Staff for Hire

Posted on 21 Jul 2021 @ 2:46am by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Rhiannon Cadash

1,904 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Jader Waterfront
Timeline: Cloudreach 22nd

It had been four days since Kalian and his new friends returned from the mine. Kalian spent the first day two days recovering from the lack of sleep, hard work, and battle, plus a hangover from their return celebration. His recovery had been slowed by Tessa's insistence that he maintain his work schedule at the Raven.

Kalian stopped by the bakery, then made his way to the waterfront district of Jader at mid-morning. The area could be a dangerous place at night, populated by drunk itinerant sailors, but of a morning it was not an unpleasant place to wander. The fishing boats were still selling their catch at the west end of the wharf, and a clean salty breeze blew in from the bay, ruffling his cape and unruly mop of curls.

He wasn't certain where to find Rhiannon's office, so he looked for the Night's Kiss, still in port. Kalian stood on the dock at the end of the ship's gangplank, the still-warm bag from the bakery in hand and his staff strapped to his back, and called to a young, bearded dwarf on deck - the first person he saw. "Hallo there. I'm looking for Lady Rhiannon Cadash. Is she on board?"

The young dwarf looked over the railing when he heard someone calling for Rhiannon. "Oy, you looking for the First? (pause) Just a sec." He turned and moved out of sight. A few moments lager Rhi poked her head over the railing. Her smile warm and yet had a bit of mischief to it. "Sagh (friend) Kalian. Please, come aboard. I was just thinking of you this morning. Was wondering if you were going to come talk to me, or if I would have to come find you."

"Well, here I am," Kalian called back, sweeping his arms out in a ta-da gesture, the bag of baked goodies in one hand. He hurried up the gangplank and knelt in front of her so that his head was below hers. "At your service, my lady."

She gave Kalian a hug when he stepped aboard. "Come, walk with me." She started towards the bow.

Kalian followed. He was no expert on ships, but the workmanship on the Night's Kiss was unmistakable. Crewmembers went about their business, mostly dwarves, checking ropes, maintaining the sails, it was a fascinating sight. "Your ship is amazing."

Rhi glanced up at Kalian and grinned. "Why thank you. She is the best ship that sails these waters."

"Do you like baked treats? With Jader getting ready for Summerday, the bakeries are already making festival specialties." Kalian handed her the warm bag.

Rhiannon tilted her head slightly at Kalian when he asked if she liked baked treats as he handed her the warm bag. Taking it she opened it and could smell the cinnamon rolls. "Now Kalian, you should know that most women loves baked treats. Me more than most." She chuckles as she pulls out one of the small bite sized rolls. Popping it her mouth she chewed slowly, savoring every bite. When she finished she licked her fingers as she spoke. "So, I had told you that I might have some employment for someone of your talents." She stopped at the bow of the ship and eat another roll. "Since you are here, I can only assume that you might be interested in said employment."

"I would have come just to see you," said Kalian with a warm smile and only partly distracted by the sight of the pretty dwarf licking her fingers. He scanned the deck, wondering if Rhiannon might have a jealous paramour on the ship, or what her mother might think of her daughter fraternizing with a human. "But I am interested in what kind of employment you might have in mind. I'll need to be careful about utilizing certain talents. Not many people in Jader are as open-minded as you when it comes to the arcane."

Rhiannon noticed Kalian watching her lick her fingers. She gave him a quick wink. "Careful is my middle name." She grinned as she popped the last of her sweet in her mouth. She moved to the side of the ship that faced away from the dock, leaned against the rail and took a deep breath. "Mmmmmmm, the salt air makes me feel alive. (she peers at the water) So, to business." Rhi glanced over at Kalian. "This is what I have, as far as openings. One is here on the ship. You could use your talents to speed up the ship with a bit of a gust of wind. Help defend the ship if needs be. Also help heal those that might get sick or hurt. Or, (pause) we have a spot that I think would be perfect for you. It may not sound exciting but it is a very important job. Someone with your talents would make a great look out and protector. I am sure that you know who to look for when you are out and about. You could use, say a small spell to let the others know that they will have company. And if needs be to knock out those who might try to interrupt our business."

"If I'm working with you, that will be exciting enough." Kalian grinned at Rhiannon. "May I apply for the job of lookout and protector? I'm not opposed to leaving Jader on short trips, but, well… I have family here and I figure it's only a matter of time until I get caught and have to leave permanently." What he would do then, Kalian was not sure. But his years spent training with his grandmother had convinced him a life hidden and alone in the wilds outside Jader was not for him. He liked the company of interesting people too much. Kalian noticed how the sunlight caught the silver highlights in Rhiannon's hair, and how her crimson eyes sparkled. "Would I be protecting you, or someone else? I'm not so sure you need a protector. I've seen how well you can handle a sword."

Rhiannon glanced up to Kalian when he asked who he would be protecting. Her eyes sparkled like rubies in the sunlight as a slow mischievous grin crossed her face. "You want to be my protector?" Her voice was light yet had a sexiness, come get me tone. Before Kalian could answer, she continued with a bit of a giggle. "Yes, you would be protecting myself, and whatever merchandise that I might have." She turned to look up at Kalian and smiled. It was warm, whimsical, mischievous and mysterious all at once. He could see in her eyes both the businesswoman who was looking for a bodyguard. The woman who looked at him as not a conquest but a man who she could become close with. And someone who cared not that he was a mage. She looked at him as a friend and possibly more. She opened her palm and spit in it, stuck it out. "So do we have an accord?"

Kalian did not miss the flirtatious lilt to Rhiannon's tone, or that suggestive smile. He admired her curvy and small yet perfectly proportioned dwarf form, but reminded himself that in the short time he'd known her, Rhiannon had flirted with most everyone she met – her prerogative, naturally. He followed her lead and spit into his open palm and took her offered hand. And then, because it felt uncomfortable to tower over her in that moment, he bent down on one knee so that he was looking up into her face. "Yes, my Lady Rhiannon. We have an accord."

Rhi was a little surprised when Kalian spit in his own hand and shook hers. Yet what almost put her off guard was when he shifted, went down on one knee to be on her level. She blinked a couple of times, for she was momentarily speechless. She looked into this young human's eyes and found that if she wasn't careful, she could get lost in them. When her words finally came back to her she smiled. "Good, good. (reluctantly letting go of his hand) Well, when can you start?"

So close to the pretty dwarf, her scent brought to mind the lingering ozone of an ocean storm, with a top note of sugar from the treats he'd brought her. Kalian had never bedded a dwarf, but held in the depths of her crimson gaze, his mind strayed to imagining the ways in which human and dwarf could fit together. Huskily, he replied, "When do you want me, my lady?"

Rhiannon caught his tone and gave him a sly grin. Kalian was still on his knee when she reached out and gave him a playful shove in his shoulder. Not enough to push him over but enough to let him know that she knows he is there. Looking him in his eyes, that mischievous grin crosses her face, "I have a meeting tonight with one of my mothers friends. Neither I nor my mother trust them. They don't trust us either. So bodyguards are a must."

With that she turns to star back towards the gangplank. As she does she walks slowly enough to sway her hips. Over her shoulder she says, "You ready to watch my back?"

Rhiannon's playful shove wasn't enough to knock him over, but it did put him off balance, and her explicit invitation to ogle her shapely backside was distraction enough that Kalian teetered and fell back. With a long and hearty laugh at himself, Kalian regained his feet and brushed himself off. Still chuckling as she escorted him to the gangplank, he paused before disembarking and said in a low voice, "My staff is ready when you want it, my lady. Shall I return at dusk?"

Rhi looked over her shoulder to see that Kalian fell back on his ass. She left out a little giggle. Like that of someone who is why about letting someone know that they like them. Looking at him almost shyly as he get up.

As Kalian approached, Rhi batted her eyes when he inferred that his staff was ready for her. Her trademark mischievous grin flashed across her face as her crimson red eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Giving her the look of a predator sizing up her prey. "My oh my, if I do declare. Such a gentleman. Letting me know that his staff is ready when I am in need." She reached out and traced her fingers along his arm to his hand. Her voice lowered a little as she looked up at him. "I hope that you and your staff are willing to be up all night. It may take awhile for the negotiations." She took a step back and smiled. "8 tonight." she said as she turned and headed across the deck.

His arm and hand tingling where she had just touched him, Kalian watched Rhiannon's retreat rendered completely speechless. Off to his right a couple of deck hands sniggered at him, and Kalian had to remind himself to shut his mouth, and to wait until his quick retreat along the docks took him out of sight before adjusting his suddenly ill-fitting trousers. Wow.

Kalian just hoped he could make a good impression on Rhiannon's mother when he met her.

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