It was a rare occurrence for Hellrien to allow herself to think about her future and the remaining years she had left of her life. For as long as she could remember, she had never had much control over what happened to her. Most of the things she had done in her life had been dictated by sheer necessity and need for survival. As a scout for the Sworn Brotherhood she had learned that there was very little honor or glory in war, no matter what side you were on. War was about killing, and in killing all that mattered who was the strongest and most ruthless. The victors of any fight were often those who could deliver the first blow and strike hard enough to kill, without ever giving their opponents a fair chance. It was not about anything as ridiculous as who deserved to die, nor who would be more beneficial to the society alive. It was not about good versus evil. It was all just blind chance, and blind chance didn’t care who was right and who was wrong, or who had occupied this patch of land first.
Hellrien had been an underdog since the moment she had been born into this world, and being equipped with lethal weapons and skills to use them efficiently and without mercy only meant she was an underdog to a lesser degree than before. Not much had changed. Other people still decided her fate, other people still decided whether she would live or die, and what cause she would live or die fighting for.
It had been eventful couple of weeks. After the incident in the alley she had signed up a contract with a certain Lady Katrandil of Gondor in her unit of Lossarnach soldiers who were residing in Bree-land for whatever reason. There was no financial need for her to work after what The Network had paid for her, but she knew that people would soon begin to wonder where all her money came from if she didn’t have a regular job. It had been a simple enough gig – guarding Adso Haybank’s camp and construction site from brigand attacks west of Bree. After the first week she had collected her wages to spend them in the Pony.
Not long had passed before The Man had found her there. Apparently The Network had a problem with her current employer and wanted her to quit her job there. Hellrien had tried to explain that she needed a job in order to avoid suspicion of the Watch, but The Man would have none of it. The Network didn’t approve of her employer, and neither would they approve of her signing up with the Watch, as Hellrien suggested, only half in jest. Instead The Man had proposed that if Hellrien needed to work, there were plenty of things she could do – things that didn’t include soldiering. Like cooking, cleaning…
Hellrien didn’t hear the rest. The Man couldn’t have chosen his words more poorly. Wasn’t that exactly what she had fled from in Archet – and that fateful decision the cause of all the hardships that had fallen upon her since? Had it all been for naught… for this? Suddenly Hellrien decided she would not have it that way, not have others dictate every aspect of her life, not if her life depended on it (as it probably did). She would flee… run far away from Bree, far out of The Network’s reach. She would find something, somewhere… It would be a hard life, but Hellrien was used to hard living. She could make it.
In that precise moment blind chance decided to intervene. The door to the Pony opened, and two people Hellrien had never seen before walked in, a man and a woman. Both had definite military airs about them, and from the way The Man reacted Hellrien quickly surmised they were not just some nobodies. The Man warned him against talking to them, and in any case telling them about her dealings with The Network, or she would have to face the most severe of consequences.
Had it not been their conversation earlier, Hellrien would have likely obeyed… but now, everything inside her rebelled against this slavery she found herself in. The Network would always dictate who she could work for, who she could associate with, what she could say and what she could do… NO! Suddenly she decided to play a reckless, perilous gambit with her own life – put everything on one card.
The pair introduced themselves as Taala and Eroforth. The woman, Taala, had some business with The Man – ”Nog”, she called him, and Hellrien recorded that name into her memory – and while Taala and The Man went to have their little chat farther away, Hellrien chatted up with Eroforth. She learned that the pair belonged to a powerful and significant mercenary company called The Bloody Dawn. Disregarding Nog’s concerned and reflective glances from across the room, Hellrien explained Eroforth everything about her precarious situation and her own military background, hoping to be able to sell herself and her sword to the company in exchange for some protection. It was absurdly hazardous, suicidal idea – but it was too late to back down now.
The Man had to leave the tavern, so Hellrien repeated her story to Taala. Somehow she managed to convince Taala of her worth for the company, and that it would be worth the strain it might cause in the relations between The Network and The Bloody Dawn to take her in. They brought Hellrien to their headquarters near a small village of Towerglan a short ride from Bree. She had been hiding out there for about a week while The Bloody Dawn and The Network negotiated about Hellrien’s fate and future. She was far from the clear yet, but she felt good about this little piece of control she had been able to exert over her own life.
Earlier today Hellrien had received an alarming letter in the Dawnhall. It was from The Network. They wanted her to come in a pub called ’Dragon’s Lair’, unarmed and alone, for a ’mission briefing’. Hellrien smelled a rat. Would The Network really risk a war with the Dawn by assassinating their newest recruit? The answer was easy – there would be no war over her. She was simply not that important – she was disposable, expendable. Probably there would be some strain in the relations with the two organizations for a while, but The Network would not hesitate to kill her, if that’s what they had decided. The Man’s stern words of warning echoed in Hellrien’s ears. Betray us, and there will be consequences…
Death had been a real factor in Hellrien’s life for so long she had grown accustomed to it. She was certain she wouldn’t live to see her old age. Very few in her line of work ever did. She would face death like so many of her friends and enemies – slain by a sword, a knife in her back or mutilated and driven to insanity with torture. That certainty always bothered Hellrien, but she kept it in mind with every decision she made, she included it in her calculations like a concrete adversary and so far she had managed to play her cards so that she had survived. Hellrien knew that it wasn’t all luck that she still lived; she had perfected the skill to survive – and when necessary, kill to survive.
She had shown the letter to Taala and Eroforth, who were both annoyed by the sheer audacity of The Network – they thought they had come to an agreement that the organization would relinquish their claim of Hellrien should she opt to join the Dawn – having an employee with divided loyalties was out of the question for The Bloody Dawn. This only strengthened Hellrien’s suspicions that she was being led into a trap.
They came up with a plan. Dragon’s Lair was a tavern in a small village of Gwinsnade – a notorious hideout for seedy characters and the likely headquarters of The Network. Hellrien would go there as requested, with the exeption that a few Dawn operators would follow – Taala, Eroforth and a third man called Ebold. Dragon’s Lair was a public house, often visited by Dawn operators, so there should be no reason why three of them couldn’t just happen to pop in a few minutes after Hellrien. It wasn’t a fool-proof plan, but it was better than nothing. Taala seemed pretty assured they wouldn’t just shoot Hellrien down the moment they saw her, as they seemed to value her skills so highly. Hellrien wasn’t convinced, but decided to go along with the plan. She reckoned it wouldn’t be the last time she would have to risk her neck should they accept her in the company.
A couple of hours later she was standing in the dark in front of the entrance of Dragon’s Lair. The grey, dreary facade revealed nothing to those who were unacquainted with the underworld of Bree-Land. But Hellrien knew a big portion of all organized crime in the streets of Bree was controlled from within these wall.
Hellrien had left most of her weapons with her horse. They would only strip her of them in any case before letting her enter. She was only armed with a couple of knives, as she knew they would expect that of her – to do otherwise would have been unprofessional, and probably raise their suspicions. She fumbled the blade in her breast pocket to sooth her nerves, walked slowly past two drunkards talking in a loud voice and ascended three steps to the heavy, dark oak door. She knocked on it.
A moment later the door opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man came into view. He moved slowly towards Hellrien and began to frisk her efficiently and professionally. ”Weapon check”, he grunted in a gruff voice, and Hellrien only nodded. The bouncer found the two knives, as she had known he would. He placed them in a lockbox near the door with a grunt.
”The boss is waiting for you in the back room”, he said.
Hellrien nodded at the man and walked across the mat towards the common room. It was almost empty. The few patrons present followed Hellrien with their eyes as she walked towards the door in the back. Two bouncers on both sides of the door allowed her to pass without a word. Hellrien looked around in the room. By a big fireplace there stood a grey-bearded dwarf in fancy clothes, leaning heavily on a silver topped cane. There was no sight of The Man – ”Nog”. Hellrien looked at the stairway leading upstairs to her left. Maybe The Man would come down from there? The dwarf didn’t move, and Hellrien didn’t say a word either to break the silence.
Hellrien heard some ruckus from behind her and couldn’t help but smile. The cavalry had just arrived. They kept arguing with the bouncer about their weapons for quite a while, but eventually matters got resolved without violence and the three mercenaries appeared in the room from the door behind Hellrien.
”Nice place”, said Eroforth dryly. ”A bit heavy on the keg-and-corpses decor, maybe, but I’ve seen worse.”
Finally the dwarf by the fire spoke: ”So what do you want?”
”Are you the boss?” Hellrien asked tentatively. ”Because I was expecting a short and skinny mannish man.”
Taala raised her eyebrow. ”The courtesy in your halls leaves much to be desired, Naugrim. I am Taala of Eaworth, daughter of Hardoleth, the founder of The Bloody Dawn, and I seek to tarry with you.”
The third mercenary in the room was wearing a helm with a visor that concealed his face. Hellrien had never seen him before, but she reckoned he had to be Ebold. Without saying a word he turned and began browsing through titles on the bookshelf.
The dwarf turned slowly and stomped across the room to stand before them. Hellrien was curious. During all the months she had spent in the Blue Mountains she had met many dwarfs and knew more about their habits than most in Bree. Besides some racial traits that were more pronounced in dwarves than in other races, they came in many varieties and personalities. This one was different from any dwarf Hellrien had met before. One look at his square, stone-hard face, narrow mouth like a crack beneath the bushy grey beard and ice-cold, flashing eyes convinced Hellrien that this man would not easily give up on anything he saw as his. The dwarf appeared almost daunting seen from close distance. He was oozing brute force.
”Then do so”, the dwarf growled. ”I have little patience with mercenaries these days. Too many hero types around.”
”Forgive my manners”, Hellrien attempted to lighten the atmosphere politely, ”I am Hellrien. That’s all there is to the name. And all I want is to live… and maybe a little bit freedom for myself too.”
Taala folded her arms, her expression reflecting impatience and annoyance over the way they had been greeted. She was not accustomed to disrespect. Hellrien felt a sudden pang of jealousy. She wished one day she could be like Taala – feared and respected, commanding respect wherever she went.
”We’re from The Bloody Dawn”, said Eroforth brusquely. ”Been talking with Nogfrid about Hellrien here. Thought we’d come straighten it all out direct, friendly like. Usually the best way, don’t you agree?”
The dwarf stared up at Hellrien. There was no humor in his face. His eyes were cold and empty and made Hellrien think of a dead animal. ”Ahh, yes”, he growled after a moment. ”Hellrien. A bloody pain the last few days, you have been. I reckon the boy made a judgment error employing you. So what is it you want?”
The last sentence was not meant for Hellrien at all. Hellrien’s desires meant nothing to the dwarf. He had aimed his question to Taala, whom he assumed the leader – the one making a claim over his employee.”
”Am I speaking with someone of authority?” Taala wanted to know.
”Your man there, he didn’t give me much choice”, Hellrien snapped, suddenly eager to assert some measure of authority in the situation, offended by the thought she was nothing but a barter item. But the dwarf ignored her completely, and Hellrien bit her tongue. He was right, Hellrien was a nobody. In this world those with power made up the rules, and those with no power had to play by them. It was a lesson she had learned a long time ago. It would be in her best interest to remember it.
”Don’t be naive, girl”, the dwarf said to Taala. ”I own this pub. So what is it that you want?”
”You remind me of that little turd Yurri”, Taala chuckled. ”Alright, let us speak plainly. I have offered Hellrien a position with our company, and yet, you place conditions on such an appointment.”
”As would be expected when one invests time and effort in an employee. Would you do differently?”
Taale shook her head. "Nay, if a person sought to leave our employment, we would release them, we would not expect to retain their services when working for another, and neither would we expect our business discussed with their new employer. I'm sure Hellrien respects that?"
”I can assure I do”, said Hellrien.
"Hellrien has told us nothing of the services she provided, and neither do we care", said Taala.
Now Eroforth shook his head in turn. "A consideration is one thing. Unreasonable conditions quite another. Your man Nogfrid seemed to think we'd take on a recruit whose first loyalties lay elsewhere - take Hellrien on while she still worked for your Network. This is, naturally, absurd. We thought it best to follow her here and straighten this matter out. No doubt you didn't intend the insult us the way Nogfrid implied?"
”I have no interest in your business, girl”, said the dwarf, ”but what I do have an interest in is Hellrien. My business relies on loyalty, loyalty that is broken when one leaves, and quite frankly, girl, I am insulted that you expect me to believe that she has not told you about what happend, and more insulted that you have the audacity to arrive at my house with force, no doubt to strongarm the situation if this doesn't go your way. I do not care if you hire her or not, but she will always be of interest to me.”
"Are we not making ourselves clear?” Taala coughed. ”We extended a courtesy to you in stating our intentions, are you’re suggesting we need your permission?"
The dwarf cracked a cold smile. Eroforth intervened: "Peace, peace. We're not here in force, not at all. We've left our weapons at the door, haven't we? And no, we're not dictating how you wish to handle your employees. We're just making clear that we'll not be taking Hellrien on while she's still beholden to you. And, as you seem dissatisfied with her - from what you said earlier - well, perhaps a mutually agreeable arrangement may be reached, hmm?"
Taala paced about the floor. "I think Hellrien’s military background is better suited to a large company such as ours.” She glanced at Hellrien. "If she does not feel she is a fit with you, how will you get the best out of her?"
The dwarf stroked his beard and looked at Eroforth. 'Well this is the way I see it. On one hand the most anyone has against me is a case of ’he said, she said’ regarding the incident with Hellrien. On the other hand, against her there are multiple witnesses, seeing her leave a site where the corpse was found in the alley afterwards, so I suppose if you really are that desperate to have her, I can see some form of deal being struck.”
Eroforth rubbed his chin. "Interesting. Now, the way I see it, she came to us with a certain ... account of that incident. One which leaves both parties at a, let us say, disadvantage. Hellrien seems to wish to put it behind her, and come work for the Dawn. Naturally, if she did, nothing more would be said of the incident, one way or the other, don't you agree? But this would be only in a case of undivided loyalty. Now, how do you think we might, together, see our way clear to having this happen?"
Taala smiled faintly "Deal? I think we can agree on one thing, it is in our mutual interests not to be at odds with one another? We have no interest in what happens within the Hedge."
”Threats are not met kindly in a man’s house, girl. And perhaps a deal could be made regarding some business in the future to answer our question.”
Taala raised a brow. "Threat? I made no threat to you, Naugrim, I simply said it is better we are not at odds. We have no need to be, we are not in the same line of work. Now, as Eroforth said, how can we reach an agreement, that severs Hellrien's ties with your organisation?"
The dwarf nodded slowly, still aiming most of his words at Eroforth. ”The only reason I would be willing to lose one investment would be to make another. Trade, hired swords, coin is coin to me, as it will be to you. I'm sure something can be arranged.”
"We are all in the business of making money. What is your proposal?" said Taala.
Eroforth raised a hand. "Let us not be hasty. We are not here to demand that Hellrien joins us. She approached us, expressing interest - but also letting us know that she worked for you. Nogfrid seemed to think we'd take her on while she still did so. Impossible. We've come, as a gesture of good faith, to explain that we couldn't accept such an arrangement, and to maybe see what would be necessary for her to be released, free and clear, to join us, should she wish."
”Hold on a minute!” snapped the masked man, Ebold, quite unexpectedly. His voice had a metallic echo from behind the visor. "What can this lass bring to the Dawn anyway? We don't want to end up like the Reds with their dress-sporting ladies.”
Hellrien raised an eyebrow and cast a sideways glance at the man who had spoken. She rubbed her left ear, the one that had gotten deformed when a huge orc had tried to snap her neck. She felt irritated by the man’s dismissal of her as another ’dress-sporting doxie’, but didn’t say anything.
"I've already discussed this with Hellrien”, said Taala dismissively. ”She has a military background, amongst other skills."
The masked man nodded, apparently satisfied. "Fine then, as long as we aren't wasting our time trading gold for silks."
The dwarf stared at Taala with his cold, dead eyes. ”There will be times when I need to outsource work. Guarding caravans of trade goods, sometimes I need a person retrieving, you know the sort of work. If she joins you, I'd like to think you'd have the gratitude from having a competent worker to help out with such jobs.”
Eroforth grinned. "Well now, she has yet to prove her competence." He rubbed his chin, considering the dwarf’s words. "Just what sort of contract do you have in mind? A rough expense."
The dwarf raised an eyebrow. ”And is it fair what you would charge others? It'd be a simple deal, certain jobs done, no questions asked, no others told, I'm sure you can appreciate that.”
"And I'm sure you can appreciate it isn't wise for our business to agree to a job before we hear what it is. We have a reputation to maintain, after all. However, were we to agree on the cost of such a service, perhaps we could call that, ah, a refund for your investment in Hellrien's training. And then, later, you might take that same coin and approach us with your proposed job. All clear and above board, hmm?"
”Reputation would be of no issue if you’re smart enough about it, boy, and as much as I value coin, I value favors more. You came to me, not me to you, and I have had the honesty to lay my terms out for you, and I am not one who likes to haggle, I'm afraid. The work would be nothing too serious. Besides, you're an unknown force in my eyes and so, not all that trusted.”
Taala smirked at that. "We came to you as a courtesy, nothing more. Now, you would not enter into a deal with so many unknowns and neither would we. What favor do you seek? Name one, I'll consider it and then that is the end of it.”
The dwarf cracked a dry smile. ”Or I could hand this girl over to the Watch at no risk to myself. But that seems childish, and I am nothing if not a reasonable character. As it so happens, I do in fact need someone dealt with, being overly involved with some of my men.”
Eroforth smiled. "Of course, if Hellrien were to be handed over to the Watch, she might give an account of certain events that would not be entirely in your favor. I think it is in your best interest, as well as hers, to find a more amicable resolution. And look!" He indicated his companions. "Here we are. How fortunate."
Taala unfolded her arms, a look of amusement forming on her face. "Lets talk more of this favor. This man, you want him beaten, ran out of Bree-land, or rid yourself of him?"
The dwarf shook his head slowly. ”Accounts with no evidence will do little more than have me watched for a few days, boy, and in regards to this man, a simple beating would do nicely I believe, and I can assume you'd see the sense on keeping your mouths shut about such things, can't I?”
Taala barked a laugh. "You need ask that?"
The dwarf nodded in response. ”Humans in this land appear to be chronically stupid, so it's generally safe to be sure.”
Eroforth nodded slowly. "Let us be clear. You will surrender all demands of loyalty from Hellrien - whom, I think we can all agree, isn't minded to give it anyway - or such expectations, leaving her free to commit to another group, including the Dawn, should she so choose. In exchange, we shall undertake to give your, ah, vigorous message to a certain individual. Nothing will be said by you or by Hellrien in the future, and most especially not to the Watch, about a certain unfortunate incident that left someone dead. Is that the size of things?"
”I'm glad to see you understand so well. I have no love for the watch, and they have none for me.”
Taala grinned. "See, we are not of these lands, and therefore by your definition we are not stupid. Now about this man. Do you have a particular message to pass on? Demands?"
"Just as long this individual you need roughed up isn't a Watchman. We have an understanding with them, keeping out of each other's affairs." Eroforth grinned. "Which is why we have no particular concerns about what your Network does within the Hedgewall of Bree. That's their lookout, not ours."
”No. He's Rohirric, I believe. He got himself involved in some of my business, and didn't seem to take on board the warning he was given. Goes by Brywulf, I believe.”
Taala remained expressionless. "What is your message to him?"
The dwarf shrugged, tapping the metal tip of his cane against the tiles with a clack. ”That he should have taken the warning, and not been involved in others’ business.” He paused before continuing. ”I can assume I don't need to explain what will happen if any of this, regarding this man, or Hellrien, comes back to me, do I?”
Taala looked puzzled. "How can we issue your threat to the man if he does not know it is from you?"
The dwarf shook his head, sighing softly. ”Perhaps you are not as smart as you think. I do not care to be associated with such acts for obvious reasons. The message alone should be enough to knock sense into the boy’s head, with your help of course. So I will repeat myself, I have no interest in any of this coming back to me or my business.”
”Do not trade insults with me Naugrim, or take me for a bloody fool! I know the man you speak of, not only is he a kinsman and has fought as I have for our kin, but he has a small company of his own at his side! You send us to beat a man whom you know has men at his command... now we stop this bullshit right here... I'm losing my patience."
"It does seem rather a large favor just for releasing an employee who doesn't even seem too devoted to your organization..." Eroforth looked over at Hellrien, who had remained remarkably quiet in this discussion of her future. Hellrien noticed the look and gave Eroforth a sardonic shrug. Her life so far had been a series of disasters happening to her, and when had she ever had any say over any of it? Those rare times she had had any choice, she had always chosen the path of more hardships.
”If you take simple precautions like masks, he would be none the wiser, and I care not for your affiliation with him. It could be made to look like a simple mugging if you were so inclined. Not to mention that you will be getting yourself an additional combatant for your ranks, as well as possibly well paid work in the future. Please remember that I have other avenues that I could follow, as mentioned earlier”, said the dwarf, returning his gaze on Eroforth.
Taala shook her head. "Nay, Brywulf is Eorlingas and a friend of one of our officers. It would not be sanctioned. Why is he interested in your business?"
”Because he's nosy”, said the dwarf. ”And so far you are yet to provide me with an alternative deal at all.”
Eroforth smiled. "Other avenues, perhaps, but none, I think, quite as useful to you. Send her to the Watch, and she has no incentive to keep your secrets. She winds up dead, and we have no incentive. But tell us more of this disagreement between you and Brywulf. Perhaps we can arrange a resolution that is mutually agreeable. We do have resources and contacts that you lack, after all, and it's the results that matter, no?"
”What do you suggest, boy?”
"I see no reason why a kinsman would be interested in your... work”, said Taala. ”I believe one of our number has great influence over him, and may persuade him to turn his attentions away from your dealings."
"Even the brightest head needs to have some information before being able to make a useful suggestion, hmm? 'Disagreements' is far too little to go on”, said Eroforth.
The dwarf nodded slowly as he stroked his beard. ”Most of my work is carried out in the Oldstone Ruins and Beggars Alley these days, at least the obvious work. Now I grow tired of heroes like him coming in to the rescue, disrupting my work and my people. I would have it seen to that he remembers his place, and leaves me well enough alone. I'm not one to give out second chances often.”
Eroforth looked at Taala. "You know Brywulf... do you think we might be able to persuade him not to meddle with the Watch's business within the walls?"
Taala pondered the question for a time. "I will not speak with him myself, but I know someone who has far greater influence with him." She looked at the dwarf. "This favour I will do for you, and I will consider it enough for the release of Hellrien from her obligations to you, whether or not Brywulf agrees or disagrees. Now... this is a tavern, right? Is your mead worth a crap?”
The dwarf mulled it over for a moment before responding. ”Attempts to do so show a modicum of respect towards me and my work. It should be enough I suppose, though like I said, if I hear about any of this from anyone, Hellrien here will suffer for such talk. And bear in mind that if this person fails, I will deal with Brywulf myself, and will expect your people to not get involved. Additionally, I will see that my people offer your kin appropriate respect providing you do the same.”
Eroforth nodded. "We are discrete. No one will hear of this conversation from us - nor any particular versions we may have heard of the incident that so upset Hellrien. As for your organization... well, rest assured, we do not take contracts for work within the Hedgewall, where I believe your operations take place? There should be no reason for us to be at odds, professionally."
"You shall receive only the respect you deserve”, said Taala. ”If Hellrien joins our ranks, you would do well to know she is protected by us, and I do not care to speak of strength, or threats, I think we have an understanding and we are both of the opinion we would do better to continue with a mutual respect than be at odds with one another."
The dwarf nodded. ”Work stretches from the Blue Mountains to here boy, but yes, most of it is here in Bree-land. I do know however that even within the wall mercenaries have a tendency to get involved due to their… morals. I would like to clarify that regardless of the matter, if the persons involved are under my employment, no action whatsoever is to be taken. In return the Dawn will be excluded as targets for any future jobs run by us.”
”As I have stated... as dry as my tongue is, The Dawn has no interest in interfering with your business.”
"Do understand this”, Eroforth added. ”We take care of our own. If she goes her own way after this, well, then it is of no concern to us. Should she join our company, though, we will make no exceptions for any assault upon her person. Best we are clear on that, to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings in the future. As for contracts we might take outside the walls that affect you or yours - assuming, that is, that we even know that they are under your aegis! – well”, he grinned, "knowing what we do of your operation, the fees we would demand for such services would likely be prohibitively high, hmm?" He gave the dwarf a wink. "So, shall we seal this new understanding with a drink?" He leaned forward and whispered to the dwarf conspiratorially, "Taala gets quite cranky when her tongue runs dry..."
Taala nodded in agreement with Eroforth. "Who is likely to move against you? Hog? Ha! Our Captain would never aid that bastard! He hates the man for personal reasons."
”I appreciate that”, said the dwarf, ”but I do not refer to contracts solely. I refer to acts of vigilantism that your own may feel so inclined to take. And I belive your partner here already knows the name of my organization as she spoke it earlier. But I digress, and it seems the day was not wasted. You are welcome to have a drink at the bar, they serve the best ales and wiskeys, imported from the Blue Mountains, Dale, Gondor and Harad.”
Taala smiled warmly at that. "That message will be made known. It is unlike any of our number to do anything that does not involve payment.” She looked at Hellrien "What are your thoughts, Hellrien?"
Hellrien smiled, reliefed and victorious. She had honestly not expected to walk out of this negotiation alive. Yet, with every passing moment it looked more and more likely she would live to see another day. "As long as I get to live in the end, I call it a successful day”, she phrased her thoughts.
Eroforth laughed at that. "Oh, set your sights higher, lass. Aim to live and get a good drink. And laid. Then call it a successful day!"
The dwarf nodded again, tapping his cane on the floor once more with a clack. It was a signal that the meeting was over. ”Very well. You are welcome to stay at the pub as patrons then. Please”, he gestured to the door towards the main room.
Taala grinned at Hellrien. "If the drink here is as good as he says, then it has been a successful day." She looked at the dwarf. "Will you join us?"
The dwarf shook his head. ”I avoid such vices these days, but I will join you, if only for a conversation.”
And that was it. Hellrien was free again!
Well, as free as she could hope for. As free as anyone could hope for in a world they were living in. Hellrien didn’t mind. In her time with the Brotherhood she had learned that it was the life she craved: a life filled with peril, thrills and violence. A life of action and adventure. Her short time in Bree had already convinced her that she was not fit to live a regular life – a meaningless life of a housemaid who drinks away her mind and health waiting for death in a long reverie.
She was a soldier, not a housewife, cleaner, cook or a criminal. A soldier by blood. And after a long time of being lost she now felt like she had found home again. Tomorrow she might be dead, but today she felt good. Content. Content, like her life had a purpose after all.
