Tartum was a very nuanced town. One of the few places in Seppora where it seemed like the rich and poor ate from the same table. The townspeople were always a bustling bunch and even under curfew the nightlights of most homes were still on and singing could be heard from the rambunctious bunches that spent their days wages swallowing kegs of frothy mead and cheap diluted wine in taverns. The curfew was as a result of the consular order from the Imperium and the bounty placed on Smith's head. While Kyra and Smith had been making their slow crossing through the Slarap woods, the Imperium had issued a desertion order for him to be caught dead or alive. Neither Smith nor Kyra had been aware of this order although Smith knew in the back of his head that it would come. He was in Tartum now receiving treatment as he thought about his next course of action whether to go into hiding or go underground.
Meanwhile…
After paying for the inn she decided to go downstairs to the Golden Inn's tavern. She found the place still relatively lively and full of rabble-rouser, vagabonds, sleazy men, prostitutes and the likes of which one would expect in such an establishment. She needed information about her target Balo Fer. As she sat at the creaky wooden seat on the counter she struck up a conversation with the barkeeper. "What's with the emptiness on the streets…?" inquired Kyra as the barkeeper who later introduced himself as Leash poured her a cup. "Oh…" replied the boy, "…you must be new here luv but hasn't the Imperium's order reached where you came from?", "Aye, we've been traveling for a few days now I and my companion and haven't had any stops in any other towns before here" replied Kyra. "Oh, there's an Imperial bounty on an Imperium Guard captain who deserted, can't remember his name but I think they call him the 'Scourge of the Imperium' or something like that, I'm not really literate"
Kyra knew it was Smith they were looking for and the boy continued "I wonder why he deserted the guard, I know they are paid well and still love to line their pockets with bribes and unruly taxes, at least the captain of Tartum's garrison does that unapologetically…", "…and Seppora isn't currently at war with any of its neighbors ". "Who's the captain of Tartum's garrison???" Kyra cut in between gulps of her liquor. "I think they call him B. Loafer or something…", "…oh look, your drink is finished, do I pour you another?" asked Leash. "Sure, why not?" Kyra said still wanting more information from him. Leash poured her another cup and continued, "The captain of our garrison is a very unruly man, quick to anger and quite a pervert…". "Tell me about it" Kyra muttered under her breath.
"So let's say I want to go and pay homage to this captain, where can I find him?" Kyra asked. "He usually comes here for a drink on some morning at sunrise with some of his cohorts", "quite an uncouth bunch, those ones" said the barkeeper sounding rather disappointed. Kyra wanted to kill Balo Fer as soon as possible but she couldn't do it here, she would destroy this fine establishment. She ought to bide her time. Her chance would come.
Three days into their stay in Tartum, Balo Fer hadn't appeared and Kyra was growing impatient. Smith on the other hand was recovering from his injuries well enough and could stand and move about without help now. He had been taking potions from a healing mage who had been coming to the inn to treat him. Unknown to him this mage would betray him. It was a cool morning about a week into their arrival in Tartum and some Imperium guards had burst into the Golden Inn searching for "the deserter". "Where is he??", yelled a soldier as he harassed Leash who was at his post behind the counter. "Where is who?" asked Leash visible disturbed. "Don't play with me boy" roared the soldier in his face, "The deserter is in your inn, he has been for the past 7 days and you've been harboring a criminal".
"A traveler, no, two travelers came into the town a week ago and they just left yesterday…", "I swear…". The soldier looked around at his comrades and signaled for them to check the rooms in the inn. Few minutes later they came back and told him that it was empty. "You harbored a criminal boy and you must pay for it…" the soldier said, "Wait, wait, if it's gold you want I'll give you gold".
"Hahahaha...", the soldier laughed loudly removing his helm and revealing himself to be Balo Fer. "Gold? Gold?? Do you have up to 10,000 pieces of gold boy? Because that's what that wanted man you harbored is worth". From under the floorboard where Kyra and Smith had been hiding through all of this, Kyra saw him and wanted to attack him but Smith held her back, putting a finger on her lips gesturing her to be quiet. "Take him away boys and torch this stupid shack to the ground" said Balo Fer as he walked out. "Please I didn't know they were wanted, I just took them in as business was slow…" begged Leash. "Yeah, when your head is on the block you'll explain how you took in an injured fugitive during curfew" one of the soldiers who was restraining him said.
The truth was that Kyra had become good friends with Leash over the past few days and told him a little bit about Smith and their journeys too. Leash to had come to respect Smith and Leash knew the healer had reported to the Guard stationed at Tartum because as the saying "taverns knew everything". Leash had subsequently informed the duo of the plot to turn Smith in which led to them hiding in the floorboards when Leash saw them coming.
Leash refused to rat them out despite the penalty for being a fugitive being death. Leash was to be taken to the garrison and thrown in a cell that day to be executed in the coming days. However before the soldiers left the tavern Kyra jumped out of the floor unable to contain her rage any longer and attacked the soldiers with a ferocity stunning them. Left with no choice Smith appeared also raising a stool and whacking another soldier on the head. Balo Fer seeing Kyra didn't recognize her as it had been months since they last had an encounter but she, she fully recognized his dark skin and black eyes and with nothing but vengeance on her mind she shot a huge ball of fire at him.
He managed to dodge it and set himself. Smith wanted to join in but Kyra stopped him saying "No, this is my fight", and he agreed. Her vengeance was hers to have. "Who the hell are you mage", roared Balo Fer. "I am your nemesis caught up to you murderer" Kyra reply blasting him outside the tavern and into the stone paved streets outside. By now a small group of onlookers had gathered around watching the captain who marshalled Tartum with an oppressive hand and a young girl who seemed to have been possessed because she was oozing so much magic power that those around her who were also non-mages could feel it.
As the two battled the crowd increased in number and they cheered but not for Balo Fer who was a corrupt, perverted, power-drunk tyrant but for Kyra who seemed to be the only one brave enough to stand up to him. Balo Fer however was having the upper hand because slimy as he was, he was still a trained warrior and even with all her power, Kyra was still an inexperienced youngster. As Balo Fer sidestepped and evaded all her blows, he drew closer to her and when he was close enough he punched her hard, hit her with his shield and hit her with his knee to her stomach and kicked her a few inches off the ground in a flurry of attacks.
He looked around at the crowd saying "Yeah? You had hope you filthy scum? You had hope that this little bitch would defeat me?", the crowed now numbering a few hundred murmured a few voices distinctly cursing at him. "I own you and your stupid town!!!" he continued. He looked down at Kyra who was still writhing in pain on the floor. "I remember you now…", you were the one who defied me in the town I was last posted to", "…I'll give it to you girl you've got some spunk and I couldn't find you so I killed the old bitch at your place because no one undermines my authority" he said.
These words triggered Kyra and she remembered Ma. She remembered why she had come all this way which was to avenge Ma. With renewed fervour and rage she sprung up to her feet, fire consuming her and glowed blue and her magic let loose. She blasted Balo Fer a few blocks down the street and in no time she was on him again. She picked him up and before he could react put two of her fingers into his eyes gouging them out. She thought to kill him there and then but she had a better idea. She pulled him as battered and broken as he was and began to talk the people of Tartum there gathered.
"This man", she said, "… has caused me so much pain and suffering in my life, so much so I tracked him here to exact my revenge". "He molested me and killed the only family I had…" she continued. "But I know there are many of you here who are victims of this man and his cynical antics…", "…hence I will let you have your revenge on him as I have had mine" said Kyra. "No…no…p…please" said a now blind Balo Fer as he begged for his life. But the angry mob was having none of that as they pounced on him, hundreds of them beating and kicking him. Kyra walked away from the carnage uncertain of where life would lead her from here. Smith who had been witnessing all of this said to her "Well, I think he got what he deserved" as the duo and Leash went on into the Golden inn which was now a bit thrashed but free from the likes of Balo Fer. At least for now…