Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-12599067-20140629231702/@comment-12599067-20140701033836

Two weeks earlier...

Warm firelight lit the small tavern, filling the room with a cheery, flickering light that matched the generally amiable nature of the people. Chatter and the sound of tankards being lifted and set down filled the room as merchant, mercenary, and commoner alike spoke of their mundane lives with one another. The only man who wasn't speaking was a Redguard man dressed in a mix of armor and robe, sitting in the back corner with a tankard of wine sitting on the table before him. He looked up only when the door opened and swellsword strode in, slipping over to his table and taking the seat in front of him without a word.

"Certainly took your time, didn't you?" the Redguard noted, eyes hidden in the shadow of his helm.

"Pardon me, milord, but crossing the wilderness takes time. Would you like to hear every detail of my journey or shall we just get down to buisiness?" the mercenary answered.

"My, aren't you a firebrand," the Redguard smiled, putting both hands on the table and clasping them together. "I'll spare you the trouble and get onto the details. But first, tell me something. At what length would you follow my orders?"

" That depends upon the coin you lay in front of me, milord. I am very reliable. I do not wear this cowl as a joke."

" Very well. How much for your loyalty?"

"Let us separate the issues here, milord. Loyalty cannot be bought. It is either there or it is not. I do not promise to be loyal to you no matter how much coin you pay me. However, you will have my discretion. My clients always have that, no matter what the price. I throw that in as a bonus. What you are buying, is my skill. The price is for how much risk there is in using that skill. So, what is it you wish me to do? Once I know that, I can set a price."

The Redguard man studied the sellsword for a moment, frowning, and briefly considered if she could truly be trusted. Discretion and skill would be what they needed, sure, but if the hired hand was not obedient it could ruin everything.

"You're breaking a man out of prison. Think you can handle that?" he asked, having finally decided that the mercenary could be trusted to at least some degree.

"There are prisons and there are prisons, milord. I presume you are not speaking of the Imperial Dungeons."

"Worse," the Redguard answered. "Are you familiar with the Emperor's attempts to reexpand into Argonia and the recent reopening of the Black Rose?"

"Shor's bones." The cowled visitor sat back in the chair, suddenly feeling weak. ''That prison. '' "I'm aware. You want me to break someone out of the Rose? Someone who'll bring the Emperor to his knees, hopefully?"

The Redguard was surprised by the mercenary's response. He had not expected the sellsword to have any previous hatred of the Emperor.

" Indeed, but that is not the point. Can you handle the job, or can you not?" he repeated.

"I can handle it." The statement was made in a firm voice, laced with an undertone of venom. "But I won't do it cheap. 200,000 Septims."

"175,000."

"Done and done." The sellsword stuck out a hand, which was shortly afterwards taken by the Redguard. The deal had been struck.