by Matt » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:35 pm
The warband has not made it far, and have stopped in the middle of the five-pointed square. A few market stalls draw some customers to the north - these are the ones unable to manage space in Mangai Square. Townspeople bustle past on their business, but most give the older man and his escort a wide berth.
As he comes towards the group, they get a good look at him for the first time. While not especially handsome, he bears himself with dignity, and his flowing gray hair is striking. His face is lined with care more than age, and his eyes still twinkle. He has found time to cover himself with a mantle of fine gray wool, and his clothing is of similarly fine wool, trimmed with silk. He wears several costly rings on his fingers, and his boots are of supple black leather. The man at arms, who accompanies a few steps behind, is armed with a broadsword and dagger, a plate halfhelm and underneath his surcoat he wears a mail hauberk. The dark red surcoat bears on the chest the arms of a gold acorn, slipped and leaved on a black field.
"Tell me," the older man says, mainly to Jorst, "were you truly planning to break the King's peace in the shop?"