Err-kabunk! Cried the door as the wind whipped it from the hands of the opener. All attention was momentarily to the fiend that would allow such a horror of cold into such a warm cozy place. In stepped six men of varying height all covered in snow and ice and cloaks of black. As hoods and cloaks were pushed back the sigil of the crown could be seen on the chest of five of the men, a roaring dragon cowled about a sword. The sixth man however, wore no crest but he didn't have to. His armor was enough to mark him, even without his crown crested helmet, all knew the only man in the kingdom bold enough to wear elven armor was the king himself. An aura of fear suddenly swept the room, waiting and wondering why were they here. They wondered if if had to do with the queen being kidnapped.<br/><br/>Here in the border towns people feared less the reach of the kingdom and more the raiding parties of orcs and barbarians but even that could not dissuade them from taking thier coin when they stopped in for a drink. As it was two barbarians had been sitting in the corner near the hearth when the party entered. But they were poor at hiding themselves. Gerald turned and saw them, "Take them."<br/><br/>Now generally five vs two is bad odds but these were barbarians so it was more like three vs two. Except that these men were elite royal bodyguards of the most vicious iron fisted human kingdom in the known world; and thier king was standing behind them and it was barbarians and thier allies that kidnapped thier queen bringing shame to thier order. It was not going to go well. "Remember," said Gerald, "We only need one."<br/><br/>Villagers tripped over chairs and each other to get out of the way as the guards charged the two barbarians, whose first reaction was to grab and throw thier table at the guards.<strong><em>Falto!</em></strong>A streak of light and the table erupts in a flash as the guards pour through this distaction setting upon the barbarians before they can respond to the new threat. One does fall instantly with two swords inbedded in his chest. The other is cut across the legs and bashed across the head knocking him unconscious.<br/><br/>"Innkeeper, we need a room for the duration of the storm and the use of your basement." With a rapid nod from the man behind the counter he begins to fumble with keys to available rooms practically dropping them onto the bar. He then produced a key from his apron pocket, Gerald snatched up that key and made for the basement door. The guard captain took the rest leaving one behind, "I'll be staying with his magesty." The other guards handled the bodies accordingly two brought the unconscious one downinto the basement while the other two, after stripping all useful items from the body yanked open the door again allowing the biting cold to renew its assualt and heaved the body out the door to fall where it may. Then shut the door and followed the rest down into the basement to find information.