Owen had not expected to come across the kingdom's enemies during a job. On paper, it was a simple request: "Drive out the idiots who keep stealing my food." Well, that was what the paper had said. He guessed it came from a direct quote by the farmer who laid the request. The area in question was his farm located a distance away from any cities, and Birnenfield happened to be the closest one. Owen remembered the day the man entered the Hall to request a job. He had been dozing off at Nelk's bar when the door closed behind him. He raised his head slightly to see Euredi greeting a travel-worn individual who struck up a conversation. "I'm here to request a job. How do I do that?" He was quick and to the point. Euredi walked him through the process, and soon the man nodded and left the building. Owen did not think much during that moment, until the next day. Jobs weren't supposed to be posted for the next two days, yet he noticed a change on the board. He rubbed his growing beard, examining the paper when Euredi spoke. "The man offered to pay an upfront fee for the job to be posted the next day."
There was a day in every week where new jobs would be available in bulk on the request board. On said day it was usually busy in the mornings since people were looking for the easiest job which paid the most. Human nature; people were lazy, and those who were not went against nature. For Owen, most jobs he undertook were rather simple, it just took a long time because of the travel. He preferred long jobs for reasons unknown other than that being his preference. So when he glanced over the location for this certain job, he was immediately interested. "How much did he pay up front?" He asked the receptionist. "Four Efryns." Euredi replied. Owen was amused. "That's quite a pay. Heh, you didn't want to post the job immediately right then and there? You had to wait a day?"
"If he had doubled his down payment, I would have done so. Though, I think he's saving that coin for whoever completes it for him. He seemed rather desperate."
"What's it about? The job I mean."
"Read it for yourself."
Owen did, and thought the request to be too good to be true. Tell some people to go away because they were stealing his food? Then why was he daring to pay fifty efryns? That seemed a bit excessive. "Maybe he's a rich farmer who's had it with young youth stealing from his garden?" Euredi suggested. Owen shrugged and began chugging from a wine bottle. He lowered his head and set the bottle down, taking a sigh. "He didn't look rich, from what I saw. Well, if there's coin to be had, there's coin to be earned. The travel might deter other members from pulling this job, but for fifty efryns?" A smile came to Owen. "That's a steal."
"Ah, so I assume you'll be taking the job then." Euredi concluded. Owen didn't offer confirmation, but it was obvious what he was going to do. He finished the bottle and left it on the front desk for Euredi before retrieving the paper. He rolled it and tucked it into his coat pocket and stepped out of the hall. "I'm off. See you in a week or two, depending when I come back."
"That...will be a long time." Euredi said. He watched Owen don his large hat and walk out of sight.
They moved through the night and day, the two of them. Owen was atop her, and she was below him. With every movement Owen pressed himself down on her back, he lowered himself to gain more speed. Occasionally she bucked, but Owen calmed her down with the stroking of her neck. It would take a few days, and during those times Owen gave her a break, and sometimes he himself before they continued. It was going to be a long grind, the two of them. She had been Owen's for a few years now, and he rode her whenever he took a job. She was a good being, obedient, loyal. Owen knew he could rely on her if he ever needed to mount.
Her name was Bessie. She was a dark brown destrier known for her speed and endurance- two valuable and highly sought after traits in a horse. Owen knew she was the one when he gave her a test ride. She was even rewarded several apples. It was a good thing her previous owner knew next to nothing about horses, and had sold her the equivalent of buying a small child. Owen gave Bessie some exercise, improving on her already powerful build. She was the fastest horse he'd ever own, and probably the fastest for a while. With her speed, they would reach the destination before the week was over, Owen hoped.
