time.”
Bazur laughed as he got dressed. “You and your gambling. It’s going to get you into trouble one of these days.” Bazur didn’t mind the fact that there was a fight waiting for him in Pera. He enjoyed the exercise. Normally, he’d go on his own damn schedule so that no one knew when to expect him. When he went too often it drew large crowds. Bazur didn’t fight for the crowds, he fought for his own pleasure.
“It already has. I need to stop, but I don’t really consider this gambling. The odds of you losing are very low, and since I’m a silly woman, the men didn’t make me take odds on the fight. It was a shrewd business decision.”
Very low odds of beating two men? Bazur had a feeling that Kyra might have greatly overestimated his skills. Most of the men that hung around Pera looking to fight him were experienced warriors or at the very least tough brawls. Fighting two at once was never easy, especially if they were skilled at working together against a single opponent. For Kyra, it might have seemed a logical bet, but Bazur knew when it came to gambling the spirited woman was more inclined to follow gut instincts instead of logic. Kyra was not a good gambler.
Once he filled a water sack, Bazur grabbed his weapons and followed Kyra out of the cave. It was time to go to Pera. Outside the cave, Bazur stopped and put his gear on the ground.
“What are you doing?” asked Kyra. “A few branches on the ground isn’t going to hide your caves entrance.”
Bazur put his shoulder against the large chunk of rock that stood beside the entrance to his cave. As he pushed, the chunk of rock turned, and when it stopped moving it had completely blocked the entrance to the cave. If someone knew his cave was there, they could move the rock with considerable effort, otherwise, the cave was now invisible. Next, he grabbed a couple of dead bramble bushes that he kept nearby and placed them in front of the cave entrance, further hiding it. Bazur then carefully swept in front of the cave entrance, making sure no footprints or scuff marks hinted at the hidden entrance. Satisfied his home was somewhat protected, Bazur picked up his gear and started towards Pera.
Kyra shook her head and followed “I stand corrected. A few branches and a damn big rock does make your cave invisible.”
7
PERA
“YOU owe me ten silver coins. One bad land savage delivered within three days.” Kyra grinned as she put out her hand and waited for the two warriors to pay her.
Bazur ignored Kyra and the two warriors who wanted their opportunity to collect Hoggard’s bounty. He took a stool at the bar and accepted the mug of honey mead from the bartender. When he first arrived in Pera from the orc province of Irri, the bartenders had refused to serve him. That had caused his first fight, and the second. After that, the bar owner sent out a bouncer from Draisha, a big tough man known for brutal fights. After the bouncer was sent back to Draisha bruised, battered, and thoroughly defeated, Bazur became a bit of a local legend. Now instead of refusing him drinks, they gave him free drinks. The bar made more money off of would-be fighters waiting for a chance to defeat Bazur than they did off the locals who called the badlands home. Pera itself was a small trading post built near an oasis. Three of the major trade routes through the badlands went through Pera, as it was a year round supply of fresh water. Bazur sipped his mead and waited for the two would-be warriors to make their move. Many of the combatants who challenged Bazur sought advantage from sneak attacks. A foolish proposition, a doomed tactic that always failed. Sandur, a pretty little brunette always placed wagers on Bazur winning. To make sure he wasn’t caught off-guard, she would stand at the corner of the bar and watch Bazur’s back for him. At the first sign of attack, she would scratch her nose. Most of the time, Bazur didn’t need the notice. Half of the men who
Bazur laughed as he got dressed. “You and your gambling. It’s going to get you into trouble one of these days.” Bazur didn’t mind the fact that there was a fight waiting for him in Pera. He enjoyed the exercise. Normally, he’d go on his own damn schedule so that no one knew when to expect him. When he went too often it drew large crowds. Bazur didn’t fight for the crowds, he fought for his own pleasure.
“It already has. I need to stop, but I don’t really consider this gambling. The odds of you losing are very low, and since I’m a silly woman, the men didn’t make me take odds on the fight. It was a shrewd business decision.”
Very low odds of beating two men? Bazur had a feeling that Kyra might have greatly overestimated his skills. Most of the men that hung around Pera looking to fight him were experienced warriors or at the very least tough brawls. Fighting two at once was never easy, especially if they were skilled at working together against a single opponent. For Kyra, it might have seemed a logical bet, but Bazur knew when it came to gambling the spirited woman was more inclined to follow gut instincts instead of logic. Kyra was not a good gambler.
Once he filled a water sack, Bazur grabbed his weapons and followed Kyra out of the cave. It was time to go to Pera. Outside the cave, Bazur stopped and put his gear on the ground.
“What are you doing?” asked Kyra. “A few branches on the ground isn’t going to hide your caves entrance.”
Bazur put his shoulder against the large chunk of rock that stood beside the entrance to his cave. As he pushed, the chunk of rock turned, and when it stopped moving it had completely blocked the entrance to the cave. If someone knew his cave was there, they could move the rock with considerable effort, otherwise, the cave was now invisible. Next, he grabbed a couple of dead bramble bushes that he kept nearby and placed them in front of the cave entrance, further hiding it. Bazur then carefully swept in front of the cave entrance, making sure no footprints or scuff marks hinted at the hidden entrance. Satisfied his home was somewhat protected, Bazur picked up his gear and started towards Pera.
Kyra shook her head and followed “I stand corrected. A few branches and a damn big rock does make your cave invisible.”
7
PERA
“YOU owe me ten silver coins. One bad land savage delivered within three days.” Kyra grinned as she put out her hand and waited for the two warriors to pay her.
Bazur ignored Kyra and the two warriors who wanted their opportunity to collect Hoggard’s bounty. He took a stool at the bar and accepted the mug of honey mead from the bartender. When he first arrived in Pera from the orc province of Irri, the bartenders had refused to serve him. That had caused his first fight, and the second. After that, the bar owner sent out a bouncer from Draisha, a big tough man known for brutal fights. After the bouncer was sent back to Draisha bruised, battered, and thoroughly defeated, Bazur became a bit of a local legend. Now instead of refusing him drinks, they gave him free drinks. The bar made more money off of would-be fighters waiting for a chance to defeat Bazur than they did off the locals who called the badlands home. Pera itself was a small trading post built near an oasis. Three of the major trade routes through the badlands went through Pera, as it was a year round supply of fresh water. Bazur sipped his mead and waited for the two would-be warriors to make their move. Many of the combatants who challenged Bazur sought advantage from sneak attacks. A foolish proposition, a doomed tactic that always failed. Sandur, a pretty little brunette always placed wagers on Bazur winning. To make sure he wasn’t caught off-guard, she would stand at the corner of the bar and watch Bazur’s back for him. At the first sign of attack, she would scratch her nose. Most of the time, Bazur didn’t need the notice. Half of the men who
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