The caravan was a lot larger than they were anticipating. It stretched ten wagons full of all kinds of people and valuables. Looking around for someone in charge, Peter and Sarah noticed quite a few adventurers who had already shown up for the request. It looked like they had been chosen because they were talking with each other with jovial confidence. After about ten minutes of walking through the camp, they saw a line of adventurers formed towards the front with a large intimidating man talking to them one at a time. The two thought that was most likely the caravan leader and decided to wait in line for their turn.
"That's a really long line, Sarah, do you think they will have time to talk to everyone today?" Peter whispered to her as she looked on ahead. She was pretty nervous as this was her first real job as an adventurer, and everyone around her looked so much more capable.
Taking in a deep breath, Sarah replied, "It will be alright, Peter, we proved ourselves at the adventurer's hall and earned our badges. He should listen to us just like the rest of the people here."
The lined moved forward one, and Sarah took a stiff step ahead. Peter could tell she was nervous and sighed. "I'm sure you're right." One by one, the line continued to move. A few more people formed behind Sarah and Peter, and they looked just as intimidating as the rest.
"You look like a cutie, you been an adventurer long girl?" One of the adventurers said behind Sarah. They both looked to see who had said that and noticed a large man with scars all over his face and arms his smile revealed a lack of most of his teeth. Most likely from brawls, they assumed. He wore dirty armor that looked like it had not been washed since the day he bought or stole it.
"I just started," Sarah said quietly, looking at the intimidating man who proceeded to laugh to himself and tilt his head.
"How about you stick with me I can make sure that pretty little figure of yours doesn't get scratched by any monsters." Peter wanted to interject, but Sarah was quicker with her response.
"I am perfectly capable on my own, sir, plus I am not alone. If things get too hairy, I can always rely on Peter!" That made Peter blush a bit and give a wide-eyed expression to the scary man who looked him up and down and laughed.
"You mean this pipsqueak? He doesn't even have a sword to protect you with what you expect him to do when something attacks?" The man rested his hand on his blade, which was very large and looked like it had seen many battles. "I feel sorry for anyone who thinks a little brat like that can protect anyone in this world."
Peter looked at the ground with a grimace. He had felt that attack head-on. He knew that is was true. He was still so weak, and he knew that when it came down to it, he could not protect anyone, let alone the woman he loved. His magic was so weak, and he had no other skills aside from that. He did not know how to use a blade, and his physique was lacking as well.
Sarah, on the other hand, was not going to lie down and accept that kind of talk to someone she had been friends with for so long. She barked back at the man with daggers in her eyes. "How dare you talk about someone you don't even know like that. This so-called pipsqueak is a mage and one of the best ones I know. He could easily protect me if it came to it. I don't need anyone else aside from him. I think you best back off."
The man snorted and went back to talking to someone else. He had had enough of dealing with her. He knew that it would not be long until they were dead somewhere on the field of battle anyways. Peter looked shocked. He slowly turned to look at Sarah, who looked back and smiled. Her smile always lit up his heart, and the words she had just used gave him newfound courage. He thought to himself about what she had just said. She really thought he could protect her like that? Was he really all she needed? His mind raced as he smiled in line.
Sarah noticed they were getting closer to the front and realized there was another man with the large man at the front who was examining the adventurers in line. He walked up to them. His eyes were sharp, and he did not look like someone who laughed very often. A scowl seemed to be stuck to his face permanently.
"You two don't want to join this caravan." He said as his eyes pierced them. Peter and Sarah were both surprised at his quick judgment of them and how cold he sounded when he said it. Sure they were new, but they had to start somewhere.
"What makes you think we can't handle ourselves?" Sarah remarked, irritated.
"No armor, poor weapon, the look of homelessness. You look more like scavengers who got lucky than battle-ready adventurers."
Scoffing, Sarah looks at the angry-looking man. "Don't you dare count us out, yet we are stronger than we look."
The sharp-eyed man shook his head. "I warned you." Continuing, the man inspected the rest of the adventurers. It was finally time for Sarah and Peter to talk to the head of the caravan, but right as they got there, the large man stood up, clapped his hands, and yelled to the rest of the adventurers.
"Alright, we have enough. Everyone else can go home!"
Sarah looked upset at the response, and Peter looked worried. The rest of the adventurers behind them started grumbling and dispersing, but Sarah did not give up yet. She walked up to the large man, slammed her hand on the makeshift table, and looked him in the eyes.