Duncan glanced at the quaint houses as he walked trailing his steed behind him. He had been in a saddle for a good 3 days now and it felt good to finally stretch his legs. The cool winds from the north have begun to make their presence felt and he liked this town already. The people seemed like they were content and for good reason - poverty was almost non existant here...or so he has been told.<br/><br/>Duncan began to wonder who this Lady was who felt the need to surround herself with so many armed men. Perhaps a wife of an unpopular businessman? No... had it been so, the husband would have posted the call for mercenaries not the Lady herself. The more he thought about her, the more he wanted to meet her.<br/><br/>He crested the tiny hill and stood at the iron gates through which ornate statues of women were visible lining the pathway to the main house. 4 armed guards stood at the gate and Duncan looked at the tallest of the 4 in the eyes and nodded.<br/><br/>"I come to take up the Lady's offer for 13 days of work.  Can you tell her that Duncan wishes an audience?"<br/><br/>The mercenary looks at him and shrugs.<br/><br/>"What makes you think we'll let you in Stranger? You might well be an assassin!"<br/><br/>"If I was...." Duncan's sword hisses through the air and the blunt side touches the neck of the wide eyed ex-soldier.<br/>"... would I be standing here talking to you... friend?"<br/><br/>The soldier barely found 3 words to string together before the sword was sheathed just as fast as it was drawn. With a toothless smile the man backed away and turned towards the now opened gates and beckoned Duncan to follow.<br/><br/>