Nethaniel struggled with the last barrel of mead, seemingly unable to find the strength in his arms to get it, the very last of the cargo, up into one of the wagons. He stood there, trying to catch his breath  for a moment, when he felt a hard clap on his shoulder. "'Eh there, Nate, not gettin' soft on us 're ye?"<br/><br/>The young man turned around to see the familiar, grinning face of Ulf, an older half-orc man with a receding hairline. He was a private merchant, who preferred to travel with caravans such as these, both for the safety and the company, and had a good relationship with the White Fox Company. He was wily, and kind, and had become fond of the young Nethaniel after having traveled with him more than once.<br/><br/>He bent his knees, looking to Nethaniel for his readiness, and the two of them hoisted the barrel together into the wagon, then began securing the goods tightly with rope. "Y'know they've hired some entertainment this time, right?" Ulf began, nudging the younger, human, man with his elbow as they worked. "A female dancer, 'u does<em>more than just dance</em>, or so I've 'eard." The merchant chuckled a little, and the other man blushed at the suggestive tone in his voice. "That's not all though, there're going to be some different guards than usual,<em>strange ones</em>, like that Elf o'er there, the real tall one with the green 'air 'u looks like a warrior," Ulf continued, glancing over his shoulder at one of the new hires, "ah, and get this: there'll be another Elf with us, haven't seen 'im yet, supposed ta be some kind o' hunter,<em>but I hear he wasn't hired just to hunt animals</em>..." Ulf trailed off grimly, leaving the young man vaguely curious. "Anyway, that'll about do it, I think," the half-orc said, brushing off his jacket.<br/><br/>Nethaniel, who was all of twenty, had found a friend in Ulf as well. He wiped his glistening brow with his forearm and ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair. "Thanks for your help, as usual, Ulf. I'm going to find ol' Daisil, see if he needs anything else done afore we depart town."<br/><br/>"Ah, a fine idea, I'll help you look; I've got a few things ta sort out with 'im anyway." Ulf replied, wrapping one of his large arms around the boy's shoulders as they walked.