likely be safer traveling as far from me as you can get,” he said and then nodded toward Silvia. “She can tell you better than I.”
All eyes went to the Teki woman, she did not seem to mind, all of them were born performers, and she was no exception. “You are caught up in the swirl of events that surround the Chosen Vessel,” she proclaimed, so far so good. “You can join him, be smashed by him, or get out of his way. To journey with us will be perilous. I council you to go a different way, it will be much safer for you.”
Daniel wished he had not encouraged her input. He did not smash people who failed to get out of his way, at least not many, only those who were involved with the Serpent Guild. She made him sound like a natural disaster. He stood up and walked around a bit to stretch his legs. The shield on David was no longer necessary so he removed it. The Teki blinked and glanced at him, clearly noticing the cool night air.
“I am a professional, handling dangerous situations is what I am trained to do. If trouble follows your path as you suggest, you will need my services or those of one much like me, you being Silenced and all,” Marcus said, while watching Daniel pace back and forth.
That would be true if Daniel could no longer summon potential. He stopped and looked at the account keeper. “Trouble began following me from the time I cast my first spell, continued even after I was Silenced by the Grand Maestro, and has not stopped to this day. I have encountered no less than fifty yetis since leaving Aakadon and have no idea what else I will encounter between here and Ducanton. Think hard, both of you, before you decide to travel with me,” he told them and sat down.
Jared took in a deep breath and replied firmly, “I am an educated man, a student of history, and know the opportunity to serve the Chosen Vessel only comes once in a millennia. It would be my honor to provide my services. If the written accounts of Della Lain are anything to go by, you are just beginning to gather whatever support group is necessary to accomplish the task given you. I’m not much to look at in my current state, but please do not let my appearance prejudice you, I can be of help if you let me.”
“We should reach Jeeter before sunset tomorrow, travel with us there if you like, and then decide if you still want to accompany me to Ducanton,” Daniel replied, l eaving the decision up to them.
“Jeeter is a prosperous town, you can acquire a silk shirt and some wool pants to go with that fancy coat before we head on into Ducanton,” Jared suggested, making no mentioned of staying behind. If his actions matched his words, that would make him insistent enough, and therefore acceptable as a companion.
“If you will have me, I’ll go with you to Ducanton and beyond. Serving you is a good use of my skills, I will finally be doing something of importance, and it might even be exciting,” Marcus said and smiled as if the prospect of doing something important and exciting pleased him greatly.
Daniel eyed the two men and wondered if their wanting to be with him was out of desperation or were they part of something bigger, like Ruth had said, “The Chosen Vessel draws what he needs.” He could not imagine how either of these fellows fit into his future needs. For now he would follow the elder’s advice and accept these men, and if the going gets too tough for them or they prove untrustworthy, which seemed unlikely, he could let them leave if it is too tough and send them away if they cannot be trusted.
“Both of you have offered your services and neither of you have mentioned anything about wages,” Daniel pointed out. He still had a bag with at least a hundred gold coins in it.
“I was earning ten silvers a month as chief of the men-at-arms. Unless you have an estate that needs guarding or someone to lead your armed escort, I don’t expect much. Frankly, at this point, I would be happy to have a decent meal at
All eyes went to the Teki woman, she did not seem to mind, all of them were born performers, and she was no exception. “You are caught up in the swirl of events that surround the Chosen Vessel,” she proclaimed, so far so good. “You can join him, be smashed by him, or get out of his way. To journey with us will be perilous. I council you to go a different way, it will be much safer for you.”
Daniel wished he had not encouraged her input. He did not smash people who failed to get out of his way, at least not many, only those who were involved with the Serpent Guild. She made him sound like a natural disaster. He stood up and walked around a bit to stretch his legs. The shield on David was no longer necessary so he removed it. The Teki blinked and glanced at him, clearly noticing the cool night air.
“I am a professional, handling dangerous situations is what I am trained to do. If trouble follows your path as you suggest, you will need my services or those of one much like me, you being Silenced and all,” Marcus said, while watching Daniel pace back and forth.
That would be true if Daniel could no longer summon potential. He stopped and looked at the account keeper. “Trouble began following me from the time I cast my first spell, continued even after I was Silenced by the Grand Maestro, and has not stopped to this day. I have encountered no less than fifty yetis since leaving Aakadon and have no idea what else I will encounter between here and Ducanton. Think hard, both of you, before you decide to travel with me,” he told them and sat down.
Jared took in a deep breath and replied firmly, “I am an educated man, a student of history, and know the opportunity to serve the Chosen Vessel only comes once in a millennia. It would be my honor to provide my services. If the written accounts of Della Lain are anything to go by, you are just beginning to gather whatever support group is necessary to accomplish the task given you. I’m not much to look at in my current state, but please do not let my appearance prejudice you, I can be of help if you let me.”
“We should reach Jeeter before sunset tomorrow, travel with us there if you like, and then decide if you still want to accompany me to Ducanton,” Daniel replied, l eaving the decision up to them.
“Jeeter is a prosperous town, you can acquire a silk shirt and some wool pants to go with that fancy coat before we head on into Ducanton,” Jared suggested, making no mentioned of staying behind. If his actions matched his words, that would make him insistent enough, and therefore acceptable as a companion.
“If you will have me, I’ll go with you to Ducanton and beyond. Serving you is a good use of my skills, I will finally be doing something of importance, and it might even be exciting,” Marcus said and smiled as if the prospect of doing something important and exciting pleased him greatly.
Daniel eyed the two men and wondered if their wanting to be with him was out of desperation or were they part of something bigger, like Ruth had said, “The Chosen Vessel draws what he needs.” He could not imagine how either of these fellows fit into his future needs. For now he would follow the elder’s advice and accept these men, and if the going gets too tough for them or they prove untrustworthy, which seemed unlikely, he could let them leave if it is too tough and send them away if they cannot be trusted.
“Both of you have offered your services and neither of you have mentioned anything about wages,” Daniel pointed out. He still had a bag with at least a hundred gold coins in it.
“I was earning ten silvers a month as chief of the men-at-arms. Unless you have an estate that needs guarding or someone to lead your armed escort, I don’t expect much. Frankly, at this point, I would be happy to have a decent meal at
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