Diamondlot

Tavern Brawl

Our story begins in a tavern called the McGavan. The owner of this establishment was a woman named Pdiya. It was a steady day and her business attracted many different kinds of customers and travelers such as knights, wizards, fighters, everyday people, and even rogues. On this day, a 12 years old girl entered Pdiya’s wearing a black cloak that covered her entire body. Despite looking a bit suspicious, anyone can be a good customer in Pdiya’s mind so she serves her food like any of her customers.

As everyone in the tavern was enjoying their meal, they were suddenly interrupted as a couple of royal soldiers came in from the entrance. The guards' names were Aaryav and Ranak and they announced to everyone in the tavern that they were looking for a tiny person in a cloak who was rumored to be here. People in the tavern were alarmed and silent, so the guards began to interrogate each customer but Pdiya stepped in as she was unhappy with their manners and how they were treating her valuable customers.

Seeing the guards distracted, the girl in the cloak snuck around to another table. At this table, she met with another girl who was the same age as her, minding her own business and sipping her tea. “Hey, pst, I need your help with something.” the girl in the cloak whispered. The other girl continued sipping her tea as if she didn’t hear. The girl in the cloak tried to grab her attention by flailing her arms but one of the guards began to yell, “There she is! After her!”

As the guards attempted to apprehend their target, a bowl was thrown at Ranak’s head. Both Aaryav and Ranak turned their attention to a different table and saw another girl who was also the same age as the target they were trying to catch. This girl’s name was Jiyah and she was a feisty fighter known to have completed her black belt at the young age of 12. “I’m trying to eat my pudding in peace! Can’t anyone have a nice quiet meal around here!” Jiyah yelled. Ranak was furious that she threw the bowl at him and approached her. As he got within arm’s reach, Jiyah grabbed his arm and slammed him against the table. Seeing what happened, Aaryav quickly jumped in to assist his comrade.

The girl in the cloak was worried for the little fighter, while the girl sipping her tea interjected, “The guards are going to lose.” Right after she finished her sentence, Jiyah had taken out the other guard in mere seconds. The cloaked girl was astonished both by Jiyah’s fighting prowess and this other mysterious girl's ability to predict the winner of the fight. After the short tussle was over, the girl who was sipping her tea put her drink down, picked up her sheathed sword and approached Jiyah.

“Hm? You don’t look like you are with those two buffoons. What do you want? An autograph?” Jiyah asked. “My name is Nadya, I have been trained in the way of the sword. You are quite strong but your fighting is rash and wild. It is an insult to how my people would fight.” She said in a calm tone. Annoyed by the comment, she tried to surprise Nadya with a left punch but Nadya's quick reaction allowed her to dodge the attack. Nadya then drew her sword and Jiyah popped on her metal gauntlets and the two were ready for a showdown.

The two were causing a major ruckus forcing all the customers to run out of the tavern to safety. All except the girl in the cloak who stayed behind to watch, looking for an opportunity to speak to them. It was a battle of two opposite fighters, Jiyah was using everything she could find to throw at her opponent, while Nadya calmly sliced or deflected anything that was thrown her way. After running out of ammunition, Jiyah slammed her fist together preparing to blitz straight for Nadya. As she charged full speed like a raging bull, Nayda stood still waiting for the perfect moment to counter.

Before the two could make contact with one another, the girl in the cloak jumped in between them with her hands up signaling for a ceasefire. Nadya lowered her sword and Jiyah let down her fists for the time being.

???: You two are super awesome! I have made up my mind. You will both be my bodyguards!

Nadya: Um, who are you?

Jiyah: You aren’t one of those crazy fangirl types are you?

Reina: My apologies, my name is Reina the Rogue… I mean Reina. Just Reina!

Nadya: A rogue? Well that explains why the guards were after you. You must have done something really bad to have the royal guards come for you though.

Reina: Yeah… it's a bit of a long story…

Jiyah: Don’t need to hear it! Hey listen roguey, I don’t mean to be rude or anything but I don’t tend to get along with people so this whole bodyguard business thing probably isn’t for me.

Nadya: We can see that, plus I don’t think I can stand working with someone who fights like a crazy monkey.

Jiyah: What did you say?

Reina: Okay okay calm down! How about a game to determine what happens?

Nadya + Jiyah: Hmm?

Reina: A very simple game of Heads or Tails. Using this gold coin I will flip it up into the air and see which side it lands. Heads and you both have to come along with me until my journey is complete. Tails and we can part ways, pretend you both never met me and can go back to fighting each other to your heart’s desire.

Jiyah: That’s the worst bartering skills I have ever heard! I see no gain in agreeing to this silly proposition. I could just choose to fight this baton girl right now!

Nadya: I hate to say it but I have to agree with the human hater. I fail to see the point in this.

Reina: Oh I forgot to mention that as my traveling companions, I will pay for all the food and lodging on our journey. But of course you have to follow all my rules.

Jiyah: All the food you say?

Reina: Yup. All of it.

Nadya: This is preposterous, only a simple minded fool would be so easily swayed into…

Reina: What’s the matter? You scared it might actually land on heads?

Nadya: Flip the coin.

Reina flipped the coin in the air and it spun many times before landing on the back of her left hand and covering it with the palm of her right hand. Nadya and Jiyah looked on in suspense as Reina was about to uncover her hand and reveal the answer.

However, they were interrupted as Pdiya came in pointing and shouting at them, “There! Those are the three who are destroying my tavern!” A squadron of the town’s soldiers came in and surrounded the three girls holding their spears out. Nadya was forced to put down her sword and Jiyah dropped her gauntlets. As they were about to be chained and arrested, Reina had some final words, “It landed on heads.”