*****
I was broke. Maybe I shouldn't have let my pride do the talking back there for me, but a man had to do what he had to do and accepting money from her was the last thing that I ever wanted to do. All that said, I was so going to look like an idiot to the men who had adopted me as their leader.
What kind of a leader walked while his men rode horses?
It looked like I was about to find that out. I felt my face flush as I drew closer to the men who for some odd reason looked to me as a leader.
My stomach grumbled hungrily. It had been a long night. I'd spent it curled up in a door stoop, because I'd had no money for a room much less food.
I should have taken my money. I'd earned it after all, but it had been a matter of principle not to be beholden to that woman to whom I had almost lost far more than just my wages.
Jarken was walking toward me with a bag. He thrust it into my arms, "Missed you last night. Here's some food."
My hands closed over the bag reflexively and Jarken moved on after imparting his trademark shoulder slap.
Sar'ran approached leading a big mottled gelding that impressed instantly in terms of size and composition. Blankly, I stared for a moment at the reins that he pressed into my hand. Smiling he said, "For you boss. I picked him out myself. This one will go far and has real stamina to him."
Numbly I nodded and turned under the premise of studying the horse further. Sar'ran headed back towards a hitched horse that must have been his. Of all those in the group, I perhaps had the most in common with him as by blood he was Rollanic.
A shadow fell across me and looking up I saw that it was Thanuel. He slid a pair of saddlebags that looked stuffed with contents on behind the saddle and cinched them down tightly.
I continued to stand there numbly as one by one members of the group added to the growing collection of an outfit that a Kingdomer Knight would've been proud to have had. There were only eight of us now. Jarken, Thanuel, Sar'ran, Philuke, Tarn, Cruso, Seluke, and myself.
The other survivors had thought better of staying with me and had taken off with their money to have a good time in the city before hiring on with another caravan. These men, instead of having a good time on the town, had pledged their lives, most likely to a short, pain ridden future, and had spent most, if not all, of their money on outfitting themselves and me for an unpaid venture northward.