Chewing her meal slowly she looked about as the rest of the group went about their business, seeming to think that what was being offered to them was not as big of a deal. All well with less people to split the profits with that mean that there was more for her to have. â€œI am betting this is beefâ€ she says mostly to herself as she looks down at the nondescript cut of meat. â€œAll well. Tastes goodâ€ again she says aloud, having gotten into the habit of speaking to herself a bit while traveling as there were times that she felt talking to BC was kind of crazy. So talking to herself seemed a bit more appropriate though when one thought about it was probably less healthy to talk to oneself then to speak with another living creature.<br/><br/>Shrugging mentally Tailha  continued on with her meal until the half pint spoke to her directly. Ah halflings tiny greedy bastards who thought the whole world revolved around them. Tailha often thought of what it would be like to try and punt one of them as hard as she could, just to see what kind of distance she could get out of them. Or better yet, have BC take a full charge at one and see how far he could get one in comparison to her kick. That was a novel idea that she going to have to try someday, that day of course being when she had enough money to pay for people to allow her to do that.<br/><br/>Till then though she would have to make nice with the little people in order to make her riches. Taking up a cloth napkin she took the time to wipe her mouth clean of any food that might have found its way there. Looking to the halfling, â€œHow lucrative?â€ she asked simply.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">The small man grinned. "Being able to roam in luxury as I doubt one of your make would want to settle down. I will pay you well as a transport, and should you do well in that career... well lets just say that the more action you see the more coin you'll be making eh?"</span><br/><br/>"Only coin? I can get coin myself doing what I have always done. There should be more in it for me then just some coin..." she says smiling at the smaller man. "I also find it hard to believe that you are going to pay fairly well for me just escorting your cargo from here to where"<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">To that an eyebrow was raised. "Seems you are more savvy than you look woman. The names Rinto, and I can offer more than simply coin if that is your fancy." He said this with a slight flourish, his cape blowing open with a bow, allowing a quick glance at a multitude of items within, ranging from scrolls, to potions, to daggers.</span><br/><br/>"Well as they say Mamma did not raise a fool" she smirks though her eyes took in the items he had expertly hidden, making her put her guard up a bit as he was more then he appeared. "Those are not really my preference....I am more of the bow and arrow type...but" she took a drink from her tankard before continuing, "I would like to keep whatever I come upon in travel with no questions being made of how I came upon it. Also more information on just where we are going, what we are guarding and how long is this trip supposed to take?"<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"All are valid questions." Rinto spoke, moving to sit next to the woman as she seemed to only one interested in the offer. "As for the items you find, unless you are sent to retrieve something specific I care not what you pick up along the way. Now you'll be heading to the border of Shoven to the North. You'll be guarding my shipment of supplies for the war effort, it's not one from the royalty,  before you ask why there is no other guard. This is a personal gift of mine to a friend. It will be four caravans full of lumber, ore, and gems. I expect the trip to go a maximum of 14 days, there and back. Does this sound acceptable?" The halflings expression was blank at this point, waiting for an answer. </span><br/><br/>Pausing for the moment as if in thought, "Seems rather simple gift to have guards. Are the roads around here truly that unsafe?" then as an after thought, "Is this gift a surprise of sorts? I mean if it were something they were expecting I don't see why your friend does not send you guards to help in the transport..." she reclines back on the bar as she waits politely for his response.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"Do not worry about that. You merely have to escort the caravan to the border. His own guards will be waiting there once you arrive. If it were so simple, I wouldn't be going out of my way to find suitable guards, but I look at it this way. It's a business opportunity for one in my line of work. Finding good people for the job is essential, so think of it as a test of sorts."</span><br/><br/>"How much does it pay?" she put to him after taking in the information he had said to her, as payment was really what was most important.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">The grin threatened to split his cheeks. "The pay is 300 gold per head on this first journey, and a potion of your choice should you choose. Also should you find anything, as you have said, feel free to keep it. Should you complete it in under 14 days however, expect a fair bonus."</span><br/><br/>"I want 150 upfront before we leave and if you give me free range on dealing with the travel I can guarantee it under 14 days" she smiled with pure confidence and just a bit of arrogance.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">He eagerly shook the womanâ€™s hand. "You have a deal." Taking out a pen and paper with a quick flourish, he put them carefully on the table. "Now to make it official, your name please? or would you rather sign yourself?"</span><br/><br/>"Mind if I read it first before signing it?" she said with a light chuckle as she took up the paper to read over. Frowning she looked up at him, "This wording.....does not sit well with me..." she says as she sets the paper down on the bar. "Why is a contract even necessary? I can give you my word and you can give me yours. I was under the impression there was still such a thing as honor in the world"<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"Honor holds no ground within Actia. Everything is by the signing of a name. The wording simply states you answer to me, and only me. If what you worry about is slavery, I can assure you no chains or manacles will touch your skin. It's merely an insurance of mine and a formal way to begin your employment."</span><br/><br/>Frowning again, "There and back in a total of 14 days or less?" she asked again to make sure.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"Precisely." The halfling leaned back into his chair, snapping his fingers once, prompting the barmen to bring him an ale.</span><br/><br/>Taliha needed the money, still she had this feeling she was going to regret this job. But she had left home for adventure and even if the trip proved to be troublesome at least it would be an adventure to tell later. "I will require extra feed for my bull for the journey as he won't be able to graze while we are traveling" she says as she picks up the quill to sign. "Well you give me the 150 now and I will sign this and be ready to travel in the morning" smiling as she waits for the gold to at least be placed on the table before she signs the contract.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">The halfling took out a pouch, and counting out the proper amount of gold, replaced it and gave the sack to Tailha. "There you are. Very happy to do business with you. I'll add two weeks worth of feed to the caravan to suit your needs."</span><br/><br/>With that Tailha signed the paper just as a hooded fellow entered the inn, "I think you may have someone else interested in coming along" she nods to the fellow at the bar as she slides the paper back to the halfling and took up her pouch of gold. The weight of it felt, good. She had been running low on funds but with this job she should be able to continue traveling and enjoying her life a bit more. However, she could not stop thinking over the wording of the contract. It felt like she was selling her soul to some fiend. All well, good thing there was no real fiends or Gods to fear so all she really had to do was get the job done and fast, so that she could move on with her life.