Chapter 14. The Fiery Bartender

Shortly after giving the tavern worker Danny their order, the two girls went back to chatting idly.

Charon on the other hand with nothing else to do examined the tavern they were in. 

He spotted three burly men in soldier uniforms at the flat bar attempting to strike up a conversation with Diane who was attending them. He looked away from them and saw a young couple sitting at a table together sharing a drink and another group of young adults laughing rambunctiously with drinks in their hands.

As he continued to survey the room he saw Danny gliding through the room with plates of food, drinks in hand, and all the while taking more and more people's orders. But he was not the only one walking around the area, so was a young girl who looked similar to his age. 

With auburn hair that was almost identical shade to Danny's, she moved from table to table picking up any dirty plates and utensils and quickly ferrying them to the kitchen. 

He had not initially noticed her since she wasn't as loud as Danny was and wasn't familiar enough with the customers to joke like he did either. If compared, Danny would be like a mini tornado moving around the tavern with smiles, laughter, and food. While she would be the shadow that moved from table to table silently cleaning them up.

Watching the two move throughout the crowd he was slightly amazed at their composure and professionalism in the bustling, tight space of the tavern. 

Soon the simmering fresh food arrived. 

Danny quickly skirted by the table with plates in hand and expertly slid them down his arms onto the table. "Here you go, eat up, and if you don't like it tell me so I can go yell at my dad!" He said with a jovial tone. 

"N-no I'm sure it will taste good, no need to yell at your dad." Mia worriedly responded with a bead of sweat forming on her head. 

Leaving the three to their food Danny retreated to the busy waiter life. 

Eyeing the steak on his plate with hungry eyes Charon quickly dived in and started feasting with barely any time to breathe. 

Chuckling at the young boy's savage display of eating food, the twin sister nuns ate in a more civilized manner than he did. 

As Charon continued to consume every juicy bite of his steak the air in the tavern suddenly turned cold and the lively voices went down a couple notches.

"oh no," he could hear one of the sisters mumble under her breath.

Noticing the change in atmosphere the young boy looked up, following the two nun's gazes. 

Their gaze led Charon's eyes to land on five men entering the main door. Most of their faces were decorated with numerous scars telling tales of dangerous battles while the one at the head of the group barely had any signs of scars except for one flowing below his chin. 

Walking with their chins held high they ignored the obvious signs of their unwanted presence. Ignoring these signs they continued into the tavern taking a seat not far from the one with Charon and the nuns. 

With an arrogant high-pitched whistle, the group leader called for Danny's attention.

"Hello Blaine, what can I get you and your men?" Danny asked with a mask of professionalism.

"We'll take the top shelf stuff, and make sure we get lots of it," Blaine said without turning his head to Danny. "And make it sharp boy."

Charon could swear he could see Danny's eye twitch at that last remark, but nonetheless, Danny maintained his professional appearance.

With Danny going to fetch the men's food the group of five men looked around the room. Unknown to Charon everybody had the corner of their eyes locked onto the small group. 

Looking around with a mean mug the leader of the small group, Blaine, met all their eyes with his steel cold ones. 

He was trying to send a message. 'I don't give a fuck if you're staring, just be ready when I stare right back.'

Ensuring they all understood his message, he turned to his companions.

Eventually, the side eyes locked onto the group would waver and the patrons of the tavern would resume their normal conversations. 

With the buzz returning to the air and the atmosphere starting to warm from the cold entrance of the few men, Charon resumed his feasting after ensuring nothing else would happen. 

But, he knew these men, or, they were familiar to him.

Charon's time spent around the bad side of Ramona Village had ensured that he'd grow familiar with the faces that were commonly around. One of these so-called common faces was Blaine, the leader of the group.

Remembering how he saw the anger with which he dealt to those who disrespected him he shivered. He could remember the cries of mercy in those dark alleys.

Shrinking further back in the booth he made sure the shadows would conceal his appearance from the men, he needed to avoid their sight. 

The two nuns didn't take notice of his actions. They were one of the few who still had an eye on Blaine and his group. Maya's gaze was filled with a lingering malice while Mia's held an emotion Charon was too familiar with, fear. 

Other than the two women next to him he noticed Diane and the eyes of the young girl, who was similar in age to him, who was walking around and also kept her eye on them.

Blaine's men finally got their alcohol and steadily consumed the high-end stock, growing louder and more arrogant with each drink. 

Danny came by to drop the men's food off and the men greedily consumed them leaving no crumbs left on the plates. 

As soon as they were done with the food on their plates Blaine called Danny over. 

"Tavern boy! Come here I got a complaint." He yelled loud enough to carry across the room. 

The atmosphere dropped once more as a silent anticipation filled the air. 

"What's wrong Blaine?" Danny asked with a fake smile pasted on his face.

"I wanted you to know that me and my companions found this food subpar and won't be paying for it. Only fair since you gave us such a poor quality meal." He answered with a smirk, wiping the smeared food off his face with a napkin.

"Really? Cause it looks like you guys finished all the food, again." Danny said with a monotone voice, the humor in his voice disappearing. 

"And? Of course, we would finish it! These fine men and I are starving after our brave defense against the southern wastes." Gritting his teeth, a flare of anger was visible on his face.

"Those damned Eshkar savages were planning to attack the poor people of this village again and we hold the responsibility of saving you all from that fate. Ain't that right fellas?" 

The men at his table all cheered in agreement at Blaine's statement. 

"So, Danny, we won't be paying for this food and request some free beer. Of course, this would just be a reward to us for ensuring the safety of the village. It's only fair no?"

Danny only stuttered in response. 

Nodding his head Blaine raised his hand to wave him away. "Alright then coward, go get us more beer then."

Before Danny could reply to the man and faster than Charon could realize what was happening, Diane dashed across the bar to Blaine's table and dumped a nearby patron's drink over his head. 

"Drink on this, dick"

The only sound that could escape the three's table was the unison sound of surprise, "Ah-"