Back to Page Two
-----The man in the blue tunic puts his hands on his hips and stares at the Dread Pirate. "Sausages! I sell bread and sausages! Now are we suppose to search your pockets or your intestines?" he asks in his nasal tone. He then turns to the customers standing around them. "My business has been disrupted, so the shame and burden has been mine, but let no other fall victim to this one’s foul deeds!"
-----The man turns back toward Gimplefwick and Seth. "Yes, you call the guards! Let them search you and see if you carry any false money. If you do not, I will beg your forgiveness! If you do, may Chant judge you!"
-----Several of the mercenary customers step forward eyeing the Dread Pirate with stern looks.
-----Gimplefwick looks at the purported merchant and laughs in his face, and then says sarcastically, "Alright then, matey. Now you say that I gave you that handful of fake gold coins? And you sell bread and sausages? Pray tell, good merchant, how much are your bread and sausages that people would pay a handful of gold for them? Let’s see...A good meal would cost at most a few silver, but your bread and sausages cost several gold? I could feed an entire village on bread and sausages for that many gold! Why, these must be the finest bread and sausages in the known world! I think you give yourself away. Your story is an obvious lie! Again, I say let us see your bread and sausage stand! I would like to see a stand where simple bread and sausages cost several gold coins."
-----Gimplefwick stares at the merchant and continues, "You are a liar and a fool! The guards at the gate will also let you know that I left town several days ago and just returned. As for where I went, the weapons merchant that I visited will remember me. Now, if I've been gone for several days, how could I possibly have been spreading fake coins around the city?"
-----Gimplefwick sneers at the two hapless rogues and states finally, "If worst comes to worst, then we will have the guards fetch a cleric to cast a truth spell! The truth will come out then, eh? Of course we'll have to have the spell cast on all of us to see who has been spreading these fake coins. I fear not the truth that will be revealed!" Gimplefwick stabs his finger at the fake merchant, "How about you? You've already revealed yourself in one lie! Let's see what else you lie about!"
-----Seth strikes some harsh chords on the harp, "Yes, indeed I can attest that the person thou dost accuse only returned to the city today. And Perchance you may have heard of The Valiant Paladin Lotley? He of the Rightous arm of Joren of this very town? Well only this morning we were aiding him in an investigation of heinous proportions. I say Sausage seller that you are mistaken, and as my friend says how could even he eat that much gold in sausages? And I say to you all, why would we be now singing before you as supplicants for supper if we’re the holders of such a treasure trove of false gold coins? Would we be not now spending up big at the best eating house in Hearthorn?"
-----"I vouch for them," Brad loudly chimes in, "These two arrived back in town today." Some of the customers now turn their cold eyes toward the two merchants and a few murmurs and whispers are heard.
-----The man in the blue tunic replies coolly in his nasal tone, "Ah yes, make light of my situation. Have not the prices already been driven up?"
-----Looking at Seth, he adds, "And you, sir, you are with this one?" The eyes narrow giving an unsettling ancient look about them.
-----Looking back at the Dread Pirate now, the merchant says, "Have you the daring to show us what is in your money pouch?"
-----The customers now stare silently back at the Dread Pirate.
-----While he talks, Seth and the Dread Pirate can see Kazel moving silently among the customers. She stands almost to the right of the man in the blue tunic.
-----The Dread Pirate laughs again at the supposed merchant, "Oh. I see. Now I am making light of your situation. What situation would that be? That of a liar perhaps. You refuse to answer my query of your prices! Let's see. You dropped about seven or eight gold there. That's about one hundred times the cost of the finest meal in town. And you expect anyone to take you seriously when you make these claims? You won't even mention the location of your supposed shop, let alone take us there."
-----Gimplefwick continues, "Furthermore, no one here even seems to know you, while the owner of this establishment vouches for us. You seem to be avoiding every question I put to you! Are these the acts of an honest merchant who has a legitimate complaint? I think not! Again, I say fetch the guards and a cleric or mage. I will wait right here for them. I recommend that you do the same." Gimplefwick then sits at a table where he can keep the two merchants in sight. He then orders a mug of ale and placidly ignores any more comments until the guards arrive.
Go to Page 4