Act 3

One on the ground, three have their swords, one has weak hands, easily scared off..

Ron remembers one of the guardsmen had his hand tremble before. He looks to be very young, and probably hasn't seen a real fight, as Ron couldn't help but notice he quivers his clean sword at him.

The other two have scuvy look on their faces, wearing unkempt clothes underneath their plate torso, and leather boots that had seen their fair share of travelling—typical of those men who sell their swords to anyone who would spare a wage no matter which flags they must bear. As long as the money's good? they'll do their bidding.

Though they seem older and experienced, and certainly more eager to challenge him, he could hear their feet agitate.

Officer Dan resurfaces from the thrown table he was under and finds his men before him.

"wh- don't just stand there?!" Dan orders them to attack.

First, one man steps forward as he accelerates at incredible speed, yelling, and dragging his sword towards Ron, intent to cut his neck in one strike.

While Ron did feel surprised, he managed to deflect it, as he hooks the sword before the man could even realise what just happened.

Clearly, he underestimates Ron.

don't feel like chopping..

In quick reflect, Ron tilts his other axe to its flat side, and uses it to hammer the man's ear, banging him with ringing pain.

The second man follows suit, he seems more agile and prone himself slightly lower. He holds his sword with his two hands as he jumps himself forward intent to thrust its edge deep into Ron's stomach.

Ron hastily hits the edge and deflects it which exposes the man's left rib for easy pickings. He then hammers the rib, causing tremendous pain to the man.

The third one found himself alone, whilst Ron looks at him dead-centre at his sight.

Fear glooms inside this young man's heart. For his bravery fleets off as he faces this giant enemy.

His palms are sweaty..

His knees weak.. arms felt heavy..

He's nervous.

But then came a slight clarity,

For all the days he has trained, of all the chores and the errands he has done, everything he endured has led to this day..

For what is a man without honour? without courage? without strength? if he backs down now, he will never have his chance,

To prove he is worthy, of Eudora, the pride and glory of Empire's men. For nothing is more chivalrous in this world than to make her proud, as was his duty besets upon him.

So, he firmly grips his sword with both hands..

Slowly raises it above his head..

Then run onwards to Ron,

Screaming, ready to sacrifice himself..

"BOO!" shouts Ron.

Ron shakes him off with a ghostly taunt, paralysing him where he stands.

"urhm?" wimps the young man, petrified.

Ron grabs the man's hair and slams his head into the nearby table, sending him to the realm of unconscious..

..just beside Ron's duel, the fourth man is lying on the floor nearby. He falls alongside Mila who tries to run away from Ron's table-throwing wrath, as she crashes herself upon him.

Both of them open their eyes as they find themselves meeting each other's gaze.

But then they realise her palm was resting on the man's chest,

"Eh?? wh-" Mila flusters in confusion.

And so they glance at each other again to confirm the situation they're in,

"Hello." as she greets him with an awkward smile.

Tis indeed a peculiar position for the man. Surely he would not want to hurt a woman as gullible as she is, especially in such intimate proximity. But then he sees his fellow guards attacking Ron before him.

So he comes back to his senses and glances over to his sword on the side.

She notices him looking at his sword. And so they glance at each other again for their conclusion.

The guardsman reaches his hand towards it whilst Mila hastily grabs a wooden pint on the top of his head. In a small gap of a second, Mila successfully hit it into his face just before he reaches the pommel.

With this, it buys enough time for Mila to dash toward the bar.

Despite the terrible pain, the fourth man stands up and chases her. She runs and pulls a few chairs to block his way..

..Behind the bar, Barb takes a peek from the side of the counter and witnesses them going in hot-pursuit.

As Mila almost reaches the kitchen door, one of her feet slips and causes her to crash on the floor, just right passes Barb.

Barnaby sees the fourth man closing in. So he grabs a bottle and then extends his feet to the corner.

The fourth man falls when his feet make contact with Barb's.

Mila avoids the man who fell near her. Barnaby then jumps to smash the bottle into the guardsman's face.

Mila catches her breath as she hides along with Barb, "Phew.. thanks." says her.

Afterwards, they curiously stick their heads slightly above the counter to take a peek at Ron's situation.

But then they hear the guardsman grumble himself in pain, seemingly still conscious enough to be a threat.

They quickly reach bottles, bowls, plates, everything under the bar that was close by they reach, and buries them into the man's face again. and again. and again.

The guardsman finally gives up and sleeps soundly into the night.

'Third times a charm’ as they write it too often.. thought Mila.

Again, they would continue to watch Ron behind the bar..

..The first guardsman pushes himself off the table and faces back to Ron. whilst the ringing still pounds his ear, he swings his sword down towards Ron's back.

Yet Ron quickly blocks his strike again and pushes the sword upwards, leaving the man wide open.

Ron hammers his shoulder head-on full of northerner's fury, whilst blocking the other man’s arm from ever moving. The man outcries his agonising pain as he could feel his collarbone brittle in a fracture.

The second man sees an opportunity to cut Ron's leg. But before he could deal any kind of wound, Ron catches him moving, tosses his strike, and hits his hip.

Though the blow certainly hurts, the man turns back whilst swinging his sword again at him.

Ron blocks the swing and strikes his waist. But just when Ron is about to hit again, Officer Dan dashes and blocks it confidently with his sword.

"you think I would stand idle and watch my men be humiliated?!"

Ron toss aside his parry and kicks the guardsman away, as he responds grudgingly,

"I thought you'd want to try my dinner."

Ron comes forth and swings his axes with brewing resentment, Officer Dan parries it twice as he moves backwards to lengthen his gap.

Surely Dan would have enough prowess to back his official title. It is quite exhilarating to contest his fighting skill with someone worthy as this 'towering' fiend in front of him.

Dan taunts him, "Ha! so this is the mighty Ron! how—"

Ron rush and swings with deadly speed, scaring Dan as he barely parries and trembles behind his sword,

"No man should steal another man's Ale!!" shouts him.

"What??!" Officer Dan confused, as he then averts another dangerous swing of Ron's..

"Your friend's crazy.." Mila mutters as they're watching Ron unleash his bullish berserk upon them.

Barb notices the second guardsman approaching Ron again, intent to stab his back.

Though he wanted to help his friend fight, Barb feels he needed to hide, as he firmly grips his scroll, unwilling to let it taken away..

..but then an idea came to Barb.

Just when the second man run onwards to Ron, Barb accurately throws a bottle to his back neck. He looks back at the bar to see where it came from.

Mila sees what Barb did, then proceeds to join in as she throws a bottle at his face. The man knocks out onto the floor..

..Officer Dan, who was troubled handling Ron, begins to muster his deep anger and dash bravely to attack him. He swings his sword again and again, glaring, and yelling with full-weight of his disgust, startling Ron at his feet.

Though Ron's experience bested him with another parry, Dan push forward his sword with surprising strength and leans closer, as he mutters his gruelling hate,

"you know what I'm gonna do with you? I'm gonna take you back to Noria, I will drag you to that field, I will have you spit and beaten along the way by every single one of their wives and daughters you had them slaughtered! I'm gonna fucking hang you and bring justic—"

Suddenly, a bottle flies towards Dan, and smashes into his head, knocking him over to Ron's side.

"Oh.." Ron startles .

The first guardsman sees and looks over to the Bar to find Mila, who was just about to take aim at them. They meet one another's glance as she responds to him with a nervous smile.

The man hurries but luckily Ron catches him off guard, as he hammers towards the man's groin.

Mila then throws the bottle to the man's head for the finishing move, knocking him over on his feet..

..The third guardsman wakes up from his unconscious realm and finds his fellow men lying on the floor defeated. Then at the front, he sees his mate yell his injured gut.

Without a second thought, he stands up and swings down high from above, trying to strike Ron’s head as he shrieks his squeamish voice..

..But of course, he misses and instead hits his back-armour.

Ron turns back. He looks right into this young man's eyes as he wides a grin,

"You're hundred years too early, boy."

Ron head-buds and kicks him towards another table nearby..

..Meanwhile, Dan resurface and starts attacking Ron again. but Ron had enough of him and instead meet his swing with a powerful hammer, tossing his sword off from his hand with a wild ping.

Then Ron grabs and throws him towards the Bar. Mila quickly runs sideways as Barb ducks to avoid flying Dan.

Officer Dan lands onto the counter on his stomach, as he discovers Barnaby under him.

"Wh- ..You?!" Dan is surprised by Barb’s presence, he was behind the bar this whole time. Before Dan could even process, he felt his shoulders pulled back, dreadfully embracing his fate between Ron's hands.

Ron beats his face and pushes it to the counter. He then sees his men begin stand up.

Ron hastily grab Dan's back again as he presses his axe to his throat, taking him hostage which staggers the guardsmen,

"Leave us, and no harm will come to him." Ron orders them.

"Heh, you have no honour.." Dan says, as he spits a few blood from his lips.

Surely, these men are bruised and beaten up badly. They have no more will, nor strong enough to continue this fight.. it's not worth it they thought, they've learned their lesson, very well.

But then.. the tavern door opens wide.

Enters another dozen of men, with swords and crossbows pointed at him..

Ron pulls Officer Dan into their direction and uses him as a shield.

"Ron! release him immediately!" Yells the older guardsman.

Then flashes of light beam through the windows, revealing another dozen men circling the tavern outside. One of them would use an iron cone to speak loudly,

"There's no way out for you Ron! we have you surrounded! surrender now!"

Dan realises Ron's position as he raises a grin, "I suggest you lower your axe, mate."

"In your mother's dream."

"You have a death wish?! I'm a Warrant Officer, end this now!" Dan yells .

"You better release him now or you're not going to leave out here alive!" one of the guardsmen raises his voice to him.

Ron hesitates..

Just when he got the chance for a nice meal after a long bounty huntin'

Of all the days, it has to be now, isn't it..

..was it worth it? asks himself.

Ron inhales a deep breath..

Then responds to them,

"..So be it-"

"Wait!" yells Barb.

Barnaby stands up. He walks cautiously towards the guards,

"I'm the one you want."

"Oh there he is." says Dan as he rolls his eyes.

There was a brief silence among them, until one of the guardsmen points his crossbow to Barb.

"Put your hands in the air!" And threatens him.

"Wait! they got nothing to do with me! so leave them be!" says Barb as he gestures them to stop.

"I said put your hands in the air!" the crossbowmen insisted.

"Okay! okay.." he raises his hands as he slowly faces Dan,

"If I surrender myself.. would you leave them alone?"

Ron is confused. "..Are you stupid?"

Dan clears his throat, "I can't promise you anything not until Ron lowers his—"

"Shut your mouth lad." Ron pushes his axes closer to his neck, startling the crossbowmen at the ready.

"Ron, you don't wanna do this." says the older guardsman.

one of the lights flashes Ron's face, slightly blinds him.

"We will shoot to kill!" shouts the crossbowmen.

"Ron just, put your axe down.." Barb says.

Ron still hesitates, "but-"

"just surrender.. there's no need for bloodshed.." Barb mutters.

Dan struggles, "you better listen to your friend, Ron."

..he gazes his eyes between the gaps of shoulders and onto the bright windows, as his sweat trickles down towards his lashes.. his lungs loosen their strain as his breath gradually lessens.. he looks back at his friend's worried face for a moment, and closes his eyes thereafter.

Despite his loath, Ron heeds Barb and finally releases Dan..

but of course.. Officer Dan proceeds to have their hands cuffed as they are shoved forcefully by the guardsmen. One of them would knock Barnaby's head before he could even protest their arrest.

"Oh yeah, also the girl?" orders Dan to his men.

"Wait! Why me??" disagrees her.

"Apart from harbouring a fugitive, I saw you threw bottles and pints to my men. So, you are to be charge of Battery." states Dan.

"Wait!" Mila stops the guardsman, and asks Dan,

"Can you give me a minute to leave a note for uncle Tom?"

Although he seems annoyed by her request, he allows her so, "..fine."

Mila goes below the bar to take a quill, a bottle of ink, and a piece of paper. She then puts it above the counter and begins to write,

"Okay.. dear uncle Tom.. I'm very sor.."

She proceeds to write a lengthy letter to his uncle as she peacefully dips her quill every five seconds or so. While it certainly takes quite a bit of time, Officer Dan is suspiciously willing to wait for her. The rest of the guardsmen seem uneager nor dare to comment as if they and Dan may have one or two pints that they haven't been paying due. Until she then finishes it and finally offers her hands to be cuffed..

..And so, the rain has stopped. The townspeople would gather around to witness three of them being walked off into an enclosed wagon. A handful of guardsmen would disperse the crowd, clearing the path for the carriage as Officer Dan and the rest rides it away from the square.