Chapter 1

"Wow what a cesspit," thought Brianna. "I would have thought in a city as large as Mariners Deep there would be more enlightened people, but I couldn't have met this many stupid men if I tried. Why is sex the only thing on their little minds?"

"If they aren't trying to find the right words, no matter how crude, to get me to warm their bed, they are challenging me to a fight they can't win. I know the guild said that I'm supposed to journey and observe people, but I don't understand what I going to learn from any of this. I can't wait till my time is up and I can go back to the guild, " she continued thinking to herself.

As she traveled along the water front she found herself in front of a tavern called the "Hidden Keep" that seemed cleaner than most of the others she passed.

She decided to go in and have supper. She always seemed to get better information about a city from sitting in the darkest back corner of the room watching people as they came and went. It always helped kill a few hours during the day too.

As she entered the tavern she noticed it was better lit than most of the other taverns, and while it was packed with people, it seemed really clean. She didn't see any trash on the floors and the tables didn't seem to be caked with dried food on them. In all, the tavern seemed to be kept up really well.

Then an aroma drifted to her from the cooking pit and it made her mouth water. She looked around and managed to find a table in the back where she sat down and waited. If the staff was any good they would notice her sitting there, she thought.

Even though they really seemed busy, the one thing that seemed to draw her attention was the bartender. He wasn't that much taller than average, but he wasn't quite as dark skinned with the "sun kissed" tan look the locals sported.

He had thick dark curly hair, and seemed to be wearing very baggy clothes to hide his frame. Brianna thought he did seem rather young to be a seasoned bartender, and she would have estimated him at no more than twenty or twenty one seasons at best.

Why he suddenly drew her attention, she didn't really know. Maybe what did it was that she couldn't help but notice that every time a serving girl went to up to the counter to get their order filled, they didn't just read it to him or reach it to him over the counter, they all went behind the counter and took each and every opportunity to touch him while they talked to or waited for him to fill their order.

She guesstimated about ten to twelve girls were doing this from time to time in all.

They would either touch the sides of his face, his arms, or stand next to him with their arms around his waist. They were clearly flirting heavily with him.

"I wonder what makes him so special. Bet he's already either bedded most of them or is leading the rest of them on somehow. Men are nothing but scum who spend most of their time waiting to get their rocks off, " thought Brianna darkly.

One thing she was curious to note was that while he would look directly at them when they did that, he would only smile shyly and quickly look away.

"Strange, that smile never seems to reach his eyes. And he seems nervous that they keep flirting so heavily with him. I bet it's an act though, " thought Brianna.

"But it's a really strange one if it is. I've never seen a man who had women, any women, all around him and who were making very obvious they were interested in him, and who didn't have either his tongue or his pecker hanging out. It's almost like he is oblivious to what they want from him. I guess he is attractive enough, but what makes him so special to them?" she wondered.

Even while she was still lost in thought, she couldn't fail to notice a drunk staggering up to her. When she first noticed him standing up from across the room she hoped he would head for the door, but she guessed that would be too much to ask for.

She sighed inwardly, preparing herself for a fight once again. She would either have to half kill, or kill, some man who couldn't keep it in his pants yet once again.

"Hayya pritty lady do youse want me to buy youse a drink?" said the drunk rather loudly as he swayed from side to side.

"No, no thanks. I'm good," said Brianna as she looked pointedly to her left, away from the drunken man standing in front of her table. She was hoping if she looked away he would take the hint and move off.

Instead he seated himself at her table.

"Waasshaa matter, you tood good to have a drink with me. 'm just trying to get to know youse better that's all," said the drunk.

Brianna, who was still making it a point not to look directly at him, said "Look I'm just minding my own business here and I would just like to be left alone. Please respect that."

This seemed to anger the drunk who drew himself up to his full height from the slouched position he was sitting in and said "I was just trying tood be neighborly and make a neeeww friend by offering tood buy youse a drink. I didn't mean anything else by it. I bet youse just some man hating dike."

It seemed as if all conversations stopped in their area of the tavern.

Anger flashed in Brianna's eyes as she hissed "DAMNIT, I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS. And I SHOULDN'T have to take this from such a stupid and lowly creature as you!!"

As she leaned forward to physically vent her frustration further, she suddenly noticed the bartender standing by the table. She barely had time to register that he was there, and that made her nervous.

Who was this man who was able to get under her guard so quickly, quietly, and easily? No one had done that since she was a small child! She was always aware of her surroundings.

He leaned in close to the drunk, placed one large hand on the drunk's shoulder, and said as quietly as he could "Melt, trust me on this one, you don't want this trouble you're about to buy for yourself. Just play along with everything I say out loud and I'll take care of the cost myself later, ok?"

The drunk went wide eyed and nodded.

The bartender leaned back and said rather loudly "Well ok, that would be great Melt."

Then he turned to the rest of the room and said "Melt feels bad for disturbing this young lady and everyone near her, and has offered to pay for a free round for everyone in the tavern."

The room erupted with a cheer as some of the closer patrons lifted Melt up and took him to the bar.

"Hey Trish, would you pour out the drinks and keep total so we know what the total tab is?" called out the bartender.

An attractive brunette winked his way, said "Sure thing honey," and started giving out drinks.

Once he finished, he turned back to the lady sitting at the table. He was obviously blushing, and said "Sorry about that disturbance, what can I get for you this evening," as he wiped his hands on his apron.

The woman sat smoldering as she stared up at the bartender. She was so mad she was shaking.

Before he could say another word, she said "How dare you. How dare you come over here believing I needed saving by some big strong man because I wasn't capable of handling myself, as if I was some helpless woman who needed someone to hide behind! Who in the hell do you think you are?"

Brianna was angry that he had intervened. She knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She had been doing that for seasons. But she was also angry at herself. It didn't fail to register on her if he had been an assassin instead of bartender she would have been dead already.

For all she knew he could still be one.

Standing before that heated tirade the bartender held up his obviously well calloused hands, to stop her mid rant, and said "Whoa there, I wasn't trying to come to your aid and save you, my whole plan was to try and save Melt."

Brianna was pulled up short at that comment and appeared to be confused.

"Excuse me, what was that again?" she said in shock.

The bartender sat down across from her with both of his hands flat on the table. He knew this was a sign to show her he meant her no harm.

"Hmmm, where to start," he said. "First, while I'll admit a lot of men noticed when you walked in, only Melt had the courage, and I also admit it was liquid courage, to approach you."

"The first thing they noticed I'm sure was that you are dressed in a leather outfit, and that peaked their interest. It's hard not to notice a woman in leather. One who is wearing a leather vest and a pair of leather britches, if I'm not mistaken?

"But, I'm sure most of them failed to notice the chain mail undershirt you're wearing. It's not hard to see that the leather vest swings back and forth like flowing water over you, so something within your shirt is moving it.

"Meanwhile, the leather you're wearing is worn, patched well in a few places, and fits loose enough on you that you can wear chain mail under it and it doesn't restrict your range of movement.

"That means it's not new outfit or something you rarely wear, you're young enough that it can't be that old, and even if you had it for seasons in a closet somewhere, it probably wouldn't fit you as well as it does if you had to grow into it.