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t first, Marika dredges up a smile for Rohani, but as she hears more, she straightens its corners. Could Lynx actually have done something right, for once? Rohani gives a welcoming smile, waving her to a seat. The tolerant politeness is literally dripping off her. "I am sure that we will be able to work out an arrangement most beneficial to all of us." "This is most opportune for both of us," Marika observes as she slides into a seat next to Lynx--on the side uncovered with honey--hoping that any future messes he causes don't spill over onto her. The honey doesn't seem to widespread, but when Rohani shifts to the side a little to give Marika a bit of extra room, she eyes her closer proximity to Lynx nervously. "Yes, I was quite surprised when Madam Rohani sat down beside me," states Lynx, munching on a roll slathered in honey and butter. "Her offer almost caused me to choke." Rohani smiles, as if savouring the memory. [Yune: Sorry again! Don't mean to be fussy, but wasn't Rohani *across* from Lynx? Marika's sitting *beside* him.]
[Andrew: Yes, she was. But the tables aren't exactly large, and she's being considerate and trying not to make the scenario seem crowded for Marika. Though, conceivably, she could just be taking on the part of a pompous egotistical merchantwoman wanting little-to-nothing to do with her guards...but I doubt that...
"However, I'm interested in hearing the terms of hiring first." She affects an air of indifference, reaching for honey and roll before her stomach can publicly embarrass her, and looks up only after she has taken a healthy bite. Her head is cocked at an inquiring angle. The question she truly wishes to ask, she doesn't dare: why did her previous guards leave her?
As soon as the words are out of Marika's mouth, Rohani is all business. "I've always been notoriously generous to my guards," she says with a slight air of pomposity, "but when you're carrying goods as rare and costly as mine, the cost of keeping them safe is miniscule compared to that of losing them. Normally, I hire guards straight out on leave, but I'm willing to make an exception to return to my normal five guards. Two marks per day, plus meals, a wagon to sleep in-—shared with the other guards, of course-—and a bonus of five marks for each time you are called on to protect members or goods of the caravan." Rohani stops to pop the last of roll into her mouth, awaiting a response.
[Reminder: a good meal costs about a mark, depending on what you're eating, where you are, and the local economics. =^) ]
Marika mentally fans out the possibilities and flips through each one. Accompanying Rohani would give them a far more plausible reason to be on the road, and provide them with some coin on the side. But if her caravan is as rich as she claims, that bonus would be called on fairly often...and is it worth living with this woman's arrogance? And how will Lynx pass himself off as a decent guard in case of attack? Well, he's the one who seems so enthusiastic about the idea; let him handle his own problems.
She offers her second-most charming smile to Rohani. "It's certainly a generous offer, and more than acceptable. I assume we'll leave as soon as esyan is done and we're introduced to your other guards?"
Back: Marika's Prologue 10
Coin graphic courtesy of Diamondeve's Pagoda Eve.
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