"If you don't mind me asking, Marg, who was that soldier inside the Feather?" asked Warrior Rapter as he was pulling the last of the wood from the barrow.
"He's Leiutenant Gregory Hutch from the King's army. Says he's down here looking for recruits to aid in the war with the north. Funny thing is, I don't recall ever hearing about a war before now."
"I have, me dear, and I'm not fond of it, I aint. I hear tale that they do be battling renegades and gypsies. Mr. Hutch asked me if I'd join, he did, but I told him I'd have none of it. Besides, if I did, who would watch the lumber yard?" Jack added.
"Why would they need more recruits against renegade?" Warrior Rapter inquired.
"Story is they have some sort of powerful mage as their leader, someone who has allies with other creatures, he does. I don't believe such a word, but it's what I hear."
"Whatever the reason, I do know that Jacoby signed up with him," Marg added.
"That'll be a problem and a half for the King! If Jacoby gets part of the army, he be the one starting the wars, he would. Anyway, enough talk about wars, Marg, what say we get Mr. Rapter back to the Feather, eh?"
As they three of them walked back to the tavern, however, Jacoby met them on the road. He had the mayor of the town, Arnold Niles, with him. Warrior Rapter couldn't help but wonder why Jacoby had his father with him.
"I heard tell that you were in town, Mr. Rapter. I also heard that my son gave you a little difficulty at the gate today. Well, I say good on him --"
"You would," Marg muttered.
Arnold gave her a glare before continuing. "As I was saying, means Jacoby is to be recruited into the King's army, I feel it best if any disputes he has here be ended before he leaves. So, I want you and him to duel, Mr. Rapter, match swords against each other in the middle of town until one of you yields --"
"I don't want to fight." Warrior Rapter started to walk toward the tavern, shoving past Arnold and his son.
"Mr. Rapter, I'm afraid this is an offer you can't refuse. If you do, I'll not only kick you out of my city, but your friends, Margarette and Jack Willard, as well."
Warrior Rapter stopped in his tracks and paused a moment.
"You would really steep that low as to kick the owners of your lumber yard and tavern out?"
"If it would keep you out of this city once and for all, I'd not only do it, but tell all the city guards to treat them the same way they treat you if they try to come back for any reason."
Warrior Rapter started to look around the block now. He noticed a crowd was forming, some of them looking pleased at the mayor's words, others shaking their heads. But they all seemed to be waiting on his response.
"I assume there's to be stakes on this duel as well then?"
"Quite simply put, if you beat my son, I want you gone forever." Warrior Rapter looked around at the ground again, the one's who had looked pleased before now had mischievious grins on their faces.
"And if I win?"
"I'll put it this way. You can keep your life the next time you are seen in town."
Warrior Rapter took one last look at the crowd, noticing that the majority of them were smiling now. They wanted to see him fight, to see him lose. And he knew he probably would. Even with his practice sword at home, his claws were cumbersome around an actual blade longer than his dagger. Sometimes he even had trouble with his practice sword. He noticed that the soldier, Lieutenant Hutch, was also in the crowd, but unlike the others, he leaned against the corner of a building smoking a pipe, seeming uninterested with what was going on.
Finally, he gave a sigh. "I'll do it."
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