The General and the City Guard

"You have some moves on you. Knew you could take him old man. Well done." Gorum felt strangely pleased by the compliment.

City guard streamed passed him, checking he was okay and cajoling him to come to the pub tonight. "A pint of red wine will thicken your blood."

"We’re buying, your coins no good, come on. Gorum shook his head and yawned as they filed past and out of the square. He watched the General call together his troops and dismiss, not before ordering two of them to help him home though. The soldiers stood around, not quite sure what had happened here, a city guard besting their general, then yielding. Gorum studied their faces. They were not angry. Confused, but not angry. Good.

"You fight alright for an old guy." Orson came by chuckling, sour wine on his breath, "Knew you could take him. Wished I had wagered on it."

"I yielded." Gorum replied.

"Night is coming and so is the cold." Lyvia yelled standing up and pulling Gorum up with her. "I’ll buy you lots some wine!" Lyvia yelled out to the soldiers, "Come on, you are fine men far from home, not just soldiers. Come make some stories of the city to tell your grandchildren." Other women joined in her cries, grabbing soldiers arms and smiling beguilingly at them. A good lot of them followed the women out of the square.

"Just for a bottle we’ll be back in the barracks soon." One told another.

"No rule against it, I guess." Shrugged another being pulled along by two persistent girls. The square emptied with the calls of two city guard asking if he was sure he could find his way home, and didn’t he want a drink besides?

Gorum breathed in silence and cool air and walked towards the middle of the square, the General had whet his appetite. He dropping down into jumping deer. He pranced around the square then jumped into dancing cat, her graceful moves leading into waiting tiger, all the time in the world waiting, then the crow flew, the bear lunged, then again and again around the empty square bathed only in the blue glow of moons light.

1jumping deer

2dancing cat

3waiting tiger

4crow in flight

5lunging bear