The Tavern

Entering the Tavern Ace was hit with a rush of life from the small town, music filled the air as people were mingling, server girls weaving their way through the crowd, and orders being yelled to the cooks. As he looked towards the middle of the tavern he saw a massive wall with a blazing fire amid all the commotion. On the wall was the head of a mighty beast that was slain and displayed. Ace was completely shocked, this beast was no animal he had ever come across in his world. The face of a rabbit, with the head of a frill neck lizard. Completely in awe of the place Ace completely forgot about his hunger until the smell of delicious food smacked him in the face. He gazed over the crowd to look for an empty table. His eyes stopped at a small table in the very back, and immediately went and sat down. At the table, a pretty server girl with flowers in her hair came with a huge smile on her face. 

“My my, I'm so lucky I get to serve such a handsome man at my table tonight!”

"Well, this handsome man is very lucky to be served by such a pretty lady!", He winked at the girl.

Blushing the girl asked, “What do I have the honor of serving you tonight?”

"Hmmm, I'll take the cheapest thing on the menu."

"Some bread and water?"

"I'm trying to cut back on the calories," he said stretching out his arms behind his head, gotta maintain this physique."

The waitress girl giggled, “Okay I'll be right back and blew a kiss before she left.”

Trying to keep a low profile Ace slumped down in his chair, he thought, Eat, go back to the Inn, and find a job that's all you gotta do. He then heard a loud group of men laughing and being incredibly obnoxious. Looking at their armor they seemed to be knights of some sort.

The waitress girl came back and put down in front of Ace a mighty feast. A giant roasted turkey leg, bread, vegetables, and ham.

Ace's eyes widened in shock, How the heck am I going to pay for this? he thought

“Um..?” Ace started.

“Don’t worry,” the girl whispered, “It’s on me.”

“My fair maiden you are beautiful as you are sweet.” And kissed her hand.

“Oh, what a gentleman! The tavern is always full of brutes so your presence is a breath of fresh air.” As the waitress flirted with Ace the other server girls started to notice the presence of this charismatic newcomer. And soon started to make their way over to him.

“Where are you from?”

“What's your name?”

“How old are you?”

“Are you betrothed?”

“Here let me feed you.”

“No,  here let him eat the food I give him.”

As the girls started to fight Ace stepped in well prepared with his interactions with all his fan girls back home. “Ladies please one at a time I would be more than happy to talk to each and every one of you please form a line and I’d be happy to answer all your questions. ”The girls did as they were told. The line grew and started to interfere with the tavern business and orders were not being brought to tables. Customers started complaining about the traffic jam near the back corner table.

BAM!!!!

“Where is the meal I ordered? And why are there, not the usual women waiting on me hand and foot!” yelled a deep and husky voice.

The tavern grew quiet.

“Oh no!” One of the tavern girls whispered, "It's Sir Jackson the head of the Bicalow knights."

She turned to go to the kitchen to get the man’s order only to be stopped by Jackson himself. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, “If it isn't my favorite tavern maid, you’ve been quite disloyal haven't you. Serving and flirting with this man over here. I don't think I can forgive you!” he said glaring at the girl and grabbing her arm tighter.

“Ow, that hurts!”

“Let's go!”

“No!”

Jackson started to drag the girl.

Ace then stood up “Don’t you’re ears work she said no! Let that girl go.”

“This has nothing to do with you he said snarling at Ace.”

Gasps escaped from the tavern. 

" No one dares to stand up to Jackson.", A man whispered.

Jackson then released the girl. Her arm was completely red.

“Are you gonna apologize?” Ace asked.

Jackson completely fired up said,” Who do you think you are peasant boy, a strange newcomer thinking he can come and do whatever you please? Wherever you're from that's not how it works here. Being a pretty boy won't do you any good here."

"Jackson stop already." the girl pleaded.

"Shut up wench."

"Looks like you weren't taught respect." Ace bit back.

"That's it come here! Jackson reached to his side and unsheathed his sword and swung at Ace. Jackson was big and buff; however, Ace was slim, fit, and had stamina on his side and quickly dodged the blade.

"I'll teach a nobody like you to talk back to me."

The tavern musicians started to play intense music while the men at the tavern started to cheer for Jackson hyping him up. The server girls were cheering for Ace to beat the pulp out of Jackson. Ace ducking and dodging the sword had no weapons, his sword was at the Inn. On top of that, Ace was a lover, not a fighter.

Leaping behind a table he turned it over on its side for cover. Ace looked for anything to defend himself, This guy is not joking he's going to kill me! What do I do? He looked over and saw an old odd-shaped acoustic guitar sitting by the fireplace. Power of music don't fail me now. 

 Jackson came and ambushed the table striking the wood. His sword momentarily got stuck through the wood abruptly stopping his attack. Ace looked at the sword near his head They don't make tables like that anymore. Ace quickly leaped out from behind the table. not wasting any time.

"SURPRISE!!!!!", Ace yelled.

With the instrument in his hand, Ace swung hitting Jackson on the head with the guitar. THUNK

The musicians immediately stopped playing and everyone was in utter shock. The newcomer managed to land a hit on this guy. Jackson utterly in shock that he was hit in the head with a lute stood there for a second. A piece of the instrument fell from his head. He took a wobbly step toward Ace only to wobble off to the side and step into a dirty bucket of water and slipped onto the floor. Ace walked over to the knight and looked down.

"Out cold man," Ace said.

Are you okay? the girl asked running up to Ace. You're not hurt, are you? 

"I'm fine, it's this guy I'm more worried about," he said pointing down at Jackson. I'm not really a doctor but I didn't hit him that hard I think. Looks like a mild concussion."

"Guitar? Do you mean that lute?" the girl asked.

"Oh, that's what that thing is? Anyways it's best if his buddies take him to get some medical attention."

"Sir Jackson had it coming to him. There have been countless fights and worse things he's gotten into. You just happened to be the one who landed a hit on him. Thank you for helping me." she looked at him with big doe eyes.

Jackson's buddies then rushed over to him, picking him up and eyeing Ace.

"I'm giving you a warning buddy don't you dare mess with the Bicalow soldiers.  Im letting this incident slide since this guy is such a jerk, but you've been warned. I would get your face out of this town or Jackson will kill you next time he sees you." He looked over to his other buddies.

 "Quick we need to get him to the doctors, this guy needs to be bled with the leeches quickly!!!" 

Leeches, what kind of town is this? Ace thought. Turning back to the servant girl he asked  "Do you know who the owner of this place is?"

"It's my father although he's out of town tonight so I'm in charge," she said.

"I feel so bad for causing a ruckus and making a mess of things. I want to pay for any damages I caused but I don't really have that much money. But,  I can sing! I can perform for the tavern to make up for this whole mess. I'll also help clean up the tavern at the end of the night!"

"You're a Bard!!!?" the girl asked excitedly.

"A Bard??.. Yeah, that's exactly what I am!" he laughed nervously.

"Oh my, talented and good-looking!"

Ace leaped onto the music stage and grabbed a new lute. Eyes stared at the newcomer who disturbed the evening. Ace started to strum and sing a ballad from his newest album. His smooth and steady voice carried across the room. Each word creating a sweet melody that flowed ever so meticulously yet carefree. The people sitting in the tavern completely forgot about the spat that took place. 

 The server girls were completely swooning over their new hero. His music seemed to put the people in a trance. When Ace sang it felt different than when he did back home. He felt powerful, the attention from the people surrounding him felt magnetic. They couldn't look away even if they wanted to. Ace finished his song, the audience burst out clapping and cheering. Leaving the stage the server girl came over. 

"You weren't lying! I've never heard any bard sing like that! Your talent! Is a gift from the Gods. The lute came and kissed your vocal cords!”

"Thank you! I think." 

The end of the night fast approached, Ace was one of the last people to leave only to be stopped by a random guy.

"Can I help you?" Ace asked.

"Yes said the young man eagerly, “I'll cut to the chase, I'm Johnny, and I have all kinds of connections throughout the Kingdom of Zole, and I'm so glad I stopped here tonight! You have talent! I was looking for a bard to come to perform at some taverns and you are exactly what I'm looking for. I've never heard a bard like you!  How would you like a job?" he asked.

"No crazy way!!!! You want to give me a singing job!!!! Finally, a job I can do and be good at!!! Yes! I want the job! You won't regret this Jonny this is my thing, this I can do! I can sing, dance, and compose songs!!!"

"A multifaceted bard, I like it! We start tonight!!!! Be prepared to be a star!!! What's your name?'

"Ace."

"Ace! Get packed cause we got a lot of traveling and preparing to do! With your talent and my genius were are going to be rich! Johnny reached out and shook hands with Ace. 

"To the days ahead!" Johnny cheered.