The Long and Short

As Epilo'josia moved along the Strip toward the Cargo Gate he passed taverns with loud music, a brothel with bold ladies leaning out of upstairs windows, drunks in various stages of becoming more drunk, and one magnificent pair of horses. They were attached to a dray and clicked their way right past the gape-mouthed druid, headed away from the cargo gate on a side street.

He watched them for a moment, and they stopped outside a large building not far away. His feet began moving and he soon found himself standing next to the rig, talking softly to the animals. The drover was quick to close in on Epilo. "What're you doing?" he demanded.

"Admiring," Epilo soothed. He raised his hand, then paused. "May I?"

After a moment's hesitation the drover smiled. "Yeah, sure. You look harmless."

While Epilo stroked the heads of the two horses the drover stepped away, signaled another man, then returned. "We're going inside. Why don't you come along."

A clamber began as one of the massive doors in the side of the big building began to swing open. The drover whistled and the two horses followed him, walking toward the open door. Epilo hurried to catch up to the drover and walked beside him.

"Aristo Young," the drover said to Epilo, by means of an introduction, and he stuck his arm out.

Epilo grasped the forearm in friendship. "Epilo'josia, worshipper of Ehlonna."

Aristo chuckled. "Knew it. The way you reacted to my horses. Knew you were a druid." The smell of horse reached Epilo's nostrils. He noted the sign above the door said, 'Long and Short Hauling', and then they were inside.

The floor was hard-packed earth. Epilo saw several rows of large wagons, ox-carts and smaller drays, with empty spaces indicating there were more members of the fleet currently out on business. The back wall featured stalls and a smaller door leading to a grassy area outside.

A young man trying hard to grow a beard ran up to take the horses and guide them into the warehouse. Aristo nodded his thanks, then spoke to the druid. "We run freight from the docks to all parts of the city. Don't really go beyond the walls, 'cept to the Manors and Keeps in the surrounding area. I run more than twenty rigs from this building," he boasted, "barrel-haulers and poultry carts and covered wagons. Just got back from a run delivering some paintings, all crated-up and such. My dray can go places the Watch don't let the big wagons go. Makes for an easier ride, when I'm carrying cargo that breaks."

He looked the druid up and down. "I can use help with the horses," he said, "and you seem to know plenty about 'em. You're new in town, it's easy to tell. We keep bunks for the stable boys, and you can sleep there until you've earned enough here to rent yourself a proper room somewhere other than the River Quarter."

Epilo pursed his lips and looked around. Martins and barn-swallows flew through the air, snatching flies near the horse stalls. The smell of leather oil and tack interested him, and the grass outside the door seemed sprinkled with small yellow flowers. A horse snorted, and the sound brought a smile to Epilo's face.

"Well..." he began.

"Wonderful!" Aristo cut him off. "You start immediately, and everyone starts at the bottom. So..." he trailed off, nodding his head to a pitchfork, a pile of straw and a wheelbarrow crusted with manure. "Do the ox stalls first."

Epilo made an instant decision, one he did not regret. "Many thanks, and may the Goddess give favor to you, but I must decline... for now." He bowed a little as he backed toward the open doorway. "I am new, have much to see, and am looking to explore possibilities. It was good to meet you, Aristo Long."

The drover snorted in jest, but nodded in friendship. "Hope you find what you're looking for," he replied. He waved, then turned to follow after his horses, muttering, "Nobody ever wants to do the ox stalls."

River Quarter