Read Online The Wasteland Soldier, Book 3, Drums Of War (TWS) by Laurence Moore - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laurence Moore
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curled.
“What do you want?”
“Ah, you do talk then?” said Boyd. “I want you to eat and drink. And then I want you to work for me. Because this is Ennpithia, not Gallen, and here men and women work.”
Nuria peered across the rim of her mug.
“I’m a travelling merchant. I leave tomorrow morning. I trade at all the villages and settlements through western Ennpithia. Mostly we hug the coastline. We’ll be gone for ten weeks. I saw how you dealt with Sal Munton and you were not intimidated by Captain Duggan. I’m a very good judge of character.” He nodded toward the closed inn door. “Dobbs and Farrell were supposed to be Quinn’s replacement. Quinn is my usual escort and my friend. She recommended them but I would prefer to hire you two. You see, a merchant requires protection on the road.”
“From who?” asked Nuria?
“Bandits. Thieves. Touron law will hang a man for robbery but there are no Churchmen soldiers on the roads to make any arrests.” He saw the questioning look upon their faces. “Touron is the central town in Ennpithia. The high council that meets there create the laws by which we all live.”
Stone smiled thinly. There was only one law he lived by. Survival, at any cost.
“I pay well.” Boyd set a plump leather bag onto the table. Neither of them touched it. “I see you carry only swords. Quinn can provide you with ranged weapons. You might need them.”
Stone loosened the bag, reached in and scooped out a handful of metal coins.
“What are these?”
“The economy of Ennpithia is different to that of Gallen.” said Boyd, burping loudly. “Gallen is built on trade and theft. Here, if you want something then you pay for it with coin. That’s a large amount of money I’m offering you both. There are men who would give their right arm for this deal. But they wouldn’t be of much use if they did.”
Unsmiling, Stone tipped the coins back into the bag.
“That was a joke,” said Boyd.
He knotted the bag, glanced at Nuria. She realised he wanted her to decide.
“How important are these things? Truthfully?”
Boyd smiled at them. It was like explaining numbers to children. He shifted in his seat.
“Coin will put food in your belly. A roof over your head. A woman … or a man in your bed. As I told you, this isn’t Gallen. You can’t walk around killing and stealing with no consequence. There are laws here and the law will pursue you if you do. This is the new world. This is why people try to make it to Ennpithia. Coin is everything. Coin is how you survive.”
Nuria took a deep breath, nodded.
“We’ll work for you.”
“Excellent,” he said, clapping his hands. “Now, eat before this food grows cold.”
Stone lifted the bowl of soup and sniffed. A rich smell filled his nostrils. He saw the look of disapproval on Boyd’s face and the merchant offered him a wooden spoon. Nuria tore off a hunk of bread, dipped it into the hot food and stirred it around. She smiled across the table at Stone and was about to take a bite when the inn door creaked open and Farrell stepped back inside.
“I’m not happy with the new arrangement, Boyd,” he said, standing in the open doorway. His voice was calmer, his face resigned. “Quinn said you’d give us work and I need that coin. I’ve made promises on earning that coin.”
“I’m sorry,” said Boyd. He appeared sincere. “I have to pick the best to protect my business.”
Dobbs appeared behind him. He had the same resigned look on his face. Neither man could afford to back down.
“I want you to reconsider hiring us, Mr Boyd,” said Farrell. “I’m giving you a chance to change your mind.”
“I don’t want any trouble in here,” called Bertram.
“Then we’ll take it outside,” growled Dobbs.
Stone hurled the soup bowl into Farrell’s face. He howled as the hot liquid soaked him and flailed blindly for his sword. Nuria sprang from her chair and jabbed her fist into his throat. She slammed him
“What do you want?”
“Ah, you do talk then?” said Boyd. “I want you to eat and drink. And then I want you to work for me. Because this is Ennpithia, not Gallen, and here men and women work.”
Nuria peered across the rim of her mug.
“I’m a travelling merchant. I leave tomorrow morning. I trade at all the villages and settlements through western Ennpithia. Mostly we hug the coastline. We’ll be gone for ten weeks. I saw how you dealt with Sal Munton and you were not intimidated by Captain Duggan. I’m a very good judge of character.” He nodded toward the closed inn door. “Dobbs and Farrell were supposed to be Quinn’s replacement. Quinn is my usual escort and my friend. She recommended them but I would prefer to hire you two. You see, a merchant requires protection on the road.”
“From who?” asked Nuria?
“Bandits. Thieves. Touron law will hang a man for robbery but there are no Churchmen soldiers on the roads to make any arrests.” He saw the questioning look upon their faces. “Touron is the central town in Ennpithia. The high council that meets there create the laws by which we all live.”
Stone smiled thinly. There was only one law he lived by. Survival, at any cost.
“I pay well.” Boyd set a plump leather bag onto the table. Neither of them touched it. “I see you carry only swords. Quinn can provide you with ranged weapons. You might need them.”
Stone loosened the bag, reached in and scooped out a handful of metal coins.
“What are these?”
“The economy of Ennpithia is different to that of Gallen.” said Boyd, burping loudly. “Gallen is built on trade and theft. Here, if you want something then you pay for it with coin. That’s a large amount of money I’m offering you both. There are men who would give their right arm for this deal. But they wouldn’t be of much use if they did.”
Unsmiling, Stone tipped the coins back into the bag.
“That was a joke,” said Boyd.
He knotted the bag, glanced at Nuria. She realised he wanted her to decide.
“How important are these things? Truthfully?”
Boyd smiled at them. It was like explaining numbers to children. He shifted in his seat.
“Coin will put food in your belly. A roof over your head. A woman … or a man in your bed. As I told you, this isn’t Gallen. You can’t walk around killing and stealing with no consequence. There are laws here and the law will pursue you if you do. This is the new world. This is why people try to make it to Ennpithia. Coin is everything. Coin is how you survive.”
Nuria took a deep breath, nodded.
“We’ll work for you.”
“Excellent,” he said, clapping his hands. “Now, eat before this food grows cold.”
Stone lifted the bowl of soup and sniffed. A rich smell filled his nostrils. He saw the look of disapproval on Boyd’s face and the merchant offered him a wooden spoon. Nuria tore off a hunk of bread, dipped it into the hot food and stirred it around. She smiled across the table at Stone and was about to take a bite when the inn door creaked open and Farrell stepped back inside.
“I’m not happy with the new arrangement, Boyd,” he said, standing in the open doorway. His voice was calmer, his face resigned. “Quinn said you’d give us work and I need that coin. I’ve made promises on earning that coin.”
“I’m sorry,” said Boyd. He appeared sincere. “I have to pick the best to protect my business.”
Dobbs appeared behind him. He had the same resigned look on his face. Neither man could afford to back down.
“I want you to reconsider hiring us, Mr Boyd,” said Farrell. “I’m giving you a chance to change your mind.”
“I don’t want any trouble in here,” called Bertram.
“Then we’ll take it outside,” growled Dobbs.
Stone hurled the soup bowl into Farrell’s face. He howled as the hot liquid soaked him and flailed blindly for his sword. Nuria sprang from her chair and jabbed her fist into his throat. She slammed him
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