decorated
by a thin line of silver trim. A double-edged sword lay unsheathed
across his lap. Malander stared into the far corner of the room,
while his hands kept busy toying with a plain ring of silver on his
left hand. Seth knew not what to make of Malander thus far, but he
did feel the grim man radiating a mysterious aura.
"At my side is the mercenary Gildan
Gundagrin," Zelok continued. Gildan raised his head to the sound of
his famous name and awaited a grander introduction. "You are
fortunate to have his blade within your party."
"Indeed," Gildan added proudly. "King Zelok,
your luck is at its peak with me in your service."
"It is an honor to meet you, Master
Gundagrin," Seth said. He had heard the many tales of Gildan's work
and looked forward to seeing the elf's skills with the sword. He
had also heard of Gildan's lavish mode of dress, and saw it fully
in the garments he wore. Some might be tempted to laugh at his
attire, but Gildan's proficiency in mercenary work assured him of
respect throughout the world, and none dared mock him.
His hair was bright green and rose six inches
from his head. Two long braids of hair, fastened by silver holders,
fell before his ears and hung to his stomach, and three small
jewels were fixed in his forehead, between his brows. Over his
right shoulder was a yellow cape with a red and purple pattern of
triangles at its hem, draped over finely designed armor of leather
that covered both shoulders. He wore a long, green jacket with
short sleeves trimmed in yellow throughout. Under his lavish
three-quarter-length coat, yellow pantaloons were bunched at his
knees. Very little of his red tights could be seen, however, for
the boots rode high on his legs. Seth noticed that the tips of the
elf's boots curled upward and inward and were made of the finest
leather he had ever seen. Also, as bold accents Gildan wore leather
gloves that winged out at the elbows, and a matching belt with
silver buckle. In each of his slender, long ears, near the points,
three small, silver rings gleamed in the light.
"You say it is an honor?" Gildan asked
Seth.
"I would say so."
"Then you are correct."
"The person who did not arrive was meant to
lead my quest," Zelok said. "But now I must find another to
govern."
"I will accept your offer," Gildan said
before Zelok could say another word, as if he knew that the
position would be laid before him.
"True it is that I have chosen you,
Gildan."
"Of course," Gildan replied with a smile.
"Alas, this leaves me no choice but to raise the price of my
services."
"Is that so?" asked Zelok, unamused.
"Ninety thousand gold pieces," the mercenary
stated.
Seth's eyes shot open wide at the bold
demand. "Ninety thousand ?" he
whispered. "Amazing."
"That is ridiculous!" Zelok said. "I can buy
an entire army for that!" He grew restless in his chair. "I could
send a battalion of my own knights, and the cost would be
minimal."
"I see three things wrong with that," Gildan
retorted. All in the room were witness to Gildan's skill at
business negotiation. Zelok was offended. "First of all, an entire
legion could not match my dexterity with the blade. Also, would you
risk lowering your numbers needed for Dunane's defense?" Gildan
paused, knowing that the bartering was nearly complete--in his
favor. "Most importantly, Zelok, I have offers from others who
desire to employ my talents." He made as if to rise from his seat.
"Now, if you will excuse me…"
"Wait one moment, Gundagrin," Zelok said as
he threw up a hand. Feeling in need of a drink, he took up his
half-full goblet and drank it down in one go. "Ninety-thousand," he
muttered.
Seth and Lorn looked at each other,
stupefied. Seth daydreamed of the money and what he could do with
it. The idea of being a mercenary filled his mind but soon faded.
He knew that serving the Council was his greatest security. The
benefits of Mudalfaen would always be there for him, while the life
of a soldier for hire was full of uncertainty.
Zelok
by a thin line of silver trim. A double-edged sword lay unsheathed
across his lap. Malander stared into the far corner of the room,
while his hands kept busy toying with a plain ring of silver on his
left hand. Seth knew not what to make of Malander thus far, but he
did feel the grim man radiating a mysterious aura.
"At my side is the mercenary Gildan
Gundagrin," Zelok continued. Gildan raised his head to the sound of
his famous name and awaited a grander introduction. "You are
fortunate to have his blade within your party."
"Indeed," Gildan added proudly. "King Zelok,
your luck is at its peak with me in your service."
"It is an honor to meet you, Master
Gundagrin," Seth said. He had heard the many tales of Gildan's work
and looked forward to seeing the elf's skills with the sword. He
had also heard of Gildan's lavish mode of dress, and saw it fully
in the garments he wore. Some might be tempted to laugh at his
attire, but Gildan's proficiency in mercenary work assured him of
respect throughout the world, and none dared mock him.
His hair was bright green and rose six inches
from his head. Two long braids of hair, fastened by silver holders,
fell before his ears and hung to his stomach, and three small
jewels were fixed in his forehead, between his brows. Over his
right shoulder was a yellow cape with a red and purple pattern of
triangles at its hem, draped over finely designed armor of leather
that covered both shoulders. He wore a long, green jacket with
short sleeves trimmed in yellow throughout. Under his lavish
three-quarter-length coat, yellow pantaloons were bunched at his
knees. Very little of his red tights could be seen, however, for
the boots rode high on his legs. Seth noticed that the tips of the
elf's boots curled upward and inward and were made of the finest
leather he had ever seen. Also, as bold accents Gildan wore leather
gloves that winged out at the elbows, and a matching belt with
silver buckle. In each of his slender, long ears, near the points,
three small, silver rings gleamed in the light.
"You say it is an honor?" Gildan asked
Seth.
"I would say so."
"Then you are correct."
"The person who did not arrive was meant to
lead my quest," Zelok said. "But now I must find another to
govern."
"I will accept your offer," Gildan said
before Zelok could say another word, as if he knew that the
position would be laid before him.
"True it is that I have chosen you,
Gildan."
"Of course," Gildan replied with a smile.
"Alas, this leaves me no choice but to raise the price of my
services."
"Is that so?" asked Zelok, unamused.
"Ninety thousand gold pieces," the mercenary
stated.
Seth's eyes shot open wide at the bold
demand. "Ninety thousand ?" he
whispered. "Amazing."
"That is ridiculous!" Zelok said. "I can buy
an entire army for that!" He grew restless in his chair. "I could
send a battalion of my own knights, and the cost would be
minimal."
"I see three things wrong with that," Gildan
retorted. All in the room were witness to Gildan's skill at
business negotiation. Zelok was offended. "First of all, an entire
legion could not match my dexterity with the blade. Also, would you
risk lowering your numbers needed for Dunane's defense?" Gildan
paused, knowing that the bartering was nearly complete--in his
favor. "Most importantly, Zelok, I have offers from others who
desire to employ my talents." He made as if to rise from his seat.
"Now, if you will excuse me…"
"Wait one moment, Gundagrin," Zelok said as
he threw up a hand. Feeling in need of a drink, he took up his
half-full goblet and drank it down in one go. "Ninety-thousand," he
muttered.
Seth and Lorn looked at each other,
stupefied. Seth daydreamed of the money and what he could do with
it. The idea of being a mercenary filled his mind but soon faded.
He knew that serving the Council was his greatest security. The
benefits of Mudalfaen would always be there for him, while the life
of a soldier for hire was full of uncertainty.
Zelok
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