Walking into the Mercenaries Association was a breath of fresh air. Not that the air was any fresher than it was outside, it was actually musty and humid. It was being around people again, the social aspect that made the atmosphere different. Marcus was walking tall, ignoring the stares he was still receiving. It didn't matter, young, old, man, or woman, all stared at him as he walked by. He didn't care, he'd grown used to it by now. He'd been walking in the city for well over an hour now.
Marcus walked up to the counter, a familiar old, gruff looking man was standing behind it. He looked tired, as one did with old age. Hunched over and breathing raspy breaths. Marcus thought that he looked much worse than the last time that he was here. He wondered if he had much time left, or if he was just sick with some disease.
"What do you want?" The gruff old man said, barely looking at Marcus. He seemed short tempered, not wanting to be there, let alone talk to anyone.
"I was hoping to speak to the president, I have business to discuss with him." Marcus replied loudly, so the old man could hear him.
"Gods dammit, I'm not deaf, you daft ox. I may be old, but hard of hearing I'm not!" The old man was livid. He was already in physical pain, now he had a ringing in his ears as well.
"Oh shit, sorry about that." Marcus said, turning a shade of red, embarrassed. He knew better than to make assumptions, but it happens to everyone.
"You! Yes you. Don't stare at me like you saw a ghost, you got the backbone of an earthworm. Run up and tell the head that someone is here to see him. What was your name again?" The old man asked, right after picking out another clerk and yelling at him. It took all he had to stand at the counter, like hells he would climb those stairs. He'd get someone else to do it for him.
"It's Marcus." He said hurriedly, not wanting to prolong this conversation.
"That Marcus is here to see him. Stop dawdling, hurry up!" The old man practically screamed, spittle coming from his mouth.
"Now sit over there. Someone will come get you soon." The old man pointed over to a wooden bench sitting in a corner.
Marcus just nodded, walked over and he and Sif took a seat on the bench. Sif was people watching, looking at everyone walking in and about. She was very curious about all the different kinds of people. Most mercenaries were polite, not bothering others. Everyone had their own secrets and way of doing things, so when you saw someone with a strange pet or companion, it was a good idea not to ask too many questions.
"What a marvelous creature you have there." A sharp looking man said, approaching Marcus from the left.
"Wherever did you find it? I would love to have one myself."
He was wearing clean looking leather armor, shiny with oil and not a speck of dirt could be found. His sword looked high quality, with gold leaf on the grip and carving along the blade. It looked more ceremonial than useful. His whole outfit looked brand new and expensive, his hair was meticulous, not a strand out of place. He had an entourage behind him. Their equipment also looked new, like it was just off the store's rack.
Sif didn't like the sudden attention, she stuck her head behind Marcus. Her body was too large to hide it all, so a large part of her was still visible. Marcus just patted her side in a reassuring manner, trying to calm her sudden nervousness.
"I'd rather not be bothered at the moment. If you'd kindly go away, I would appreciate it." Marcus told the young sharp looking man. He didn't feel like putting up with anyone's questions, not only was it none of their business, he just didn't want to talk to anyone.
"There's no reason to be like that. Me and my men were just curious. If you don't want to tell us, we can always buy it from you. How does one gold coin sound? Pretty good huh?" The man said this, acting as if he was doing Marcus a favor by offering the gold coin, in reality it was insultingly low.
"You don't seem to understand. I have no desire to sell her now, or ever for that matter. The fact that you think that coming over and badgering me is appropriate just shows everyone that you are an idiot. Now it is best if you make your leave now, before you regret your actions." Marcus said this in a raising tone of voice, standing up to show his full size.
He had no patience for arrogant people. The type of people that thought the world revolved around them, that people should bow down to them. This man before him seemed to be that type, never having been told no. Marcus would happily be the one to set him straight.
"Now now. There's no need to be like that." The man held his hands up, but still had a smile on his face. The men behind him took a step forward, there were five of them, including the one Marcus was talking to.
"All I wanted was to talk, no need to get violent." He continued.
"Sir. Sir! The head will see you now." A clerk came up to Marcus just as he was going to slap the smile off of the man's face.
Marcus just gave the man a glare, then turned around and left. It might seem like Marcus was short with the man, but it was considered taboo to press an issue like that. Even Marcus knew that much, so he didn't really understand why the man was behaving in such a manner. All the while the man never stopped smiling, even as he watched Marcus walk away.
...............…
"I'm actually very surprised to see you alive and well. I expected you to never return, long turned into a snack for those beasts." The Association president said nonchalantly as he poured himself a drink from his crystal decanter, not offering Marcus any.
"And I see you brought back something as well. I've never seen such a creature as this."
Marcus dug out the serpent's fangs from his belt, laying them down on the president's desk. He had Sif uncoil herself, then slithered over to the middle of the floor. The president's office actually had glass windows, allowing the sunlight to shine into the room. Sif coiled up in the bright sunshine, warming herself just like a cat would on a summer day.
"Yes I did. The mission was very dangerous, but fruitful as well. I was actually hoping to get her registered to me. I'm asking you directly, hoping for a bit of privacy as far as her species is concerned." Marcus said as he took a seat across from the president's desk.
The president looked long and hard at Sif as she bathed in the sunlight. After a few moments, he began nodding his head. Took a drink from his glass, then set it down.
"I won't delve too deeply into her origins, she is a she right?"
"Yes, I named her Sif."
"Very well. I will register her under you. It's not my place to decide who or what a mercenary wants their companion to be, as long as they're not a danger to the public. Do you understand?"
Marcus nodded his head in understanding. Sif was very well behaved and very intelligent, so he had no doubt that she would not be a danger to anyone, unless he told her to be.
"Good. I'll also just put her down as a serpent type magical beast. It's vague, but will allow you to enter the city, and others, unrestricted."
"Thank you very much, I really appreciated it."
"Of course I may require you to do some odd missions here and there." The president said with a half smile.
"Nothing too dangerous, or illegal, so don't worry about that. Seeing as you're able to come back alive from such a dangerous mission, I'm sure you are able to accomplish much more that may need done."
Marcus thought for a second, then grabbed a spare glass that was sitting on the desk and poured himself a drink. After taking a sip and enjoying the flavor, he spoke.
"That's fine, I see no problem, as long as I'm fairly compensated for my troubles."
"Ha, I like you. Just don't let your muscles outgrow your head." The president said with a chuckle.
"If anything comes up, I'll send a messenger for you. As far as the mission you just completed, I can give you half of the reward now. We will have to send someone to confirm that the nest has been cleared. Due to the amount of money involved, and due diligence, I just can't give it all to you at the moment."
"I understand, that's fine. I'll be back next week for the rest then?"
"That should be fine. Unless you are being deceitful, I see no issues. If you are we'll deal with it accordingly." The president said, with his voice flat and his voice very serious.
Marcus just smiled and took another sip of his drink.
"You'll find nothing but empty ruins and a large dead mountain serpent."
"Just one? There should be several in there correct?"
"There were several, then they were eaten by the big one. The owner of those fangs gave me a lot of trouble."
"Alright, one big one then. Now, if there is nothing else to discuss, you may leave. My name is Howard Marcel, any correspondence you receive will have that name." Howard said, finishing off his drink.
"There was one thing. Before I came up to see you I was accosted by a very arrogant young mercenary and his crew. He didn't seem to know about normal social norms."
"Oh yes, that one. He's been a pain in my ass for a week now. Causing fights with other mercenaries, throwing his name around like it matters. He's just a noble's son, looking for fame and adventure. He throws his money around to buy what he can't take by force." Howard said all this with a grimace on his face.
"His father allocates much of the city's funds, so there's not much I can do about him. Of course he could always have an accident, the city is fairly safe, but once you leave it's walls it can be very dangerous. He may think his title protects him, but this is the real world, he'll learn it quickly if he knows what's good for him."
Marcus wasn't expecting such a reaction from the Association's president. It seems like this noble's son has been causing some chaos. He wanted to ask more, but decided not to pry too far into it. Marcus just finished his drink and stood up to leave, getting Sif's attention, she climbed her way back up on her perch. He made it to the door when Howard said some parting words.
"His father, Nicholas Reflick, runs the city guard as well. So just be careful should anything happen, keep that in mind."
.............
"Well we got you taking care of and money in our pockets. Well, I guess you don't have pockets. Ha." Marcus was talking cheerfully to Sif as he was walking out the door of the Association.
Sif cooed, watching the people as they hurried past. Marcus would have to return in a week for the rest, but he still had a small fortune in his pocket. It was starting to burn a hole in it, so he was ready to go on a shopping spree. He just had to decide if he wanted to look for a house first or new equipment. He was leaning towards a house, someplace that would be his, where he could go and relax.
He and Sif would head over to Clair's, drop off the flowers he gathered, and ask her about the process of purchasing some property. Maybe she would even want to spend the night there sometimes. Sif would also need a place to sleep and grow. He had a feeling that she was going to get very big, if the skeleton of her mother told him anything. So he would have to look for a place with some space. He didn't know housing prices, so hopefully he had enough.
"How about a little garden? Someplace you can lay out in the sun? That sounds nice to me." Marcus continued his monologue, walking down the street.
Marcus and Sif stopped at a food stall. They were selling roasted rabbit on a stick. He paid the stall owner two copper coins for two sticks of rabbit. He handed one up to Sif, she bit down on the meat, stick and all. Before he knew it she had eaten the entire thing.
"You're not supposed to eat the stick Sif. That could make you sick." Marcus told her, shaking his head.
"Now, let's head over and see Clair, I'm sure she'll like you."