Page 279: Planning A Hunt Part 2
Planning a Hunt, Part 2
Summary: Kamron follows up on a suggestion by Mortimer and talks to Jarod.
Date: 24/04/289
Related Logs: Bandits in Terrick lands, Planning a Hunt, Part 1
Players:
Jarod Kamron 
Rockcliff Inn, Terrick's Roost
The Rockcliff Inn is one of the better inns within the town and it shows with the well-lit interior and the relative cleanliness to the other locations in Terrick's Roost. The tables are polished with oils and the floor regularly swept. A set of booths towards a darker rear of the Inn's bottom floor, just beneath the staircase, are where whores generally socialize and eye prospects from when not waiting tables. Signs over the undersized bar area advertise prices for ales and wines as well as several different choices of food to be served at the small eating area by the bar or in the main open area in its comfortable seating. A door behind the bar leads to the kitchen and cellar while another near the staircase leads to a private room that would appear to be off-limits to the 'wait staff' except for food and drink service.
24 April, 289 A.L.

Kamron comes into the Rockcliff Inn not looking much like either a knight or a noble. He's not carrying any weapons for one thing, and he's dirty too. Looks like another day helping build cottages and clear wreckage for the Mallister. He steps into the inn, to one side, and then scans the tables briefly. When his eyes alight on Jarod, a faint smile touches his lips before falling off again, and he heads over in that direction. Approaching the table, Kam nods politely, "Jarod. Are you expecting your wife, or may I set down?" The lack of title given to the new hedge knight isn't phrased as an insult, but rather as familiarity.

"Kamron." The Mallister's appearance is a surprise to Jarod, but a pleasant one. He waves a hand at the chair opposite him. "She's at the sept, I think. Or perhaps feeling out what few traders I didn't manage to accost in town today. You look like you're putting your back into the rebuilding." He bows his head slight. "My thanks for it, as I'm sure all those of the Roost are grateful."

Kamron nods his head as he lets himself drop down into the chair, "It's hard work. But it's what we can do right now." There's a pause, and then he shrugs a little, "Well, not quite all. I hear you're looking for work." Again, there's a pause, but only long enough for the other man to confirm it, "I happen to need someone who knows the area, can take care of himself, and can help me find the encampments of the bandits preying on the roads."

"I'll not be back at Four Eagles anytime soon," Jarod says wryly, though past the attempt at dry humor he can't keep the sadness out of his tone. "I've kin in Fairmarket. On my mother's side. Her father's a merchant there, and I could probably find a living with him if I had to." Not that he sounds particularly enthusiastic about the option. But, as he picks up on the rest of what Kamron's saying, he perks up. Like a dog who might be offered a treat. "You would…what have you in mind, Ser?"

Kamron nods his head at the half-question, "The people of the Roost are too busy repairing their town to hunt across the countryside for bandits. At least until they have solid roofs over their heads. But the Mallister men are somewhat surplus to requirements for that. We can help, but we're soldiers, not carpenters." He holds up one hand to forestall the full-on puppy look, "Now, -I- don't have the sort of money to hire a hedge knight. But I still need someone to find the bastards preying on the peasants around here. Somewhere they can't flee from armed and armored knights coming to deal with them. I'm willing to give you a letter to present to Lord Mallister if your talk with him goes well, asking him to hire you on, at least for a while. But only if your talk goes well," his voice bitters "and a letter from me may not be the best recommendation. You might talk to Martyn."

"If I can still serve the Roost, in any capacity, it would be my honor," Jarod says fervently. "I know not when I'll be able to make my way to Seagard, though I'll do it at the earliest chance. Rowenna and I have to journey to the Mire first." He winces. "To try and make amends with Lord Rickart." He snorts. "I'm told this won't end with my head detached from my shoulders so…I suppose it can't go as bad as I might imagine it. When that's done, and if Lord Patrek consents, I would be so grateful, Kamron. You've no idea. With my reputation in the state it's in, work for any decent man'll be lean to come by."

Kamron winces along with Jarod at talk of travelling to the Mire, adding in, "Depending on how the single combat at Stonebridge goes, that may be a most unpleasant trip." He cocks his head slightly to one side, considering a moment, then changes his mind, "On second thought, whichever way it goes, that is likely to be a most unpleasant trip. My sympathies." The last note, however, draws a crooked grin back onto the Mallister man's lips, "Seven hells, if you ask the wrong people, you still wouldn't be working for a decent man." The knight is quick to add, "You'd be sworn to one, of course." A shrug lifts his shoulders, and lets them fall again, "I'll write up the recommendation and leave it up to your choice whether or not you show it to Lord Mallister."

"I heard some bits of that in the square today. Huh. I'm surprised Ser Gedeon accepted the duel." Jarod does not sound precisely as if he disapproves. Though it plainly amuses him. "Well, if it goes well Ser Gedeon has Stonebridge, and has promised to bend the knee to the Roost, and Seagard by extension. So that's more than any of us had a few days ago. As to that." He snorts. "I said myself I might not've done any different than you had it been my kin, at that duel. Then again, it's now plain I've no ground to stand on when it comes to matters of decency." Still, he grins some as he says it.

Kamron nods and shrugs, "I don't know that I could have refused either. I don't know that it's smart to accept, but I don't know that he had a choice. I bet the Naylands have a back-up plan in case Ser Rygar loses. This certainly isn't over, despite King Robert's ruling." A chuckle breaks his solemn expression, and he shakes his head, "Decent, yes. Intelligent… hells no."

Jarod gets a heartier laugh out of that. "The one thing none will ever accuse me of is a richness in brilliance. So I suppose that's not changed. Thank you, again. Whatever Lord Patrek says, I'm figuring out who my true friends are through this, and it seems I can count you among them."

Kamron nods his head, "You were there to smack me upside my head when I was sulking." With this much time between then and now, he can admit it, "and hiding. The least I can do is stand by your character, even if I don't agree with your decisions." He rises again, reaching over to clap the other man on the shoulder, "I'll go write up that recommendation. If I keep missing your wife, I'll start to think that either she's still a he, or she's avoiding me and the rest of the people she knew as Rowan."

"She has tits, I can attest to that. Though you'll never see them," Jarod says with a smirk. "I'll tell her you wish to meet her. Which may make her less apt to hide. Whatever you think of what she's done, she has a good heart, and she held your good late uncle, Lord Jason, in the highest esteem."