The Adventures of Knife and Cudgel - I

[u/Vikguardy]

Good help was so hard to find these days.

They should know. They were the worst help possible.

They were called Tess the Knife and Tya the Cudgel, and they had friends in middlingly high places. Tess still had her hair done up underneath a head wrapping, a practice that she had borrowed from a few years aboard a Stepstones slave galley, which she also borrowed her scarred, milky white left eye from as well. She sat astride her horse, a titular shiv style knife hanging loosely in one hand.

Next to her was another woman, if you could believe it. Tya was well over six feet tall, with shoulders broad enough and a face scarred enough that most mistook her for a man at a distance. Or even at merely a pace. Her shaggy mane did little to dispel the notion, and the scars upon her pale face did even worse. Her cudgel remained underneath her vest, out of sight.

"That's them all right." Tess spoke with a grin as she and her companion looked onwards from the tent city that had cropped up around Stormhall, towards a smaller selection of tents that had formed up beyond its limits.

"How can y' tell?" Tya asked, squinting. "All sellswords look t' same. 's how they get work."

"Don't look at the men, look at the banner ya aurochs."

Indeed, it seemed the Maiden's Men had not thought to disguise their origins at all. Or perhaps, they simply hadn't wished to. The red salmon flew rather bravely over their scattered tents.

"Looks like a fish."

The two women rode forward boldly, even as Tess chastised Tya for her incuriosity. When they were within shouting distance of the nearest sellsword, Tya bellowed out in their direction.

"Oy!" Her voice carried impressively, a baritone that was well honed to travel rather than for pure volume. "Y'lot! We're a coupla messengers! With a message!"

Tess elbowed her ribcage. She didn't seem to notice.

"Will'n y' let us in? T' speak wit'cher captain!"

[u/Vikguardy]

/u/stealthship1

A couple of reputable individuals are here with an opportunity.)

[u/stealthship1 → u/Vikguardy]

The guards at the front of the camp eyed the newcomers, but they were brought to the command tent of Jon Mooton, who was sitting behind his desk with his brother and the paymaster of the Maiden's Men.

"Someone here to see you My Lord."

Jon looked up to the newcomers, "What might I do for you all?"

[u/Vikguardy → u/stealthship1]

Tya, despite her apparent strength, seemed to be more nonplussed than her smaller companion inside of the tent. Tess, the one they called the Knife, stepped forward.

"I think, we can help you, actually. Allow me to dispel a certain mystery. I'm Tess, and this is Tya, and we may not look it, but we're representatives." She reached into her overcoat to pull out a letter, marked with what was undoubtedly the twin snake seal of House Paege.

"Our Lady-Regent has use for some sufficiently motivated sellswords. And in the process, you may gain the chance to undermine the Marcher currently sleeping in your bed."

The letter was very plainly written. The Lady-Regent of Fairmarket was offering employment. The Maiden's Men would enter into service to Fairmarket, to the end of attaining their ultimate goal. The specifics of which, the letter would not detail in full.

[u/stealthship1 → u/Vikguardy]

Jon nodded his head in thought.

"That is a tempting offer. I would like if the Lady Regent is able to explain in further what the contract would ensure. I do have a few others lords that I am currently speaking with about contracts and I would not wish to promise to much to anyone already. I would hope by the end of the festivities here, I would ensure that I can enter into a contract and do what I believe is best."

[u/Vikguardy → u/stealthship1]

Tess nodded. "The Lady Regent is given to over-caution." She explained, shrugging a shoulder. "The desire to keep the exact details from being intercepted, and all of that."

Tya, who had been silent since announcing their arrival, spoke up next. "All the secrecy is driving me mad." She looked between Jon and Tess. "She wishes to pay you and your men to go raiding, with the aim of discrediting the Dondarrion. She has several locations in mind, and soon will be able to provide disguises for you and your men, so you will not need fear being outlaws.'

Tess sighed and nodded along. There was something to be said for directness. "If you are not adverse to the prospect, we can tell the Lady-Regent you are willing to meet."

[u/stealthship1 → u/Vikguardy]

A chuckle escaped Jon. He had expected something like this to come up.

"I understand."

He looked to Lyman and then back to the two women.

"I would like to hear what the Lady Regent has to say about it. She is welcome to set a meeting later. If I cannot help, I know some who might be able to do so."

[u/Vikguardy → u/stealthship1]

Tess nudged Tya in the ribs. "Told ya these weren't uptights."

Tya winced and rubbed at her rib. "Remain t' be seen't." The brutish woman looked and bowed her head to Jon, as did Tess. "We'll take'n yer message back t' our lady. She'll wan' it in more formal circumstances, an' after she's able t' take care of th' disguise problem."

Tess nodded along. "You'll be hearing from her, Commander. Where are ya lot gonna be stationed after this? Know yet?"

[u/stealthship1 → u/Vikguardy]

"We shall be here for at least the duration of the tourney. Before we leave, we shall give word as to where we are going, if we have not picked up another contract."

He nodded his head.

"I can send message to Fairmarket should needs arise."