Baxter's Mission Part 1
A World of Draconica short story
By Dan Wright
By Dan Wright
Five men sat around a large table, each with five cards that they kept concealed from their opponents. They watched with seemingly vacant expressions as they waited for the next move. Well, except for Arnis; an over-dressed fop of a man whose overly applied foundation did little to contain his smirk. He was yet to master the art of keeping his expressions hidden – but he knew his hand was unbeatable and decided there was little point hiding his joy.
“I’ll raise two hundred,” Arnis said, adding more gold to the already enormous pile. A hushed gasp rose from the onlookers; it was indeed a confident raise. Dragonheart was a favoured game of The Harem Scorpion and Arnis considered himself a champion. There were few that would dare to challenge him, he had even been given a nickname; the Poormaker, given the amount of people he had bankrupted during his time.
“Your move, Uluak.”
Uluak checked his hand; he had two swords, one shield and two dragons. A good hand, but judging by the high raise of Arnis, and his obvious smirk, it was probably not enough to counter. Uluak had already lost too much and his wife would kill him if he lost anymore. And whilst he feared losing, he feared his wife even more!
“I’m out.”
Two more declared themselves out in quick succession. Arnis sneered. He had only one more competitor to eliminate from this game. “Well? What will it be, stranger?”
His opponent took a swing from his mug, the liquid getting stuck in his bushy beard. He had drunk so much that he could barely hold his cards and by just tipping his seat back he looked as though he would fall. He hiccupped loudly and pointed towards Arnis with a glazed grin. “I will take your bet, sir!”
He pushed what he thought was another bag of gold, only to push open air. “Oh, hold on, just a sec. Bey-Bey! Win-Win! Some more gold if you please!”
Bey-Bey and Win-Win, the panda and penguin companions of the drunken soldier, sighed and wandered over. Baxter had been at this for hours and their coffers were running dry. This was why they never took Baxter to a tavern! “You already lost most of our money!” Win-Win pouted. “We won’t have any to buy dinner at this rate.”
“Don’t worry, I’m onto a winner here!” Baxter slurred. “Oh, I mean…” he put his hand to the side of his mouth. “I have such a bad hand here.” And then he winked.
“I think you said the wrong thing out loud,” Bey-Bey groaned.
“I did?” Baxter asked.
“I’m getting bored,” Arnis said, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Either fold or pay up!”
“Please, chaps,” Baxter pleaded, “I’ll pay you back, I promise!”
“That’s what you said about the last four times,” Win-Win snapped.
Baxter’s face drooped, looking like a lost puppy dog. Win-Win just rolled her eyes and dipped into her purse, as did Bey-Bey. “I only have five gold coins left,” Bey-Bey said.
“I got about ten,” Win-Win said.
“That’ll do,” Baxter exclaimed, holding his hand out greedily.
The fluffy companions shook their heads and placed what little coins they had in his palm. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Bey-Bey sighed.
“When have I ever let you down?” Baxter said, smiling. He flicked the coins in the middle of the table.
“That’s it?” Arnis laughed. “That doesn’t even match what I put in!”
“It doesn’t?” Baxter asked.
What a moron this one is, Arnis thought, but, I suppose I can humour him this once. “Very well, I accept your bet. And I raise you.”
He pushed a further three bags of gold towards the middle, the centre of the table creaked like it was about collapse any moment. “Well? If you want to gamble more, you’ll have to put something else in.”
“No problem!” Baxter slurred. “Let me just… oh… Bey-Bey, Win-Win, some more money please!”
“We haven’t got any more money!” Win-Win replied. “You took it all!”
“I did? When?”
“So, I take it that you have nothing to bet with?” Arnis sneered. “Not that it matters, whatever you offer will be irrelevant.”
“I object to that!” Baxter shouted, pointing. “I do not have big ears or a big trunk – oh wait, did you say irrelevant or elephant?”
“Well then, if there will be nothing else,” Arnis said, moving his hands towards the gold, “I’ll just take my winnings-”
“No, no, wait!” Baxter called out, looking around for something to pawn off. He reached for his side, plonking down his beaten-up shield. “Will this do?”
“This hunk of junk?” Arnis laughed. “Well, I suppose I could melt it down and make it into something worthwhile.” He thought of it for a couple of moments. “I’ll accept it – IF you can offer something else as well.”
“Oh, er,” Baxter looked around again. “Oh wait, I know.”
“HEY!”
Baxter threw Bey-Bey and Win-Win onto the table. “How about these two?”
“Baxter! What the blue-bottomed hell are you doing?” Win-Win shouted.
“What would I want with these furry beasts?” Arnis scoffed.
“They make good servants,” Baxter replied. “Plus, they know how to fight. And they make a mean vegetable soup!”
“I swear to Jeova, Baxter!” Win-Win shook the end of her wings as if shaking a fist.
Arnis stroked his chin with two fingers, each one holding so many diamond rings it was a wonder he could even lift his hand up at all. “I suppose I could always have more servants,” he said. “All right, I accept.”
He could barely contain his laughter as he slammed his cards on the table – which was on the brink of collapsing due to the large amount of gold and other objects on it. “Four dragons and one sword!”
Bey-Bey burst into tears. “I don’t want a new master!”
“Well, blame your previous master for being such a poor Dragonheart player!” Arnis sniggered. He reached for the gold once more.
“Hold on, Arnis,” Uluak said, restraining him. “We have to see his hand before you are declared the winner.”
“What does it matter?” Arnis yelled. “No one can beat that!”
“It’s the rules.”
Arnis huffed. “Go on then, what hand do you hold?”
Baxter’s head rested against the table, deep snores causing it to rumble.
“BAXTER!” Win-Win shouted.
“Huh, what?” Baxter groaned, looking up. “Oh sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”
“Just hurry up and show your cards!” Arnis snapped, his fingers twitching. “The table can’t take any more gold!”
“Oh, all right,” Baxter said. “What do we have here?”
Baxter laid his hand out across the table for all to see. He had a sword, a shield, a helmet, a cup and a dragon – in that exact order. “Er, is this any good?”
Everyone on the table gasped. “It’s a straight run!” Bey-Bey exclaimed.
“Son of a monkeybadger actually did it!” Win-Win shouted.
Arnis’s smile dissolved. His hands started shaking in terror as if he had heard his life was at an end. “No, impossible!” he screamed. “You... you can’t possibly have got that hand! You cheated!”
“Sit down, Arnis!” Uluak growled. “You lost fair and square.”
Arnis felt his heart sink into his chest and his hands go cold as he saw Bey-Bey and Win-Win pull the gold (and his shield) towards Baxter. He fell into his arms and wept in defeat as the new crowd cheered for the victor.
“I don’t know how you did it, but I love you!” Bey-Bey said to Baxter, pocking as much of the gold as his purse would allow.
“Why, thank you,” Baxter said, taking as much of the gold in his shield that he could fit. “Now I think we’d better get out of here, whilst I can still stand.”
“Don’t forget our mission,” Bey-Bey reminded him.
The gold was heavier than Baxter anticipated, and his current disposition meant that his arms were somewhat lighter than usual. “Oh dear,” he said, swaying around. “Has anyone… got a… case? Oh dear!”
He tumbled forward, landing face first. Thank goodness he had a bushy beard to contain his fall. He groaned lightly as he looked up. “Bey-Bey, Win-Win, why are you looking taller than usual?”
“You all right there?” Uluak asked. “You need a hand?” He angled his head to one side. “Wait a minute.”
He noticed something white sticking out of the end of Baxter’s glove. Kneeling down, he pulled the glove off Baxter and held it upside down. A string of cards fell from them. “These are… Dragonheart cards!”
“He was holding them in his gloves the whole time!” one of the other Dragonheart players exclaimed.
“He was cheating!” exclaimed another.
Hearing this, Arnis lifting his head from the table and dried his tears.
When Baxter stood up, he found himself surrounded by the very players that he shared a game with moments before. Each of them bared their teeth at him.
“Now, now, chaps,” Baxter said, holding his hands out, “let us not be hasty.”
“If there’s one thing we can’t stand here,” Uluak snarled, punching his palm, “it’s a cheater. Boys, let’s show him what we do to cheaters around here!”
“Look, if I can just have a moment to explain-”
Baxter was silenced by a punch to his gut. “I say, steady on-”
Another struck his face, sending him down. “Not the beard!”
The other patrons took it in turn to beat on Baxter. Win-Win and Bey-Bey stood back, gawping. “Should we help him?” Bey-Bey asked.
“Nah, he can handle this himself,” Win-Win replied, “That’ll teach him!”
The two of them felt giant hands grab them on the back and lift them into the air. Behind them, Arnis stood sniggering. “You two belong to me now!”
“But Baxter won!” Bey-Bey protested, flailing his arms around.
“He cheated!” Arnis reminded them. “So that means I get to keep you both!”
By now, Baxter’s skin had turned a bright red and purple. Arnis couldn’t help but sneer. “Get him up!”
The other patrons of the bar barely paid any attention to this, this was just a usual night for them. The Harem Scorpion was one of Itana’s more notorious drinking establishments, and – to be honest – if a night went by without at least one fight, it was considered a dull evening.
Baxter was held up by two thugs. He seemed dazed and unsure what was going on – whether that was the drink or the head trauma, no one really knew. He smiled with teeth and blood. “Oh look, you have a Bey-Bey and Win-Win as well!”
“It’s us, you idiot!” Win-Win snapped, her feet kicking in the air.
Arnis placed both the fluffy companions by his side, clasping them with one arm in what looked like a one-armed hug – though without any compassion behind it. With his now free hand, he pulled a dagger from his belt. “No one humiliates Arnis Borgna and lives!”
“Arnis,” Uluak protested, “we don’t spill blood in here! We don’t mind the odd scrap, but murder-”
“This fool stole money from us! Last time I checked, it’s perfectly acceptable to kill thieves!”
“I guess.”
Arnis put the knife under Baxter’s chin. “Any last words before I open your throat?”
“Do your worst, Gertrude!” Baxter grunted. “I’ll not bow down to you!”
“He’s gone mad,” one of the thugs.
“OW!” Arnis cried.
The arm holding the fluffy companions unfolded as Bey-Bey bit into it. Bey-Bey and Win-Win fell to the floor and quickly scuffled away, running to hide underneath a table.
“Why you-”
Arnis would have chased after them, had not another hand grabbed his knife arm. He turned and looked, his jaw dropping almost to the floor.
The ‘hand’ that had grabbed his arm was actually from Baxter. Though bloodied, there was still some fight left in him. However, this arm came not from his body – but from his beard! The arm had extended out, holding the fop hard.
“I cannot allow you to harm my fluffy friends!”
“W-w-w-w-what sorcery is this?” Arnis cried.
Baxter stood up. “Now then,” he said, “I think it’s time for me to repay the favour you gentlemen have shown me!”
“He’s a warlock!” one of the patrons yelled.
“We don’t take kindly to your types here!” Uluak growled.
“What are you, racist?” Baxter asked.
“Warlocks – aren’t a race,” Uluak replied, puzzled.
“Just kill him!” Arnis shouted.
“I would really reconsider your options, gentlemen,” Baxter warned, looking a bit more serious than before.
“There’s only one of him and plenty of us!” Arnis told them. “We can take him.”
Baxter’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
With that, several more fists appeared within his beard.
Bey-Bey and Win-Win watched from the safety of their table as patrons went flying across the bar. Tables smashed and drinks were spilled during the fracas. Those that didn’t want to get involved left the bar hurriedly, but those that stayed didn’t escape Baxter’s bearded wrath. The fight was over in a few seconds and, ironically given his stupor, Baxter was the only one standing.
“Well done, chap!” Baxter said, he and his beard gave a fist bump and a thumbs up. “Bey-Bey, Win-Win, I think you can come out now!”
The fluffy companions gingerly stepped out. Bey-Bey lifted his foot with a yelp as something sharp ran through his leg. Lifting it up, he saw that a pin was stuck in it, along with a piece of paper. He pulled the pin out of his foot and then looked at the paper. On the picture it showed a drawing of a quite alluring woman, with long hair and piercing eyes. The text read:
WANTED. Zarracka Dragonkin. Crimes include: Treason, Regicide, Sabotage, Murder, Thievery, Simony, Blasphemy, Public Disturbance, Drunken Disorderly Behaviour… and plenty of other things that Bey-Bey couldn’t be bothered to read.
Save for the last paragraph.
Reward: 500,000 Gold. Dead or alive.
“Wow,” Bey-Bey gasped. “She looks pretty.”
“Pretty nasty,” Win-Win said, looking over his shoulder. “Bey-Bey, stop drooling!”
“I wasn’t!” Bey-Bey complained, rubbing the back of his head after Win-Win smacked him. He folded the paper up and put it in his backpack.
Baxter creaked a few bones back into position, his earlier injuries were starting to heal from before. Not surprising seeing as he healed immensely quickly. “You’ll not get the better of me, Gertrude von Gumbywapper,” he exclaimed, dusting himself down.
Bey-Bey and Win-Win looked at each other and sighed. Even after all this time, they had not the faintest who Gertrude von Gumbywapper was – or if she even existed. It was a name he often dropped, but damned if they knew what it meant.
“Right, companions, onward!” He pointed towards the door.
“Baxter,” Win-Win said, folding her wings. “Aren’t we forgetting something?”
Baxter scratched his head. “Oh, of course, I almost forgot!”
He carefully stepped over the bodies that lay groaning on the floor, heading towards a staircase leading up one level, where they were a row of doors leading to ‘special rooms’ of the tavern. Baxter walked into the only occupied one.
“Hey!” came a voice from one of them, seconds later.
Baxter walked out, carrying a girl over his shoulder. She had dark skin that was typical for an easterner and gave no resistance to Baxter carrying her – in fact, she seemed glad of it. From the room Baxter exited came a man, struggling to pull his trousers back up. “Where do you think you’re taking her?”
“Back to her parents,” Baxter replied.
“I paid good money for that girl-”
Baxter’s beard flared and turned into a fist, it flew towards the man and he spoke no more.
“There, now you have no use for her.”
TO BE CONTINUED
“I’ll raise two hundred,” Arnis said, adding more gold to the already enormous pile. A hushed gasp rose from the onlookers; it was indeed a confident raise. Dragonheart was a favoured game of The Harem Scorpion and Arnis considered himself a champion. There were few that would dare to challenge him, he had even been given a nickname; the Poormaker, given the amount of people he had bankrupted during his time.
“Your move, Uluak.”
Uluak checked his hand; he had two swords, one shield and two dragons. A good hand, but judging by the high raise of Arnis, and his obvious smirk, it was probably not enough to counter. Uluak had already lost too much and his wife would kill him if he lost anymore. And whilst he feared losing, he feared his wife even more!
“I’m out.”
Two more declared themselves out in quick succession. Arnis sneered. He had only one more competitor to eliminate from this game. “Well? What will it be, stranger?”
His opponent took a swing from his mug, the liquid getting stuck in his bushy beard. He had drunk so much that he could barely hold his cards and by just tipping his seat back he looked as though he would fall. He hiccupped loudly and pointed towards Arnis with a glazed grin. “I will take your bet, sir!”
He pushed what he thought was another bag of gold, only to push open air. “Oh, hold on, just a sec. Bey-Bey! Win-Win! Some more gold if you please!”
Bey-Bey and Win-Win, the panda and penguin companions of the drunken soldier, sighed and wandered over. Baxter had been at this for hours and their coffers were running dry. This was why they never took Baxter to a tavern! “You already lost most of our money!” Win-Win pouted. “We won’t have any to buy dinner at this rate.”
“Don’t worry, I’m onto a winner here!” Baxter slurred. “Oh, I mean…” he put his hand to the side of his mouth. “I have such a bad hand here.” And then he winked.
“I think you said the wrong thing out loud,” Bey-Bey groaned.
“I did?” Baxter asked.
“I’m getting bored,” Arnis said, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Either fold or pay up!”
“Please, chaps,” Baxter pleaded, “I’ll pay you back, I promise!”
“That’s what you said about the last four times,” Win-Win snapped.
Baxter’s face drooped, looking like a lost puppy dog. Win-Win just rolled her eyes and dipped into her purse, as did Bey-Bey. “I only have five gold coins left,” Bey-Bey said.
“I got about ten,” Win-Win said.
“That’ll do,” Baxter exclaimed, holding his hand out greedily.
The fluffy companions shook their heads and placed what little coins they had in his palm. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Bey-Bey sighed.
“When have I ever let you down?” Baxter said, smiling. He flicked the coins in the middle of the table.
“That’s it?” Arnis laughed. “That doesn’t even match what I put in!”
“It doesn’t?” Baxter asked.
What a moron this one is, Arnis thought, but, I suppose I can humour him this once. “Very well, I accept your bet. And I raise you.”
He pushed a further three bags of gold towards the middle, the centre of the table creaked like it was about collapse any moment. “Well? If you want to gamble more, you’ll have to put something else in.”
“No problem!” Baxter slurred. “Let me just… oh… Bey-Bey, Win-Win, some more money please!”
“We haven’t got any more money!” Win-Win replied. “You took it all!”
“I did? When?”
“So, I take it that you have nothing to bet with?” Arnis sneered. “Not that it matters, whatever you offer will be irrelevant.”
“I object to that!” Baxter shouted, pointing. “I do not have big ears or a big trunk – oh wait, did you say irrelevant or elephant?”
“Well then, if there will be nothing else,” Arnis said, moving his hands towards the gold, “I’ll just take my winnings-”
“No, no, wait!” Baxter called out, looking around for something to pawn off. He reached for his side, plonking down his beaten-up shield. “Will this do?”
“This hunk of junk?” Arnis laughed. “Well, I suppose I could melt it down and make it into something worthwhile.” He thought of it for a couple of moments. “I’ll accept it – IF you can offer something else as well.”
“Oh, er,” Baxter looked around again. “Oh wait, I know.”
“HEY!”
Baxter threw Bey-Bey and Win-Win onto the table. “How about these two?”
“Baxter! What the blue-bottomed hell are you doing?” Win-Win shouted.
“What would I want with these furry beasts?” Arnis scoffed.
“They make good servants,” Baxter replied. “Plus, they know how to fight. And they make a mean vegetable soup!”
“I swear to Jeova, Baxter!” Win-Win shook the end of her wings as if shaking a fist.
Arnis stroked his chin with two fingers, each one holding so many diamond rings it was a wonder he could even lift his hand up at all. “I suppose I could always have more servants,” he said. “All right, I accept.”
He could barely contain his laughter as he slammed his cards on the table – which was on the brink of collapsing due to the large amount of gold and other objects on it. “Four dragons and one sword!”
Bey-Bey burst into tears. “I don’t want a new master!”
“Well, blame your previous master for being such a poor Dragonheart player!” Arnis sniggered. He reached for the gold once more.
“Hold on, Arnis,” Uluak said, restraining him. “We have to see his hand before you are declared the winner.”
“What does it matter?” Arnis yelled. “No one can beat that!”
“It’s the rules.”
Arnis huffed. “Go on then, what hand do you hold?”
Baxter’s head rested against the table, deep snores causing it to rumble.
“BAXTER!” Win-Win shouted.
“Huh, what?” Baxter groaned, looking up. “Oh sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”
“Just hurry up and show your cards!” Arnis snapped, his fingers twitching. “The table can’t take any more gold!”
“Oh, all right,” Baxter said. “What do we have here?”
Baxter laid his hand out across the table for all to see. He had a sword, a shield, a helmet, a cup and a dragon – in that exact order. “Er, is this any good?”
Everyone on the table gasped. “It’s a straight run!” Bey-Bey exclaimed.
“Son of a monkeybadger actually did it!” Win-Win shouted.
Arnis’s smile dissolved. His hands started shaking in terror as if he had heard his life was at an end. “No, impossible!” he screamed. “You... you can’t possibly have got that hand! You cheated!”
“Sit down, Arnis!” Uluak growled. “You lost fair and square.”
Arnis felt his heart sink into his chest and his hands go cold as he saw Bey-Bey and Win-Win pull the gold (and his shield) towards Baxter. He fell into his arms and wept in defeat as the new crowd cheered for the victor.
“I don’t know how you did it, but I love you!” Bey-Bey said to Baxter, pocking as much of the gold as his purse would allow.
“Why, thank you,” Baxter said, taking as much of the gold in his shield that he could fit. “Now I think we’d better get out of here, whilst I can still stand.”
“Don’t forget our mission,” Bey-Bey reminded him.
The gold was heavier than Baxter anticipated, and his current disposition meant that his arms were somewhat lighter than usual. “Oh dear,” he said, swaying around. “Has anyone… got a… case? Oh dear!”
He tumbled forward, landing face first. Thank goodness he had a bushy beard to contain his fall. He groaned lightly as he looked up. “Bey-Bey, Win-Win, why are you looking taller than usual?”
“You all right there?” Uluak asked. “You need a hand?” He angled his head to one side. “Wait a minute.”
He noticed something white sticking out of the end of Baxter’s glove. Kneeling down, he pulled the glove off Baxter and held it upside down. A string of cards fell from them. “These are… Dragonheart cards!”
“He was holding them in his gloves the whole time!” one of the other Dragonheart players exclaimed.
“He was cheating!” exclaimed another.
Hearing this, Arnis lifting his head from the table and dried his tears.
When Baxter stood up, he found himself surrounded by the very players that he shared a game with moments before. Each of them bared their teeth at him.
“Now, now, chaps,” Baxter said, holding his hands out, “let us not be hasty.”
“If there’s one thing we can’t stand here,” Uluak snarled, punching his palm, “it’s a cheater. Boys, let’s show him what we do to cheaters around here!”
“Look, if I can just have a moment to explain-”
Baxter was silenced by a punch to his gut. “I say, steady on-”
Another struck his face, sending him down. “Not the beard!”
The other patrons took it in turn to beat on Baxter. Win-Win and Bey-Bey stood back, gawping. “Should we help him?” Bey-Bey asked.
“Nah, he can handle this himself,” Win-Win replied, “That’ll teach him!”
The two of them felt giant hands grab them on the back and lift them into the air. Behind them, Arnis stood sniggering. “You two belong to me now!”
“But Baxter won!” Bey-Bey protested, flailing his arms around.
“He cheated!” Arnis reminded them. “So that means I get to keep you both!”
By now, Baxter’s skin had turned a bright red and purple. Arnis couldn’t help but sneer. “Get him up!”
The other patrons of the bar barely paid any attention to this, this was just a usual night for them. The Harem Scorpion was one of Itana’s more notorious drinking establishments, and – to be honest – if a night went by without at least one fight, it was considered a dull evening.
Baxter was held up by two thugs. He seemed dazed and unsure what was going on – whether that was the drink or the head trauma, no one really knew. He smiled with teeth and blood. “Oh look, you have a Bey-Bey and Win-Win as well!”
“It’s us, you idiot!” Win-Win snapped, her feet kicking in the air.
Arnis placed both the fluffy companions by his side, clasping them with one arm in what looked like a one-armed hug – though without any compassion behind it. With his now free hand, he pulled a dagger from his belt. “No one humiliates Arnis Borgna and lives!”
“Arnis,” Uluak protested, “we don’t spill blood in here! We don’t mind the odd scrap, but murder-”
“This fool stole money from us! Last time I checked, it’s perfectly acceptable to kill thieves!”
“I guess.”
Arnis put the knife under Baxter’s chin. “Any last words before I open your throat?”
“Do your worst, Gertrude!” Baxter grunted. “I’ll not bow down to you!”
“He’s gone mad,” one of the thugs.
“OW!” Arnis cried.
The arm holding the fluffy companions unfolded as Bey-Bey bit into it. Bey-Bey and Win-Win fell to the floor and quickly scuffled away, running to hide underneath a table.
“Why you-”
Arnis would have chased after them, had not another hand grabbed his knife arm. He turned and looked, his jaw dropping almost to the floor.
The ‘hand’ that had grabbed his arm was actually from Baxter. Though bloodied, there was still some fight left in him. However, this arm came not from his body – but from his beard! The arm had extended out, holding the fop hard.
“I cannot allow you to harm my fluffy friends!”
“W-w-w-w-what sorcery is this?” Arnis cried.
Baxter stood up. “Now then,” he said, “I think it’s time for me to repay the favour you gentlemen have shown me!”
“He’s a warlock!” one of the patrons yelled.
“We don’t take kindly to your types here!” Uluak growled.
“What are you, racist?” Baxter asked.
“Warlocks – aren’t a race,” Uluak replied, puzzled.
“Just kill him!” Arnis shouted.
“I would really reconsider your options, gentlemen,” Baxter warned, looking a bit more serious than before.
“There’s only one of him and plenty of us!” Arnis told them. “We can take him.”
Baxter’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
With that, several more fists appeared within his beard.
Bey-Bey and Win-Win watched from the safety of their table as patrons went flying across the bar. Tables smashed and drinks were spilled during the fracas. Those that didn’t want to get involved left the bar hurriedly, but those that stayed didn’t escape Baxter’s bearded wrath. The fight was over in a few seconds and, ironically given his stupor, Baxter was the only one standing.
“Well done, chap!” Baxter said, he and his beard gave a fist bump and a thumbs up. “Bey-Bey, Win-Win, I think you can come out now!”
The fluffy companions gingerly stepped out. Bey-Bey lifted his foot with a yelp as something sharp ran through his leg. Lifting it up, he saw that a pin was stuck in it, along with a piece of paper. He pulled the pin out of his foot and then looked at the paper. On the picture it showed a drawing of a quite alluring woman, with long hair and piercing eyes. The text read:
WANTED. Zarracka Dragonkin. Crimes include: Treason, Regicide, Sabotage, Murder, Thievery, Simony, Blasphemy, Public Disturbance, Drunken Disorderly Behaviour… and plenty of other things that Bey-Bey couldn’t be bothered to read.
Save for the last paragraph.
Reward: 500,000 Gold. Dead or alive.
“Wow,” Bey-Bey gasped. “She looks pretty.”
“Pretty nasty,” Win-Win said, looking over his shoulder. “Bey-Bey, stop drooling!”
“I wasn’t!” Bey-Bey complained, rubbing the back of his head after Win-Win smacked him. He folded the paper up and put it in his backpack.
Baxter creaked a few bones back into position, his earlier injuries were starting to heal from before. Not surprising seeing as he healed immensely quickly. “You’ll not get the better of me, Gertrude von Gumbywapper,” he exclaimed, dusting himself down.
Bey-Bey and Win-Win looked at each other and sighed. Even after all this time, they had not the faintest who Gertrude von Gumbywapper was – or if she even existed. It was a name he often dropped, but damned if they knew what it meant.
“Right, companions, onward!” He pointed towards the door.
“Baxter,” Win-Win said, folding her wings. “Aren’t we forgetting something?”
Baxter scratched his head. “Oh, of course, I almost forgot!”
He carefully stepped over the bodies that lay groaning on the floor, heading towards a staircase leading up one level, where they were a row of doors leading to ‘special rooms’ of the tavern. Baxter walked into the only occupied one.
“Hey!” came a voice from one of them, seconds later.
Baxter walked out, carrying a girl over his shoulder. She had dark skin that was typical for an easterner and gave no resistance to Baxter carrying her – in fact, she seemed glad of it. From the room Baxter exited came a man, struggling to pull his trousers back up. “Where do you think you’re taking her?”
“Back to her parents,” Baxter replied.
“I paid good money for that girl-”
Baxter’s beard flared and turned into a fist, it flew towards the man and he spoke no more.
“There, now you have no use for her.”
TO BE CONTINUED