The Wagging Stag, 598

[The Stranger]

"That's a dragon? It looks like a chicken," The Volante man says. "And I was led to understand by some of the commoners I asked around to, that there was a signing bonus?"

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Chicken, I meant chicken," Jonathon says. "I was thinking about the salary and I got confused, and I had never mentioned anything about a signing bonus," Jonathon wondered if there was another sellsword company recruiting here as well.

"These commoners what did they say this signing bonus was?"

[The Stranger]

"52 silver pieces," The Volante says, sounding vaguely disappointed.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Fine I tell you what I'll pay your brothers and the next 70 men after that an additional 52 silvers. If we reach a hundred men total I'll give "you" an extra dragon for you to split up among your men as you see fit." The dwarf stands up on the bench so he comes to eye level with the Volante.

"If you can send me 30 heavy horse that'll be another Dragon, I'll give you."

[The Stranger]

The Volante considers the matter. "I know some other men in Volantis that would join us for that kind of money."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Volantis is with the Braavosi, now though? Might be hard for me to recruit men right under their noses? Although maybe not so difficult for you to do it, if my ship took you and your men to Volantis you could find these men and get them to Pentos?" Jonathon asks, "they find Ser Kenneth there in Pentos and he would pay them their wage when they arrived?"

[The Stranger]

The man shrugged, "That's a good point. I don't know. It might be possible."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Bah ships are still going in and out of Volantis since the Blockades been lifted so I think one ship filled with 100 sell swords won't be missed too much. I'll pay for your passage home and to Pentos. You'll have to find Ser Kenneth there, ask about the Bloody Chickens or the Knight of Coin and you should be able to find him. Tell him Jonathon promised you the usual rate,"

Jonathon rubbed his head, "worse case is you leave me in Volantis and I am out the transport cost but its worth the risk me thinks. What do you say?"

[The Stranger]

"Sounds good," the man confirmed.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"Well then I'll speak with the captain Jaquar and you and your brothers can be on your way on the morrow," the Dwarf replied. "It'll be a pleasure serving wit ya."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

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Resigning himself as a disappointing failure for spending months in Storm's End without a single contract, the Astonishing Jonathon Biggs stares off into one of the oversized draught ales that the Wagging Stag was famous for.

"Hiccup," he uttered as the dwarf thought. The tournament had been pretty much a bust, with the fucking Dornish spoling the mood of the whole town. The ship he had sent to Volantis with the 30 sell swords came back empty handed and with the King running off to Runestone most of the hanger ons had left leaving only the normal population of Storm's End to contend with,

"Marissa another dark. . . hiccup . . . one if you please hun," the Dwarf said as the last dark ale in the very large flagoon touched his lips.