The trip back to Benanda is uneventful, but the flying isn't good. The air is heavier and there's a fair crosswind, of lower-pressure humid air. It causes the bird's feathers to ripple and requires it to flap more and fly slantwise, to avoid losing ground. In the far distance there are dark clouds, and ever-so faintly, the rumble of thunder.
Still, for the nonce, there's not but a bit of cloud to go with the faint, chill wind.
"I'd like to leave a message for Sala Nyland, please?"
"Umm.." says the receptionist. "What's your name?"
"Not sure yet. Put down Raucous."
"Okay. What's the message?"
"I'd like to meet her tonight at the restaurant we went to last time."
"Okay. I'll let her know that. Would you like a mint?"
"Would I?"
"Alright. So how did the job go?" says Sala, waiting for her meal. The bird is going to town on the breadbasket, head down, happily gulping away.
"Mmg"
"Would you like a minute?"
"No, I think I'm okay now. Atalon had a bad day."
"So what happened?"
"I framed him for some thefts. They put up wanted signs for him and he had to flee the town. Might have to flee a lot further than that. The townsfolk were pretty mad."
"Thefts?"
"Yeah. I spent a day going around town with him, helping him out and making sure I got noticed. Then I spent the next day stealing a bunch of stuff and putting it in his pack. Then warned him and chased him out of town."
"He didn't figure it out?"
"Well, he did figure it out, but a bit too late. I played dumb and tricked him."
"Hmm. What sorts of things did you steal?"
That's an odd question. What would it matter to her? Hmm..
"Oh, you know, this and that. Some coins, whatever was around. I don't really know how much things are worth, so I just took whatever caught my eye. Small things."
"Well, I can set you up for some credit. Just, let me explain how this works.."
"..and you can pick up a new note at any one of our offices. And for your first job, I'm going to pay you.. five silver coins."
Well, she's trying to rip me off. But.. it doesn't matter if she pays me five silver coins or five hundred gold coins. A job is good and having one will open plenty of doors, and I don't actually need money to do anything.
"That sounds great! Five is a big number."
"Do you think you're ready for another job?"
"Sure.. always."
"Alright. This time you're going to have to get a bit more physical. I know someone who needs a good beating, who needs to be hurt for a while, out for maybe a few weeks.
..Now, I've seen your I.D. You aren't very strong. Do you think you can handle this job?"
"Should be fine. We're talking about a person, right? Not some unstoppable dragon of doom?"
"Well, a fairly strong person. Her level's in the mid-40s, just short of maxing out. Uses sword, shield, and heavy armour. About 100 strength, 50-60 defense. Some magic, but fighting magic. She's not a mage, can't throw fireballs, only has some basic ranged attacks. Air strikes and cutters, usually uses them to trip people up or deflect projectiles a bit.
..Yeah, even those could probably one shot you. Do you think you can handle things?"
"Sure, sure. No problem."
"Alright. Now you need to do it in the next four or five days. And she needs to be out for at least the next week. Longer would be better. Good luck."
Moving automatically, she stands up and holds her hand out. The bird just stands there and stares at the proffered limb.
"I think I'm going to try the milkshake. Do you want to split it with me? I think it's bigger than I am."
The trip back to Benanda is uneventful, but the flying isn't good. The air is heavier and there's a fair crosswind, of lower-pressure humid air. It causes the bird's feathers to ripple and requires it to flap more and fly slantwise, to avoid losing ground. In the far distance there are dark clouds, and ever-so faintly, the rumble of thunder.
Still, for the nonce, there's not but a bit of cloud to go with the faint, chill wind.
"I'd like to leave a message for Sala Nyland, please?"
"Umm.." says the receptionist. "What's your name?"
"Not sure yet. Put down Raucous."
"Okay. What's the message?"
"I'd like to meet her tonight at the restaurant we went to last time."
"Okay. I'll let her know that. Would you like a mint?"
"Would I?"
"Alright. So how did the job go?" says Sala, waiting for her meal. The bird is going to town on the breadbasket, head down, happily gulping away.
"Mmg"
"Would you like a minute?"
"No, I think I'm okay now. Atalon had a bad day."
"So what happened?"
"I framed him for some thefts. They put up wanted signs for him and he had to flee the town. Might have to flee a lot further than that. The townsfolk were pretty mad."
"Thefts?"
"Yeah. I spent a day going around town with him, helping him out and making sure I got noticed. Then I spent the next day stealing a bunch of stuff and putting it in his pack. Then warned him and chased him out of town."
"He didn't figure it out?"
"Well, he did figure it out, but a bit too late. I played dumb and tricked him."
"Hmm. What sorts of things did you steal?"
That's an odd question. What would it matter to her? Hmm..
"Oh, you know, this and that. Some coins, whatever was around. I don't really know how much things are worth, so I just took whatever caught my eye. Small things."
"Well, I can set you up for some credit. Just, let me explain how this works.."
"..and you can pick up a new note at any one of our offices. And for your first job, I'm going to pay you.. five silver coins."
Well, she's trying to rip me off. But.. it doesn't matter if she pays me five silver coins or five hundred gold coins. A job is good and having one will open plenty of doors, and I don't actually need money to do anything.
"That sounds great! Five is a big number."
"Do you think you're ready for another job?"
"Sure.. always."
"Alright. This time you're going to have to get a bit more physical. I know someone who needs a good beating, who needs to be hurt for a while, out for maybe a few weeks.
..Now, I've seen your I.D. You aren't very strong. Do you think you can handle this job?"
"Should be fine. We're talking about a person, right? Not some unstoppable dragon of doom?"
"Well, a fairly strong person. Her level's in the mid-40s, just short of maxing out. Uses sword, shield, and heavy armour. About 100 strength, 50-60 defense. Some magic, but fighting magic. She's not a mage, can't throw fireballs, only has some basic ranged attacks. Air strikes and cutters, usually uses them to trip people up or deflect projectiles a bit.
..Yeah, even those could probably one shot you. Do you think you can handle things?"
"Sure, sure. No problem."
"Alright. Now you need to do it in the next four or five days. And she needs to be out for at least the next week. Longer would be better. Good luck."
Moving automatically, she stands up and holds her hand out. The bird just stands there and stares at the proffered limb.
"I think I'm going to try the milkshake. Do you want to split it with me? I think it's bigger than I am."
