Snippet #1201715

Highwind nodded to the two men as they stood up to leave.
"Until the day we meet again, then, friends." He lowered his head in a farewell to the two. Afterwards, he began to notice a slight anxiety in the rest of the patrons in the tavern, some of whom were waking up from their stupor-induced slumber, and others who had arrived after they had. It didn't take many looks to realize what kind of men they were, and even less what they were thinking. Mercenaries, murderers, bounty hunters and other scum. The usually so emotionless Jack Highwind allowed himself a slight sigh.

"It seems I have attracted some un-wanted attention from morons and fools. My apologies, my lady and gentlemen." He apologized to the three. Vinsces, blissfully unaware of the glances the other patrons were giving the group, laughed burlily from across the table, as he emptied his first mug of ale.

"Bwahahaha! Don't you worry, little one! You're with Vinsces and Osefi the Giant now! Anyone bothers you, we'll smash 'em into the ground for ya! Bwahahahaha!" With that, he sent a playfully threatening glance around the room. Jack Highwind allowed himself a slight chuckle, and a smile.

"Well, I certainly thank you for this, my enormous friend. But, I think that shall be quite unnecessary. If my eyes and instincts do not fail me quite terribly, these gentlemen we share a tavern with are indeed not just morons and fools, but cowards and amateurs as well. For only an amateur and a fool would wet his lips in front of his prey. Such level of ineptitude is no threat to anyone who knows basic fencing." His hand casually touched the marvelously decorated hilt of his saber, shaped like the half-open maws of a dragon. Then, he shook his head with a smile, relaxed, and ordered in another mug of water.

"Tell me, gentlemen, what are your plans, now that your company have been divided?"

As Jack asked, the door to the tavern burst open, and a woman ran inside. Even the observant Jack Highwind only caught sight of her grey cloak before she ran past them, bumping into Jack on her way into the back of the room. The pirate looked after her curiously, but decided not to make an issue of the rudeness she had shown.

"Trouble, perhaps?" He mumbled to himself, his hand unconsciously remaining close to the hilt of his saber, as he followed her with his eyes. Things were quickly taking a turn for the worse, and although Jack Highwind feared no man in the tavern, he could feel in the air that they were coming closer and closer to a fight, despite the cowardice of the other patrons, who were, by all accounts, little more than street dregs and insects in the sky pirate's eyes. In the end it all depended on what the grey-cloaked woman did, and had to say while in the tavern, though. But as much of morons and cowards as the patrons were, they were quickly gathering the courage to start a fight. All they needed was the right incentive.

He looked at Jade, and spoke with a low voice:

"My lady, if I might be so bold, I suggest that you stay close to us. I am suddenly assaulted by a bad feeling, and I suspect that we will soon have to make a hasty exit, in no small part because of my carelessness and miscalculation. My apologies."