Private Stratton was coming back up the steps just as the rolled-up parchment began to glow slightly. "Leather, bronze, or copper shackles, Sir? I brought all three as I wasn't certain what the High Lord needed."
"We're getting the results right now," Sergeant Briggs informed him, as he slowly unfurled the paper after it quit glowing. Looking down, the sergeant's eyes carefully scanned over the contents written there, before opening wide in shock. "Class one taint, with a class seven potential," he whistled worriedly. "That makes your shinta a class four average," he informed me, frowning heavily. "It should have a silver leash, but we don't have any of those here, unfortunately."
"Then the copper will have to do for now," the older captain spoke up, interrupting. "Write the High Lord a twenty-four-hour waver, and he can turn in the copper set for a discount when he gets the proper one in town."
"And where would you recommend me to go to get a nice silver set of shackles?" I asked warmly, fishing for any extra information which I could dig up on this other world and the nearby city which I'd be visiting soon. Honestly, I still had no idea what the hell a shinta was, or why the crap they needed shackles. And what's the deal with the ranks? Is rank four better or worse than rank one? I'm guessing better since silver seems more expensive than leather, copper, or bronze.
"Silver's Smithy might be a place to catch your fancy," Sergeant Briggs told me. "They do custom work there and often have some truly exquisite items stored in the back which the save for exceptional customers such as yourself."
"Then I'll try there," I agreed, as Private Stratton placed the box on the desk and carefully handed a large blueish crystal ball over to the sergeant.
"Private, properly leash the shinta for the High Lord," Sergeant Briggs ordered, holding the orb out towards me. "And if you will, your High Lordship," he told me politely, "just place one hand atop the orb and wait for the tingle to stop."
"Like this?" I asked, curiously placing my hand cautiously atop the crystal ball he was holding palm up. As soon as my bare flesh met the cool stone, my fingers were engulfed in a gentle static electricity that lightly rose all the hairs on the back of my neck. After a few moments, as we both waited silent together patiently, the tingle slowly faded and died.
"Then let's finish this," Sergeant Briggs chuckled lightly. "Do you currently, or have you ever, had a judgement issued against you for this kingdom?"
"Absolutely not," I answered honestly. In fact, I guarantee there's not a single record – either good or bad – for me on this world, before this one. Not that I'm going to tell him that!
"Do you intend harm of any kind – be it physical, financial, spiritual, or otherwise – against the citizens, or the royal family of this kingdom."
"Absolutely not," I answered again, honestly. "Though I do wish to try my hands a little at being a merchant," I told him, chuckling lightly, "so if I'm any good at it at all, I'll hopefully leave her with more than I arrived with. Though that's not considered cheating; it's just the nature of business."
"Understood," Sergeant Briggs chuckled lightly. "And with that, we're almost all done. I just need you to sign here, if you please, or feel free to stamp your personal symbol if you prefer."
Ummm… SHIT!! I hadn't really thought that far ahead! Exactly how the hell do these people in this world sign their names? Left to right like Americans? Right to Left? Top to bottom like the Japanese? Letters, symbols, or hieroglyphics? Crap! Crap! Crap! What do I have that I can use for a personal crest?
Fishing into my pocket, I finally dug out a plain quarter. Sticking it against his ink pad, I then used it to make a careful imprint on both places where he pointed to on the parchment.
Lord, don't all you nobodies out there laugh at me, but I guess from now on, my personal symbol is going to be the American Eagle from the back of a 1973 quarter dollar!
"Is that acceptable?" I asked, really trying hard not to show how panicky I was feeling inside. What if some other family already has a similar symbol? What's the punishment for something like that?!
"Looks fine, your High Lordship." Scribbling a few last things down onto the paper, Sergeant Briggs finally stamped it twice, before ripping it in half and offering one section to me. "And we're finally finished," he assured me, wiping sweat off the top of his brow.
"Just leave here and follow the path straight. You'll leave the travel zone and enter the city proper after a short, straight walk," he reminded me, smiling warmly.
I guess my first encounter with the people of this other world hadn't went so terribly, so far! Or, at least that's what I thought until I stood up and saw Private Stratton and poor Vicky…
"Your key, your High Lordship," Private Stratton told me, holding out a small metallic key to me.
"Thank you?" Honestly, I didn't know if I should thank them or not.
Vicky… Poor Vicky! Poor, poor Vicky was butt-naked and chained up worse than any chain-gang prisoner I'd ever seen depicted in a movie in my life. Thick copper bands of shackles enveloped her wrists, waist, neck, and ankles. Her arms were placed behind her back, and locked together by the wrist shackles, while a short copper chain ran from ankle to ankle to keep her from running. Worst of all, was a large copper ball that forced her jaws wide opened and prevented her from speaking at all.
I have no idea what the hell a *shinta* is, according to these people, but they sure as hell aren't taking any chances with them!
"You can remove the beast's leash once you return to the travel zone, if you exit the city, or if you enter a rift," Private Briggs reminded me politely, "but you'll need to leave it properly restrained the rest of the time."
"Got it," I told him, dryly. Lords above, I'm soooo happy I didn't bring Maria with us for this first trip! Are all women *shinta*? If not, then why is Vicky? Would Maria be? Am I supposed to shackle her up like this every time we visit a town in this World? Would she even let me??
Mind buzzing with doubts, I absentmindedly picked up the end of the leash leading to Vicky's collar and slowly started working my way down the path towards this unknown city of the Other World.