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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 1562 since: Mar 02, 2001 |
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Trahn Riham climbed the stairs of the Seastone Inn and tried to decide how he was going to explain himself. I found your people, Alaran, and almost half of them are old enough to shave. Or perhaps, It was either brigands, beggars or boys, Alaran. Which would you have chosen? Alaran Cale was not going to be pleased. The caravan was to leave within the week, and Riham was the man Cale trusted to choose his new hires. Cale was notoriously uncompromising about the quality of his workers. He paid well and he expected much, and well he might; he had a solid reputation as a reliable caravan master, and he had to be able to depend upon the men he employed to do precisely and efficiently what they were told. Riham understood this, and that was why Cale sent him to choose the replacements and additions to his payroll. This time the selection had been slim, to say the least, and though Riham felt he'd made the best choices from what was to be had, he did not relish delivering the news. He came to the fourth solid oak door from the landing and knocked twice. |
Date: Jan 02, 2005 on 11:11 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 1067 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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Cale did not like Guildsport. The noise and the crowds and the stink were all good reasons, but not Cale’s reasons. What Cale disliked most about the city was the waiting. For five or six days at a time he was far from home and totally useless. He was not needed by his men, for they were making the most of their time in the hub city, in taverns and brothels and gutters. He was not needed to care for his cargo, nor to arrange for his next shipment—that was what he paid his agent Doren for. And he did not need to worry about the logistics of the next journey, for that was the responsibility of his second, Riham. What little interest the city had ever held for Cale had long since been spent; he had seen the sights, and found them for the most part not to his liking. Cale was not a city man. He even preferred the sands of Vesari to this place. On the road to Lahkis, at least, he had a purpose. So it was that Cale was updating his maps when Riham arrived. The maps were among the best to be had of the region between Guildsport and Lahkis, with many subtle details he had added himself over the years. Presently he was adjusting the locations of significant bandit presence as observed en route to the city. He did not expect much difficulty returning to Lahkis, as their cargo would be much less valuable by volume and the bandits knew it; nevertheless, it helped to pass the hours. Two knocks sounded at the door, and Cale looked up from his table. “Enter,” he said, rolling the papers to obscure their contents. |
Date: Jan 04, 2005 on 01:15 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 1562 since: Mar 02, 2001 |
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Riham opened the door and stepped inside. Cale had been working on the maps again. The man never wasted a moment. "We've got our replacements," he said without preamble. "A man from Danno's caravan who's headed to Green Rock to see his kin, two lads from that mining camp at the southwest edge of Vesari and an imperialist ranger looking to skip town. All but Danno's man are pretty green for desert work, but the two boys have all their own gear and they've got that desert look about them. They'll serve. The ranger looks like he can do whatever task we set him to and not bad to have in a fight." He tried not to sound defensive and shrugged. "Doren signed off on them. It's your call. There are others." |
Date: Jan 05, 2005 on 12:48 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 1067 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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When Cale recognized his second he returned to his maps and listened to the man's report. Danno was an experienced caravan master who knew a good pair of hands where he saw them, so at least one of the new hires was likely to be worth his pay. The others were as likely to be useful as not. Riham was a good second and an excellent judge of talent, but untested hands were always a calculated risk. Still, with fifteen men Cale knew and trusted with him he did not expect to have much trouble keeping a few boys in line. And if it became necessary he could always make an example of the ranger; it didn't sound like anyone would miss him. Cale nodded and glanced up at Riham. "It's fine, I'll have a look at them this afternoon when we start loading. It's still early yet but see if you can't start rounding up the men. They'll need to be sober and well-hydrated by sundown. I'll see you and Doren in the Merchant Quarter in two hours." Riham nodded and backed out. "See you there," he said before the door closed. Cale looked down at his maps and pondered how he would busy himself until it was time to leave. |
Date: Jan 05, 2005 on 01:19 a.m. |
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All times are CST -8. |
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