“Yeah, I was. Were you close to him too?” He asked. (“I guess it isn't too surprising. The guy was pretty popular so he probably had a lot of friends.”)

“Close? He's the reason I'm doing this in the first place.”

“Really? How'd that happen?”

He wore a sombre expression after Tibaut asked and reading the room he decided not to press any further. On closer inspection, the whole room had dampered after being reminded of the man they were going to avenge.

Furor was busy gritting his teeth which had Tibaut thankful he hadn't started another one of his outbursts.

“Those fucking bastards think they're slick. They just come outta nowhere and decide to take down Ezekiel just like that. Those must think we're afraid of them or something.” Nigel commented breaking the silence.

“I don't want to hear that from a guy who had some of his guys running out of the room when they heard this,” Furor responded, glaring at Nigel.

“Come on man, it wasn't like that, they were scared ya know?” He responded.

“Isn't one of your guild members also missing?” Ruby said in the first non-aggressive statement she gave the man.

“That's fucking worse!” Furor added.

Nigel looked taken aback. “What do you mean? One of us is dead, of course, they'd be afraid.”

Furor looked ready to burst and grabbed the man's head. He slammed him into the piece of wood they sat on and began shouting at him.

“You fucking idiot did just say that!?”

Nigel was beginning to turn red and looked at Furor with malice.

“Listen you young shit, don't think you can boss me around like I'm some bi-”

He removed Furor’s hand from him and foolishly threw a punch. His didn't land before Furor’s counterpunch landed in his face.

It sent him to the floor and left him clutching his face, specifically his now bleeding nose.

Tibaut was about to stand and try to stop them but Ruby stopped him.

“Let them work this out. They're men after all.” She said to him. Having been pushed back by her, he realised she was surprisingly strong.

“You useless son of bitch! What the fuck is the point of adventurers that run away at the first sign of danger!?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Nigel got up again and threw another punch. Furor gave him a headbutt and sent him back to the floor.

“Furor, dear, please be more gentle with him, we do need him for the assault after all.”

He clicked his tongue as he turned to her.

“Why the hell should a useless son of bitch like him that makes excuses for other useless sons of bitch even be allowed to run with us? I swear Elizabeth focused too much on quantity than quality.”

He bent to the face of Nigel who was graining in pain.

“You think you can come in here and forgive people like that? We're not farmers nor are we fucking fishermen. We're adventurers. If your first instinct is to run away instead of finding the son of bitch that offed that buddy of yours, then those men of yours are better being fishermen or finding a hole to die, 'cause they ain't meant to be adventurers.”

As he was speaking he noticed Nigel had managed to move his hand to Furor's leg. He grabbed it but Furor had no concern on his face.

“LET GO YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” He shouted at him.

His grip loosened before letting go.

“Try that shit again and I'll stomp your head in.” He stood up and walked over to sit back down.

“Are you sure we shouldn't have stopped that?” Tibaut asked.

“Trust me, you probably would have been dragged into it if you stood up. Besides, I think Nigel is getting pretty used to taking beatings.”

“You're new here, right Tibaut? I know it's kinda rough but that's kinda how adventurers here do things. (The guys anyway.)”

“I know but is it okay for him to be bleeding like that?”

“Eh, it's just a broken nose,” she responded.

None present in the carriage had any plans of pulling Nigel off the ground and left him on the wooden floor.

As Ruby began another conversation with Tibaut, Furor pulled up the pants sleeve of the leg that was squeezed. It looked bruised and sported a dark purple. It really popped compared to the rest of his pale skin.

(“I guess he isn't so useless after all. Nah, he's still shit, the only reason this happened was because I wasn't paying attention.”)

The carriage continued along and the most Tibaut could confirm was that he wasn't likely to be either man's most hated but was a likely number two candidate.

“Haha really? That's why Elizabeth put you in here?”

“I mean, Furor’s seems like one thing but Nigel, uh, seemed like he'd harbour hard feelings.”

“Yeah, that guy’d go on about disrespect the first time I came in here because I never greeted him first,” Kevin added

“I swear, the only reason he's been acting like that is because, and I'm surprised he didn't realise how stupid it sounded, he wanted to fill the gap left by Ezekiel. Can you believe that guy?”

“Alright time out!” Tibaut said as he crossed his arms. “I swear I don't think I've heard you say a single positive thing about this guy! Just what is the relationship between you too?”

“Ho ho, I never took you for the type to gossip. Don't worry boy, I'm available if you're up for it. Don't feel shy about asking me either Kevin.”

“...”

“...”

Both boys blushed while remaining silent.

“But like I said we're just drinking buddies and sometimes we have sex. That's all.”

“Huh!? Are you serious? That doesn't sound like something you can end “that's all” with.” Kevin added.