>>5977816"Miss Caledon." You said again very seriously, but softened your tone. "Surena, you will learn that I have a reputation for leniency and giving people second chances. I even have former bandits in my service and a prison camp full of them that I am trying to get them to join and serve me. And those men tried to kill me."
This time you leaned forward, taking your glasses off and staring into her eyes.
"In your previous life you might have been a thief and whatever else you did, but here across the sea, this is your new chance so don't squander it. Don't do anything stupid, because the last time someone dared to steal from me, he ended up hanging." You said to her and saw her stiffen up a bit. "It would be a damn shame to hang a beautiful woman like you, what a waste it would be."
Surena swallowed, you didn't feel or see any hostile intent in her, nor did you sense Fel or anything else either.
You gave her a polite smile and leaned back.
"Prince Alric, did you just threaten to hang me and called me beautiful in the same sentence?" Surena somewhat unsurely asked you.
"I am very serious, I wouldn't lie about women's beauty." You replied and gave her a sly smile. A bit of a payback from her attempt to play the same game. "Now though back to business, I am going to talk with Master Pelija about sending you mercenaries to Sofera's Naze."
"Where is that?"
"You came here following the King's Road, The Headland is where we are, Sofera's Naze is to the right." You told her. "There are trolls in the mountains, but they stay in their own territory. Orcs meanwhile, remnants of Blackrock Clan have conducted raids and we found few tracks of theirs."
"You want us to face the orcs?" Surena asked and was slightly shocked.
"The tracks were in Strahnbrad Hills and I am going to have patrols there, but I want to be sure that Sofera's Naze and the peasants there are safe." You told her which seemed to reassure her slightly.
"We aren't hired by you?" Surena said to you. That was right, they were hired by the Stonemasons.
"I know, that is why I am going to ask Master Pelija if he can convince you to do as I tell you, at least for now." You said to her.
Surena thought about what you had said for a moment before speaking.
"What would we get if we did as told? Because I'm open to this idea, but I am not sure if Morgan and Erlan are." Surena asked you. "I can convince them, but things would be easier if I or they get something from this."
Oh so she tries to barter? Something for her that would ensure that the mercenaries agree? You could attempt to barter back or promise something, or just tell her that she isn't in a position to negotiate. Definitely nothing physical or giving her coin. The ball was now in your court.
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