Conversations in the Hall

originally posted April 15, 2006

"A Merchant, one of the Slavers certainly, would be thrilled to get half as much for her," the red-haired fellow from Port Kar said to me in the hallway.
I was in search of a mid-day repast. I had an appointment to keep with a tailor in town.
"I am of the Poets," I informed him.
It was my Caste before I contracted companionship with a woman. It remains my Caste. I prefer not to be questioned or besmirched based on the status of my investiture.
"I am of the Merchants," he informed me, perhaps a little condescendingly, but, I think, for the most part good-naturedly. "You can be assured that I have offered you a fair price for the blonde-haired barbarian girl."
"Forgive me, Esteemed Merchant," I apologized. "I did not mean to insinuate any lack of forthrightness or unethical business behavior on your part."
"It is nothing, Poet," he reassured me. "A simple misunderstanding. I trust we may now conduct business in good faith?"
"You wish to own the blonde girl, the barbarian slave I call Samantha?" I asked him."I would," he informed me with a nod.
"Let us discuss price."
"She costs four copper tarsks," I started. His brow lifted, the offer he made only the day before was well over four coins and the denomination was not in copper."Per ahn," I finished.
"Ah," he smiled. I got the impression that these types of transactions generally went in his favor. "I see you are of the Merchants. Perhaps, even, of the Slavers."
"I am of the Poets," I corrected him.
___________
"Have you given the matter consideration?" Vesutto asked me.
"I have," I admitted. "She seems well-mannered, not overly verbose. Her family, in the city of Thentis, is well regarded. I have reviewed the initial contracts with respect to bride price and expectations of her during the companionship and found them well-documented, reasonable and generally agreeable."
Vesutto smiled. "Shall I press the matter then?"
"I think not," I responded. "While it would be a simple matter to break the contract with the Lady Jenny, and well within my right to do so, I choose to honor the commitment."
"She has gone missing, Poet," he replied. "You have not seen her, by your own admission, since before you crossed the Vosk, before you entered Jort's Ferry."
"I am worried sick over the matter," I mentioned. "You do not think something nefarious has occured?"
"Who can say, Poet?" he lamented. "But life must go on. And the Lady Constance isa fine match, quite suitable for you. Apt."
"Do you suppose the Lady is she-tharlarion beneath the robes of concealment?" I asked. It was quite possible.
"Poet," he scoffed, as if offended. "Two of her handmaidens were supplied by the House of Vesutto."
"She is only a free woman," I resolved. "Such things are not important."
"No," he agreed. "Certainly not."
"She is not a she-tharlarion beneath the robes of concealment?" I asked.
"No," he replied. "Certainly not."