Gah! Cut and paste can be evil…
Disclaimer: Wish I owned pokemon, really. Then I could make money by writing fanfic as TV episodes and getting people to draw and create it for me. Meh. If I owned pokemon, championshipping would be canon.
Chapter 16
“I recognize you now, monsieur.” The innkeeper said in a trembling voice. “You’re the young man who rode off just as I was having that unfortunate argument with your friend.”
Red inclined his head in reply.
“I was informed by the authorities that a notorious counterfeiter and several of his companions were traveling through the region, disguised as Guards or Musketeers. I was given a description of your faces, your horses, and your servants.”
“Go on.” Red said quickly, guessing whom the description had been from.
“The authorities sent me six men to help deal with these supposed counterfeiters. I had no reason to disobey – after all, an innkeeper must keep on good terms with his authorities.”
“Yes, yes.” Red said impatiently. “Get to the point! What happened to him? Is he dead or alive?”
“Patience, I’m coming to it.” The innkeeper continued. “Well, your hasty departure only seemed to confirm the information I had gotten. So your friend – excuse me for not addressing him by the honorable name I’m sure he bears – he began fighting with my men, and I was unfortunately knocked out in the process…”
“Get to the point!” Red snapped. This long story was not anything interesting.
The innkeeper quailed under his ferocious glare. “Well, your friend killed two men with his pistols, two more with his sword. Then, as the others, aided by my servants were closing in on him, he found himself at the top of the stairs that lead to the cellar. The key was in the door, so he locked himself inside.”
“Hmm.” Red said noncommittally. “Then they only wanted to imprison him. And you, you were in the plot, you cowardly man! I don’t know what’s stopping me from killing you right now!”
“No, sir! I wasn’t in the plot at all! And he made himself a prisoner, I swear! He fought furiously before he was imprisoned, four men dead and four more wounded! Well, these were carted away by my servants. My duty done, I went to find the governor to ask what he anted me to do with the prisoner. But the governor seemed mystified. The orders had not come from him. He said that if I ever brought up the incident again, he would have me hanged… apparently I arrested the wrong man.”
“So where is he now?” Red asked, sensing that the story was finished.
“In the cellar.” The man replied promptly.
Red’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean to stay you’ve kept him in the cellar all this time?” he reached for his sword.
“No, sir! Oh sir, you wouldn’t call it that if you knew what he’s been doing down there! If you can make him leave, sir, I’ll never charge you for lodging at my inn again! I’ll worship you as my patron saint!”
Red’s eyebrows rose yet again, but he nodded. “So is Lance still there?”
“Yes, sir. He insisted on staying there.”
“Did you not try to make amends?”
“He won’t leave, sir! I’m not even sure he’s a man anymore! He’s a devil!”
Oh dear… that sounded troublesome. Had Lance turned dragon again?
“I’ll speak with him.”
“Thank you!”
Red headed down the stairs leading to the cellar. There, he found the door ominously barred. He raised his voice as he knocked on the door. “Lance?”
A growling noise was the answer.
Red swallowed.
“Lance, it’s me…”
After a few minutes, there was a clattering sound, and the door opened. Red was relieved to see that his friend was human, though his eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess. The innkeeper crossed himself. But as Red tried to pull Lance out of the cellar, he noticed that he was unsteady on his feet.
“Are you wounded?” He inquired anxiously.
“No, I’m dead drunk, that’s all, and no man ever did more to accomplish the feat. I must have emptied at least a hundred and fifty bottles.”
The innkeeper turned a sallow color upon hearing the proclamation. “Mercy on us! I’m doomed!”
Red led Lance upstairs, not an easy feat since the musketeer had lost his effortless balance and grace. However, once they were situated in one of the upper rooms, Red motioned for Lance to tell his story.
Lance’s eyes lit up as he caught sight of the pendant he had given Red. He reached out a trembling hand towards it.
Red blinked, but didn’t move. After a few minutes, Lance let out a sigh.
“Are you… feeling better?” Red asked, quite inclined to believe in magic by now.
“Yes, I think so.” Lance sounded more awake, and he even looked more awake, and some of the color had returned to him. Interesting.
So the amulet had healing properties as well…
Unfortunately, that was when the innkeeper came bursting in, waving a poker threateningly. “You-you!”
“Yes?” Lance asked. “Bring us more wine.”
“You want more wine? You’ve already drunk more than a thousand pistoles worth! I’m ruined, lost, destroyed!” He wailed.
“Well, I never drank enough to quench my thirst.” Lance retorted.
“It was bad enough that you drank the wine, but you also broke the bottles!” He roared, face turning purple.
“As I recall, you pushed me against a pile of bottles and I fell, so it’s your fault.” Lance said coolly.
“All my olive oil is gone!”
“Well, it makes a wonderful balm, and I’m afraid that getting stabbed didn’t do much for me.” Red frowned at this and resolved to ask later.
“All my sausages have been eaten!”
“It’s amazing how many rats are in that cellar.” Lance said conversationally.
“You’re going to pay me for all this!”
“Oh…?” Lance’s voice had taken on a distinctly draconic purr, and Red gripped his arm. “Don’t!”
The innkeeper’s temper flared. He swung the poker down, only to hear a clang of metal. Which was odd, since…
“I’m not worried, Red…” Lance smirked. Red had to admit he was impressed. The poker’s head went flying in the air and broke through a window. The innkeeper stared at the short knife in the man’s hand. It was … glowing? He rubbed his eyes again. Nothing.
“Now then,” Red said conversationally, “Let’s talk this over like reasonable men. Otherwise…” The threat went unspoken.
The innkeeper gulped.
End Chapter
Created 4/10/06
Completed 4/18/06
Lance has powers. Dragon! Lance = ^^