immediately.
#
In the morning, Benen left the lodgings, relinquishing his room. He had plans to stay somewhere higher scale for the rest of his time in the capital. He did, after all, intend to speak to the king today; perhaps he’d even be given quarters at the castle.
The first order of business was better clothing.
Benen found that the painted signs hung by the door of service establishments were of little help. He had gone into a shop whose sign had shown a well-dressed man and found it to be a tavern or club for the middle class. Benen was hustled out of the building by a man with a cudgel.
After that, he asked beggars for directions once more and was told of the local tailor’s shop. Since he was in a middle class quarter, the tailor specialized in nice but not too costly clothing. This suited Benen. When he entered the store, the man in the receiving room moved toward him, a frown on his face. Benen knew he was about to be thrown out again.
Not this time, he thought.
He held up one of his gold coins and the man approaching him immediately smiled at him, his demeanour completely changed. When he reached Benen, he bowed to welcome him to the establishment.
“Sir, if I may say, your state of dress is shocking. I can see that you have much need of our services.”
“Um, thank you?” Benen said. His homemade clothing had been a source of pride for him over the years. His stitches were strong and held up over time and they were straight too. It was a blow to have them disparaged.
“Will you be needing an entire outfit, sir, or are you looking for a specific piece to . . . accentuate, what you are currently wearing?”
“A whole outfit would be good. Boots too, nice leather ones.”
Together, he and the tailor’s assistant worked out what would be best for Benen. He acquired an outfit consisting of a deep blue tunic and white breeches. A belt and boots were added to this and the whole was completed by a blue hat decorated with a peacock feather. Benen felt ridiculous, but the man assured him that he was wearing the height of middle class fashion.
Remembering what he had seen the people on the streets wearing, Benen had to agree that he would fit right in. He asked to settle his account and was shocked by the price. The whole outfit cost him half a gold piece; it was a fortune!
Satisfied that his appearance was now serviceable, Benen started heading toward the castle, where he hoped he would find the king. The streets were less crowded, as he neared his destination. The quality of the crowd also changed. There were less men and women with exotic skin tones and every one was dressed in colourful and complicated outfits. Many of the people had servants with them.
Benen also noticed there was no human waste in the gutters; he wondered what the rich did with their poop.
Eventually he came to the city wall and was asked his business in the inner city.
“I come to meet the king,” he said.
The two guards looked at one another, then one turned to Benen. “And is the king expecting you?”
“No, but I think he will want to meet with me.”
“Is that so?” The two guards were smirking at Benen.
They aren’t taking me seriously.
Benen was pleased to find the Cleaver had risen — if barely. He used its magic to cut the belts of the two guards. Their scabbards containing their swords fell with the belts, as did their money pouches.
The guards were not impressed, as Benen had hoped, they were horrified. Even in the city, the people were superstitious and afraid of wizards. The guards picked up their swords and used them to keep him away from them. The scene attracted the attention of many in the crowds nearby. This was not what Benen had wanted at all.
He took a step forward and the guards backed up a step. He repeated this until he was through the gate and then went on his way toward the castle.
People cleared the streets ahead of him as he came; he heard whispers of wizard and sorcerer
#
In the morning, Benen left the lodgings, relinquishing his room. He had plans to stay somewhere higher scale for the rest of his time in the capital. He did, after all, intend to speak to the king today; perhaps he’d even be given quarters at the castle.
The first order of business was better clothing.
Benen found that the painted signs hung by the door of service establishments were of little help. He had gone into a shop whose sign had shown a well-dressed man and found it to be a tavern or club for the middle class. Benen was hustled out of the building by a man with a cudgel.
After that, he asked beggars for directions once more and was told of the local tailor’s shop. Since he was in a middle class quarter, the tailor specialized in nice but not too costly clothing. This suited Benen. When he entered the store, the man in the receiving room moved toward him, a frown on his face. Benen knew he was about to be thrown out again.
Not this time, he thought.
He held up one of his gold coins and the man approaching him immediately smiled at him, his demeanour completely changed. When he reached Benen, he bowed to welcome him to the establishment.
“Sir, if I may say, your state of dress is shocking. I can see that you have much need of our services.”
“Um, thank you?” Benen said. His homemade clothing had been a source of pride for him over the years. His stitches were strong and held up over time and they were straight too. It was a blow to have them disparaged.
“Will you be needing an entire outfit, sir, or are you looking for a specific piece to . . . accentuate, what you are currently wearing?”
“A whole outfit would be good. Boots too, nice leather ones.”
Together, he and the tailor’s assistant worked out what would be best for Benen. He acquired an outfit consisting of a deep blue tunic and white breeches. A belt and boots were added to this and the whole was completed by a blue hat decorated with a peacock feather. Benen felt ridiculous, but the man assured him that he was wearing the height of middle class fashion.
Remembering what he had seen the people on the streets wearing, Benen had to agree that he would fit right in. He asked to settle his account and was shocked by the price. The whole outfit cost him half a gold piece; it was a fortune!
Satisfied that his appearance was now serviceable, Benen started heading toward the castle, where he hoped he would find the king. The streets were less crowded, as he neared his destination. The quality of the crowd also changed. There were less men and women with exotic skin tones and every one was dressed in colourful and complicated outfits. Many of the people had servants with them.
Benen also noticed there was no human waste in the gutters; he wondered what the rich did with their poop.
Eventually he came to the city wall and was asked his business in the inner city.
“I come to meet the king,” he said.
The two guards looked at one another, then one turned to Benen. “And is the king expecting you?”
“No, but I think he will want to meet with me.”
“Is that so?” The two guards were smirking at Benen.
They aren’t taking me seriously.
Benen was pleased to find the Cleaver had risen — if barely. He used its magic to cut the belts of the two guards. Their scabbards containing their swords fell with the belts, as did their money pouches.
The guards were not impressed, as Benen had hoped, they were horrified. Even in the city, the people were superstitious and afraid of wizards. The guards picked up their swords and used them to keep him away from them. The scene attracted the attention of many in the crowds nearby. This was not what Benen had wanted at all.
He took a step forward and the guards backed up a step. He repeated this until he was through the gate and then went on his way toward the castle.
People cleared the streets ahead of him as he came; he heard whispers of wizard and sorcerer
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