Matar’s grin indicated he was appreciative. But his face turned skeptical again. “You’ve been here this whole time. Why haven’t you taken out Fuerzo La Roca by now?” his face expressed.
The man scoffed and shook his head. “It’s not that easy. First of all, I’ve been taking out his henchmen this whole time. Secondly, I’m using a secret weapon which keeps me untraceable.” He motioned for them to step closer. He held out his arrow with a hollow tip next to another arrow which had a tiny reservoir with a black fluid in it. He pointed to the fluid. Then he made a slit motion across his throat. Ah, so that must be the deadly poison that spelled the end of Rieppeleon.
There was a knock at the door. Matar and Bruno turned to look at where the noise came from. By the time they looked back, the man in all black was gone. A gentle breeze wafted through curtains of an open window.
Matar sighed and shook his head, grinning to himself. He went to the door and said sweetly, “Who is it?”
“Uh, it’s the barkeep. I saw you run into this room. It’s currently being rented out to someone else. We do have other rooms available if you’re interested.”
“Oh silly us! Haha. Oh my I was so tired that I found the first bed I could just to take a quick nap. Ok I’ll be right out.”
“Uh, I have a friend here who says he has a message for you and it’s urgent.”
Uh oh, that didn’t sound good. Matar never liked messages that were urgent or delivered from barkeepers. He motioned for Bruno to follow him to the window. It was a second floor room. No trace of the man in black anywhere. Bruno didn’t like the prospect of jumping out the window from that distance. His extensive training covered dueling with short swords and daggers. His technique was impeccable if his opponent wasn’t moving. Bruno’s stomach sank as he thought about performing the “duck and roll” technique that Matar had told him about.
“Uh, well I don’t know what’s taking you so long, so uh, my friend is going to come in now.”
One massive thump shook the door and splintered the wood of the door frame. It sounded like a cannon ball. One more thump blasted the door which then slid along the wood floor toward Matar and Bruno. Suddenly the “duck and roll” technique didn’t sound as dangerous as what ever just busted the door down.
Crouching through what was left of the door frame was the hulk they met in the Pig Tits, Czawlytko. Bruno noticed he was wearing a fearsome helmet with vicious teeth painted on the outside and two horns on top. Bruno shivered.
“Uh, this is my friend. I’ve never met him until today, but he said he’s an excellent body guard, and technically you are trespassing.” said the barkeep.
Czawlytko’s eyes narrowed. Bruno could tell from the muscles around his eyes that he was grinning evilly.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t ‘Mateo’ and ‘Grabbo’ or ‘Garbbo’ or ‘Gabbro’, or what ever it is you call yourself. I’m so glad to have run into you. said Czawlytko. He cracked his knuckles menacingly. “I have a new employer, and he wants to have a word with you. He told me to bring you both back alive, but he didn’t say anything about ruffing you up a bit first.” He made his way over to Matar. “Oh I’m going to enjoy this.”
The black staff, Black Lightning appeared in Matar’s one hand, the other extended in front of him in ready position.
The brute wound up a punch and let loose a roar. His fist made solid contact with the wall where Matar’s head was only seconds earlier. Matar easily dodged that punch. The brute unleashed a volley of punches on Matar. One after the other landed on either air, or furniture. Matar was just too quick. Matar dodged, rolled, dodge-and-rolled, jumped, and slid around Czawlytko with ease. He didn’t even both striking at the brute. He would let Czawlytko tire himself out first.
Young Bruno had never seen such strength as he did from the brute, and never seen so much dexterity as he did from Matar. He was flabbergasted and stunned. He didn’t know if he should help, and if so, how? But he certainly couldn’t run. That would be dishonorable. He had to to something. He noticed that the brute only had shin guards on, with nothing to protect his calves. Apparently the brute was only expecting to face someone head on, and only one at a time. Bruno pulled a dagger from his boot and crouched into the ready position that he was taught over and over in his training. Then he lunged at the Brute’s calves.
Matar was not expecting this! His dodge collided right into Bruno, sending them both rolling on the floor. The Brute took one step-kneel and slammed his fist straight down into Matar’s stomach. The spikes on his knuckles punctured and left bleeding ellipses.