Weapons and housing - 1.2

Lex followed Ann and the young boy as they walked down the main road.  Everyone knew that it was better to come into Harper apparently unarmed and buy a weapon inside, or you'd face a long hassling wait.  You'd have to "demonstrate proficiency", have your appearance more exactly recorded and have your bags and person thoroughly checked in public.  Unless, of course, you were a licensed higher level adventurer or a member of the King's Guard or otherwise authorized.  The original idea was that people who cared enough about a weapon to travel about with it were more likely to use it once inside the town, which the town wanted to discourage, but everyone knew that the taxes paid by merchants (and the consequent higher prices and profits in the town) had long been the deciding factor in any motions to overturn that policy.

Ann and the boy talked about the town as Lex stewed in her thoughts, although she did learn that the boy's name was Torin.  He directed them to a store which had a blue sign hanging above the door, painted with a headless goose and a prominent bloody sword.  There were several several weapons prominently on display in a window.  "Welcome to the Blue Goose!" the proprietor proclaimed, welcoming them into the store and waving at Torin.  "And what are miladies looking for today?"

"I'd like a couple daggers, perhaps a quarterstaff," Ann said, looking around her.

Lex leaned forward, looked at the numbers listed next to each weapon, then rolled her eyes, stepping back and saying nothing.  The shopkeeper noted this and reached behind his desk with one arm.  "We are having a special sale today," he said brightly, pulling a polished greatclub out from behind the desk, "If you spend 15 gold pieces, you get a greatclub free!  I trust that you know how to use one," he said, offering it to Lex.  "And now, milady," he said, motioning to Ann, let me show you our daggers…"

The weapons were a little pricier than Ann had really wanted, but in line with general Harper prices and she wanted Lex to be able to keep the greatclub, so she ended up buying a crossbow and some bolts as well.  The merchant had correctly judged that Ann would be more willing to spend a few extra gold pieces than to ask Lex to give the greatclub back, and that Lex would have refused if Ann had tried to buy her a weapon directly.

As they stepped out of the shop with their new weapons, Torin slipped in behind them and Ann and Lex both noticed the shopkeeper slip Torin a coin.  Torin gave a quick bow then skipped out in front of the two women, "Come on, let's go to the Courts."

"How much did he pay you," Lex asked suspiciously.

"One silver," Torin proudly said, "And I will make another one if you decide to get a room where I take you, so I will be sure to take you to one that you will like and will want to get."

"Who rules the courts," Lex asked.

Torin laughed and said, "Nobody rules them.  That's what they're called because they're near the Courts, by the South-East horn, where the magistrates are."

Ann spoke up this time, "What's the South-East horn, Torin?"

"That's the lump on the South-East of the arrowhead.  The Courts are all in that area.  You get a really good price if you're a student because students are all gone during the day, so you don't make any noise and disturb the Courts.  And then they're all gone at night, so they don't care how much noise you make."

"Well," Ann drawled slowly, "We do like it quiet when we sleep."

"No worries," Torin said, "I'm taking you to a good place, not the place where nobody sleeps.  You're students, right?"

"We hope to be, we plan on that,"  Ann said.

"As soon as I become an adult," he said, "I wanna become a student too and become an adventurer.  I want to be a monk.  Pow!"  He punched the air in front of him as they walked.

"I don't think you have to wait for that," Ann said, "I thought you could join the temple now?"

"Sure, but then I'd have to shave my head and go live there.  And I couldn't leave until I became an adult.  This is much better." He quickly turned and led them down several other streets which seemed to confusingly twist back and forth on themselves at times.  Soon enough, the two women found themselves at The Middle Temple.  It was a stately building, somewhat run down, but clean.  The bricks along its front wall had become somewhat porous and there was no room on either side of the building, which was sandwiched between a barrister's office and a solicitor's office.

Torin pushed open the front door, knocking a bell just inside, and walked into an oak-paneled front parlor.  The women followed him in and found a slightly rotund balding man seated in a faded stuffed green armchair.  "Torin," the man called out warmly, setting a book down and pushing himself to his feet.  He smoothed the front of his waist and bowed towards the women.  "Welcome to The Middle Court.  My name is Gavin.  Please, take a seat, let's talk."

Ann and Lex set their packs down by the front door and sat down near each other in two of the finely carved wooden chairs that were scattered about the room while Torin lounged against the wall near the front door.

"Torin wouldn't have brought you if you weren't looking for rooms," Gavin said, "And I can tell that you're the type of people I want.  Clean, presentable, and by the looks of your packs, probably students and obviously planning on staying for some time.  So, tell me about yourselves.

"Well," Ann said slowly, "I'm the daughter of a town Squire a couple weeks from here and I plan on becoming a mage.  This is my friend Lex and she's also planning on becoming a mage.  We're interested in staying here, if the price is right."

"I am selective about who stays here," Gavin said, "Lex, are you able to speak?"

"I can speak very well," Lex said.  "Ann said everything that was necessary."

Gavin nodded.  "And nobody is looking for either you?  I won't have any problems with husbands, fathers, who want you back?"

"No!"  Lex said rather forcefully.

Ann quickly interjected, "There was some anger when we left, but I don't think you have to worry about that."

Gavin nodded, "Very well, the full rules will be posted on the inside of the door to your room, but mostly it would be nice for everyone if you stayed relatively quiet, and gentlemen are not permitted past the parlor here.  Meal times are posted as well.  Breakfast and Dinner are always served, lunch is by request but no additional fee, and any supper is also by request but there is an additional fee for that.  Let's go see what a room looks like."