Confrontation and Standoff

As curfew drew near, fewer and fewer customers remained in the tavern. The Blood Whistle mercenaries, however, arrived at My Home in twos and threes. It looked like they planned to get thoroughly drunk that night.

Dant's Greatswords came downstairs one after another. After Louisa and Old Hammer said goodbye to Tales, they left, while Siman and Mackey did not bother acknowledging him at all and walked straight out of the tavern.

When Dean came downstairs, the Blood Whistle mercenaries called out to him.

"Hey, Dean." Ricky snapped his fingers and raised his glass toward the bald mercenary. "I heard you ran into trouble out there?"

His words drew everyone's attention.

"On an ordinary day, I might say we were 'doing all right.'" Dean descended the stone steps one at a time, looking rather grave. "But now... I guess there's not much point in denying it."

He glanced at the two rather serious-looking mercenaries beside Ricky.

"Yes," Dean said flatly. "We ran into trouble."

The mercenaries in the tavern fell silent. Some exchanged worried looks, while others looked puzzled.

Ricky frowned.

"So the rumors are true?"

"Williams and his mad dogs have been unleashed again... What is it this time? A second Purge Campaign? Heading north to fight the Exeter people? Supporting the Free Alliance? Or has the King of Starfall decided he's had enough of Terminus Tower and wants to tear it out by the roots? Do you think they might hire the Hundred-Man Regiment to fight? Or just round up the death squads from Bone Prison?"

As Tales listened to Ricky's description of the Baron and the Star Dust Guard, he could not help raising his eyebrows.

Clearly, the mercenaries had little goodwill toward the Baron of Bladefang Camp.

"I don't know, but if you ask me..." Dean