians maybe he is half-giant, or just lucky.  The minotaur comes from the western desert but they travel together and I could smell them from here, and they smelt like a fight.

There was a group of elves sitting at the bar on the far left; there was only three of them and well geared also.  The mino and human sat down at the bar taking up some space with there enormous battle axes and bodies.  They ordered their drink and started to talk in common tongue, the elves at the end of the table got up and made there way towards the two.  I sat there and watched closely as the elves stood right behind the two, this wasn’t going to be good, my own hand instinctively made its way to his home on the handle of my blade.

“What is that smell?” said the leader of the elves, the rest held there noise.  The two giant’s turned around slowly and looked at each other.

“Ox, I think he is talking to you?” The human pointed at him.

“Nah, I think he is talking to you Marv!” Ox pointed back.

“I am talking to both of you.” The elf spouted again.

“Would you care to take this out side guys, I just bought new chairs and tables.” Said Janis with a worried look on his face.

“Marv, can you open the door for me while I toss out the trash.” Ox nudges his head to the door.

“Sounds good.” Marv gets up and starts to walk towards the door but the three elves went flying past him before he could get there.

“Here is five gold pieces for a new door Janis.” Marv tosses him the coins and runs outside. Where Ox is starting to fight them.

Ox draws his giant axe and swings it over top of his head and brings the blade crashing down to the earth splitting it open.

“Are you three sure I still smell.”

“I don’t like your kind anyways.” Said the leader.

“Bring it.”

The leader ran in with his sword in front of him, Ox pulled his axe from the ground and waited for the rush, a small crowd started to form around them.  Marv was taking bets on who would be the winner.  Ox dug his hooves in the ground and spins off of the rush; the leader fell to the ground headfirst.  The crowd cheered, while others booed.  The leaders right hand man jumped on Ox’s back, Ox dropped his axe and grabbed the elf by the arms squeezing them really hard he flipped the elf into the sky and guided him down on to his knee, breaking his back upon contact.  The elf slid off of Ox’s knee and started to convulse, the other elf stood there and started to cast a spell.  The elves body started to glow and his hand turned into fire, with the final chant the elf shot out a fireball towards Ox.  Ox moved out of the way and burnt a little of his hair, as the leader was just getting up he was greeted with a fireball to the body.  He started to run around in flames, the wizard started to cast again but Ox ran at him with his horns impaling the elf on them, with a flick of the head he tossed the wizard into the flaming elf so they could burn together.

The crowd disperses and Marv collects his money, as Ox is picking up his weapon Marv comes over and pats him on the shoulder.

“Good show Ox, you smoked those guys.”

“I know, but you could have gotten that wizard.”
”haha! Right, and not make any money off of you.  The odds where three to one, we made a killing.” Flashes the money in his face.

“Well we better get out of here before anyone else comes, besides the boat is leaving soon.” Ox puts on his cloak and hides his axe under it; Marv follows and stashes the coins away in his purse.

I stood on the roof while all this was going on, it was a great fight but I know I could take him.  I watched around and everything was calm, the boat raised its sails and was ready to leave, I myself was ready to leave this town and make my way to Huntington, but the road is long, I will just have to dance through the shadows tonight till I get there.