Fresh Endeavours.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/28/1999 6:16 PM Central Daylight Time
From: JadedDeath

Janella urged Diamond ahead as she kept her sights on the merchant wagon which she had been hired to escort into town. She had been contacted at the Inn several days before, with word that her services were desired, if she was interested in the job.

It was rather tame compared to her usual work, but the wagon was loaded with a variety of fine, imported goods, ranging from a stock of beer, rich wine, rare jewels and gems, to expensive silks, treasured spices and gold. The products were destined for several local Rhydin merchants, preceded by their reputations as the lead traders in town. Janella Vallonia, or rather, Jaded Death, as she was more widely known, was now recognized by the
merchants as a woman they could count on. Janella hadn't really planned on gaining such notoriety, but it seemed fortunate for her, especially as of late: the warrioress was receiving requests for her sword as often as twice a week, with more than generous pay being offered to her in exchange.

So Janella donned her cloak and belt, and agreed to accompany this latest delivery in return for the sum of 300 platinum and a sumptuous supper at the Inn Of The Mad Dog (its name somewhat misleading, but the fare quite delicious). Her payment would be waiting for her at the final stop, one Aracond Drachemora's Emporium.

The sound of Diamond's rhythmic, steady hoofbeats trodding along the road was soothing to Janella's ears. The fighter kept her eyes moving, always attentive to the scene, as she rode up beside the sturdy wagon, nodding curtly to the driver. The old man returned the nod, admiring Janella's backside as she eased up in the saddle and took the lead as they approached the last stretch into Rhydin.

She thought of Bane, as she rode, and of their 'adventures' the night before. Janella surpassed Bane in years, eight-and-twenty years she reckoned she was, now, and the warrioress couldn't hide the fact that she was, indeed, getting ol- - maturing. But despite her age, and all of the younger women who surrounded her, Janella still, more often than not, got what she wanted, and took exactly what she desired. And, lately, it was Bane whom she
wanted. Perhaps it was Bane's inherent goodness, his pure heart, that attracted her to him. It certainly wasn't the first time that Janella had seduced a young, presumably innocent (or almost innocent) man. Or, perhaps it was Janella that had initially caught Bane's eye?

"I capture all eyes, " Janella laughed.

The old, toothless man driving the wagon heard her, and grinned. He couldn't chew food too well, but he was convinced that he could still perform other - more important - duties, and he tantalized himself (most often alone!) with the possibilities.

Diamond, Janella's brown mare, snorted and Janella led her, with the wagon following, past Rhydin's gates. Once she picked up her payment from Aracond, she would find Bane to ask him to the Mad Dog for some dinner.