"On the contrary, Spud, you could be of great use to us--both on the battlefield and here in Yarfell. But I would like to talk about this somewhere a little more private. Can you please follow me?" said the Swordsman walking towards his tent.Once both men were inside, Sterling smiled and said, "This is better! My tent has multiple wards of silence and protection that have been woven into its fabric over time. No one can eavesdrop on us or enter into my tent without my consent!"
"Now, as to what's going on here!" began the Swordsman settling down in a chair and offering one to his friend as well, "It is true, there is a war brewing and we are going to face off against Venger's Orcs in a true winner-take-all struggle with the fate of this kingdom hanging in the balance!"
"Basically, I'm going to make the same offer to you that I made to Heidi with a few modifications thrown due to the gravity of our situation." continued Sterling calmly, "It's like this: In the Swamp you didn't have much of choice to do anything! It was a kill-or-be-killed situation and you had to stick with us to stay alive. But here, you have a choice!"
Letting his voice get grim for a minute, the Swordsman said, "You can stay with my men and join us in our fight against Venger's Orcs. A few miles to the north there is a town named Pembroke that is being used as a supply and storage center by the Orcs for their siege weapons--devices that could be used to break down the very gates of Yarfell itself! We are going to ride up there and under the cover of darkness, TAKE THEM OUT! And believe me when I say, that we could surely use you and your little friends to help take apart those siege weapons! You'll be well guarded by five of my best Drow Warriors, but it is going to be dangerous, VERY dangerous and there is a strong possiblity that we may not come back alive!"
Smiling a little, the Dark Elf said, "On the other hand, I need a liasion officer to remain in Yarfell and keep the Princess and the rest of the High Council up to date as to the progress of the war! In mercenary tradition, it's standard practice that a liasion officer would be provided to an employer. Your job will be to stroke their ego, keep them hopeful, and keep them believing that they have made the right decision! Also you would be well provided for, again guarded by five of my best Warriors, sleeping on a luxurious bed instead of the hard ground, eating three square meals a day instead of rations, and enjoying the company of beautiful women who would be more than willing to listen to your exploits about the Swamp!"
"I leave the final decision up to you, Spud!" concluded the Swordsman definitively, "And I won't think less of you regardless of whatever you decide! Both roles are important--one more dangerous than the other one, and the other one slightly more boring! But if you really want to help out, choosing either path would be the best way to do it! Well, which one do you want, Corporal Spud, to be a warrior or a propaganda officer?"
A Point To Ponder
