With Quincy gone to retrieve Adam, Warren and Nerva sat at their table in silence as the sound of the music and conversation filled the room. Warren scanned the room, wondering if the informant was already there.
Perhaps he could spot them from the crowd. He thought about just forcing the information out of him, keeping the money for themselves. He wasn't exactly in the mood to play nice. Unfortunately Warren couldn't see anyone that stood out. Everyone was equally happy, equally under the influence of booze. Might have to get violent. Going from man to man until-
"Hey Warren ain't it taking them way too damn long?" Nerva asked, breaking his concentration.
"I'm sure they're fine. I know Quincy would want to come back as soon as possible so I'm guessing Adam's in the stall, preventing him from getting the money," Warren suggested.
"I thought Adam was only bitchin' about needing to take a piss?"
"Maybe you scared him so badly he needed to take a shit," Warren joked.
Nerva bursts out laughing at the thought. It didn't take much to make her laugh. Any joke made at someone else's expense made her laugh. It was actually the only thing that made her laugh. After about a minute Nerva finally calmed down.
"Ughhhhh I'm bored. Hey Warren you wanna start cracking heads until we find this bitch?" she proposed.
"I thought about it. But if he's not here and word gets out we've beaten everyone up he probably won't show. We're better off waiting for him to come to us."
"Well I gotta do something before I die of boredom." Nerva complained.
"You down for a drink?"
"Oh hell yeah!"
They got out of their seats and headed toward the bar, sitting down on barstools. The bartender was a young girl who appeared to be in her early twenties. She had black hair in a bob cut with light brown eyes.
Her outfit consisted of black barista vest placed over a long sleeved white collared shirt. Warren can slightly see below the waist to see she had on black slacks. Her presence threw Warren off. She didn't appear to be the type to work as a bartender. Something about her demeanor threw him off but he quickly cast the thought aside. Maybe like him, she made poor life choices.
"Hi there, what can I get ya?" she asked Warren.
"I'll just have an old-fashioned. My friend here will take a whisky sour," he ordered.
"Her? Are you sure she can handle it?"
"Yeah bitch I can handle it. Can you pour it?" Nerva angrily interjected.
The bartender appeared angry but only for a brief moment, quickly smiling once more.
"Coming right up," she said.
She poured the drinks and handed them over. Before gulping it down Warren paused. Once again something felt off. Why was that? It's not like he was afraid of getting drunk. He couldn't get drunk unless he allowed it to happen. He looked at Nerva who'd already downed her drink in an instant. He waited to see if anything strange happened but nothing occurred.
"Hey aren't you gonna drink yours?" Nerva asked, noticing Warren's hesitation.
"Yeah," he said, pouring the drink down his gullet.
It didn't taste good. Had a weird sour taste. Suddenly his eyelids felt very very heavy and his vision was getting blurry. He got out of his chair, trying to draw his weapon but collapsed to the ground, not moving a muscle.
"Warren!" Nerva yelled, getting out of her seat to check on him.
She examined his body, quickly realizing he's alive when the bartender started to chuckle.
"Looks like he can't hold his liquor," she commented.
"That's bullshit! Warren can't get drunk! What'd you do to him!" Nerva asked.
The music that reverberated throughout the tavern abruptly stopped. A crowd of people started to surround Nerva, revealing they carried small knives. Others witnessed the event and quickly started to exit the building until only Nerva, the bartender, and the armed group remained. A man closed the entrance and locked it.
"Well if it wasn't the alcohol I suppose it was the sleeping powder I put into his drink that did it," the bartender revealed.
"Wake him up, bitch! Unless you want to get your ass beat!" Nerva threatens, ignoring the group of armed people around her.
"What a proposal. I will have to decline," the bartender replied, walking away from the bar to the stairs.
Nerva wondered what the woman had planned. Why did she make Warren go to sleep? What's her endgame?
"You a rebel?" Nerva questioned.
The bartender stopped at the top of the stairs, sitting down with her legs crossed. Emitting an aura of smugness she said "Why, yes I am! You're smarter than you look! Did you also figure out that this was all a giant trap? We knew the second hero's party was coming ahead of time. The traitor isn't as smart as he thinks he is. We knew of his plans to betray the rebellion. It made setting up this trap quite easy and splitting you all up even easier."
"Why'd you put Warren to sleep?"
"Oh that's because I'm a kind person. Your friend is asleep because I have no quarrel with him. I'm a magician you see, specifically an illusionist sub-class. I can control the dreams of others by linking our sub-consciousness. Right now your friend is experiencing bliss. You have me, Teena Marie, to thank for that."
The bartender raised her right index finger, revealing a thin red string tied to the end of it. It went all the way down the stairs to Warren's body. Nerva saw that the other end wrapped around Warren's right index finger.
"We're connected now. Anything that happens to me happens to him and vice versa. Don't worry, I'll only remain linked with him until he starves to death. He'll pass on peacefully. It won't be the same fate for you," she explained, pointing an accusatory finger at Nerva.
"I know all about you Nerva Matia Aquila Remeli. You're nobility. You're privileged. If there's anyone I hate, it's nobility. This rebellion exists to destroy the privileged and corrupt who squash the throat of the common man. It's why you will meet a painful end. I wish it was only you who'd die violently but alas, my partner is a violent man so I can only allow one person to pass on peacefully."
Nerva laughed. That was the funniest thing she heard in a long time.
"Bitch I live under a desk," she confided.
"Yes, I've heard but that was solely because of your own actions. Everyone has heard of the girl exiled from the Remeli family because she was a troublemaker. That doesn't matter to me. You're still privileged. You grew up in luxury while all of us grew up in poverty. That in itself is unforgivable."
"Heh you assholes really don't get it. I didn't get kicked out of my family, I left. Being rich ain't all it's cracked up to be. I hate those smug rich assholes as much as you do, especially my folks. But none of that matters. You motherfuckers attacked us, so I'm burning all of you," Nerva said with a smile.
She cracked her knuckles, making the group that had surrounded her slowly back up, unsure of what's about to happen.
"You truly are insane. There's no way you're beating everyone in here," Teena Marie remarked.
"Ha! Beating up crowds of assholes is what I do for fun!" Nerva yelled excitedly.
"Kill her! For the cause!" Teena Maria commands.
"For the cause!" the crowd repeated, charging at Nerva.
As a few got close Nerva jumped into the air, kicking one assailant in the head, knocking them out instantly. After landing she began to move, darting from left and right to dodge their attacks. There appeared to be about 20 in all. All of them were planted amongst the crowd, waiting to reveal themselves. They really did walk into a trap.
As Nerva moved, the piano started to play once more. She wished she could ignite the whole multitude on fire but unfortunately, that would end up hurting Warren so she could only focus on close quarter melee. That didn't mean she couldn't use her magic. She jumped onto a nearby table, igniting her fists.
A man came close seeking to stab her in the legs only to be met with a fire punch to the face. Nerva leaped into the crowd, punching left and right with her flaming fists.
People continued trying to attack her but she was too agile, moving in between legs, under and over tables, and around knife thrusts with ease. The scene looked chaotic but everything Nerva did, she did with precision, looking like a fiery tornado. Her assailants continued to fall one by one. They couldn't keep up. She was simply too fast.
The hunters were quickly becoming the hunted. Teena Marie saw the whole thing play out but wasn't deterred in the slightest. Soon it was just Nerva on the floor, surrounded by unconscious bodies.
The piano player stopped his tune and quickly ran up the stairs past Teena Marie, leaving only the two women left. Teena Marie clapped as Nerva panted heavily from fighting so many people.
"That was quite the show. You're stronger than I thought," she congratulated, standing up.
"Glad you enjoyed it bitch. You are about to join them," Nerva barked, heading up the stairs.
Meanwhile Teena Marie descended, meeting Nerva halfway.
"I'm not much of a fighter. I only take recreational martial arts as a means to stay in shape. But I think I can handle you, privileged girl."
Out of the blue Teena Marie threw a kick, knocking Nerva down the stairs. At the bottom Nerva quickly rolled back onto her feet and spat out some blood. Teena Marie finished descending the stairs to stand on even ground with Nerva on the tavern's dance floor.
"Now that's more like it. I was thinking all you rebels were pussies," Nerva said, smiling.
She dashed toward Teena Marie, unleashing a barrage of fire punches. Her target stepped back, getting out of Nerva's range. With her long legs she kicked Nerva on the side of the head, making her stumble.
She followed up with another kick, knocking Nerva to the ground. Nerva rolled onto her stomach, putting her hands on the ground. She shot fire out of them, propelling her towards Teena Marie. Near her, Nerva drove her foot into her target's face, making her crash into a nearby table.
"How you like that bitch!" Nerva shouted, feeling very satisfied with that kick.
Teena Maria got up, wiping blood from her mouth.
"Did you forget?" she asked, raising her right index finger to show the tether that connected her to Warren.
Nerva's eyes widened. She spun around to see blood coming out from the side of Warren's mouth. She heard Teena Marie laugh.
"Whatever happens to me, happens to your friend," she reminded Nerva.
"Shit! Warren, wake up god damn it!" Nerva hollered.
Teena Marie closed in on Nerva, hitting her with another kick that made Nerva roll to the side. She sprung up, only to get kicked in the stomach.
"There's nothing you can do! You can't kill your friend can you!? You lack resolve!" Teena Marie said, continuing to pelt Nerva with kicks.
Nerva tried to sever their connection by blasting her way out of Teena Marie's attack range and fired off a quick fireball at the tether connecting Teena Marie to Warren. It hit but the tether remained. It was ethereal. She didn't know what else she could try to wake Warren up. Thinking her way out of situations wasn't her forte. The whole situation was pissing her off.
"You fucking coward," Nerva cursed.
"Ahahaha! This isn't cowardice. It's a strategy. You don't seem like someone who's played chess before. If you did, you'd know this is what we call checkmate," Teena Marie responded.
She zipped to Nerva, throwing another kick. Nerva dodged the blow and instinctively tried to uppercut with a fiery fist but stopped short. This gave Teena Marie the opportunity to kick Nerva in the side, making her crash into the bar. Teena Marie slowly strutted to Nerva, knowing that victory was assured.
****
Warren crouched low, his body enveloped in the tall grass. It was hot, dreadfully so. Sweat poured down his skin, dripping onto the ground. He wiped his brow and slowly unsheathed his blade. The monster was close. He could sense it. They'd been on the trail of the smilodon for the past week.
The accursed thing was slippery, having evaded them despite constantly prowling its hunting grounds, as if it knew it was being hunted. It was no wonder the town of Corsca had put a bounty on its head. It had abducted multiple travelers in these woods, yet had eluded the local hunting parties.
That's why they called in adventurers to deal with it. Warren inched forward, trying to keep his breath steady. He poked his head out of the grass. There it was, in an open clearing, feasting on a deer. The smilodon was a large feline creature, about twice as large as a tiger.
It had shimmering brown fur and gigantic canines that bit into the deer like one would bite down into an apple. It was the apex predator of southern Dreden for a reason. Its guard was down. Perfect. Warren slightly raised his blade, and pounced.
He leapt out of the tall grass into the clearing, quickly closing in on the giant cat. In a flash he was behind it, and thrusted his sword into the predator's side. The creature growled and winced as the steel penetrated its flesh.
Warren had hoped it would be over in an instant. He aimed for the heart. The smilodon roared, smacking Warren away as if he were a fly. He landed on his back, feeling the wind knocked out of him. It'll take him a moment to recover; a moment he didn't have. The smilodon charged to him, continuing to roar.
The sword was embedded into its chest, giving it immense pain. He had missed the heart so all he had done was anger it. Warren scrambled up in time to roll to the side to avoid a pounce. The cat landed, growling. Warren reached for his backup weapon, a small knife. He cursed to himself. He might as well be disarmed for all the good it'll do.
He had to get his true weapon back in order to kill the smilodon. The creature went for him again, swiping with its large claws. Warren ducked under and grabbed hold of his sword's hilt and tried to pry it loose. It didn't work. The sword was embedded as if it was in stone. While facing its underbelly,
Warren stabbed the smilodon's stomach in a dozen quick strikes. The creature bellowed, only being further angered. Warren dodge another swipe, backing away from the creature. The smilodon kept pressing.
It leapt again and again. Warren's only saving grace was constantly turning to its weak side. Because of its wound, it had a hard time turning to its right. Warren kept going to that side, preventing it from pouncing again. That's when Warren tripped.
Being so focused on the smilodon, he didn't notice the giant rock in the clearing. He fell to the ground. In that brief moment before he could get up, the smilodon adjusted itself, then leapt. It was about to be on top of him when something emerged from the tall grass. It swept in and in a flash, swiped at the smilodon mid-pounce.
The cat kept its forward momentum, landing on top of Warren. He almost suffocated under its immense weight but was able to crawl out, gasping for air. A hand was proffered to him. Catching his breath, he grasped it and looked up.
A woman looked down at him, her brown hair flowing down past her shoulders. Her bright amber eyes shined. She had on a brown adventuring outfit of leather armor, much like his own. She also had brown fingerless gloves, a large maroon belt, and most importantly, a large broadsword covered in blood in the other hand. Seeing her almost made Warren lose his breath again.
"What would you do without me?" she said as Warren stood up.
"Took you long enough Joanna," Warren replied.
He turned round. The smilodon's head was cleanly cut from its body.
"Thanks," Warren stated.
He went to the creature and rolled it onto his side. Now that the creature was dead, he could remove his sword without the fear of death.
"That's it? I think I deserve a little more praise than that. Did you see how clean that swing was? I cut that thing's head off as if it were butter," Joanna said, smirking.
"Uh huh."
He removed the sword and took out a rag to wipe away the blood.
"We should've brought the others," he commented as Joanna examined the smilodon's head.
She shrugged.
"I think that would've been overdoing it, no? What's wrong? Don't like it when it's just you and me?"
"It does end up becoming more dangerous, I've noticed. Besides, the others need experience."
"Eh, they'll be fine."
"Nerva and Adam are still new to adventuring."
"They're naturals!"
Warren raised an eyebrow at her.
"Adam passed out and Nerva ended up in a bar fight the last time we took them on an adventure."
"He woke up eventually and we won that bar fight. I don't see the problem," she grinned.
"We also have two alchemists. They aren't even adventurers."
"They're support!"
Warren sighed.
"You need to be more selective with who you recruit, so called 'leader'"
Joanna narrowed her eyes.
"I don't appreciate the sass Warren. I rule with an iron fist you know."
"They don't listen to you."
"And that's your fault. Always acting like an authority figure."
"Because you don't."
Joanna pouted.
"You can be very sassy when you want to be."
Warren grabbed the smilodon's massive head, placing it in a massive sack they brought along as proof the creature was killed. Joanna put her broadsword on her back. It always surprised him that it was her weapon of choice. It was powerful, but surely cumbersome to use. Warren abruptly stopped, getting a headache. Joanna looked at him, concerned.
"Are you ok?"
He motioned her to stay back. Why was he thinking of Ayana? A name came to mind he didn't know.
"Wait. Quincy?" he wondered.
"What?"
"I…" he trailed off, confused.
He grabbed his chin. Didn't he…have a beard? The headache became stronger, like his head wanted to explode. Then it stopped.
"Do you need a healing potion?" Joanna asked.
Warren stared at Joanna. He narrowed his eyes, getting a clear look at her. She looked the same as always. At least, that's what he originally thought. Something was off. His instincts were never wrong. He unsheathed his sword.
"Not bad," Warren said, pointing his sword at her.
Joanna stepped back in surprise.
"What are you doing Warren? It's me," she said.
"You got a lot right. Her height, her face, her voice, her personality. Felt like I was talking to the real thing."
"It is me! What's wrong with you?"
He tapped the left side of his neck.
"But you got the mole on the wrong side."
Joanna sighed.
"Really? That's what gave it away?" she said in a voice that was no longer Joanna's.
She snapped her fingers, revealing herself to be the bartender from Ayana. That's when it all came flooding back to him.
"I'm surprised," she began. "Very few people can see through my illusions."
"Where am I?" Warren inquired, ready to strike.
"In your head. I was trying to give you what you wanted. You're alone with the girl right? I shifted through your memories. She's all you think about," she smirked.
Warren stepped in swinging. Teena Marie stepped to the side, avoiding the blow.
"Taboo subject I suppose?" she asked. "I saw what happened to her. You're not going to find her. Your friends are as good as dead. But that's where I come in! Let me give you what you want. You can live out your every desire. That's what I tried to do but your mind is surprisingly stubborn. It's naturally resistant to manipulation magic. Give in please, I'm only trying to help you live your best life in my dreamscape."
Warren cracked his neck.
"You're with the rebels huh?"
"Yes I am. Why do you care? The fight against the oppressors has nothing to do with you. In fact, I don't see anything for you to live for. Here, you can be happy. I have no quarrel with you. This is mercy. You can live a whole lifetime here. You won't even be able to tell the difference. Out there, you'll only find death and misery. The world is a brutal place. But here, I can create true happiness. Not a bad deal is it?"
"But it's not real."
"What is real, really? Reality is what you perceive. That's all what 'real' is."
"Not this, that's for sure. Wake me up."
"Hmmm no. And you can't make me. It may be your head, but this is my space!"
Warren sheathed his blade and took out his knife. Teena Marie cocked an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"This is a dream right? Just gotta wake myself."
Teena Marie realized what was happening.
"That won't work. You'll only end yourself."
"Then why are you scared?"
"Only scared for you. You don't seem to realize what you're rejecting. I'm trying to be kind to you."
"I reject it all. You said they're all dead. I don't believe it. I'm going to find them and face reality head on. When I wake up, I'm going to make you pay for looking like her."
"You fool!"
Warren plunged the knife into his head, knowing that death is the surefire way to wake from a dream.
***
The actual Teena Marie was closing in on Nerva, the latter sitting against the bar's counter unsure of what to do when suddenly Warren's body rose. Nerva smiled at Teena Marie, excited for what's coming.
"Oh it's over now bitch," she insulted, standing up.
Teena Marie stopped in her tracks, sensing a very threatening presence behind her. She whirled around and was met with a fist to the face, sending her body over to the bar.
"'Bout time you woke up Warren!" Nerva exclaimed.
Warren stood there, stretching his shoulder.
"Sorry about that. It was more troublesome than you'd think."
Teena Marie stood up across the counter, realizing the punch had knocked out half of her teeth. She looked at her hands, seeing that the thread to Warren was gone. With Warren awake they were no longer connected. Did her subconscious lose? But she had complete control over people's dreams. How did he fight back?
"I didn't miss much did I?" Warren asked Nerva.
"Nah I just had to beat up a bunch of pussies. It was fun," she answered.
"I see. Well it appears there's one left. What do you want to do?"
"I want to beat her ass. Wanna join me?"
"It'd be my pleasure."
Knowing she didn't stand a chance against them, Teen Marie tried to run away. She sprinted for the staircase, quickly ascending them. However at the top of the staircase was Warren. He moved far faster than her. She tried to redirect herself but it was too late. Warren punched her, sending her back down the stairs. Getting up, she realized Nerva was standing next to her.
"W-wait I," she began but was kicked in the ribcage, forcing her to cough up blood.
Warren jumped down on the other side of Teena Marie. She was sandwiched between them now. T. From both sides they pummeled her in a constant stream of punches, turning her into a bloody pulp. To end things Warren unsheathed his machete and plunged it through her chest, making her cough up more blood. He ripped the blade out, making her fall to the ground.
"Nerva, do your thing." Warren ordered, heading to the tavern's entrance.
He kicked the door down, heading into the night.
"P-p-please don't do this. I'm…I'm a good person," Teena Marie begged.
Nerva laughed, saying "Checkmate bitch."
Nerva shot a fireball at her, igniting her.. Teena Marie wailed as her flesh was burned to a crisp. The fire spreaded, engulfing the entire building in a matter of minutes. Nerva nonchalantly exited, meeting up with Warren outside.
"Glad we got that shit over with," she said to him.
"Yeah. Service was horrible huh?"
"Hah! Yeah it fucking sucked."
They heard the sound of footsteps approaching and saw it was Adam and Quincy. The party was reunited.
****
Adam and I stop, seeing that the tavern is on fire. We missed something all right. In front of it stand Warren and Nerva, ignoring the burning building. Nerva looks a bit beat up but Warren appears to be fine for the most part. I wonder what happened.
"Are you guys ok!?" Adam asks, out of breath.
"Yeah we're ok. Just had some bad customer service," Warren states.
"Huh?"
"We had to fuck shit up," Nerva explains.
"Oh…."
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you guys burned the tavern down. Good. That place was awful," I declare.
We look at the burning building. Destruction follows us doesn't it? I'm kinda getting used to it. As we stare we sense another presence. We find a man in a black robe with a hood obscuring his face.
"Ugh...are you guys with the knights? I'm the…. contact," he reveals.
This dude lacks subtlety. We could tell he was the informant from a mile away. Whatever, I'm just glad we found this guy. Let's get this over with.