Snippet #1509268

After the great duel, Mertan had been mesmerized. What an awesome show of skill and cunning. The elven champion seemed to know what he was doing, and he did it to perfection.

Mertan wandered out of the arena, trailing after a pair of merchants, who'd just sold a large pack of slaves at the market. Mertan could hear them talk about a specific slave, which they kept, for the sole purpose of sex and abuse. They'd use her as a concubine.
Mertan was a little displeased at hearing such, but coming from a wealthy family himself, he knew that slave concubines were very common. But as he trailed along behind them, they began talking about what they'd do to her, and Mertan was so infuriated about the way they regarded human lives, so he thrust himself forward, and made a violent tackle on the left of the merchants.

"Woah!" was all that could be heard from the left one, as he fell to the ground. The other merchant quickly jumped sideways, to evade the supposed attacker, but when he saw that it was only a boy, he slumped a little down. "What in all of the heavens do you think you're doing boy!" he yelled, as he grabbed Mertan by the collar, and lifted him up.
Mertan was more than a little surprised by the strength of the other merchant, as he was hauled from the ground, and onto his legs. "I don't know." was the only answer Mertan could come up with.
"Use your brain you dumb child!" the merchant yelled into the face of Mertan, spittle flying out. "Fine! I'll try to remember that!" Mertan retorted, his voice dribbling with sarcasm.
At this point, the other merchant was on his feet again, staring at the boy. "Johar. It's just a boy, leave him alone. We got business at the inn... if you get what I mean." the other merchant said, persuading his companion to let go of Mertan.

Mertan dropped to the ground, and the two merchants turned around, and went down towards 'The Silver Lantern' where their caravan was lodged at the moment. Mertan himself turned around on his heel, and started down the other way, searching for a place where he could get some food, and a bed. He was tired after this days travels, and he was still slightly angry at the two merchants.

He finally arrived at something that seemed like he'd like it. It was a tavern, just at the gates of the city. He could hear merry commotion in the inn, and allready out here, he could hear people mutter about Artanis being a customer this evening.
That made Artanis curiosity awake. Was the elven champion really here!? He'd surely have to see him up close. After such a duel, he'd surely be surrounded by adoring fans, but Mertan'd try to get to see the elven champion never the less.

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The inn was well filled, when Artanis got in, but he imediatly saw a seat at the side of the inn. He didn't want to sit in a corner, as people usually looked suspicious when they did that. And mostly, there was good reason to be suspicious about them. So Mertan dropped his bag at a seat. The heavy bag made a lot of noise, but was drowned by the conversation and noise from the other customers.

Mertan sat down, leant back, and closed his eyes for a brief moment. But then heard someone swear at the door, only a few yards away from him. Esvild! That stupid ass had been following him since he travelled from home. He'd been his companion and steed, on hs travels here. Now the stupid animal was trying to come inside.
Mertan jumped to his feet, and squezed his way out, to the man who was being bothered by the donkey. "I'm sorry sir, he got a bad habit of doing that." Mertan said, pushing the animal away from the poor man. He grunted some unintelligible words, and then went into the tavern.

Mertan patted the mule on the muzzle, and then tugged it along, inside the taverns stable. Where he gave the reins to a stableboy. He then turned around, and went back inside, only to find someone with his crooked fingers in his bag.

"Hey! Get your dirty fingers out of my satchel!" Mertan yelled, drawing attention to himself from the tables around him. People expected something now. Some action behind the words, and Mertan was afraid that he wouldn't be able to deliver that action. But still, all his belinging were in that satchel. People sat as frozen. Looking at them. Then the man straightened, and replied. "He's a liar! It's my belongings! That little brat stole them from me on the marketplace!" the thief said, now pointing the accusation at a surprised Mertan.

"WHAT!?".