<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Oh don't bite the hand that might be proffering a job, Ceol." she said, trying to keep a calm, reasonable tone to assuage some of his irritation. "He was just being polite. Besides, you've got half a damn general store strapped to you and Seka's dressed for war. It doesn't take a scholar to figure out who we are."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Ceol's protestations trailed off into a muffled, vaguely intoxicated grumble.  "It is hardly any fault of<em>mine</em>that I prefer to be ready for anything in my path, nor hers for taking pride in the warrior's craft.  But I concede your point."<br/><br/>The man exhaled, a controlled breath of hot air that seemed to take some of the fight out of him.  When next he peered at the stranger it wasn't with anger or suspicion, but the sort of wary curiosity just about any adventurer worth his salt would be wise to adopt.  Archenbridge drew all sorts to its markets, but trust was not a commodity that could be bartered so freely.<br/><br/>"Let's hear this proposal then."