Somewhere in Ronduin...|Rivenway, Ronduin

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There sits a building. A small, ugly, rather rundown building that is, in one way, not like other small, ugly, rather rundown buildings. It is covered in signs, so many of them it's impossible to tell if it has windows and one would have to study it for several minutes to detect the door. The largest sign, situated just above the door, is painted on a rather flimsy piece wood and reads "Key Fabre, Bodyguard and Healer for hire." Nailed to that sign is a smaller sign, this one painted on cardboard which informs anyone who looks at it that "Clients will not be turned away based on inability to pay." Surrounding these two rather sensible signs are dozens more, painted on every substance one could possibly paint on, showing rather ridiculous pictures, rhymes, and the occasional word of advice. At the moment, a young man, the same Key Fabre mentioned in the sign above his head, is outside of the small, ugly, rundown building which serves as his office, trying to find a space in which to nail a new sign.

[Kender Bard]

A rather beautiful young woman approached the building, with a look of disaste. She was the type of lady that, from the way she walked and carried herself, knew just how dazzling her hard-earned looks were and was well prepared to use and flaunt them. She didn't look noble, but she acted like it.

I wish father hadn't been so adamant about not taking away from the city guard, she thought miserably, studying Key. It's not like Ronduin needs them, and I'd feel much safer with him or Uncle Chatra than some rat in a hole... Oh well. She finally spoke up, "Excuse me!"

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Key turns away from his careful study of the wall, and smiles at the woman. "Yes Miss? Can I help you?" he asks.

[Kender Bard]

"You're a bodyguard, right?" the woman, Lily, asks smoothly. "I need a guard for a trip I'm making."

[Deleted]

"Ah, I see." Key answers with a cheerful smile. He hunts around for a few moments before finding a bulge behind a paper sign. He seizes the aforementioned bulge and twists, and a huge section of signs swings away. "If you'll step into my office, ma'am, we can discuss payment."

[Kender Bard]

Lily steels herself and daintily steps over the threshold, hoping the inside was at least a little better taken care of than the outside would indicate.

[Deleted]

The inside of the building is rather sparse, although it has also been meticulously cleaned. Towards the rear of the room is a desk with one rather uncomfortable looking wooden chair behind it and one in front. Against the wall closer to the entrance is a threadbare couch, and behind and slightly to the left of the desk is another door. Key takes a seat behind the desk and gestures for Lily to do the same.

[Kender Bard]

Relieved that the place wasn't a pigsty, Lily gently lowers herself down to the edge of a chair, fidgeting with her purse. "I need an escort to Ilyamen. You'd be guarding me, but you'd also be guarding the invaluable merchandise I'd be taking with me."

[Deleted]

Key nods slowly and sits silently in thought for awhile. Finally, he says, "How does 40 copper sound? As well as money for supplies, of course."

[Kender Bard]

Lily frowns and fidgets. "That's a bit steep," she protested, haggling. "Thirty, and supplies."

[Deleted]

Key thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs and says in a good-natured manner, "all right, thirty plus supplies it is. When will you be prepared to leave?"

[Kender Bard]

"Soon," she remarks calmly, nervousness passed. "I can be ready as soon as tomorrow, really. I'm all packed at home, I just need to pick up the merchandise. What about yourself?"