"My, it is so good to see you again." Said Maeve after they sat down in a tavern. "After your fight with those men yesterday I could never stop thinking about it. I seem to be quite fond of you. After all you are quite talented." She smiled.
Jaune's face reddened a bit. "You flatter me, miss." He chuckled and looked away. That was a bit too early. He looked back. "But it wasn't just talent, I also did it so those three wouldn't hurt you, or touch you." He paused. "Besides, why should I let innocent people be hurt? That would be out of conduct, right?"
She nodded in agreement. "All too true, dear sir. All too true." She then smiled. "You seem chivalrous like a knight, so why the peculiar attire?" She asked as she peered closer to examine him again.
Jaune looked at his clothes. The "garments" he wore were made of leather harvested from the animals he had hunted. Though it was enough for a person who instanly needed clothes, it would be estranged to a person who has already experience in the textile industry. "A long story." Jaune answered as he scratched his head.
For most of the time they talked. When Maeve asked him a question Jaune answered it with ease, although not totally everything. Him probably dying, traveling, and waking up in this world were the things he had to leave out. Besides, who would believe such a thing? In this day and age most people would consider you delusional and insane, and they might just throw you into a dark asylum. Jaune didn't know how long it was before Maeve asked him one final question.
"Have you ever met or encountered the Black Rats after yesterday's incident?" She asked with a voice like that of a whisper, shifting from a smiling face into that of a serious one.
"No." Jaune answered in bewilderment. "I have not encountered anyone before I entered the city. And who are the Black Rats? Are they some sort of gang?" He asked.
Maeve looked at him with surprise. "What? You do not know who they are?" She asked.
Everyone who were nearbye glanced toward them, their face showing bits of anger and fury.
"You better tell him, miss." Said a customer with a coarse voice and a dark hood hiding his head at a neighboring table. "If you do not want him to die, that is." He said a bit harshly.
Maeve glared at him. She then turned back to Jaune and explained the whole matter to him. "The Black Rats are a guild with people of all specialties. They are largest and strongest of all guilds in this town, owning about a third of the town's suberbs and part of the outskirts of the city. They are led by one aristocrat named Robert Blackwood.
"Though led by an aristocrat, their actions are not so much like them nobles. It would be more better to say that they act even worse than nobles, more like barbarians to say the least. They would try breaking down the door of those who did not pay them and take anything of value inside their houses. At times they would beat people up just because they accidently touched them, rob from the poor, or even harm the women, the children are of no exception. They even used their swords to sometimes force the merchants at the stands to lower the prices of their merchandise. Their leader is no good either. He is cruel, too cruel, as a person. Once when a man wronged him in accident he cut off his ring finger and asked his men to beat him. At another time he demanded the head of a poor man who refused to hand over his belongings. The women and children were fared even much worse. He has taken the wives and children of those who could pay what they were due to be sold as slaves to him. The women,and children who were not even 13, at times were assaulted by his men as they were enslaved."
"Have the leaders of this town thought of stopping them?" Jaune asked. "If you have leaders why aren't they doing anything about it?"
"They once tried, but failed." Maeve answered him. "A nobleman once had enough of Black Rats and tried calling the people for an insurrection. Many people sided with him. But one day he was assassinated, and his followers scattered. Lord Blackwood, as he is considered by the nobility from that day forward, hunted his followers down. Many had to hide in other towns just to escape them. Those who were unfortunate enough to be captured were killed. And from that day forward no one has thought of stopping them again." She then sighed heavily. "In fact, it is a miracle if you haven't encountered them after yesterday, for the men which attacked me were from them."
"What!?" I exclaimed in disbelief. "So I have just enraged the very worst mafia gang/guild in my very first time to this city. This is just great." He thought. "Maybe next time I might end up being eaten by a dragon."
He then sat up. "You are not lying to me are you?"
"No. I am not."
He shook his head. "I definately messed up on my first time here."
He then asked. "Will they hurt you after they are done with me?"
"Most probably so," she answered, "they will after they are done with you, seeing that you have injured them so badly."
At that moment the tavern door opened. Four men entered into the tavern, their faces expressionless. Snake eyes flashing, they examined the tavern in detail until they saw both Maeve and Jaune, and started walking towards them. Jaune could recognize three of them. They were people which he attacked from yesterday, and it looks like they brought someone along.
The new person was a man of high stature and terrifying to say the least. He was burly and seemed to be strong. He had black, messy hair and his eyes seemed to show anger and a tint of arrogance. To Jaune's eyes he looked like he could rival Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone. To be honest he was very muscular in size. Jaune wondered how he could beat him.
The man stood in between them. After placing a hand on the table he spoke in a rough and coarse voice.
"Hello, sir." He began. "My name is Robert. I heard that a very young man was able to beat three of my men in a brawl the other day," he smirked, "just to save this woman." Je then tried stroking Maeve's hair. She jolted her face away. "Oh, showing resentment, eh?"
Great. Now this is just messed up. He had just fought three men the other day now another burly, muscular, and/or dumb, pervertive, piece of shizzing meat is hear? What now? Will he have to fight a medieval final boss? Jaunes sighed. "Please stop. Can't you see she is annoyed?"
The man's face turned to him. He then smirked. "Do you think I care?" He continued to harass Maeve.
"Oh, no no." Jaune said as he lowered his head. "I know you won't." He said as he then chuckled. "But maybe you will not care for this then."
Suddenly, Jaune's knuckles were already near the man's nose. It was all so sudden the men beside him could't react. During the knockback Jaune grabbed his head and slammed it on the table. He then drew out his pocket knife and laid it near his throat.
"In my opinion it would be best if you did k ow and care about everyone's feelings. Mh?" He smiled and lowered the pressure of the knife on the man's neck. "And if you touch her again i will make sure i will put this right foot up your left cheek." He then stood up and turned to Maeve. "Come, let's go to your home."
As they turned to leave the burly man stood up. "Yes, better leave, you bastard son." He threatened with an arrogant laugh. "Better leave so I could rape that slut with ya."
Jaune stopped at the tavern door. He sighed. He might have crossed the line for this one. Now, what can he do?
Jaune held the bolts of the tavern door. With a thrust he suddenly locked the door. "Manners," he said with a pause.The people in the room stared at him in surprise. What is he trying to do.
"Maketh," he continued as he locked another bolt, "man." He finished as he locked the last bolt of the tavern door. The people in the room looked on in worry and confusion. The four villains on the table looked confused. Suddenly the burly man began to laugh. The men which he had with him followed, ringing the tavern.
"What are you doing? Locking yourself to death?" Mocked the burly man with a haughty laugh. "Maybe you are brave or stupid fu--"
Suddenly before he could finish his sentence a clay cup slammed towards the man's head. The clay cup shattered. The burly man fell down to the ground unconcious.
Now, the atmosphere in the tavern shifted from the sound of laughter to silence. The remaining men standing looked at the unconcious man lying on the ground, then shifted their gaze to Jaune, and back again to the brawly man as Jaune stepped closer towards them drawing out his new metal knife. The men just stood there, unable to know whether they should fight or not.
"What?" Jaune taunted them. "Are we going to stand here all day or fight?"
The men stood there unable to decide. They could fight but the beating they took yesterday made them hesitate. After awhile they decided to back down. "Sorry, sir. We will now leave." They said as they dragged the burly man's unconcious body out of the tavern, leaving the stunned custumers, a stupified Maeve, and Jaune, all alone in the tavern.
"Well, that was easy." Said Jaune as he stretched his body and sheethed his knife. "I thought it was gonna be a bit harder."
Suddenly, the tavern door burst open and the unconcious, burly man with his companions came charging towards him.
"Great, when they said they were going to leave." He drew out his knife again. "Maeve, I would like you to close your eyes." He said as he charged towards them.
When Maeve opened her eyes again she saw an astonishing scene. The bodies of the assailants were on the ground unconcious but alive. But there was one left standing, that of the burly man, and he was trembling in front of Jaune.
"What," he paused as he gasped for air, "who are you?"
Jaune went closer and whispered to his ear. "Someone who you shouldn't mess with." He said as he struck the man's forhead again making him unconcious.
"Well, that was great." Jaune said as they both got out of the tavern. "They don't seem that fearful at all. Do you mind if i accompany you back to your humble abode?" He asked as he turned to Maeve.
Maeve, who was trying to process what had happened, turned to asnwer him. "It would be my pleasure."
"And can i stay there for the evening?" He asked. "For I am a day's journey from my home and a place to stay for they timw being would be nice."
"Certainly." She nodded. And they went towards her humble wooden hut which Maeve calls home.