Chapter 3

Maximus and Rex entered, and the place was crowded and noisy as usual. There was some old violin music being played from an old jukebox in the corner but it was barely audible over the shouting, singing and drunk laughing of its customers. There was a group of really loud and drunk satyrs (half man half goat) in one corner. Two humans, a Minotaur and a dwarf were playing poker in another. A fully cloaked man with a hood covering his face sat at the bar table. There were some soldiers on another table, but they didn't care about the mess around them. A centaur was even hustling some travellers at darts. Over at the table pouring drinks to his customers was Roderick. Roderick Evans was the owner and bartender of the loose cannon. He was a retired soldier from the army who had been in many wars and had the battle scars to prove it. He had left the army after the death of his wife who had also served in his division. Now he had a quieter life in the trenches and he was pretty well respected around here; taking the drinks that he poured to the customers was his daughter Kayla. Kayla Evans was another reason Maximus loved coming to this pub, even though he didn't even drink. He had a huge crush on her from the first time they met. She was a brunette with her hair at just enough length for a ponytail, which she usually kept in a knot while she worked. Her skin was a bit tanned and her eyes were hazel coloured. To Maximus, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen – even more beautiful than Empress Aphrodite, an Olympian goddess who ruled the kingdom of Venus. She was considered the prettiest woman in the world, and had even won the Miss World contest every time she participated, which was eight times. Of course, Maximus never told Kayla any of this. For one thing they were friends, and he was worried that if he said anything he would lose that. For another her father Roderick scared the crap out of him. Maximus watched as she moved from table to table. He was just thinking if this was what angels looked like when a sudden thump on the back of his head brought him back to reality. This was Rex of course, and he said, "Ya can keep staring at her after we get to our seats," with a wide grin on his scarred face. Maximus scowled and followed him to the bar stool where Roderick was serving drinks.

Rex sat down at the bar table and Maximus sat beside him. The only other person there at the table was a cloaked man who sat silently sipping his drink. This didn't bother them as strange travellers were a common sight in the pub. "What will it be boys?" Roderick asked.

"Ox toxin for me, Roderick," Rex answered, "and I guess the runt will have baby milk or something."

Maximus gave Rex a punch on his shoulder for this remark, which just made Rex grin more. See, Maximus didn't drink alcohol, he had tried it a few times but he didn't quite enjoy it. In fact he didn't even get a buzz. So he stuck to regular drinks, but it gave Rex an excuse to laugh at him. "Root beer is fine for me thanks," he told Roderick.

"A fine choice Max, I think I'll have the same," said a familiar voice from behind. Maximus knew the voice well as it belonged to a friend of his, Hedger. Hedger glided in and sat in the seat next to Maximus. And Hedger literally did glide in on his wings as he was a sprite.

Sprites were another race of creatures that existed in the world though not that common in Mars. They were small and usually just three to four feet tall. They also had a long tail which sort of acted as an extra hand. Their heads were shaped like dogs complete with pointy ears and a snout. But what made sprites really special were their wings. Sprites had long and colourful wings, which allowed them to fly but not as good as birds or any such thing. The colour of the wings tended to define a sprite and their surnames were based on it. Since Hedger's wings were green his name was Hedger Greenwing. The feathers were commonly used in magic and different colours had different properties.

Hedger was a salesman, well kind of. What he usually did was buy useless stuff for a cheap rate and sell it to unwitting travellers, saying it was something useful. His most famous one being convincing a group of Orcs that a common blue bird's egg was that of a phoenix. So in short he was a conman. But despite all this he was a really good friend of Maximus and sort of a friend of Rex. Rex always complained that he talked too much. But Maximus knew that Hedger's heart was in the right place and he was sure even Rex would agree.

"Hey Max, you know what would go great with a root beer?" Hedger said. Maximus knew that this was his usual start to a sales pitch so he answered "Whatever piece of garbage you're selling today."

"That's exactly right," Hedger said with a grin, "that is if you consider minced chimera meat as garbage."

Rex snorted loudly and asked, "So you just happened to walk past a dead chimera did you – or maybe you killed it yourself."

"I'm sorry I don't recall asking Mr. Half-a-cow for his words of wisdom," Hedger replied with his tongue out.

"Knock it off Hedger," Maximus said. "Come on what is it really?"

"Some sort of rodent I think, but it's edible. I got it off a couple of dwarfs who were barbecuing it" Hedger said, "but no one's buying." Hedger took a sip of root beer and continued, "Tell you what, I'll give you half if you cook it for me."

But before Maximus could reply or Rex could make a snide remark a voice interrupted from behind saying "Are you trying to tell me you just hauled some dead rat into my restaurant?" It was Kayla, she had returned to the table after delivering her orders. She was wearing a tattered T-shirt and jeans which would have suited a boy more, and an apron she wore at work. The apron's original white colour could barely be seen because it was covered in so many stains. She also had a sharp and annoyed look in her eyes directed at Hedger–and Maximus still thought she looked beautiful.

"Apologies my lady," Hedger said with a slight grin and a bow.

"Yeah well just don't take it out in my restaurant," Kayla replied. Kayla was the only one who called the place a restaurant. It was what her father had originally planned. But the trenches were a place more suited for a pub than a fancy restaurant. Kayla poured another glass of 'ox toxin' for Rex and continued, "Honestly Dad, why do we still serve these idiots."

"Because idiots are our best customers," Roderick replied with a slight smile. "Anyway, since the three musketeers are here I think I'll take my break." She pulled up a chair and sat beside them. This was all part of a regular day, only this was usually after Maximus and Rex had returned from scavenging.

"So no one's going to the outskirts huh?" Kayla asked resting her head on her hands. Rex nodded in agreement "Not until the manticore is taken care of." "So I heard," Roderick added, "is the army going to do something about that?" "Yeah right," Maximus said, "unless it attacks the city or something the army's not gonna lift a finger, we are on our own." The livelihood of the trenches was not exactly top priority in the kingdom. Maximus knew that the only way the army would get involved was if a reward was issued. Roderick said what he was thinking, "Guess we'll have to put up a reward." By 'we' Roderick meant the sellers' council, it was something like the unofficial government of the trenches. It consisted of almost all the shop owners in the trenches including Roderick. "The rewards have got to be high if they want people to risk fighting a manticore," Rex said. Roderick nodded in agreement but before he could reply a voice said, "Another round please."

The cloaked man sitting beside them had just finished his drink. Roderick said "You drank enough to drown a Cyclopes, you sure you want another?" The cloaked man just nodded. After he took his drink he asked "So is there no way to get past the barricades?" Maximus realized that he must have overheard them talking but he still didn't understand why he was so interested. "Not until the manticore is dealt with; there will probably be a reward on its head by tomorrow, but since the army blocked off the entrance only soldiers will be allowed to pass to the outskirts."

"Unless someone just happens to know a hidden shortcut," Rex said with a grin and a wink with his one good eye.

"Anyway, if you're searching for work try the jobs bulletin board," Roderick continued, "all the details will be there." The cloaked man just finished his drink and thanked him. Then he got up and left.

"Well what's our plan?" Maximus asked, "Do we take a path to the outskirts?" Rex scratched his chin, this was his thinking pose. After a while he said "Not today, the soldiers will be on high alert due to the attacks. We'll sneak outside tomorrow. Besides, I still got some food left from the last hunt and you got Hedger's rat to fill our bellies for today," then he finished off his drink, picked up his bag and hammer, and left.

"Guess it's just you and me buddy," Hedger said, and they were just about to leave when Kayla called them and handed Maximus a small basket of potatoes and olives. "Here," she said "they are a bit old but they haven't gone rotten yet, it should add some flavour to whatever's in Hedger's bag." She gave one last smile and went to the kitchen. Maximus just stood there watching her go. She was so kind he thought to himself, and hardworking not to mention beautiful. But his daydreams were cut short when Hedger cleared his throat loudly and said "Come along Maxy, you got that I'm a lovesick kitten look on your face again." Maximus scowled at him and then they headed back to his place.