Senses man

As the raggedy man opened the door, Garth looked in cautiously and the old man smiled a toothless grin.

“Don’t trust me, after I fetched you your money and led you out of that mess?”

“I don’t trust anyone,” Garth said quietly, narrowing his eye to look into the gloom.

“Ah, brothers, we have company,” the raggedy man announced, and he stepped through the door. In the darkness Garth saw movement and his nose wrinkled at the smell of unwashed bodies. He heard hoarse laughter inside. An old man and then another started to laugh.

“I suggest, One-eyed Garth with no House, that you either come in or move along,” the raggedy man announced. “The Orange are undoubtedly looking for you and are in a less than friendly mood. Besides, the Grand Master’s watch is on the prowl as well.”

As he stepped up to the door his eye started to adjust to the gloom. A small fire burned in an open fireplace to one side, a hunched-over form stirring a pot hanging in the flame. Garth cocked his head slightly, listening intently. With no vision to his left side he had learned to rely on other things. He finally stepped through the doorway and then, just as quickly, leaped back and to one side.

The blow missed him, the wooden staff striking down through empty air. With a catlike move, Garth snatched the man by the wrist and yanked him out from behind the open door, while with the other hand he pulled out his dagger and brought it up under the man’s chin, barely nicking his throat.

“You breathe too loudly,” Garth whispered, “and besides, you stink bad enough to gag a maggot.”

The raggedy man watched the exchange with open amusement, nodding his head with approval.

“You’ll do, you’ll do just fine,” the old man laughed. “Now please let my brother go.”

***

Arena, Chapter 1