The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

piosenniel · 09-26-2002, 02:08 PM

***** DALE-Jarl *****

"But I really wanted the fruit!"

'Yes,' agreed Jarl, smiling at the fledgeling trader, 'and that "want" was so apparent to the fruit vendor that he knew he had you from the first! He laughed and clapped Garlin on the back. 'You'll learn soon enough to school your face to hide what you desire.'

They walked a brief while, exploring the streets near their quarters. A short walk brought them near the center of the busy city. The sights, sounds, and smells of a large bazaar drew their attention, and Garlin asked if they might see it.

Jarl begged off, saying that he must return to see if the King would now see him. Garlin's face fell at the prospect of spending another long day waiting in their rooms.

'You need not come back with me, Garlin.' said Jarl, reading the young man's face. 'Go to the bazaar. Be my eyes and ears. Let me know what is going on in the daily, common course of business in this city. I'll see you later. Say, late afternoon?!'

Relief flooded the younger man's face. 'Yes, later, then!' he said, his feet flying down the street toward the promise of new sights and excitement.

Jarl walked slowly back to his quarters, taking in the flavors of the city as he passed. A certain current of uneasiness ran hidden among the smiling faces, the relaxed and graceful movements of people as they went about their business, the laughter of the children. The smiles often did not reach to their owner's eyes; hands often strayed to touch the weapons hung near them. And even in laughter, the children seemed cautious.

He thought on this as he walked along, then filed it away, to be used later. He had reached his rooms. No word from the King had come to him.

'Ah, the envious life of a Trade Representative!' he thought to himself. 'New sights! New sounds! Unlimited excitement!' He took a book from his bag and drew the desk chair near the window, thinking to pass the time more quickly with a little reading.
_____________________________________________
THARKÛN'S POST

***** DALE-Garlin *****

As Garlin walked through the Bazaar, he couldn't help but marvel at the amazing area. The endless lines of stalls for the endless types of goods were staggering. There were vendors calling out everything from armaments to stones from Zirak-Zigal. The stores that interested him most, though, were the weapons shops. As he walked up to one, he noticed that there was an out-of-place group of military-types who seemed to be conversing with the owner of the shop. After a few words, the dealer pointed towards the center of town, and the soldiers walked off. Finally noticing Garlin, the arms-dealer rushed over to him. 'Can I help you with anything?' the dealer asked Garlin. 'No, I'm just looking.' Garlin replied, mesmerized by the breathtaking assortment of weapons. There were elvish longbows, powerful enough to slay two enemies if fired right, all kinds of dwarven daggers, from hunting to concealed to throwing, and ancient Noldorian swords. Sighing, Garlin reached into his pouch and found, to his dismay, he only had about 90 gold coins, less than a quarter the cost of the cheapest of those weapons. Sighing, he walked away.

Walking through the market, Garlin noticed another thing that caught his eye. A pigeon vendor was selling homing pigeons. Smiling to himself, Garlin walked over. He had been needing one for sending home letters while he was on assignment (which was fairly often). Walking up to the vendor's he accidentally walked into someone. 'I'm sorry!' he exclaimed, after taking a step back, 'I'm visiting here and am not used to the crowds.' 'It's alright,' replied the stranger, 'but what kind of person would visit here from up north? Your skin is too pale to be from the south.' 'I'm on a trip from Dale,' admitted Garlin, 'as an assistant for Jarl.' 'Jarl, eh?' replied the stranger, 'Come for the coffee?' Shocked, Garlin exclaimed, 'How did you know?!' 'I am Ethar, assistant to Gramil, who is Jarl's opposition. I would assume that you'd be Garlin?' 'Yes, I am,' replied Garlin, 'but I'm afraid that I'm hopelessly lost in this giant Bazaar.' 'Well then come on!' exclaimed Ethar, grabbing Garlin's arm and pulling him off, laughing, into the crowd.

[ September 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

09-26-2002, 02:08 PM	#49
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	*** DALE-Jarl * "But I really wanted the fruit!" 'Yes,' agreed Jarl, smiling at the fledgeling trader, 'and that "want" was so apparent to the fruit vendor that he knew he had you from the first! He laughed and clapped Garlin on the back. 'You'll learn soon enough to school your face to hide what you desire.' They walked a brief while, exploring the streets near their quarters. A short walk brought them near the center of the busy city. The sights, sounds, and smells of a large bazaar drew their attention, and Garlin asked if they might see it. Jarl begged off, saying that he must return to see if the King would now see him. Garlin's face fell at the prospect of spending another long day waiting in their rooms. 'You need not come back with me, Garlin.' said Jarl, reading the young man's face. 'Go to the bazaar. Be my eyes and ears. Let me know what is going on in the daily, common course of business in this city. I'll see you later. Say, late afternoon?!' Relief flooded the younger man's face. 'Yes, later, then!' he said, his feet flying down the street toward the promise of new sights and excitement. Jarl walked slowly back to his quarters, taking in the flavors of the city as he passed. A certain current of uneasiness ran hidden among the smiling faces, the relaxed and graceful movements of people as they went about their business, the laughter of the children. The smiles often did not reach to their owner's eyes; hands often strayed to touch the weapons hung near them. And even in laughter, the children seemed cautious. He thought on this as he walked along, then filed it away, to be used later. He had reached his rooms. No word from the King had come to him. 'Ah, the envious life of a Trade Representative!' he thought to himself. 'New sights! New sounds! Unlimited excitement!' He took a book from his bag and drew the desk chair near the window, thinking to pass the time more quickly with a little reading. _____________________________________________ THARKÛN'S POST * DALE-Garlin *** As Garlin walked through the Bazaar, he couldn't help but marvel at the amazing area. The endless lines of stalls for the endless types of goods were staggering. There were vendors calling out everything from armaments to stones from Zirak-Zigal. The stores that interested him most, though, were the weapons shops. As he walked up to one, he noticed that there was an out-of-place group of military-types who seemed to be conversing with the owner of the shop. After a few words, the dealer pointed towards the center of town, and the soldiers walked off. Finally noticing Garlin, the arms-dealer rushed over to him. 'Can I help you with anything?' the dealer asked Garlin. 'No, I'm just looking.' Garlin replied, mesmerized by the breathtaking assortment of weapons. There were elvish longbows, powerful enough to slay two enemies if fired right, all kinds of dwarven daggers, from hunting to concealed to throwing, and ancient Noldorian swords. Sighing, Garlin reached into his pouch and found, to his dismay, he only had about 90 gold coins, less than a quarter the cost of the cheapest of those weapons. Sighing, he walked away. Walking through the market, Garlin noticed another thing that caught his eye. A pigeon vendor was selling homing pigeons. Smiling to himself, Garlin walked over. He had been needing one for sending home letters while he was on assignment (which was fairly often). Walking up to the vendor's he accidentally walked into someone. 'I'm sorry!' he exclaimed, after taking a step back, 'I'm visiting here and am not used to the crowds.' 'It's alright,' replied the stranger, 'but what kind of person would visit here from up north? Your skin is too pale to be from the south.' 'I'm on a trip from Dale,' admitted Garlin, 'as an assistant for Jarl.' 'Jarl, eh?' replied the stranger, 'Come for the coffee?' Shocked, Garlin exclaimed, 'How did you know?!' 'I am Ethar, assistant to Gramil, who is Jarl's opposition. I would assume that you'd be Garlin?' 'Yes, I am,' replied Garlin, 'but I'm afraid that I'm hopelessly lost in this giant Bazaar.' 'Well then come on!' exclaimed Ethar, grabbing Garlin's arm and pulling him off, laughing, into the crowd. [ September 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.