3 March 1440, Noon - Trianda
How much? How much!?” The annoying voice squawked out at him, and Lochlan suppressed the urge to choke the life out of him just to rid the world of its sound. “That man is my bread and butter….do you know how hard it is to find good talent?”
Lochlan met the man’s gaze for a lingering moment. “You know as well as I do that this man is the runt of the litter among his kind, and odds are good that he’s feeble-minded as well, else he’d not be in the service of another, but with his own.”
Merchants are all the same, Lochlan thought dourly. If I press him in public, and make it seem as though he’s trying to hoodwink me, odds are I’ll get my way…..predictable.
The Merchant stammered and sputtered for a moment, opening his mouth to speak, and then closing it again like a land-trapped fish gasping its last. Finally, realizing that he was at the center of attention he did not particularly want, he flushed and motioned Lochlan forward. “I will not let you rob me of my livelihood, but if you will come with me so we can discuss the matter in private, I’m sure we can reach an understanding.
The Ranger suppressed a smirk, nodded, and the three of them wandered into the Tavern, and to a table in the corner.
Terms were discussed and agreed to.
A price was settled on.
Money changed hands, and the merchant went away smiling, and Lochlan found himself sharing a table with this mountain of a man, not quite knowing what to say next. He studied the Highlander out of the corner of his eye, and then, not particularly liking that approach, met his gaze and studied him openly.
The Highlander misinterpreted his gaze and stood, as if he were property to be inspected, and as he turned slowly so his “new master” (for that surely must have been his interpretation of recent events) could inspect that which he had just purchased, Lochlan couldn’t help but notice the deep scars on the man’s back, shoulders, and the back of his neck. Most were not whip scars (though some undoubtedly were) they were….he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Obviously though, the man had been his fair share of scrapes, and on the winning side too, given his appearance.
“You have too much skill with your blade to have need of a thrasher.” He spoke softly….the voice of a servant….very different from the full-bodied, gravelly voice he had spoken with in the thick of battle, earlier, and he would not meet Lochlan’s gaze. “Looks as though you can do a fair bit of thrashing of your own….so why? Why buy a slave built for a purpose you have no use for.”
Lochlan smiled at that. “I didn’t buy you, I paid for your release.”
The Highlander looked doubtful. “That’s not the way the world works. Nobody does something for nothing.”
“Funny you should mention that."(Everything Prior is Vel's post) Lochlan said, he glanced around the Dolphin. What do you see, and sit down man your giving me a headache from looking up that high.
"I see men of war, gathering." The giant said, glancing about the room. He watched another foppish noble present himself to Captain. "And boys who wish to be men." He amended.
Lochlan raised an eyebrow. "You'll fit in fine here." He murmured. "You'll pay me back out of your wages, half to me, half to you until I'm fully compensated. Then, your free to go where you wish, though, I don't doubt we'll have work for you if you wish to stay."
"And you are?" The highlander asked.
"Me, I'm Lochlan, Lieutenant Lochlan to most. And us? Were the Free Company." He rose from his seat. "Finish your drink, then head on over to the camp, I have work to do here yet." The scot nodded, and somberly returned to his drink while Lochlan returned to the growing cluster around Captains table.
How much? How much!?” The annoying voice squawked out at him, and Lochlan suppressed the urge to choke the life out of him just to rid the world of its sound. “That man is my bread and butter….do you know how hard it is to find good talent?”
Lochlan met the man’s gaze for a lingering moment. “You know as well as I do that this man is the runt of the litter among his kind, and odds are good that he’s feeble-minded as well, else he’d not be in the service of another, but with his own.”
Merchants are all the same, Lochlan thought dourly. If I press him in public, and make it seem as though he’s trying to hoodwink me, odds are I’ll get my way…..predictable.
The Merchant stammered and sputtered for a moment, opening his mouth to speak, and then closing it again like a land-trapped fish gasping its last. Finally, realizing that he was at the center of attention he did not particularly want, he flushed and motioned Lochlan forward. “I will not let you rob me of my livelihood, but if you will come with me so we can discuss the matter in private, I’m sure we can reach an understanding.
The Ranger suppressed a smirk, nodded, and the three of them wandered into the Tavern, and to a table in the corner.
Terms were discussed and agreed to.
A price was settled on.
Money changed hands, and the merchant went away smiling, and Lochlan found himself sharing a table with this mountain of a man, not quite knowing what to say next. He studied the Highlander out of the corner of his eye, and then, not particularly liking that approach, met his gaze and studied him openly.
The Highlander misinterpreted his gaze and stood, as if he were property to be inspected, and as he turned slowly so his “new master” (for that surely must have been his interpretation of recent events) could inspect that which he had just purchased, Lochlan couldn’t help but notice the deep scars on the man’s back, shoulders, and the back of his neck. Most were not whip scars (though some undoubtedly were) they were….he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Obviously though, the man had been his fair share of scrapes, and on the winning side too, given his appearance.
“You have too much skill with your blade to have need of a thrasher.” He spoke softly….the voice of a servant….very different from the full-bodied, gravelly voice he had spoken with in the thick of battle, earlier, and he would not meet Lochlan’s gaze. “Looks as though you can do a fair bit of thrashing of your own….so why? Why buy a slave built for a purpose you have no use for.”
Lochlan smiled at that. “I didn’t buy you, I paid for your release.”
The Highlander looked doubtful. “That’s not the way the world works. Nobody does something for nothing.”
“Funny you should mention that."(Everything Prior is Vel's post) Lochlan said, he glanced around the Dolphin. What do you see, and sit down man your giving me a headache from looking up that high.
"I see men of war, gathering." The giant said, glancing about the room. He watched another foppish noble present himself to Captain. "And boys who wish to be men." He amended.
Lochlan raised an eyebrow. "You'll fit in fine here." He murmured. "You'll pay me back out of your wages, half to me, half to you until I'm fully compensated. Then, your free to go where you wish, though, I don't doubt we'll have work for you if you wish to stay."
"And you are?" The highlander asked.
"Me, I'm Lochlan, Lieutenant Lochlan to most. And us? Were the Free Company." He rose from his seat. "Finish your drink, then head on over to the camp, I have work to do here yet." The scot nodded, and somberly returned to his drink while Lochlan returned to the growing cluster around Captains table.