The silence in the tavern became almost tangible after Valthorn accused Kaizen of cheating. The gazes of the spectators oscillated between the enraged elf, the incredulous dwarf and the serene stranger.
Kaizen remained calm, but his eyes revealed a spark of impatience. "Cheating?" said Kaizen, raising an eyebrow. "I prefer to believe in luck, Valthorn, not trickery."
Talfor, the dwarf, quickly intervened, raising his hands in a pacifying gesture. "There was no trickery here, Valthorn. This is a game of skill and strategy, not collusion."
However, the dwarf's words didn't calm Valthorn down. Frustration dominated his facial features, and the blade of his sword trembled slightly in his hand. He was unwilling to accept defeat, and his accusations echoed in the tavern. The commotion dismayed the tavernkeeper, who knew that if a battle broke out inside the tavern, everything would be destroyed.
The red-bearded dwarf behind the counter approached the gaming table with a worried expression, watching the situation unfold.
"Calm down, boys, don't let the game turn into a mess. Fight with cards, not blades," advised the innkeeper, his voice hoarse.
Valthorn kept his gaze fixed on Kaizen, ignoring the innkeeper's words. With a slow movement, he raised his blade and pointed it in the direction of the outsider.
"I know you're involved in this, dwarf! You helped this outsider cheat! Admit it!" Valthorn snarled, his eyes sparking with anger.
Talfor didn't back down. His scowling face was now tinged with indignation. "If you want to settle this with a fight, Valthorn, you should have said so from the start."
The rest of the tavern watched intently, some whispering among themselves, while others clutched their mugs of ale tightly, fearful that the situation might escalate into something more dangerous.
Kaizen, sensing that things were about to get out of hand, slowly rose from his chair, keeping his eyes fixed on Valthorn. His posture was calm, but his attention was fully on the elf.
"There's no need for violence, Valthorn. Accept defeat like a gentleman and return to the table. Talfor played well, and I just followed the rules of the game," said Kaizen in a calm but firm voice.
Valthorn, however, was not at all interested in hearing Kaizen's apology. He advanced towards Kaizen, knocking the table out of the way, and his sword sliced through the air with ferocity. However, Kaizen didn't even move or use any skills to stop him, as Talfor stepped in front and protected Kaizen with his own axe.
A loud crash echoed through the tavern as the two blades clashed. The metallic clash reverberated off the tavern's aged wooden walls, a sound that seemed to awaken the still air. The attentive eyes of the audience were fixed on the scene unfolding in the center of the establishment.
The innkeeper put his hands on his head and turned away, startled.
Talfor, with his imposing stature, stood between Valthorn and Kaizen, holding his axe like a protective shield. His fiery gaze showed that he was prepared for battle, but uncertainty still flickered in his eyes.
"Why on earth are you helping this outsider? You don't even know his real intentions, dwarf Talfor!" roared Valthorn, his voice echoing in the tavern.
The old dwarf kept his deep voice echoing in response: "I don't need to know Kaizen's intentions to know that he won fair and square and that you're acting foolishly!"
Valthorn, enraged, tightened his grip on his sword. "This isn't about the game! I'm talking about why he's here. Why are you protecting this stranger, Talfor?"
Kaizen, until then silent, intervened with an enigmatic smile. "Valthorn, you don't know my real intentions either. Talfor is just acting according to the circumstances."
Kaizen's words hung in the air, and the elf was momentarily speechless. The tension in the tavern grew, and the whispering intensified, with the other dark elves undecided as to whether they should act or not. Valthorn was clearly not willing to surrender.
"I know why he's here," said Valthorn with conviction. "He's after the lord. Or are you going to deny that, outsider?"
Kaizen didn't flinch, his expression remained unwavering. "No, Valthorn, I won't deny it. I'm here for a purpose, and the lord is involved. If he is as authoritarian as you say and as you demonstrate, I will undoubtedly kill him. "
Valthorn's eyes sparked with a mixture of anger and surprise. "You admit it! So, Talfor, you're protecting a murderer!"
Talfor raised an eyebrow, casting a disapproving glance at Valthorn. "It's not my role to judge the motives of others. Just let Kaizen say what he wants for winning the bet!"
The dark elf, still holding his sword tightly, glared fiercely at Kaizen. "I'm not naïve, stranger. Assassins like you lurk in the shadows, disguised as heroes. You won't convince me so easily."
At that moment, the tension in the air reached its peak, like a storm about to break. The murmurs of the onlookers increased, some whispering among themselves, speculating about Kaizen's true intentions. A few steps away, the innkeeper watched the scene with wide eyes, hoping that violence would be avoided.
Talfor, determined to keep the peace, intervened once again. "Valthorn, even if your suspicions are justified, now is not the time to act impulsively. Kaizen defeated you in the game fairly, and that's how we should settle our differences."
The dark elf grumbled, but his expression of fury subsided slightly. Still holding his sword, he looked at Kaizen suspiciously. "Speak up, stranger. Why are you really here? What is your connection to the lord?"
Kaizen sighed, as if resigned to clearing up the misunderstandings. "First, I want to talk to the wisest person in the world and if that person isn't the lord, he must know the right person..."
Kaizen's words seemed insufficient to Valthorn, who frowned suspiciously. "Why should we believe your words, stranger? How do we know you're not here to manipulate things in your favor?"
Kaizen smiled, an enigmatic smile that seemed to carry with it a wealth of experience. "Believe it or not, Valthorn, the truth always reveals itself in due course. I'm not here to deceive, but to help."
Valthorn hesitated for a moment, sword still drawn. His expression showed internal conflict, between distrust and the desire to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with someone who seemed so powerful.
"You'll have your chance, stranger," warned Valthorn, remaining alert. "But under no circumstances will I allow you to kill the lord."