The trader and the rider

A different beginning...

-It's okay. Do you want to talk about it?

-It's nothing. Just, finances. We need to cut corners to afford more men and boats, yet I can't seem to find any way to save gold. It's frustrating, to say the least.

-Maybe I could give them a look. I'm good with money, you know that.

-I wouldn't want to bore you with such a dull task, I'm sure I'll find a way to solve this.

-At least give me a chance, come on. Happy troops might mean efficient troops, but a happy and well-rested boss means a happy bard. Which is very much needed for the happy troops.

-I don't recall hearing such a saying -he said with a smile.

-Totally real, mhm. As well as the one that goes "no one better to deal with finances than a trader", and wouldn't you know it, here you have one of the best. After all, -I said, moving a hidden hunter of mine to Viggo's chief, and winning the game- I just traded your chief's head for my victory.

-Hm, I must be even more tired than I thought if you won me that easily.

-Hey!

-Oh, you know I'm not serious, Crow. You are a formidable player, as always. And I hope you know you made my night a bit better with this game.

-I'm glad to hear that. But I'm not that easily distracted. I'll go to your tent first thing in the morning and deal with the funding problem, and I won't take a no for an answer.

-You truly are stubborn -he said with a smile, finishing his drink.

-I thought you knew that already. -I finished my glass of wine in one sip, and started picking up the pieces and the gameboard- Now, try to sleep. You need it.

-Actually, I was going to-

-Either go to sleep or I'll drug your next drink to knock you out for a week.

-I thought you cared about your friends, dear.

-And I thought you promised to come by here one evening a week, yet here I am waiting for those visits.

-You won't give up, will you?

-We both know the answer -I said in a teasing tone with a smile, which he returned.

-Very well then. I'll let you help me, and I'll go to sleep -he finished his drink, and he helped me clean everything up.

-Thank you very much.

I walked outside with him and closed the door of the tavern with my key, and I smiled as the fresh air of the night hit my face. I put my cape over my shoulders. It was made out of a thick layer of white fur, so it helped me block the cold without a problem.

-It's a beautiful night, don't you think?

-Indeed -he took a deep breath and smiled.

We started walking toward the man's tent. It wasn't a rare sight to catch us walking together at night, sometimes enjoying each other's company in silence, others chatting in a friendly way like now. But it always struck people as odd. Viggo had an even pace, and even now, he walked with his head high and with his arms behind his back, as if he still needed to control every single thing, as well as make sure everyone respected him. I, however, looked around curious, looking for whatever shiny treasure the night might hide. I took some tiny steps and then big ones, sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left, wherever my curiosity took me. My hands were busy playing with a coin, and the only reason I wasn't whistling was that I was holding a conversation with someone I actually knew. Well, someone I knew and someone who technically was my boss. But even if all hunters seemed to know their place, which was below Viggo, no one dared ask what my position was. To be fair, I didn't know either. I did a bit of everything, working in the tavern as its only employee, but also with the hunters when it came down to making sure the dragons didn't get away, helping them practice fighting, and giving advice to Viggo in tactics or whatever he needed help with. Everyone just referred to me as Crow, instead of "the boss" or "the general" like they called the Grimborn brothers. Crow wasn't my actual name, sure, but I was quite sure at this point only the brothers knew my first and last name. But I liked Crow better. It fit me. I had a sharp mind; I had a tendency to steal-, no, trade stuff for shiny things; and I was stealthy and very protective of my own.