He met Buck's eye and nodded slightly.Should he?? Getting a nod back Chris
cleared his throat and began.
"As many of you know, a year ago the Prince of Cohely was killed in a hunting accident, although it was always portrayed as an accident the royal family has always believed it to have been an act of treachery from within. Scared of what might happen King Orin sent his wife, daughter in law and the future heir to the throne into hiding. He stayed at the palace with his most loyal guards surrounding him to keep the kingdom in order. He told the public that his family was in mourning at their private estate along the Washusi River. This was of course a lie; his wife has since journeyed back feeling her husband needed her more then ever. Our quest deals not with her but with the Prince's son and future heir to the throne. Six months ago he and his mother disappeared from their safe house with not a word to anyone. We suspect something or someone spooked them into running, for five months Buck and I have been on their trail. Following rumors from town to village to the woods and back to big cities. Most of these have been false rumors, people looking for attention or extra money but a few have had a ring of truth to them. How many of you have heard of the outer realms?" Chris finished his talk and asked the question into the forbidding air around the table.
It was Nathan who spoke up first: "That's a no mans land, no sane woman would bring her son there." He said in disbelief
"Aye, a lawless land full of thieves and vagabonds, not a place where a man or a woman would tread lightly" Buck said solemnly
"But a good place if you are looking to hide..." Vin said quietly
"Exactly" Chris finished quietly and then continued a little louder
"And that is exactly where you men come in, word is a Cutthroat Murderer by the name of James Lucas is holding court over the Outer Realms in a town by the name of Four Corners. The boy and his mother are rumored to be hiding out somewhere in his territory. Now most likely Lucas doesn't realize who he has in his territory, if he did no doubt he would be plugging the King for a ransom or worse. But the fact is he might have them and be using them for different purposes. Either way they need to be found and retrieved and every fool knows it is better to have a large show of force then a small one. I figure we ride in there and offer our services to Lucas as mercenaries or such. We find the Heir and his mother and bring them home. But just me and Buck riding in there and trying to get him out is likely to get us all killed and that is where we need you. I can't offer you much, five silver quid and a chance to right a wrong, put a little scared boy back where he belongs, that's it..the decision is up to you." With that Chris took a sip of his beer and looked over at Buck who gave him a thumbs up, they had them whether they knew it or not.
JD was the first to speak up "Well, I don't know about anyone else but I'm in. I realize that everybody here thinks I'm too young, but I can learn and I'm good at slipping in and out of rooms unnoticed. I've been doing it my whole life, besides something is telling me I should be here, it just feels right." JD trailed off here and then noticing the solemn air he grinned and said "Besides somebody's got to keep old Buck here from getting killed and such. I got a blood debt to repay."
At this comment JD was swiftly caught up in a headlock by Buck and tickled until he gasped uncle. When the hubbub had died down Nathan spoke up:
"Well, I'm in.if it weren't for you guys I would have been dead now for a couple of hours. Besides I wouldn't mind seeing some of those Outer Realms Warlords go down." He said with a fierce scowl on his face. Nobody said anything but it was obvious Nathan had run in with them at one time or another.
Vin was a little slower to reply but when he did it was short and to the point. "I reckon I wouldn't mind riding with the likes of you."
After this comment Buck turned to Chris and held out a hand, five fingers, five men.
"It would have been nice to have at least one more, six is a nice even round number, but five will work." Chris said with a sigh scratching his head tiredly.
"I might know someone." Nathan said with a thoughtful look on his face
"As many of you know, a year ago the Prince of Cohely was killed in a hunting accident, although it was always portrayed as an accident the royal family has always believed it to have been an act of treachery from within. Scared of what might happen King Orin sent his wife, daughter in law and the future heir to the throne into hiding. He stayed at the palace with his most loyal guards surrounding him to keep the kingdom in order. He told the public that his family was in mourning at their private estate along the Washusi River. This was of course a lie; his wife has since journeyed back feeling her husband needed her more then ever. Our quest deals not with her but with the Prince's son and future heir to the throne. Six months ago he and his mother disappeared from their safe house with not a word to anyone. We suspect something or someone spooked them into running, for five months Buck and I have been on their trail. Following rumors from town to village to the woods and back to big cities. Most of these have been false rumors, people looking for attention or extra money but a few have had a ring of truth to them. How many of you have heard of the outer realms?" Chris finished his talk and asked the question into the forbidding air around the table.
It was Nathan who spoke up first: "That's a no mans land, no sane woman would bring her son there." He said in disbelief
"Aye, a lawless land full of thieves and vagabonds, not a place where a man or a woman would tread lightly" Buck said solemnly
"But a good place if you are looking to hide..." Vin said quietly
"Exactly" Chris finished quietly and then continued a little louder
"And that is exactly where you men come in, word is a Cutthroat Murderer by the name of James Lucas is holding court over the Outer Realms in a town by the name of Four Corners. The boy and his mother are rumored to be hiding out somewhere in his territory. Now most likely Lucas doesn't realize who he has in his territory, if he did no doubt he would be plugging the King for a ransom or worse. But the fact is he might have them and be using them for different purposes. Either way they need to be found and retrieved and every fool knows it is better to have a large show of force then a small one. I figure we ride in there and offer our services to Lucas as mercenaries or such. We find the Heir and his mother and bring them home. But just me and Buck riding in there and trying to get him out is likely to get us all killed and that is where we need you. I can't offer you much, five silver quid and a chance to right a wrong, put a little scared boy back where he belongs, that's it..the decision is up to you." With that Chris took a sip of his beer and looked over at Buck who gave him a thumbs up, they had them whether they knew it or not.
JD was the first to speak up "Well, I don't know about anyone else but I'm in. I realize that everybody here thinks I'm too young, but I can learn and I'm good at slipping in and out of rooms unnoticed. I've been doing it my whole life, besides something is telling me I should be here, it just feels right." JD trailed off here and then noticing the solemn air he grinned and said "Besides somebody's got to keep old Buck here from getting killed and such. I got a blood debt to repay."
At this comment JD was swiftly caught up in a headlock by Buck and tickled until he gasped uncle. When the hubbub had died down Nathan spoke up:
"Well, I'm in.if it weren't for you guys I would have been dead now for a couple of hours. Besides I wouldn't mind seeing some of those Outer Realms Warlords go down." He said with a fierce scowl on his face. Nobody said anything but it was obvious Nathan had run in with them at one time or another.
Vin was a little slower to reply but when he did it was short and to the point. "I reckon I wouldn't mind riding with the likes of you."
After this comment Buck turned to Chris and held out a hand, five fingers, five men.
"It would have been nice to have at least one more, six is a nice even round number, but five will work." Chris said with a sigh scratching his head tiredly.
"I might know someone." Nathan said with a thoughtful look on his face