Sturmgard did not have to wait long for Vyladie outside the stone gate of the First House of Healing. Dusk was settling over the city state during the rush hour of rickshaws, carriages, and heavy foot traffic. Denizens headed out for dancing or gambling. Farmers returned home from the open market, patrols of the Empress's guard changed shifts, and craftspeople closed or opened for business.
He had to admit that he enjoyed being sent into the city, and he was well suited to assignments to the smoking dens and wine clubs or--as this one was--to the mead hall. Although as a Raptor, his training was in scouting and infiltration rather than the cloak and dagger of the Dancers, he naturally mixed well with any situation involving partying and wild talking. He had been recruited right out of the private so-called Sage Academy where heavy drinking and crazy ideas abounded. Invited by Galleren who knew him from playing on the same ragball team years earlier in public school, Sturmgard thought his physical skills must have qualified him for recruitment. He found out later that his physical ability barely qualified and that his extensive reading was more interesting to the leaders.
Probably his knowledge of lore and his way with words were the very reason Rennick had assigned him to interview a possible team member. Sturmgard had been commissioned to probe a little more deeply into the beliefs of the barbarian who was supposedly of the reformed Derrek faction. He wondered, briefly and rightly, why he was sent with a healer rather than Galleren or another Guardsman closer to the inner circles. When she came through the gate with strawberry blond hair and shimmering evening clothes, though, Sturgard had to admit she might be pleasant company.
He had to admit that he enjoyed being sent into the city, and he was well suited to assignments to the smoking dens and wine clubs or--as this one was--to the mead hall. Although as a Raptor, his training was in scouting and infiltration rather than the cloak and dagger of the Dancers, he naturally mixed well with any situation involving partying and wild talking. He had been recruited right out of the private so-called Sage Academy where heavy drinking and crazy ideas abounded. Invited by Galleren who knew him from playing on the same ragball team years earlier in public school, Sturmgard thought his physical skills must have qualified him for recruitment. He found out later that his physical ability barely qualified and that his extensive reading was more interesting to the leaders.
Probably his knowledge of lore and his way with words were the very reason Rennick had assigned him to interview a possible team member. Sturmgard had been commissioned to probe a little more deeply into the beliefs of the barbarian who was supposedly of the reformed Derrek faction. He wondered, briefly and rightly, why he was sent with a healer rather than Galleren or another Guardsman closer to the inner circles. When she came through the gate with strawberry blond hair and shimmering evening clothes, though, Sturgard had to admit she might be pleasant company.