Chapter 10
MarkWarrior
Well-known member
Chapter 10
“Is it normal to feel this sore?” Graham asked as he groaned upon sitting down at the bar.
“Aye,” Takeshi smiled. “If it’s the first great deal of riding you’ve done then you’ll be sore for a few days yet. It’ll pass given time though.”
“Well, I’ll need some help getting directions to the Duke’s armory,” Graham said as he dug into the stew that had been set aside for the morning meal. “I’ve got the commission letter, but I’m not familiar enough with Ramsford to know where I am going.”
“I’ll help you out,” Takeshi said as Sigrid merely stared blankly as she ate her meal. “Once Sigrid and I have gotten you to the Armory though we’ll head off to sell the arms and armor that we’re not keeping.”
“I can meet you back here once we are both finished,” Graham said as he finished off the stew, nodding his thanks over at Analise and her daughter. “Thank you for the meal.”
“You are most welcome,” Analise replied with a smile. “You strongly resemble your father, you know that?”
“Aye,” Graham nodded. “I’ve been told that a time or two.”
“We used to all ride together,” Analise said with a sad smile. “But we’re all retired now. Except for the old goat who’s riding with you.”
“Jasmine needed the medicine,” Takeshi said with a shrug. “And Theodore is still finishing up his apprenticeship.”
“You awake yet, Sigrid?” Graham asked as he waved his hand in front of his best friend and betrothed.
Sigrid just pushed his hand away and continued eating, her brain not alert enough to deal with his antics yet.
“You can leave her here if you need to,” Analise offered. “She’s not in any danger, after all.”
“No,” Takeshi shook his head. “I promised Ødger that I’d teach Sigrid about how to properly navigate Ramsford.”
“Do we need to do what we used to do to Ødger?” Analise asked. “I do have the bucket of water.”
“We’ll give her a short while before we resort to that,” Takeshi replied. “I’m not a cruel man, after all.”
“Just telling you that we can help with it,” Analise laughed. “You know how bad Ødger was after all.”
“Aye, waking him up was a chore that we often tried to give Bjørn, odds were he’d just be able to hug Ødger to death if he tried anything to retaliate.”
“You know that he’ll want to see you if he finds out that you’re in the city,” Analise said while Graham watched and listened with interest.
“I know,” Takeshi sighed. “Once my business is over I’ll make an appearance, he needs to know about the state of the guards he’s hiring anyway.”
“He’ll be happy to hear that,” Analise said. “Want me to send word? I’ve still got connections with people in the castle after all.”
“Nay,” Takeshi shook his head. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Stubborn old fox of a man,” Analise smiled as she shook her head. “Well, be off with you, I don’t want to see any of you back here until this evening.”
“We’re going to the market?” Sigrid asked as her brain finally seemed to turn on.
“Aye,” Takeshi replied. “But first we’re taking Graham here to the Armory to get the arrows delivered.”
“Alright then,” Sigrid said as she processed his words. “What weapons should I bring with me?”
“Just a dagger or two,” Takeshi said as he slid his small dagger into the sheath at the small of his back. “Most people don’t walk around visibly armed in the city, the only reason Graham can do it is that it’s obvious that his shield is a gift from a noble, same with his sword.”
“So we’ll take Rose and the wagon to the armory first,” Graham said as he led the horse out of the stables and hooked the wagon up. “Do we want to return here to gather up the horses?”
“We’re keeping the horses,” Takeshi shook his head. “Good horses that are also trained for war are not cheap, and they’ll be useful to our families and the village once we return.”
“Come on,” Takeshi instructed the two young adults as they walked through the streets. “We’ve a good ways to walk if we want to have time to sell our goods at the market.”
“I’m coming,” Sigrid said as she shoved the last of her piece of bread into her mouth and hurried to catch up to Graham and Takeshi.
“What do you want?” A squat man asked Graham as he knocked on the door to the office of the armorer.
“I’ve come with a delivery from Fletcher Charles,” Graham informed him. “I’m his apprentice and we’ve got the commissioning letter here,” Graham got the letter out of the waterproof bag before handing it over to the armorer.
“Let’s see here,” The man said as he pulled the letter out of Graham’s hand. “The seal seems to be right, and you’ve got the barrels. I just have to check the counts right quick.”
The Armorer then rang a bell that summoned a handful of young men to the front desk. “Go grab the barrels of arrows off of the wagon out back, and get me a rough count.”
“I’ve done business with your master before,” the Armorer said with a sigh. “And while normally I’d take your word on having the proper amount of arrows, most of our suppliers have been sending us fewer than ordered and still expecting us to pay them the same.”
“I’m content to wait,” Graham said. “I’m quite certain that we manufactured the right amount that was requested. But I will remain here until they are finished with their count.”
“You good here lad?” Takeshi asked. “Because the arrows have been offloaded and Sigrid and I have to head to market. I’ve got to get the right medicine for my wife and we’ve got to sell the arms and armor.”
“I’m good here,” Graham nodded. “I’ll meet you back at the inn should everything work out here.”
“Right then,” Takeshi replied. “We’ll meet you back there this evening. Take care to not offend anyone, they may take your sword as an invitation to try and duel you.”
“I’ll just wait here until the Armorer’s business is done,” Graham said. “And then I’ll be on my way.”
“Come on then,” the Armorer said as he opened the door to his office. “No use waiting out in the elements while the boys finish up their counts.”
“Aye,” Graham agreed as he walked inside. “I’m curious, what need does the Duke have for over a thousand arrows?”
“We’re prepping for a potential siege,” the Armorer replied. “We’ve had quite a few rumors coming out of the north and while most nobles don’t seem to be concerned, our Duke has faced the North before and has been stockpiling extra weapons and food for months now.”
“He is right to be concerned,” Graham said. “We did encounter a band on the way here.”
“Well, let us hope it was merely a raiding party and not an army intent on taking Ramsford,” the Armorer said. “The people here are soft and have no idea how to endure as our fathers did.”
“Is it normal to feel this sore?” Graham asked as he groaned upon sitting down at the bar.
“Aye,” Takeshi smiled. “If it’s the first great deal of riding you’ve done then you’ll be sore for a few days yet. It’ll pass given time though.”
“Well, I’ll need some help getting directions to the Duke’s armory,” Graham said as he dug into the stew that had been set aside for the morning meal. “I’ve got the commission letter, but I’m not familiar enough with Ramsford to know where I am going.”
“I’ll help you out,” Takeshi said as Sigrid merely stared blankly as she ate her meal. “Once Sigrid and I have gotten you to the Armory though we’ll head off to sell the arms and armor that we’re not keeping.”
“I can meet you back here once we are both finished,” Graham said as he finished off the stew, nodding his thanks over at Analise and her daughter. “Thank you for the meal.”
“You are most welcome,” Analise replied with a smile. “You strongly resemble your father, you know that?”
“Aye,” Graham nodded. “I’ve been told that a time or two.”
“We used to all ride together,” Analise said with a sad smile. “But we’re all retired now. Except for the old goat who’s riding with you.”
“Jasmine needed the medicine,” Takeshi said with a shrug. “And Theodore is still finishing up his apprenticeship.”
“You awake yet, Sigrid?” Graham asked as he waved his hand in front of his best friend and betrothed.
Sigrid just pushed his hand away and continued eating, her brain not alert enough to deal with his antics yet.
“You can leave her here if you need to,” Analise offered. “She’s not in any danger, after all.”
“No,” Takeshi shook his head. “I promised Ødger that I’d teach Sigrid about how to properly navigate Ramsford.”
“Do we need to do what we used to do to Ødger?” Analise asked. “I do have the bucket of water.”
“We’ll give her a short while before we resort to that,” Takeshi replied. “I’m not a cruel man, after all.”
“Just telling you that we can help with it,” Analise laughed. “You know how bad Ødger was after all.”
“Aye, waking him up was a chore that we often tried to give Bjørn, odds were he’d just be able to hug Ødger to death if he tried anything to retaliate.”
“You know that he’ll want to see you if he finds out that you’re in the city,” Analise said while Graham watched and listened with interest.
“I know,” Takeshi sighed. “Once my business is over I’ll make an appearance, he needs to know about the state of the guards he’s hiring anyway.”
“He’ll be happy to hear that,” Analise said. “Want me to send word? I’ve still got connections with people in the castle after all.”
“Nay,” Takeshi shook his head. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Stubborn old fox of a man,” Analise smiled as she shook her head. “Well, be off with you, I don’t want to see any of you back here until this evening.”
“We’re going to the market?” Sigrid asked as her brain finally seemed to turn on.
“Aye,” Takeshi replied. “But first we’re taking Graham here to the Armory to get the arrows delivered.”
“Alright then,” Sigrid said as she processed his words. “What weapons should I bring with me?”
“Just a dagger or two,” Takeshi said as he slid his small dagger into the sheath at the small of his back. “Most people don’t walk around visibly armed in the city, the only reason Graham can do it is that it’s obvious that his shield is a gift from a noble, same with his sword.”
“So we’ll take Rose and the wagon to the armory first,” Graham said as he led the horse out of the stables and hooked the wagon up. “Do we want to return here to gather up the horses?”
“We’re keeping the horses,” Takeshi shook his head. “Good horses that are also trained for war are not cheap, and they’ll be useful to our families and the village once we return.”
“Come on,” Takeshi instructed the two young adults as they walked through the streets. “We’ve a good ways to walk if we want to have time to sell our goods at the market.”
“I’m coming,” Sigrid said as she shoved the last of her piece of bread into her mouth and hurried to catch up to Graham and Takeshi.
“What do you want?” A squat man asked Graham as he knocked on the door to the office of the armorer.
“I’ve come with a delivery from Fletcher Charles,” Graham informed him. “I’m his apprentice and we’ve got the commissioning letter here,” Graham got the letter out of the waterproof bag before handing it over to the armorer.
“Let’s see here,” The man said as he pulled the letter out of Graham’s hand. “The seal seems to be right, and you’ve got the barrels. I just have to check the counts right quick.”
The Armorer then rang a bell that summoned a handful of young men to the front desk. “Go grab the barrels of arrows off of the wagon out back, and get me a rough count.”
“I’ve done business with your master before,” the Armorer said with a sigh. “And while normally I’d take your word on having the proper amount of arrows, most of our suppliers have been sending us fewer than ordered and still expecting us to pay them the same.”
“I’m content to wait,” Graham said. “I’m quite certain that we manufactured the right amount that was requested. But I will remain here until they are finished with their count.”
“You good here lad?” Takeshi asked. “Because the arrows have been offloaded and Sigrid and I have to head to market. I’ve got to get the right medicine for my wife and we’ve got to sell the arms and armor.”
“I’m good here,” Graham nodded. “I’ll meet you back at the inn should everything work out here.”
“Right then,” Takeshi replied. “We’ll meet you back there this evening. Take care to not offend anyone, they may take your sword as an invitation to try and duel you.”
“I’ll just wait here until the Armorer’s business is done,” Graham said. “And then I’ll be on my way.”
“Come on then,” the Armorer said as he opened the door to his office. “No use waiting out in the elements while the boys finish up their counts.”
“Aye,” Graham agreed as he walked inside. “I’m curious, what need does the Duke have for over a thousand arrows?”
“We’re prepping for a potential siege,” the Armorer replied. “We’ve had quite a few rumors coming out of the north and while most nobles don’t seem to be concerned, our Duke has faced the North before and has been stockpiling extra weapons and food for months now.”
“He is right to be concerned,” Graham said. “We did encounter a band on the way here.”
“Well, let us hope it was merely a raiding party and not an army intent on taking Ramsford,” the Armorer said. “The people here are soft and have no idea how to endure as our fathers did.”