men, if you include his account keeper.”
Daniel knew Zane was a small city situated along the Hirus, about twenty spans west of Aakadon. The unique feature of the city was that it was on both sides of the river with a bridge that arched high up over the water, similar to the one spanning the Gosian River that leads into Zoltair. These men were more than three hundred spans from home.
“My family has been serving the Sharmines for three generations. Most of them are still employed by the current lord so I don’t want to jeopardize their positions by making a fuss. I am not without certain skills and am sure some noble will need my services,” Jared said after finishing the last scrap of meat on his wooden plate, which he borrowed from Daniel.
“A Teki troop might be willing to hire on an account keeper,” David said, clearly trying to be helpful, even though Daniel knew it was unlikely any Teki would trust an outsider near their accounts.
“That is a hard set of circumstances,” Silvia told them. “Where are you headed, home to your families?”
“I have taken no wife, my brothers, sisters, most all of my family will be better off if I stay away for a little while. At least until Lord Sharmine forgets I witnessed his failure to enter Aakadon,” Jared answered.
Marcus chuckled, but it was tinged with bitterness. “That means never. Lord Sharmine may have his faults, but a bad memory is not one of them, especially if his pride is involved. He could not take out his anger on the Aakacarn at the gate so he took it out on us. I suspect if word gets back that we are speaking of this matter, our families will be dismissed. The others of our company dispersed and will probably tell what happened to them, but their families are not employed by Lord Sharmine so they have nothing to still their tongues. If rumors spread about, most everyone will accept the word of a lord over that of a commoner, so his reputation will not suffer no matter what they say. I’m not sure why I am even telling you this, perhaps it is the act of kindness you have extended to us. I would be much obliged if you do not spread the particulars of our circumstances around.”
He had been answering Silvia’s question but his eyes were locked onto Daniel’s while he was speaking. The Teki woman assured him she would not repeat what he said and, remarkably, vouched for David as well. This left everyone looking to Daniel for a response.
He remembered the incident that took place at the gates of Aakadon and had to agree, from what he had seen of the man; Lord Sharmine was a prideful person who would try to erase any incident that impinged on his ego. Daniel had seen enough giant egos in Aakadon to convince him how petty some men can be. “I’ll not speak of the matter,” he assured the two travelers.
Marcus had finished his meal and was sipping water from a cup he produced from somewhere on his person. “I have no sword but am good with the knife and have been trained in unarmed combat. I say this only to suggest that we travel together,”
Silvia and David again looked to Daniel, he would have to get used to people deferring to him, folks had done so during the Battle of Bashierwood, but that was only for the duration of the conflict. “We are bound for Ducanton,” he told the chief.
“To meet the Queen,” Silvia volunteered; at least she did not proclaim anything about the Chosen Vessel.
Jared perked up at the news. “I could be most helpful to you, having no small experience in how to comport oneself among the nobility.”
Daniel’s first instinct was, as Ruth had said, to turn them down. He had no need of extra protection, would more likely be protecting all four of them than the other way around, and had no need of an account keeper. Even so the Seer had counseled him to accept anyone who insists on accompanying him. “David has told you who I am, and I’m telling you, trouble follows me like bees to a flower, and you would
Daniel knew Zane was a small city situated along the Hirus, about twenty spans west of Aakadon. The unique feature of the city was that it was on both sides of the river with a bridge that arched high up over the water, similar to the one spanning the Gosian River that leads into Zoltair. These men were more than three hundred spans from home.
“My family has been serving the Sharmines for three generations. Most of them are still employed by the current lord so I don’t want to jeopardize their positions by making a fuss. I am not without certain skills and am sure some noble will need my services,” Jared said after finishing the last scrap of meat on his wooden plate, which he borrowed from Daniel.
“A Teki troop might be willing to hire on an account keeper,” David said, clearly trying to be helpful, even though Daniel knew it was unlikely any Teki would trust an outsider near their accounts.
“That is a hard set of circumstances,” Silvia told them. “Where are you headed, home to your families?”
“I have taken no wife, my brothers, sisters, most all of my family will be better off if I stay away for a little while. At least until Lord Sharmine forgets I witnessed his failure to enter Aakadon,” Jared answered.
Marcus chuckled, but it was tinged with bitterness. “That means never. Lord Sharmine may have his faults, but a bad memory is not one of them, especially if his pride is involved. He could not take out his anger on the Aakacarn at the gate so he took it out on us. I suspect if word gets back that we are speaking of this matter, our families will be dismissed. The others of our company dispersed and will probably tell what happened to them, but their families are not employed by Lord Sharmine so they have nothing to still their tongues. If rumors spread about, most everyone will accept the word of a lord over that of a commoner, so his reputation will not suffer no matter what they say. I’m not sure why I am even telling you this, perhaps it is the act of kindness you have extended to us. I would be much obliged if you do not spread the particulars of our circumstances around.”
He had been answering Silvia’s question but his eyes were locked onto Daniel’s while he was speaking. The Teki woman assured him she would not repeat what he said and, remarkably, vouched for David as well. This left everyone looking to Daniel for a response.
He remembered the incident that took place at the gates of Aakadon and had to agree, from what he had seen of the man; Lord Sharmine was a prideful person who would try to erase any incident that impinged on his ego. Daniel had seen enough giant egos in Aakadon to convince him how petty some men can be. “I’ll not speak of the matter,” he assured the two travelers.
Marcus had finished his meal and was sipping water from a cup he produced from somewhere on his person. “I have no sword but am good with the knife and have been trained in unarmed combat. I say this only to suggest that we travel together,”
Silvia and David again looked to Daniel, he would have to get used to people deferring to him, folks had done so during the Battle of Bashierwood, but that was only for the duration of the conflict. “We are bound for Ducanton,” he told the chief.
“To meet the Queen,” Silvia volunteered; at least she did not proclaim anything about the Chosen Vessel.
Jared perked up at the news. “I could be most helpful to you, having no small experience in how to comport oneself among the nobility.”
Daniel’s first instinct was, as Ruth had said, to turn them down. He had no need of extra protection, would more likely be protecting all four of them than the other way around, and had no need of an account keeper. Even so the Seer had counseled him to accept anyone who insists on accompanying him. “David has told you who I am, and I’m telling you, trouble follows me like bees to a flower, and you would
Similar Books
