“May I take that to mean you are interested in my proposal?”
“You may.”
“What sort of… consideration are we talking about?” Drakor said. “Your offer is intriguing- to me, at least-” he hurriedly added before anyone else could object. “-but I must consider the strain my absence would put on my village’s defenses.”
“Call me interested personally. Never liked the guy myself.”
(and if it means restoring my title…)
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“A perfectly reasonable question. If you accompany me back to my own manor after the trial, I will see to it that those of you who are of a martial disposition are outfitted with excellent weapons from my personal armory, and fitted with steel breastplates befitting those of your station, or a lighter armor if that is what you prefer.”
(In context, your characters would know that this most likely means masterwork-quality weapons — even a baron can’t afford to hand out magic weapons to every random adventuring party he feels like hiring.)
“As for those of you whose talents lie elsewhere, I expect that I will be able to procure items appropriate to your skills as well. Likewise, if there are favors I can do for you while you’re here — an introduction to a person of interest, say — I would be glad to assist you. I’ve already spoken to the magistrate about ensuring that Miss Demir and her father will be tried with all due haste, so that you are not forced to linger here unnecessarily.”
He turns to look at Drakor. “But if you feel your duty lies elsewhere, that is perfectly understandable. It is commendable to feel such loyalty to your home.”
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Over the pile of talking, Canary quickly interrupts.
“Uhm. I’m… sorry. But… before you go any… further. About this. I… think the offer is. Meant for everyone else here, and… not me. Considering my incompetence in. Stuff like this.” I have mixed feelings of my statement of my ‘incompetence’. It’s true that I don’t exactly know the bounds of what he’s asking for, but… it still does feel like a bit of a lie, even though I’m pretty sure.
“So. For your privacy. And the mission’s privacy.” Why am I… here in the first place? Didn’t he send Nyna off? “I. Uhm. Maybe. Should go.”
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Drakor’s eyes gleamed at the mention of weapons. He opened his mouth to speak, then stilled as he reflected on something else the baron had said. “Favors, you said?”
His eyes turned from excitement to cold, businesslike. Calculating. “I think your interests and my duty might be more aligned than I first thought. This is acceptable to me. In fact-”
(he wants information and a baron would probably have more than the dozens of random villagers he’s been interviewing)
His expression broke as he heard Canary speak. “Wait, what?”
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“Of course, if you do not feel up to the task it is not my intention to force you.” He sets down his wine glass. “But I admit some surprise — Madam Kaver seemed to be under the impression that you were among those responsible for the success of the investigation into her husband’s death.”
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“…Uhm.”
Now I have to either bad mouth her or shut up!!
“She’s a better tracker than I am,” Drakor offered. “Good with money, too.”
‘That’s more of an… investigation.’, I think… but this is an investigation.
And… I went far away from home that time too. And…
What he was actually offering it to me.
…
I turn towards Drakor in slight shock as he makes his… remark.
(i’m giving time if you want to have the baron acknowledge drakor’s statement before canary’s)
“Always useful skills to have,” he says, his tone friendly.
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Wanderer is visibly off by what he deems as clear coercion.
I nervously squirm and put my hands between each of my thighs in an attempt to not flail them around like a bird.
“…okay.”
(Your impression is that he is not moved by this; as far as he’s concerned, his behavior is perfectly reasonable and not coercive at all.)
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(this is non-redundant, there’s behavior he’d regard as coercive but also fine)
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He picks up his wine glass again and takes another sip. “Is there anything you’d like to know before undertaking this task?”
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In my blank shock and awkwardness I try to take a sip of my glass, following the Baron’s lead, cupping it and bringing it to my lips as if I was drinking from a river.
This tastes awful.
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I try not to hack away my guts as I place it back down, inadvertently signaling that I have no other questions.
Drakor shook his head.