by Duke Kittle
Chapter 21
Captain Cephalin's hand slammed against the bar counter and fell open which tossed Tina across the countertop. She rolled to a stop and pushed up onto her knees. She didn't feel any pain, and as she patted her own body with her hands, she was relieved to find herself intact. Looking up, she saw Willa Hodgis standing over Idori's crumpled form and holding a cast iron cooking pan. The badger woman kicked the captain of the guard in the side to shove him off the bar counter and onto his back.
“That'll teach you to manhandle a lady, ya brute.” She kicked the unconscious wolverine in the leg for good measure.
Tina put her hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief. “Willa... am I ever glad to see you.”
Willa put the cast iron pan on her shoulder, cocked her hips, and shifted the pipe in her mouth to one side so she could grin at Tina. “Wouldja look at that. Ol' Willa Hodgis saved a wizard. My grand kids are going to love this story.”
Tina, in spite of the panic which had just overtaken her, couldn't help but laugh appreciatively. She moved to the edge of the countertop to look down at Captain Cephalin. “Is he alive?”
“I may be a clonker, but I'm not a killer, Wizard.” Willa dropped the cast iron pan onto the counter top with a thud. “Probably won't thank me when he wakes up.”
“Willa... how did you know what was happening?”
The badger woman shrugged her shoulders and pointed back over her shoulder. “I heard Idori growling from the kitchen. Came out here and saw him about to take the lion's bite outa you. I don't care whatcha done, ain't no one deserves to be eaten like that.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You want to tell me what's going on?”
“Well, I can tell you why he was trying to eat me, at least. But I need to see the governor right away. Is there anyone you can send to the docks to tell Kravek what happened and bring him here?”
“Beth's still awake. I'll send her off.” Willa pulled the pipe from her mouth. “Your dragon is waiting for you in the town square. Caused quite a fuss to have a Maldavian sitting in the middle of town, you know.”
Tina sighed. “I know. Thank you, Willa. I owe you my life.”
Willa pointed at Tina with the mouthpiece of her pipe. “You don't owe me nuthin', Wizard. I'd do the same for Beth or any other woman in trouble in this town. You just make sure ya give them monsters one for Ol' Willa Hodgis.” She nodded in self-satisfaction.
