Introduction and explanation

The room which Theron now entered was small, since few of the inn’s guests stayed for more than one night; there was little use for anything more than a bed, a coffin at the foot of the bed, and a small table that served as nightstand.

The noblewoman was seated in the bed, her firm gaze lifted to look at Theron.
Aware of how feisty some of these nobles could be, and not wishing to provoke, Theron choose to remain standing by the now closed door, rather than to sit down next to her on the bed.

“I am glad to see you here. And I take it that you are in interested in what I have to say.”
Theron was smart enough to understand that the latter part of her sentence wasn’t a question, even if he did nod his head in acknowledgment of what she had said.
“I am on my way to Faeria, as I told you downstairs. There, I am to seek consultation regarding the curing of a very lethal disease. And no, I am not the one infected by the disease.”
Theron didn’t think it wise to ask who indeed was infected, but allowed the woman to go on without interruption.

“The loss of the bridge is no problem for me, for, as I have already informed you, I have no intention of travelling any further by road.”
“I’d like to know why you feel unable to travel by road.” Theron said in his melodic type of speech, a clear sign of his Donnaught heritage. The inhabitants of this pastoral region formed a surprisingly large part of the armed forces in its surroundings, many of them, like Theron, becoming border rangers. Some claimed that their decidedly melodic speech pattern was due to widespread love of **** and its consumption, and disdainfully referred to the men and women of Donnaught as “Don’knowians”. Theron and his kind had their ways of showing their regard for such cheerful jester, primarily centred around swift, blunt ****.

“There are those who would benefit from me not getting hold of a cure, and from my decease. I’ll inform you on who they are, if it should come to that.”
“And my payment would be?” Theron was caught between unease about the apparent risks involved, and sympathy for the woman’s cause. There’s was no denying that a healthy amount of gold help swing the balance in favour of the choice that he would most probably take anyway. At least that way he could tell himself that he was doing it for the gold.
At the same time, he was making sure not to let his eyes rest on the generous swell of the noblewoman’s ample chest, held firm by the tight jerkin.

“I’m willing to offer you an amount equal to what a sergeant at arms makes in four months time. I believe that to be a fitting pay.”
It was a fitting sum indeed, enough for Theron to live like a king for a few weeks, if he survived to receive it.
“Alright, I accept your offer.”
This actually caused the noblewoman to smile warmly, and she rose from the bed to shake Theron’s hand with a firm grip.
“I do believe that an introduction is in order. I am Sofia of Lithuagita.”
“Theron, former Border Ranger.”

With the introduction being done with, Sofia began to gather her gear.
There was little doubt that they were to leave as soon as possible.