<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7b/2a/07/7b2a0723c7ba76185e522ce51fccb7d2.jpg)<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Adan Hathsin</strong></span></span></div></div>During an altercation, Adan’s intentions were always to immobilize rather than maim or kill, even if his enemies were motivated by dogged ignorance.  He hated when one brain was shared among many; when a person failed to think for themselves, especially at the expense of an innocent.  In his quest to seek the truth about his own past to protect the future of many, he was determined to enlighten the ignorant and expose the wicked.  These people were ruled by fear, and would continue to let it dictate their lives if death was delivered by Corbin and Adan’s hands that day.  So, death was not an option, but<em>force</em>was another matter, and as Adan watched the two who he’d already dueled with approach, he intended to teach them a lesson that would stick this time around.<br/><br/>Adan took three quick steps to get a head start, ground the end of his staff into the wood floor for leverage, and swung himself toward the first so he would get a chest full of Adan’s boots.  The weight sent the man backward and he crashed into the second behind him, toppling them both to the floor.  One of the men reached for a weapon at his belt, which earned him a hard crack to his knuckles.  The pained scream let Adan know that he’d broken a few bones, and was satisfied enough to turn toward the oncoming enemies.<br/><br/>Corbin’s instructions came through as the woman was struck with a heavy fist.  She bolted under the table, and suddenly he was on top of it, his back to her as he assumed a protective stance as she came out on the other side.  He knew Corbin was being reasonable about their odds - even if they could take all of them, it would be a waste of energy better conserved for something else - and yet he still felt a little deflated.  Perhaps he was too independent for his own good.<em>Be careful, these men are foolish.</em>The warning was obvious, though sometimes one needed to be reminded of what one faced.<br/><br/>The woman had a chair to use in her defense, which she never got to use.  Adan jumped to avoid a burly arm reaching toward him, then brought his staff down as he landed back on the table.  He dispensed two more who went toward the weaker opponent, their movements slow from intoxication; the rest were beginning to swarm the greatest threat in the room: Corbin.<br/><br/>“My lady,” Adan jumped to the floor next to her, and seized her arm, “pardon the intrusion,” he started, already beginning to tug her away from the chaos, “but we must be going now.”  He had the gall to smirk at her and the irony of his casual statement before looking ahead.  They took the long route between tables, using his staff to throw chairs out of the way so she wouldn’t trip, and even snatched up his pack with a carefully-aimed thrust of the wood before heading toward the door.  The rain still poured out there; nothing he could do about it.  It would hamper any spell he wished to cast, though it was better to be wet and live than be dry and dead.<br/><br/>The door slammed against the exterior as he forcefully pushed it open, and withdrew his hand from her arm once they were outside.  From there, he bolted to the trees in order to take cover and wait close by in case Corbin needed him.  He released the clasp to his cloak and took it off, slumping against a tree as he offered her the garment.  The rain had already plastered hair and clothing to his body, though his pack remained mysteriously dry.<br/><br/>“Are you alright?”  He turned a concerned eye to her face, inspecting her for any bruising from that hit she took.