The Divine Hunter

”

Roy started sweating when he heard the familiar stuttering.
Curse my luck.
I just have to bump into them here of all places.
He closed his eyes and slid underwater.
The footsteps stopped behind him, and he felt ripples around him.

As the water splashed, one buff dwarf came into the bath.
Barney pulled him out of the water with enthusiasm, his eyes wide.
“I-it’s you!”

“You got the wrong person, mate.”

Barney’s face was red from excitement, but he couldn’t say anything no matter how much he tried.
“Alright, stop teasing him.” Reagan Dalba and his companions entered the bath.
He sounded annoyed about what Roy had done.
A moment later, the four dwarves surrounded Roy, their eyes solely on him, their breathing heavy.

“We’ll settle this later, Bennett! Don’t think you’ve won!” the dwarf shouted at the guy they were fighting against earlier.

“Scared, you coward?!”

“Fuck off!”

***

The dwarves found themselves kissing their companions and were in each other’s arms when they regained consciousness.
Shocked, they checked their bodies, but nothing was wrong.
Still, it was a humiliating experience.
When they saw the perpetrator in the bath, they let the personal grudge slide first.

“You’re Roy, aren’t you? To think we thought you a friend.
I think you owe us an explanation.”

Roy forced a smile and shifted the topic.
“That was awesome of you guys.
Those weaklings stood no chance against you.
If they’d tried to escape even a moment later, they would’ve been messed up.”

“A-at least you have taste.”

“Roy, just because you’re the elder’s guest doesn’t mean you can do anything you want.” Reagan waved his excited companions down.
“The wine’s great, though we could do without the extra ingredient.
It is fifty-year-old Mahakaman liquor.” Reagan licked his lips, reminiscing the taste of the wine.
“But you have to return my crossbow to me.
That’s my brother’s gift, and it’s special to me.
You’re too weak to use it anyway.”

“Reagan, I’m sorry about your loss, but it’s not here.
You can search anywhere you want, even the bedroom.”

Reagan kept quiet.

“B-boss, I-I’m not taking t-this anymore!”

“Why don’t we beat him to a pulp?”

Roy frowned, thinking if he should give the weapon back, since he did feel guilty about taking something of great sentimental value to someone.

“So it seems you’re taking my treasure away no matter what, Roy.” Reagan cupped some hot water and splashed it on his arm.
“Fine.
We’ll settle this with Mount Carbon’s custom, then.”

“Mount Carbon’s custom?”

“Gwent, weapons, and wine.
They’re what we love the most.
We hold three matches if we ever come across anything that can’t be settled with a conversation.” Reagan continued.
“The one who wins two out of three matches gets to keep the crossbow.”

“So a duel then?” Roy changed his mind.
Since he didn’t see the mark on them, that meant the dwarves were innocent.
Gaining allies out of them would be good for Roy, since staking out at the bathhouse alone would be too inefficient.
Having helpers would go a long way, though he still had the chills at the thought of their naked bodies.

“Ah, so you do have it.” Reagan laughed.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be a four on one.
We won’t stoop so low against an outsider.
It’s a one-on-one duel for a total of three matches.
We can start right away if you’re fine with it.
The warm bathhouse is perfect for Gwent.”

Roy smacked a beautiful deck on the side of the bath, and he grinned in excitement.
Since they’re going to do this, I have no reason to hold back.
“I don’t lose when it comes to Gwent.
Come.”

Reagan and his companions looked at one another weirdly.
“Get the board, Drew.
Alright, we’re counting on you now, Dave.
Just win like you usually do.
Get everything from him.”