Finally we all got to the front gate uh the place and them sounds of fightin’ died down. Died down quick.

Gris sent a coupla fellahs forward to try liftin’ the gate but it weren’t no use. They backed off and wuz about to take a different tactic when then and there the gate began to go up by itself. Somebody inside musta been raisin’ it.

All the guard backed up and brandished their weapons and tried to look mean’r than hell. We all knew the door was just gonna bust open any min’te now and a bunch uh them crazies was gonna come rushin’ out with blood in their eye. I even tightened me grip on my old saber.

But nothin’ much happened when the gate was up and them big front doors swung slowly open. All we could see was black.

Then that Kron Darkbow stepped out uh that black. And damn but if Pat didn’t wet himself right there. Heh. It’s kinda funny lookin’ back on it, but I’d bet gold Pat’s wasn’t the only trousers soiled that night.

Anyway, Darkbow stepped forward where we could all get a good look at ’im. He looked like he’d done ’bout went through the ringer, he did. All his black leathers was torn and covered with soot. His cloak had pretty much been cut to pieces. That black sword uh his weren’t black no longer. Looked like that paint had come right off. Through lots uh use, that is. And the feller was spillin’ blood all over the damned sidey walk.

Vennah help me, but I don’t know how the man was able to stand. But stand he did. And bold like too. None uh them wounds seemed to have put a hurt on ’im one bit.

Gris went forward slow, like he wasn’t sure what in hell was goin’ on.

“Proceed,” this Darkbow said sheathin’ his sword. Then he just upped and walked away.

Simple as that. No reward or nothin’.

We never got inside, o’course. The guard wouldn’t have that. But we heard all kindsa tales. One fellah told me there was piles uh bodies all over the place and it looked like somebody’d done burnt it inside out. Another fellah told me he’d seen signs of spell castin’, but I never believed that much.

To this day I’m still not sure whut to believe. But I know that Kron Darkbow went in there ’n’ cleaned house. I wouldn’t cross ’im.

Now there. That’s me story. Pour me another damned drink.

And somebody find that sissy musician Chaim and kick his hornery ass for not bein’ here t’night.