Moons inhaled deeply, his eyes narrowing towards the pair of women who had stepped forward. ‘I should have dealt with them properly.’

  “Looks like they brought some mercs to help…” one of the women said.

  “An Iyrman and a pair of priests…” the other added, her voice filled with hesitation.

  “Take aep and who knows, my hand might slip,” a thug said, holding a dagger near Cobra’s neck.

  “Hey, Moons, if something happens to Cobra, we might have a problem,” Adam warned.

  “You’re standing too close to me to speak like that, son,” Moons replied, his lips f a gentle, polite smile.

  Adam returhe smile. “Funny, that, I was thinking the same. If you’re pnning on having a problem with me, you should call more of your friends.”

  “…” Moons narrowed his eyes. “I don’t appreciate your tone.”

  “I’ve given you enough warnings. If yoing to ighem, be my guest, but don’t pin to me when I burn down your entire operation because you ’t trol one of your men.” Adam sighed, slowly feeling the annoyance build up within him.

  “Adam, your tone of voice always irouble,” Vonda said.

  “I thought it was because everyoalk to has an ego,” Adam replied. “Normally it’s just the hough I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, sidering nobles are just those who were best at being criminals previously.”

  Vonda smiled towards the half elf. “You are currently representing the business, Adam.”

  “…” Adam sighed, a sigh full of annoyance. “You’re right, Manager Vonda. I have to py the game properly.”

  Cobra’s panions gnced between one another, still panting lightly, though having regained some of their breath.

  “You young dies should quieten down,” Moons said, focused owo girls. “This gentleman here wishes to speak with you for his business.”

  “Where’s Alex?” one s Moons.

  “Who?” Adam asked.

  The women’s eyes snapped around, though took in the sight of the amulets around the priest’s necks.

  “Our little brother.”

  “Why would he be here?”

  “The boy came to work for us,” Moons said.

  ‘Boy?’ Adam thought. ‘Is it the kid from inside?’

  “We’re here to take him back!” one woman shouted, the other still eyeing up those around her, watg as the defeated homeless scampered away.

  “It seems they’re set ing back their little brother,” Adam said, eyeing the group up. “How much would their little bro for?”

  “He’s not for sale.”

  “Why is that?”

  “That is our business.”

  “Hmm…” Adam g the trio of women. “So, you’re here to get back your little brother?”

  “Viper,” one of the women whispered.

  The woman known as Viper narrowed her eyes, unsure of where the versation was flowing. “Yes.”

  “How adorable. Well, I certainly-,”

  Health: 91 -> 70

  A flurry of fists and elbows struck Adam, who stepped back as the blows rained upon him. He held up his arms to try and defend himself, but the jabs struck through his guard, stinging him through his clothing.

  Adam inhaled for a moment. “You two o settle down.”

  Battle OrderD20 + 1 = 7 (6)

  Mana: 25 -> 24Spell: ShieldDefence: 11 -> 16

  HP: 70 -> 56

  Adam’s amulet glowed for a moment as he was battered again by the women, whose jabs were striking through his guard. He could feel the stinging pain across his body, and though he took the blows well enough, a pair of Experts were nothing to scoff at. He had willed his magic to form a protective field around him, and though their blows gnced off his body, a particur blow struck him right i, causing him to spit out with a grunt.

  Kitool and Vonda watched silently. Vonda did not move to act, siool was still rexed, though she was aware of the audience around them, who were watg Adam as an onsught battered him.

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2Health: 56 -> 61

  Attack - Fist (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 14 (22)D20 + 8 = 20 (28)Critical hit!Mana: 24 -> 21Ability: Divine Smite2D6 + 8D6 + 7 = 41 (1, 5)(2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6)41 damage!

  Attack - Fist (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 12 (4)D20 + 8 = 23 (15)Hit!Mana: 21 -> 20Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 2D6 + 7 = 23 (6)(5, 5)23 damage!

  Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

  Attack - Fist (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 24 (16)D20 + 8 = 27 (19)Critical hit!Mana: 20 -> 19Ability: Divine Smite2D6 + 4D6 + 7 = 29 (2, 2)(3, 4, 5, 6)29 damage!

  XP Gained +100XP: 11 000 -> 11 100

  Though their heavy blows threateo knock him down, the pair had no idea who and what they had e across. A fist blurred through the air, even pushing through Viper’s defence, before it struck her heavily against her jaw. It was the fsh of divine magic which caused her to pull back, but she crumpled before the rge fellow.

  Her panion pulled back, but as she did, Adam followed her. She brought up her arms, but as she had, his fist struck her against the gut, fshing with divine magic, before another punch finished her.

  Kitool blinked. Certainly, Adam’s blows had struck through the gaps in their defences with ease, but he struck with such might, even Kitool, a master of using her body as a on, would be uo strike as heavily as he had.

  “…” Moons watched as Adam stood above the women, who had so easily dispatched some of his own men.

  Vonda exged a look with Kitool, but said nothing.

  ‘Adam is Adam.’

  Adam inhaled deeply.

  Tough Spirit: 1 -> 02D6 + 7 = 12 (2, 3)Health: 61 -> 73

  He flexed his muscles, pushing off the stinging pain of the women’s blows, before reag up to rub the side of his neck. He could feel the c press against the side of his neck, soothing his skin. ‘I shouldn’t have smited her that st time…’ Adam furrowed his brows. ‘Smote?’

  Lay on Hands: 35 -> 34

  Lay on Hands: 34 -> 33

  Adam pced a hand on each of the women, sending out warm magic to ripple through their body, which awoke them, their eyes glued to Adam who smiled down at them politely. They tried to scramble up, but the pain in their bodies, and Adam’s strong hands against their shoulders, kept them down.

  “Now, now, why don’t we have a nice chat?” Adam asked, pausing for a moment, before releasing them. “Don’t act up again, otherwise Lord Sozain’s going to be very happy with me.”

  “Adam,” Vonda called.

  Adam only smiled towards her, before making his way to Moons, smiling towards him politely too. “Now. I’d like to meet this Alex, if you don’t mind.”

  “I do mind.”

  “Perhaps you’ve misuood what I’m asking,” Adam said, still smiling. He pced a hand on Moons’ shoulder.

  The man reag up to grab Adam’s arm.

  Athletics Check (Strength)D20 + 8 = 28 (20)

  “I’m asking you, politely, t the boy,” Adam said, his hand gripping the man’s shoulder, feeling the thick scale armainst his hand. The older man’s hand was firmly fixed on his forearm, trying to pull Adam’s hand off, but his hand was stuck almost like a vibsp;

  Moons tried to push Adam’s hand away from his shoulder, but even as his face turned red, his neck pulsing, his brow straining, he couldn’t force Adam’s hand away.

  “If I have to ask again, I won’t be so polite.” Adam snapped his hand away from Moons’ grip, before brushing his attire gently.

  “Send for the boy,” Moons said, still keeping an eye on Adam. “You don’t know who you’re messing with. The boy’s been called for.”

  “Oh yeah?” Adam cracked his neck. “By who?”

  “Someone who you don’t want to mess with.”

  “Who are they?”

  “They’ve got that much status that not even your business escape from them.”

  “The Duchess?”

  “…” Moons remained silent.

  “If it is the Duchess, I’ll speak with her personally, a her know the situation.”

  “You’re a mad man if you’re willing to aggravate the Duchess.”

  “Well, we’ll see about that. We already owe the Duchess quite a bit for her assistance, anical item or two won’t matter.”

  “Ain’t the Duchess, but someohe Duchess has got to worry about?”

  “The King?”

  “No. King’s not the only nobility the Duchess has to worry about.”

  The young boy, short, unremarkable, stepped out with the woman who wore . He looked over to the trio who had arrived, before looking down. “You didn’t a e.”

  “Don’t worry,” Viper said. “We’re going to get you out of here.”

  “It’s a lot of money.”

  “Money is our worry, not yours,” the other woman said.

  “…”

  Moons gowards Adam, and then to Kitool, both of whom had ranked fairly high iour. Then his eyes fell to Vonda, who was a member of Life’s Rose, and no doubt someone who had some ability. The situation had escated, but Vonda’s status at least gave him an excuse. ‘Gods damn it. Gods! Fuck!’

  “How much for the boy?” Adam asked.

  “Just take them and leave, and don’t ever e back,” Moons said. “Whatever fire is going to rain, it’s going to rain on you, not me, not mine.”

  Adam eyed up Moons, whose face had flushed red. He was a man who wao up the situation, but couldn’t. “Well, thank you.”

  Moons motioned with a bejewelled hand, before he stepped away, many of the others followed him, while a couple kept an eye on Adam and the others.

  ‘Whioble have we pissed off this time?’ Adam thought. ‘Why’s the kid so special?’

  Damn. What were those rolls?