Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [G] Say what you mean!
Message-ID: <6607@m1.cs.man.ac.uk>
From: shaun@csc.liv.ac.uk (Shaun Hovers)
Date: 28 Oct 92 14:17:42 GMT


Characters mentioned: Kordane, Wanderer.
Authors: Sean A Reith, Shaun Hovers.

Wanderer settled down into his shared guard duty with Kordane, thinking
about the day and where it had brought them.  The ride was fair enough,
Kordane would survive the journey as far as the riding was concerned, but
the saddlesores were yet to come.  This thought caused a wide grin to
appear across Wanderer's face which Kordane couldn't help but notice.
  K: "I obviously missed the amusing angle to our predicament.
      Care to fill me in?  "
  W: "No, Kordane, a merry thought passed through my mind for a moment, but
      that moment has now passed."
Seeing he wasn't going to learn what the thought had been, Kordane decided
to try and learn something about his companion, and especially about
something that had been bothering him most of the day.
  K: (indicating his horse nearby, though watching Wanderer's face for the
      smile that never failed to appear when the beast was the topic of
      discussion)
     "Nice beast, handled himself well in that skirmish today.
      So you think I got a good deal?"
  W: (smiling wryly on cue)
     "I think you got a _very_ good deal."
  K: "Being no horse expert...  I'm interested in how you came to that
      conclusion?"
  W: "The horse has more than just a shining coat, it's been trained
      to do more that allow a man to ride it.
      You must of been extremely lucky to find a merchant so ... asleep.
      Most I have ever met are wide awake at the slightest indication
      of a customer, and shining coats are enough for most 'horsemen'.
      Luckier still to be spared the usual salemans speel, including
      such gems of information as the horses measuments, gender, etc."
  K: "I should have taken you along, someone who knows the ropes is
      always better at spotting the trappings."
  W: "Perhaps, though anothers presence may have merely served to
      put the merchant on his guard, you did well enough by yourself,
      and after all, it's not exactly my field of expertise."
  K: (sigh)
     "We have all been to preoccupied with the meaning of this 'quest',
      to bother with more that curt introductions.  I sir, am a
      locksmith, of some skill, be I forced to say it myself.  May
      I be so bold as to enquire of your area of expertise?"
  W: (the wry smile flashes across his face, before he brings his eyes
      to meet Kordane's full, as if to see his complete reaction.)
     "I solve differences between people, differences which sometimes
      require drastic solutions."
  K: (meeting the stare)
     "An arbitrator..."
  W: "That's an appropriate word for it, yes.  Some find my profession
      ... disturbing.  And you?"
  K: "Me?  No, I can't think of a better person to have around at the
      moment."
  W: "So, now we know each others stations in life, present ones anyway...
      good things to know when we are cast together suddenly."
  K: (sighing)
     "Yes, this 'quest', it's not exactly the sort of thing you bargain on.
      I wonder if we shall ever be free of it? ...
      Ever seen anything like it?"
  W: (The anger in his voice rising again as before.) 
     "Yes, I have seen this form of 'fools errand' before, where those of
      power play with the lives of those supposedly beneath them."
  K: "Sounds pretty personal... been a player before?"
  W: "Too often before, and now, once too often for someone's good." 
  K: (A sarcastic grin touching the edges of his mouth, eyes and voice)
     "Would have thought you'd be getting used to it."
  W: (Real malice now showing in his tone)
     "Last I was called to 'play', I played such that I should never have
      to bow to another's whim ever again - that I was to be totally free
      - that edict has been violated.  Now I want what I had returned..."
     (His voice trails off as if he suddenly realises what he is saying
      and to whom.)
  K: (Not noticing Wanderer's look)
     "What did you lose of such value?"
  W: (His voice now back to normal)
     "Nothing in particular, I shall have it back and be free once more.
      Kordane, say nothing of what we have spoken to the others, I
      appreciate my own anonymity unless given away by myself..."
  K: "As do I.  Your introductions shall be your own."
  W: " Much appreciated."

What little was left of the watch was carried out in silence, each
lost in their own thoughts.  After waking Traveller and Bran for
the next watch, sleep came less readily than before, despite the
alure of unconsiousness.