The Sceptre of Samnos

New Friends Part 7

   "What can we do for you?" asked Thomas nervously. He wondered whether he ought to stand, but was unsure whether rising to his full height would be seen as threatening and provocative. So long as he remained seated and the trog remained standing their eyes were more or less level, and it seemed to him that this was the polite thing to do. He looked to Lirenna for help, remembering her saying that there were trogs in Haven and thinking that she'd know how to deal with them, but she was looking at the trogs, not at him, and he wasn't able to get her attention.

     Fortunately the trog gave no indication that he was offended by Thomas's failure to rise and took a position on the other side of the table where he could face all three of them at once. His two companions stood a little way back, like bodyguards, and watched the other patrons of the bar with dark eyed suspicion.

     "I am Shale Granore," he said, removing his helmet to reveal a completely bald head covered by a skullcap stretched tightly across his scalp. "I am Manir of the Granore family, of the Underberg clan and I have a business proposition for you. Are you interested?"

     Thomas glanced at Jerry and Lirenna, who glanced at each other and then nodded. "We might be," he said cautiously. "Can you be a little more specific?"

     "We are offering two gold clannets a day to anyone who will accompany us on a business venture. There will be fighting involved, so most of those we've hired already are good with a sword, but three wizards would be most welcome. As well as the power you can wield, your presence would lend confidence to our people and terrify the enemy. What do you say?"

     "I'm afraid we've only just graduated, so we won't be wielding very much power."

     "But you can do spells. I saw you."

     "Yes, but only one every few hours. After that, we're just ordinary people until we've absorbed more magic force and studied our spellbooks. Still, in some situations, one spell is all you need." He glanced at Lirenna, who gave a pained expression and lowered her eyes.

     Shale seemed to think for a while, and then said, "That doesn't matter. We didn't expect to be hiring three Arch-Mages doing tricks in a country pub for food and board. We still want you, for one gold clannet a day."

     "Hey, you said two a day," said Jerry, indignantly.

     "For one spell a day, you get one. Take it or leave it."

     "You mentioned fighting," said Lirenna. "Who exactly will we be fighting?"

     Thomas glanced at her in surprise. After her experience with the woodsman he’d expected her to flat out refuse. Then he remembered her sleep spell and her ability to enchant people. To her, fighting didn’t necessarily mean killing.

     "Nobody important," said Shale. "Buglins, a few shologs, maybe." He eyed Jerry shrewdly and said "Goblins."

  
     "Goblins, eh?" said Jerry, his eyes narrowing. He recognised an attempt to manipulate him when he saw one. The nome, goblin wars were remembered all across the continent, and this trog clearly thought that he could trigger the tiny nome just by mentioning the small, green humanoids. Jerry almost turned the trog down flat just from stubbornness and general principles, but then he hesitated. The trog was offering gold, and that wasn't an offer turned down lightly. “Keep talking,” he said therefore.

     “You're thinking of joining up?” said Thomas, surprised.

     “I just want to know more,” the nome replied. “I might be interested. Aren’t you? They’re offering gold.”