Mendez was told it belonged to Lady Benissa, one of the most respected and apparently most wealthy members of the higher nobility of Febril. People in the pubs told him that she was also the most beautiful woman in town and well known amongst the poorer people for her generousity.
He watched the carriage which was followed by 4 well armed guards crossing the small square and stopping at one of the public notice boards. While Mendez walked over towards the carriage to perhaps get a glance of the passenger he saw one of the guards nailing a note to the billboard.
Escort needed!
Lady Benissa is searching for experienced fighters
for an escort to the kingdom of Gom Dalat.
Interested people are asked to report to the
head guard at the mansion.
Good payment.
Lady Benissa is searching for experienced fighters
for an escort to the kingdom of Gom Dalat.
Interested people are asked to report to the
head guard at the mansion.
Good payment.
Mendez read the note and took it off the billboard. He grabbed the arm of the guard who was on his way back to the carriage. "May I see the face of the lady who is offering this job? I might be interested!". Mendez voice was loud enough to reach the carriage.
"No you can't! You can talk to the head guard at the mansion! He has a beautiful face as well!"
While the guards started laughing, Mendez saw the curtain of the carriage being pulled back just before the carriage went round the corner, revealing the most beautiful face he saw in a long time! He has never been to Gom Dalat, but heard that it was one of the wealthier kingdoms. Folding the note, he continued towards the pub where he always met up with the others. It didn't sound like a big adventure, but it would be something different.
"No you can't! You can talk to the head guard at the mansion! He has a beautiful face as well!"
While the guards started laughing, Mendez saw the curtain of the carriage being pulled back just before the carriage went round the corner, revealing the most beautiful face he saw in a long time! He has never been to Gom Dalat, but heard that it was one of the wealthier kingdoms. Folding the note, he continued towards the pub where he always met up with the others. It didn't sound like a big adventure, but it would be something different.
13 comments:
Utterly forgetting his original plans, Mendez alters his path and heads straight to Lady Benissa's mansion.
:)
The mansion isn't far away from the house of Bodush. The size is different though. A big mansion inside a huge garden area surrounded by a stone wall. After walking along the wall for a while, Mendez finds the main entrance. The metal gate is closed and Mendez can see a guard sitting in a guard house next to the gate with an open window towards the street.
Mendez shows the guard all his shiny white teeth and holds out the torn piece of paper.
The guard looks at the paper and the at Mendez. And then demonstratively to the left and right of Mendez.
"You are alone? Do you think that one person escorting Mylady is enough? Or are you the leader of an invisible army?"
The guard chuckles at his own joke and looks at Mendez again
Let's escort both!
Split the party!
It always worked well for us before!
Hey! Remember last time Mendez got taken with a pretty face?
The smile drops instantly from Mendezs face.
"I could kill you with my bare hands. As for my army? Just one of my friends could defeat a legion of men like you! Now send word to your Mistress that Mendez the adventurer is here to consider her proposal."
Scott: Devious minds think alike. Except perhaps we don't tell them we're splitting the party. Half of us just spend the journey scouting ahead.
Double the money for the same journey.
;)
Dag: Ah, you may be onto something...
The guard is completely taken off guard by Mendez. He suddenly looks a bit nervous and calls a servant to fetch the head guard.
"I'm sorry Sir. The head guard will be with you shortly! Please forgive my my inappropriate behaviour. I had to deal with many kids today who can barely hold a sword."
After a few minutes an older guard in more expensive armour arrives at the gate. "I'm Xator, the head guard. You are here for the escort job? Do you have any references?"
Mendez' smile returns instantly.
"References? High Patriarch Rothgart himself will vouch for me.
Ultimately though, my swordsmanship should speak for itself."
"You are using a dead priest as a reference? Haven't heard that one before! As for your weapon skills..."
While speaking the last words, the old man quickly draws his sword and with surprisingly high speed for a man his age starts to attack Mendez. Although Mendez is caught by surprise and struggles to block of the fist attack he quickly finds his balance and parries the next strikes easily before overpowering the guard. The fight stops as quickly as it started. The old man starts to smile.
"If your friends are as quick with the sword as you, you can have the job. Mylady will be back this evening. Please come back with your friends and I'll introduce you. Finally it is her decision but you have my approval."
Mendez smile broadens as he offers the older man his hand.
"The clerics of St Cuthbert haven't raised Rothgart yet?
You'll be pleased to know that more than one of my friend's combat prowess puts mine in the shade. I'm sure we'll be able to protect your Lady from anything that threatens her journey.
Tell me two things though, before i go back to talk with my companions: What is the pay and do you know of anyone who would wish to harm her for anything beyond mere money?"
"Only thing I know is that Lady Benissa's carriage goes to Gom Dalat the day after tomorrow. It's a well travelled road but a carriage like that always gets attention. Normally my guards escort it, but I lost many men defending our property in town when the dragonmen attacked. I need all my men here to ward off looters until the storage houses near the harbour are rebuilt. Searching for a more permanent job? I could use a fighter like you!"
"Ah, and for the money.....you have to ask Mylady. Since it's normally my men doing the escort, I don't know how much she wants to pay external people. But she normally is generous. You can ask her tonight. Was a pleasure to meet you!"
He salutes and after a few words to the guard vanishes behind the wall.
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