Wind Blown Ashes: Episode 5 Outside Kematree

Contacting the library for a pass cost Ashes more than she expects.

Golden Needle checked off every deduction of moneys and services received, while her replacement stood there watching, a scowl plastered on his face. That half-elf was cut from the same condescending cloth as Crim and would fit right in with Golden Needle’s need for an enforcer.

Controlling her frustration, Ashes raised her voice. “No, look it up again. We agreed that I got a bedroll and hammock as part of my pay. You are not going to charge me your inflated prices for them.” His new guard stepped forward and Ashes pointed at him. “And if you don’t call off your dog, I’m going to roast him, and you’ll need another.”

“Bark, take a walk. Come back in a candle mark,” Golden Needle growled out.

She grinned at calling a half-elf named Bark, Golden Needle’s dog. She hadn’t caught that name before.

“You sure, boss?” the arrogant man said, and moved his hand closer to a knife.

The half-elf’s sing-song voice irritated her even more than the Gnome’s gravelly one. “Sounds like she is trying to extort more pay out of you than you owe,” that voice said, getting more on her nerves.

Golden Needle snapped at him. “Don’t butt into my negotiations again unless asked.”

The whole demeanor of the half-elf changed to one of contrition. “Sorry boss. Taking that walk.” He would fit in perfectly in her old job.

The gnome turned back to her. “My prices are not inflated, it is only a standard markup. There is nothing in this contract about giving you the hammock and bedroll.”

She heard Rockhammer speak up from behind her. “That is because I gave them to her before you got here as a hiring bonus. It is even in my ledger saying that. The one you didn’t bring out with you.”

She hadn’t known he was there. Rockhammer wasn’t backing her because he liked her, it was because he disliked Golden Needle more. The whole caravan was like that, everyone disliking everyone else but the cook, and half of them didn’t like him either. She was glad to be leaving it.

“Fine, no deduction for the bedroll and hammock.” He added a silver and three copper bits to her stack. “But these others, stand.”

“That was the only one I hadn’t agreed to, so yes, those others stand.”

“Then sign your contract as paid in full and you can have your money.”

She picked up his copper point, hand crafted jade pen, dipped it in the ink well and signed it.

“Two silver bits for this pen as a keepsake for fulfilling a contract with a gnome,” she offered after signing it.

“Two bits! That pen is worth twenty.”

“Not to me,” she countered, keeping her voice bored.