Passage to Provo - Jake
It wasn't a very long trip back to Provo. Just enough time for Jake and Sienna to take a good long look at everything that was in the inventory and for Jake's conscience to bother him. Si seemed like a stand up sorta gal. She was smart and beautiful and what was he doing dragging her into his life like this? Why, she could marry a banker or a barrister or a rancher. He mulled this over and they worked in silence for a long time.
Grimnaw had done as he promised and it seemed like everything that was on the inventory list was in the hold and nothing was broken. Jake explained that there would be someone coming to pick up the Elven stuff. It was delicate and beautiful and easy for them to identify. These items they moved to one side of the hold. Finally he started to talk while they worked and he told her a little about himself.
"Was born and raised in Rhydin. M'ma and da were both members of the Rhydin Hall. They worked th'stings. Ma was a beauty with a silver tongue and the face of an angel. No one'd even begin t'doubt her word. Da was bookish; well ed'cated..the accountant type. When I was old 'nough t'walk, they worked me into th'act. Only thing harder to resist than a beautiful woman was one leading a toe'headed toddler 'round."
He didn't look up while he told Sienna all this; just kept studying the inventory list, identifying items and checking them off. He finally put down the list and sat on a crate for the rest of the telling.
"Y'know that this sorta work has its risks, we all know it. The thrill. It's why we do it. Hardest thing t'remember after havin' a few successes, is that the risks can be deadly. Well, the folks..it caught up with them. They'd done a sting on a rancher from out west who was visitin' Rhydin. He didn't take too kindly to it. He tracked them down and killed 'em both in front a'me. He couldn't off a kid though so he brought me back t'his ranch. Raised me as he would the son a'one a'his hands. I'm still the best roper and rider in the Hall."
This was said with more than a small touch of pride.
"He used to call me t'his table from time t'time to remind me o'my bad blood. Slander m'ma and da, he would, and I hung m'head and looked ashamed. I waited, Si, until I was growed up and had made me a place in his organization. He let his guard down and I took advantage of it. Slit his throat one night when we was out rounding up cattle. Did it just as neatly as he did m'ma's. That's when I went back to th'Hall in Rhydin. I was into m'teens by that point and old Teeja, he's the Rhydin Hall Master, he took me in. Made me a'prentice and taught me the ropes."
The ship's steward had interrupted him at this point and laid their supper on one of the crates; fish stew and hot bread, oranges and apples and a jug of wine. They'd be in port just after day break, is what the Steward said. Jake arranged two smaller boxes for seats and waited until the steward left to continue.
"The story of gettin' t'Provo, well, Si, its just more a'th'same, I'm 'fraid."
He dished out the stew into their bowls and broke off a hunk of bread for himself, handing the rest to Sienna.
"Never told no one that story. Makes you special, I guess. I felt y'needed t'know just how low down old Jake here is after me kidnappin' y'off to Provo."
He concentrated on his food, keeping his eyes on it as he spoke softly.
"I'll take y'back, iffn' y'have a mind f'it. Si."
It wasn't a very long trip back to Provo. Just enough time for Jake and Sienna to take a good long look at everything that was in the inventory and for Jake's conscience to bother him. Si seemed like a stand up sorta gal. She was smart and beautiful and what was he doing dragging her into his life like this? Why, she could marry a banker or a barrister or a rancher. He mulled this over and they worked in silence for a long time.
Grimnaw had done as he promised and it seemed like everything that was on the inventory list was in the hold and nothing was broken. Jake explained that there would be someone coming to pick up the Elven stuff. It was delicate and beautiful and easy for them to identify. These items they moved to one side of the hold. Finally he started to talk while they worked and he told her a little about himself.
"Was born and raised in Rhydin. M'ma and da were both members of the Rhydin Hall. They worked th'stings. Ma was a beauty with a silver tongue and the face of an angel. No one'd even begin t'doubt her word. Da was bookish; well ed'cated..the accountant type. When I was old 'nough t'walk, they worked me into th'act. Only thing harder to resist than a beautiful woman was one leading a toe'headed toddler 'round."
He didn't look up while he told Sienna all this; just kept studying the inventory list, identifying items and checking them off. He finally put down the list and sat on a crate for the rest of the telling.
"Y'know that this sorta work has its risks, we all know it. The thrill. It's why we do it. Hardest thing t'remember after havin' a few successes, is that the risks can be deadly. Well, the folks..it caught up with them. They'd done a sting on a rancher from out west who was visitin' Rhydin. He didn't take too kindly to it. He tracked them down and killed 'em both in front a'me. He couldn't off a kid though so he brought me back t'his ranch. Raised me as he would the son a'one a'his hands. I'm still the best roper and rider in the Hall."
This was said with more than a small touch of pride.
"He used to call me t'his table from time t'time to remind me o'my bad blood. Slander m'ma and da, he would, and I hung m'head and looked ashamed. I waited, Si, until I was growed up and had made me a place in his organization. He let his guard down and I took advantage of it. Slit his throat one night when we was out rounding up cattle. Did it just as neatly as he did m'ma's. That's when I went back to th'Hall in Rhydin. I was into m'teens by that point and old Teeja, he's the Rhydin Hall Master, he took me in. Made me a'prentice and taught me the ropes."
The ship's steward had interrupted him at this point and laid their supper on one of the crates; fish stew and hot bread, oranges and apples and a jug of wine. They'd be in port just after day break, is what the Steward said. Jake arranged two smaller boxes for seats and waited until the steward left to continue.
"The story of gettin' t'Provo, well, Si, its just more a'th'same, I'm 'fraid."
He dished out the stew into their bowls and broke off a hunk of bread for himself, handing the rest to Sienna.
"Never told no one that story. Makes you special, I guess. I felt y'needed t'know just how low down old Jake here is after me kidnappin' y'off to Provo."
He concentrated on his food, keeping his eyes on it as he spoke softly.
"I'll take y'back, iffn' y'have a mind f'it. Si."