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Slam!
Hastmhas’ breath left his body as he hit the wall, bouncing off onto the ground. Thankfully nothing had cracked. This time. The Roegadyn man who had pushed him loomed over, grinning.
“That’ll teach ya ta lie, little girl!” he said, spitting on Hast’s body.
“Not a girl,” Hast muttered.
“What did you say, girl?”
“I said-” he drew his right hora, “Not. A. Girl!”
Hastmhas leapt to his feet, using the momentum to drive the hora into the underside of the Roe’s jaw. As the big guy stumbled back, stunned, Hast drew his left hora and delivered a left hook to his ribs. Crack! A satisfying sound. This drove the Roe to his knees, coughing and sputtering.
Before he could deliver another punch, someone grabbed Hast’s wrist from behind.
“That’s enough!” shouted Hamon. He did not yank but merely steadied. When Hast looked back, the older man was staring down the Roe on the ground. “I would leave if I were you.”
The Roe nodded and stumbled to his feet, slinking away as much as the huge mass was capable. When he was gone, Hamon gently released Hast’s wrist.
“Getting into trouble again, I see. What in seven hells happened?”
Hast sighed. “‘E was fuckin’ with a merchant. I stepped up, ‘e didn’t like that one bit. Called me a girl. Told me to leave. I didn’t.”
“As well you shouldn’t!” Hamon nodded. “Though I doubt the wisdom of your actions, young man,” he stressed the words, “I do not doubt your courage. Why, a little more training, and you’ll do us all proud!”
Hast gave a lopsided grin, twisting a little and wincing. The cloth he used to bind his breasts, while stretchy, pressed against his sore back. Hamon frowned.
“Go back to the guild. Rest yourself. I’ll send Chuchuto in after you in a while.”
Hastmhas was too tired to argue. He dragged himself all the way back to his room, where he stripped and faceplanted onto his bed, ignoring the fact that it was covered in laundry. Too long of a day, he decided.
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