The question took Balfor aback. Jolie's comments as she'd left their table were still milling about in his mind.<em>Me...her...riding....</em>He took a deep breath and appeared to be thinking over his reply carefully, but Balfor was actually trying to keep the images dancing past his eyes of horses and wagons and other, mundane, meanings of riding.<br/><br/>At the same time, though, he was thinking about what payment he would be interested in for the caravan job. His old Mi-mah had always said a silver a day was good for laborers, but that she expected him to not settle for being just another worker. She had wanted him to know and believe that he was special and meant for more.<br/><br/>"You're asking me?" Balfor started. "I'm used to an offer being made first, but I suppose I could start things off." He rubbed his bearded chin for a moment. "I'm not a fancy man, but I'm also not back in the village I came from with its village prices. How would 3 silvers a day plus food sound?"<br/>-----<br/>8-)