Natalie grumbled softly to herself as she led the party of Brass Blades through the desert. The mood was quiet, solemn even, except for the hushed whispers of those behind her.
“Did you see what she did to Teyris’s jaw?â€
“I heard she was kicked out of the Sultansworn for being too violentâ€
“I’ve never seen someone’s arm bend that way beforeâ€
“Hm…?†Natalie growled and turned around on her Chocobo, “Someone else want to make a snide remark? Perhaps devise an insulting nickname for me?†She scanned over the squad with cold eyes, as they all frantically shook their heads. “Good!†she smiled warmly, “Let’s do some work thenâ€.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The group threads down to meet a small coach, and she stops it with a wave of her blade. “Hail traveler, you have the honor of being stopped for a private inspection.†She grins at the elderly Roegadyn driving the carriage. “Mind if we take a look aroundâ€
That man appears crestfallen, “Take a look, but I’m just a simple merchantâ€
She nods, “Thank you sir, but before we do, might you be interested in making a donation?†She smiles at him from under her visor, “The Brass Blade support charity could use your assistance.â€
“The what?†he says slowly, “I’ve never heard of that beforeâ€
“Oh? You haven’t? Well it’s simply to help equip the tireless protectors of Thanalan. Willing to risk their humble lives so the caravan’s get through. New boots… swords, things like that. Times are tough you know, and we have to look out for ourselves. Surely a man like you can spare a little something?â€
“Well… I would love to but…†He hesitates, “Perhaps some other time.â€
“Ah, that’s unfortunate†she sighs, “The men are tired and hungry, with old boots, and it makes them ever so clumsy on inspection.†Natalie chuckles, “Why on the last caravan, Silent Pebble over there accidentally knocked all the goods out the back†she points to another Blade, “And then Tamon accidentally stepped on it all.†She laughs and the rest of the squad laughs with her, “What a klutz he is.â€
The man looks at her nervously, and then down at his fingers as he does some quick calculations. “H-how would 2000 gil be?†he asks tentatively.
“We would be thankful for it, but it would not go far†she winks at the man, “You wouldn’t believe how expensive our boots are. And the men are so cranky, with the blisters and all.â€
He sighs and pulls out an abacus, doing some more serious calculations. “Fine… 3500.â€
Natalie smiles warmly, “Excellent, the men will be very pleased, why don’t you all thank the man for his generosityâ€
A chorus of throaty “Thanks…†appears from the squad, then one man walks up to nail a small card to the side of the wagon. It has a stylized sword and scimitar and reads, “I support the Brass Blades.â€
He turns around, “Hey, what are you doing?â€
“Don’t worry sir, it will just let the other Blades know you support our work†she smiles, “And we appreciate those who appreciate us.â€
He coughs, “Ah… thanksâ€
One of the Blades walks to the back of the wagon and quickly flips up the back,
“Looks good Lieutenant, just some silverwork, and crates of wine.â€
Her ears perk up, “Wine?†she looks at the merchant, “Could you possibly spare a bottle or two to quench our men’s thirst?â€
He waves a hand, “Sure, take a few, I’d never heard of the stuff. Called Morbol Wine, it’s from the Shroud. I have no clue if it will even sell in Ul’dah.â€
The Blade grabs a pair of bottles from the crate, and closes up the back of the cart.
“My thanks sir†Natalie bows slightly, “Safe travels and thank you for supporting your humble protectors.
He chortles, “Hah, somehow I prefer this better than the Somnus thingâ€
Natalie grins back, “Somnus thing? Why sir, whatever do you mean?â€
The merchant commands his chocobos forward, “Hah, what somnus indeed.†He shakes his head with a chuckle.
“Safe travels to you sir†Natalie replies as he rides off.
“Did you see what she did to Teyris’s jaw?â€
“I heard she was kicked out of the Sultansworn for being too violentâ€
“I’ve never seen someone’s arm bend that way beforeâ€
“Hm…?†Natalie growled and turned around on her Chocobo, “Someone else want to make a snide remark? Perhaps devise an insulting nickname for me?†She scanned over the squad with cold eyes, as they all frantically shook their heads. “Good!†she smiled warmly, “Let’s do some work thenâ€.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The group threads down to meet a small coach, and she stops it with a wave of her blade. “Hail traveler, you have the honor of being stopped for a private inspection.†She grins at the elderly Roegadyn driving the carriage. “Mind if we take a look aroundâ€
That man appears crestfallen, “Take a look, but I’m just a simple merchantâ€
She nods, “Thank you sir, but before we do, might you be interested in making a donation?†She smiles at him from under her visor, “The Brass Blade support charity could use your assistance.â€
“The what?†he says slowly, “I’ve never heard of that beforeâ€
“Oh? You haven’t? Well it’s simply to help equip the tireless protectors of Thanalan. Willing to risk their humble lives so the caravan’s get through. New boots… swords, things like that. Times are tough you know, and we have to look out for ourselves. Surely a man like you can spare a little something?â€
“Well… I would love to but…†He hesitates, “Perhaps some other time.â€
“Ah, that’s unfortunate†she sighs, “The men are tired and hungry, with old boots, and it makes them ever so clumsy on inspection.†Natalie chuckles, “Why on the last caravan, Silent Pebble over there accidentally knocked all the goods out the back†she points to another Blade, “And then Tamon accidentally stepped on it all.†She laughs and the rest of the squad laughs with her, “What a klutz he is.â€
The man looks at her nervously, and then down at his fingers as he does some quick calculations. “H-how would 2000 gil be?†he asks tentatively.
“We would be thankful for it, but it would not go far†she winks at the man, “You wouldn’t believe how expensive our boots are. And the men are so cranky, with the blisters and all.â€
He sighs and pulls out an abacus, doing some more serious calculations. “Fine… 3500.â€
Natalie smiles warmly, “Excellent, the men will be very pleased, why don’t you all thank the man for his generosityâ€
A chorus of throaty “Thanks…†appears from the squad, then one man walks up to nail a small card to the side of the wagon. It has a stylized sword and scimitar and reads, “I support the Brass Blades.â€
He turns around, “Hey, what are you doing?â€
“Don’t worry sir, it will just let the other Blades know you support our work†she smiles, “And we appreciate those who appreciate us.â€
He coughs, “Ah… thanksâ€
One of the Blades walks to the back of the wagon and quickly flips up the back,
“Looks good Lieutenant, just some silverwork, and crates of wine.â€
Her ears perk up, “Wine?†she looks at the merchant, “Could you possibly spare a bottle or two to quench our men’s thirst?â€
He waves a hand, “Sure, take a few, I’d never heard of the stuff. Called Morbol Wine, it’s from the Shroud. I have no clue if it will even sell in Ul’dah.â€
The Blade grabs a pair of bottles from the crate, and closes up the back of the cart.
“My thanks sir†Natalie bows slightly, “Safe travels and thank you for supporting your humble protectors.
He chortles, “Hah, somehow I prefer this better than the Somnus thingâ€
Natalie grins back, “Somnus thing? Why sir, whatever do you mean?â€
The merchant commands his chocobos forward, “Hah, what somnus indeed.†He shakes his head with a chuckle.
“Safe travels to you sir†Natalie replies as he rides off.
