From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Jan 31 12:23:27 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8099 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!news.cs.utah.edu!news.cc.utah.edu!news From: svanhorn@anetbbs.com (Scott Van Horn) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [The Silent Forest] Scene Three: The Old Bull Date: Mon, 30 Jan 95 16:06:03 MDT Organization: University Of Utah Computer Center Lines: 97 Distribution: world Message-ID: <19950130.7E565C0.E322@anetbbs.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: clint.icw.com X-BBS-Software: EXCELSIOR! BBS v1.21i [The Silent Forest] [Scene Three: The Old Bull] [Written by Scott Van Horn] As the Trylsis town rised in the background, Matrium walked quickly down the fore, slipping on a few of the loose rocks that covered the trail. Behind him, the forest loomed, silent as ever. And behind him, Matrium left the bird and the old man, Turka, "The Keeper of the Forest;" the man who had driven him out. Soon he reached the city gate and nodded to the guards standing on either side of the road, eyeing each traveler as they passed. One of them nodded to Matrium, his dented metal helm atop his head almost falling off. It seemed the guards were only for tattered decoration. Nothing interesting had happened in the town for a long time. Matrium entered the tavern, The Old Bull, first thing in the town to drink, woo the women and perhaps tell a tale or two of his past week. The tavern usually welcomed Matrium, except when he became drunk, which wasn't often. The tavern also served as an inn but was most popular for its brothel services. Ladies watched the men below from a creaky balcony above the bar, waving their large busts and swaying their rumps for inviting customers. "Hello, Ryuold, you bastard! How goes?" Matrium said amusingly to a man half-slumped over on the bar. "So drunk this early?" "Matrium? Where on bloody hell have you been? I've missed your sore company! I've turned to being drunk all day since you left for your hunting trip. Did ya bag anything?" The other simply chuckled slightly saying, "Well, to tell the truth, no. There's nothing left in there." He hesitated for a moment. "Except one thing. Hell, I'd love to put an arrow in that bird." "A bird?" Ryuold repeated, laughing. "Yes, a bird." Matrium said, talking distantly. "And by the ashes of that bastard Turka, I'm going give that bird an arrow he'll never get away from." Ryuold laughed heartily, snagging the sleeve of a man, drunk beyond comprehension, but Matrium grabbed Ryuold's neck and turned his head around to face him. "Don't mouth a word of this to anyone. Just don't." Ryuold's eyes truely were horrified but he kept his wits. "Why, Matr--" "Because you are going to help me bag that bird. Tonight, we leave. By tomorrow night we'll have that bird in our hands and everyone's congratulations in our ears." Ryuold didn't chuckle this time but merely shook his head. "What have you been eating, Matrium? What good is a bird?" "This isn't just a bird," Matrium said softly. "This is the most majestic creature I've seen. Come with me tonight." Ryuold shook his head, smiling. "I. . .I don't know. There's a lot I have to do and. . ." "A lot you have to do?" Matrium repeated. "For hell's sake, what do you have to do other than drown yourself in liquor?! Come with me!" Ryuold sat for a moment, considering the matter seriously. "Well, if you say so, I'll go," he said finally and Matrium gave him a good pat on the back. "That's my friend! It'll be fun." Matrium's eyes drifted up above him where a woman sat, breasts high and white, legs sleek and smooth. Her cheeks stood high on her almost carved face and her eyes winked at him, her lashes waving lusciously. "In the meantime," he added, eyes latched on the woman, "I have some business to take care of. I'll meet you at the gate just after sundown." Ryuold nodded, taking another swig from his cup. Leaving the bar, Matrium practically ran up the stairs to meet the woman. When he reached her he planted a light kiss on the back of her neck. "I've missed you, Mirana." He then placed another kiss on her chin, eyes looking into hers. Smiling with her rosebud lips she walked away, holding onto his shirt. "Follow me, Matrium. We have a lot to catch up on," she said softly, winking an eye. Smiling hungrily he followed her into a nearby room, shutting the door. (c) 1995 Scott Van Horn All Questions, Comments and Criticism welcomed by Public or by Private reply at [svanhorn@anetbbs.com]. Thank you for reading. -- 'Innocence is not a virtue, Knowledge is the Truth.' -Matrium Bard *= Originated from The AlterNet! BBS / (801) 567-9560 / Salt Lake City, UT =* Administrator: dmitri@anetbbs.com (telnet: 199.104.65.30)