Chapter Eight: A Sellsword's Moment

"I honestly never knew you could sew, and pretty well I might add! I doubt I'm going to have a scar after what you've done to my wound." Duncan said as he felt the tight stricture of Hof's needlework seal his most recent wound shut, letting it heal underneath a tight embrace of clean bandages. Duncan and his band of twenty men and women successfully prevented a civil war from destroying Westeros by defeating a group of bandits keeping one man who knew an insane "truth" just a few days ago. Duncan didn't really understand why Lord Varys said that Kruik had knowledge that would plunge the Seven Kingdoms into war as the insane fool literally had information all knew. Aegon Targaryen was dead, not alive in some Free City in the East. After all, it is hard to call someone alive when they are supposed to have had their heads destroyed when an evil brute smashed them against a stone wall during the Sack of King's Landing! If anything, Duncan was starting to think that Lord Varys just tricked Duncan into doing Lord Gyles Rosby's work for him. It was a rather scummy thing to do! Why not just tell him to do it? Westeros is always better off with fewer bandits, which it seems to have a lot of when Duncan thought about it. Why wasn't the King or one of his many noble houses making an effort to cleanse the land of bandits…?

Whatever the case was, the band of sellswords lead by the Westford boy had completed their task and had received their payment for it. Twenty gold Dragons, which was about a couple thousand silver Stags if Hof's math was correct! Duncan and his band of men and women had never been this rich in its short life as a group of sellswords and whores. Duncan could afford to purchase better equipment for the men instead of what they have right now, which would most certainly increase the effectiveness of the entire band's martial power as a result. He could also, as Hof pointed out, afford to raise the company's wages and recruit more men to join their band. But if one was to pay in silver Stags then one needed to own Stags equal to the other currency, which the band had but not equal to the Dragons they possessed. They only had about five hundred Stags, only worth about two and some Dragons if Hof's math was correct as well. They needed to trade their Dragons into some kind of bank or money-lender if they were to possess the silver Stags they need. That, or earn Stags through some more jobs and tasks; which may take too long…

"Sewing is actually a really useful skill, you know? Has too many uses to count on both of my hands alone. I don't know why they only teach girls how to sew as men should be able to do so as well! They're going to need some way to seal a wound after all, and why not with the art of sowing?" Hof and Duncan were all alone in their meeting tent, the one where all of the planning and strategizing took place. They were seated on some wooden chairs at that portable table Hof bought when they bought the carts, which allowed for more goods to be carried around like tables and chairs. Duncan had his wounded leg on the table right next to a small cup of ale, letting the wound be elevated like Stoin suggested Duncan do so that his vapors would regulate. The young man was watching Hof as he examined a single gold Dragon coin in his hand while the other held his own cup of ale, the bag that contained the rest of the coins in his lap as he rubbed his thumb over the worn metal of the precious coin in his hand.

"I can tell, and feel it! It's itchy, which means it is healing if my Uncle was correct about how wounds work." Duncan was really tempted to itch the knife wound that had been driven into his leg during the battle at the holdfast a few days ago. That had certainly been a pretty tense battle with the amount of bandits that fought back, the appearance of Toiia Rivers on the enemy side, and Dyra almost getting herself killed after disobeying Duncan's orders. Duncan still couldn't believe that they managed to win with so few dead, which Duncan often kept out of his mind. He couldn't be burdened by their deaths, or he wouldn't be able to live in this world. But, his mind was getting off track so he decided to speak again, saying "Why did you learn stuff like this? As you said, girls are the ones who learn that skill; not boys!"

"I kept accidentally ripping my clothes as a child while I played in the Godswood, which caused my father to often yell and hit me when I did so. So to prevent it, I decided to ask the Septa to teach me how to sew so I didn't get in trouble all that often! It worked as my father didn't yell or hit me as much after that." Hof chuckled as he put the gold Dragon back into the bag, tying it back up before placing it onto the table.

"You played in a Godswood? You knew a Septa? Your father yelled and beat you? What was your childhood, Hof?" Duncan asked, now curious at Hof's reveal of some part of his early childhood. Duncan had found that Hof never really spoke much about his past. He only spoke about small events, things that most children would also experience. This, however, was something new which intrigued the young man.

Hof shifted a bit in his seat when the Westford boy spoke, his good humor clearly fading slightly as a frown grew on the Westerlander's face. Turning his head away, Hof said, "My father was a guardsman in Casterly Rock, so I often got to go there and play in their Godswood. It was also where I met the Septa there and we became friends. It's as simple as that…"

"Huh… I never would have guessed…" Duncan hummed as he digested the information, rocking his chair back and forth. So Hof was the son of a guard that worked in Casterly Rock. That sounded like a rather interesting childhood, one which Duncan wanted to learn more about sometime later. But he saw that Hof wasn't in the best mood to talk about it right now, so he decided to ask "How did you get so good with knives? It seems like there is no one in all of Westeros better than you."

Hof relaxed slightly at the new question, taking a drink of his ale before setting the cup to the side, and took out one of his many knives that stayed hooked onto his belt. "Knives are one of the easiest and most useful things to have ever been invented. It is in our blood to use them, and I've trained my blood to be as best as I can with these prestigious weapons. Speaking of which, you needed to carry a knife into battle!"

"What? Why would I do that? I already have a sword and a shield. So why would I need another weapon to use in combat?" Duncan scratched his head as Hof pointed at the young man with his knife, waving it slightly to try to put emphasis on his words.

"There will be times when swords and shields cannot cut it in combat, which is where knives come in to take their place. It can be used real close to finish off an enemy, especially if no other weapon can reach past your opponent's defenses. A knife will save your life! That I guarantee!"

"It's not as honorable as a sword…"

"Well too bad! Combat is about survival, remember? I heard you making that speech to Dyra so don't go back on your word because of the honor a sword holds! I'll give you one of my knives until you get your own, and that is that. Understand me?" The young Westford boy grumbled a bit before nodding, upset that his Westerlander friend was essentially forcing the young man to do something. Who was the leader of the band of men and women surrounding the tent right now? Certainly not Hof, that is for sure…

But Duncan was grateful that Hof was helping him out, and also reminding him of what he says to Dyra during their training sessions. Honestly, the young man had no idea where he would be without the aid and support of his Westerlander friend. With Hof by his side, Duncan felt like they had some idea what they were going to do next in their lives, and that was more than enough for the Westford boy currently. Sometimes, Duncan feels like Hof is truly the leader of the band instead of the Westford boy. Then again; it is Duncan who selects the jobs, decides where they should go next, what they should do, how to fight in battle, and other things that a leader must do for their group of followers. If he does those kinds of things, that also makes him the leader of the band despite Hof recruiting, paying, and organizing the band.

The young man wonders if this is how Kings feel about their Hands, like King Robert with his late Hand…

"When is your nameday again?" Hof asked, sheathing his knife before picking his cup of ale back up to take a drink of it. Duncan knew his friend already memorized what date the Westford boy was born, but always kept asking so that he could talk and plan what he wanted to do with the young man on that day. It was nice, in a way.

"In three months, two months before the year's end" Hof hummed at Duncan's answer as he sipped his drink, placing it back onto the table after he was done with it; nodding his head as pulled the map that was on the table closer to them.

"That's right! So, due you being a chaste man of virtue, we must figure out another idea to celebrate your nameday. Hm… How about I buy you a steed? We'll have a need for horses in battle eventually if we are to expand our army's abilities and why don't we have you be the first Hedge Knight?" Such a silly thing to be so worked up over. But the Westerlander seemed really excited to do something like this for the young man so Duncan went along with it.

"I have no idea how to ride a horse." He said, earning a shake of Hof's head as the Westerlander was clearly surprised at Duncan's admission.

"What?! Really? I would have thought that you would have known how to ride a horse all things considered. Didn't your Uncle teach you how to ride?"

"No. He didn't. He said that horses were just another way to get a man killed on the battlefield. Then again, he always was more fond of the Man-at-Arms way of battle along with his own personal additions so he may have been biased.

"Really now? Well, I guess I'll just buy you the finest bottle of Arbor Gold I can find. Does that sound good to you?" Duncan didn't know what to say other than to nod with a smile. Hof was really a wonderful friend to the young man sitting at the table beside him. Duncan had to figure out what Hof would like for his nameday. Maybe knives or a trip to Chataya's Brothel if Hof's original plan for the Westford boy was anything to go by…

The flap of the tent was pushed aside as Stoin entered, as stoic looking as ever as he held a bag of silver Stags in his hand. He silently walked over to the two young men, who were looking at him while waving hello, and tossed the bag onto the table before standing to attention. Hof, deciding to spend some time with Duncan, sent Stoin off to a nearby village to do what he normally did; ask questions and see if there was anyone willing to work for the band of sellswords.

"How was the trip to the village? Did they have any jobs for us? Find some new recruits? Any pieces of news or rumors about the realm?" Hof asked, echoed by Duncan as he too was curious as what Stoin may have learned during his time at the village.

"No job. They were all peaceful and happy. May have a job a league south at a sept if their word is correct. Recruited one person, an unemployed laborer too poor to not accept our offer. Heard some things. Some things up North, in the West, in King's Landing, and in the East. Which one do you want to hear first?" Stoin answered, his tone even and neutral like always like his stone-like expression. Duncan always wondered what Stoin was thinking, whether he had emotions like everyone else or was as stoic as the trees themselves!

"Tell us about the North and what is happening up there."

"Heard there was a particular band of outlaws running amok parading Bolton sigils. They were doing the usual stuff bandits do: thieving, killing, raping, etc. Walder Frey has a new wife, younger than the last but what else is new? And then something about one of the Starks becoming a cripple due to an accident or something. Just know that the Stark is never going to walk again." Duncan felt a bit pitiful to the crippled Stark. The Westford boy could never imagine never being able to walk again! That just sounded like a cruel life to him.

"Tell us about the West."

"Only one rumor about the West. Some are whispering that the Lannister gold mines have dried out, but everyone knows that can never happen. It is the Lannisters after all! Other than that, it's the same as usual under that Tywin." Duncan saw in the corner of his eye Hof paleing a bit at the reveal of the rumor. He was a Westerlander, so it could affect him seeing how that is his home region. But, those were rumors so why would Hof be worried about anything at all? Rumors were never the truth most of the time so believing in them was pointless.

"What about King's Landing?"

"Heard that Eddard Stark become the new Hand of the King for King Robert. But considering their famous friendship, it wasn't really a surprise that something like that would happen after the old Hand died. A tourney is supposed to occur sometime this week to celebrate the new Hand, but we won't make it there to compete for the prize money. Nothing else from King's Landing now." Duncan felt neutral about this bit of news. He didn't really get affected by it, nor did it seem like his comrades were affected by it either. Really, the young man wondered if Stoin was willing to talk about himself. He was one of the few people in the band that was the most mysterious, and he had a pretty big role in it as well so his mystery was even bigger. All he did was answer questions of general information and give tips on basic stuff like first aid, shooting bows, cooking, etc. Duncan wanted to learn more about him, but how? Stoin was an even bigger secret-holder than Hof was! How could he make the stoic archer speak about himself…

"What about the East?"

"Heard something about the Beggar King. Said to have sold his sister to some Dothraki warlord or something. Nothing else besides a new war between Myr and Tyrosh over trade rights to Braavos. Something stupid like that." Duncan was curious about the East, about Essos with its famous cities like Braavos. What was it like over there amidst the Dothraki, constant wars, and other strange events and situations that made up the East? Duncan could only guess about what went on over there.

Once Stoin was done answering all of the remaining questions, simple ones like "How are you?" and "Plan on doing something later?" With curt replies only he gave back to Duncan and Hof, the stoic archer left the tent back to the two young men. Once he was gone, Hof swiftly pulled the map and began to speak about the potential job at the sept a league to the south with Duncan agreeing to most of what Hof said. It was time to get back to work helping out the common people that made up most of the Seven Kingdom of Westeros' population, this time for those of the Seven.

Duncan always liked the little moments like this, where he and Hof could just sit around and talk about things of all kinds. It made it seem like Westeros wasn't truly made out of blood…