Alternia Comics

As the minstrel strummed a quiet background tune and the dwarf set up more of his strange devices, the singer decided it was time for a break. He walked up to Terrabess and winked at her as he took a mug of mead from her tray. "Thanks, darling," he said with a smile decidedly different from the one he had shown to the crowd.
"Not enough people say that," she said with a returning grin. "But they are all paying, instead of playing, for their drinks, so if you'll excuse me ..."
The singer bowed politely and stood aside. Oh well, he thought as he took a seat to watch her go. He enjoyed the view as she walked away, but scolded himself for letting her. Taking a sip, he thought of a saying from what seemed like a lifetime ago: there are treasures aplenty in the world, and you can't break into all of them. It was the very advice, in fact, which had him here, far from anything he had once called home, performing for his bread with a pair who were born for the stage, and using the name Bori Dannin. Not to mention the applause, which he loved, and the free-roaming, legitimate lifestyle, which was just as enjoyable. On top of all that, Gordon the minstrel and Whiskers McTarr the dwarf were far better company that anyone from his old career. Yes, he could get used to this new life as Bori Dannin ...
... and the mound of gold he had hidden away, just in case, made it even better.
Oh bogs, Bori thought as he looked to the door, his contented smile becoming a worried frown. Should've knocked on wood.
Through the door had stepped a big brute of a man with a bald, shaven scalp, the dark skin of a Birean, and the armor of a Kalduric officer, both glistening with raindrops from outside. He looked with narrow-eyed scorn at the revelers in the tavern as a dozen men in similar armor entered in behind him and spread out along his flanks. No one had really noticed him yet except Bori and his companions, who exchanged worried glances. Bori motioned to Gordon to stop playing, and when he did, the crowd sensed there was something wrong and quieted down, all eyes going to this newcomer.
"Some of you know me," said the brute in a deep voice that still carried the hint of a Birean accent. "I am Sheriff Voldir, and I am here investigating recent banditry going on in this forest. If you all cooperate, no one will get hurt, and I can make this forest a safer place for you." He nodded to his men, who moved out through the room, searching people with their steel-headed cudgels raised and all too ready for Bori's liking. He cursed his old habits and cautiously reached to ditch his hidden weapons ...
"Stand up, you," said one of the soldiers who grabbed him roughly by the collar. Bori cursed silently and did as he was told.
"Wait just a minute!"
The indignant voice of the inn's owner stopped all activity in the room. The man watching Bori turned his head to look, and in moments the singer had planted all his weapons on the very soldier who meant to search him. He heard Gordon stifle a laugh and smirked, putting a finger to his lips and finding himself amazed once more at how keen the minstrel's eyes were.
"Why here, Sheriff?" demanded Polly. "My patrons have done nothing wrong. They're just here for a little food and drink."
"I don't know that for certain," said the Sheriff without even looking at her. He motioned for his men to continue and they did. The soldier finished searching Bori and shoved him roughly back into his seat. Bori collected his weapons as he turned to search the next patron - all except for a tiny vial of illegal poison. Try explaining that to Sheriff Bald-ir. "I don't suspect you do either, woman. Now stand aside before I arrest you, too."
Polly crossed her arms and stood aside, but muttered, "The last Sheriff knew me ... he knew I'd help him catch any bandits mucking up my inn ..."
Voldir whirled on her, his massive arm raised and ready to strike the insolent innkeeper.
Bori watched with growing alarm. He looked to Whiskers, who nodded, understanding. The dwarf rushed in between a pair of soldiers and the box of fireworks they were trying to make sense of, shouting, "Don't touch that!"
Suddenly three bursts of colored light went off over the dwarf's head, right in the eyes of the soldiers who had been searching the fireworks. "I can't see!" yelled one. The other dropped his club and fell to the floor, crying out in pain and clutching at his eyes.
It worked like a charm. Voldir, along with everyone else, had turned to gape at the fireworks. Now he stalked through the crowd, pushing people out of the way like rag dolls, moving towards Whiskers and away from Polly.
Gordon moved over to Bori and said, "We're going to be in a lot of trouble for that."
Bori snorted derrisively at Voldir, red in the face and scolding his blinded troops while they tried in vain to look him in the face. Then he looked over at Terrabess, who had gone quickly to her mother, unhurt thanks to Whiskers' distraction. "I know." It was worth it.