Back to the Intro page. The beginning of Luther's Adventure

(Richard and Jhereg join below)

Brennan and Maia readers came from here and can follow Jhereg's thread

Luther: [thinking]
This shit is just unbelievable! No wonder all the High Born folks don't usually play with us peons. A guy could get RICH beating the pants off these noble asswipes.

Narrator:
His luck had been steadily going bad. He was pretty sure that somebody was cheating. Probably wasn't Sgt. Yasgar, of the Royals, his cash was getting as low as Luther's. Might not be freeman Dickson, more like the other stranger who was holding his own pretty well on small but steady winnings.

Luther did pretty good at cards, his face always looked unhappy at what he was dealt.

Luther:
Long as there might be another hand out there that beats what I'm holding, my cards aint worth shit. Besides, I'm supposed to be covering for a Noble Knight. Doing good deeds and that sort of rot. I'd hate like hell to miss the opportunity to help some poor sot lighten his load.

Narrator:
But this was the hand to make his revenge. Three knaves natural, and his draw got him the fourth knave and a duke. Yasgar had something worth having. When the betting got frisky, the stranger dropped out. Dickson must have held good cards, but lost his nerve. Luther finally bet what cash he had left and Yasgar matched it.

The look on their faces was everything Luther had hoped for and way much more.

Yasgar:
You slimely little twerp!

Luther:
Aw, take it like a man! Hell, you couldn't keep your cards from a blind man!

Dickson:
But I aint a blind man, and you cheat! These are your cards, and you dealt time before this, and there's an extra knave in the damn deck!

Narrator:
And so tempers rise, not helped a bit by Luther's foul mouthed defense. Finally another more important argument erupts: who gets custody of Luther? Neither of the soldiers will budge an inch. The stranger bade them good night and walked off with about a third of everyone else's stake. Finally, the decision gets made - Jhereg will have to rule who gets this twerp.

Jhereg came from here

The next afternoon they both drag Luther off to see Jhereg. Jhereg's questions quickly get to something that had dawned on all three. If all three of them lost money to the stranger, might not he be the one at fault? Might that be why he can not be found around the camp? It certainly keeps Jhereg from having to show favoritism to *either* side. Although Jhereg briefly considers calling for his bow and an apple to deal with the foul mouthed SOB. It would get rid of four feet of more ugly than Jhereg thought humans were capable of.

Jhereg:
That's *Lord* Jhereg, -

Luther:
Well while we're getting the f**king protocol right, Lord Jhereg, it's *SIR* Luther.

Jhereg:
- and you would be well advised to remember it. If you expect to remain armed in these parts, an oath of fealty to me is required.

Luther:
Sure as shit. I'll be happy to give the same damn oath the Sir Chamberpot gave.

- but I will tell you that I'm here to help, for the greater fame and glory of Sir Robin, in who's stead I ride.

Jhereg: [unspoken]
It'll be easier just to let nature takes it's course and let someone else kill him. In the meantime, he is entertaining.

You're an entertaining SOB and knights are exempt from the law about carrying arms. I rule that the remains of your winnings are to be spent on entertainment for the Royals and Ridenour's men to apologize for any insult taken. You can have all of the money you can take off the card sharp who cheated you.

Luther: [smiles, makes the following sound like a compliment]
You aren't half bad for half breed bastard the color of a dead fish belly.

Narrator:
Jhereg's draw is so swift that Luther scarcely has time to realize what is happening before he is staring at the katana whose point is resting gracefully on his upper lip. With a little pressure Jhereg brings Luther up on the tips of his toes. It's amazing how uncomfortable it can be when you are standing on your toes while your eyes cross from looking down three feet of gleaming steel. (fast draw by 6, 18 katana skill, 16 dex)

Luther: [unspoken]
Holy Ohramin's Arments how'd he do that so fast?

Jhereg: [his voice dangerously soft and devoid of feeling]
Elves have so few children that "bastard" is hardly an insult. The rest of what you said demonstrates your glaring lack of what you termed "protocol". Perhaps you would like to reconsider?

Luther:
I meant it as a compliment your Lordship! You being a fucking half elf and all. [winces as he realizes what he just said]

Neil:
In the words of Calvin, "I wish the brain had call waiting for the ego."

Jhereg: [visibly relaxing as the light in his eyes fades]
As you say.

Richard came from here.

Luther:

Hello, Sir Hesketh. Your sister still beat the shit out of men who call her a cow?

Could you put a hat on?

You heard the boy, gentlemen. Drinks are on me!

Say, Bullit-head, care to join us? We ain't exactly swimming in noble ladies, I'll grant. But, hell, even YOU must need a break from pitching woo once in a while.

Narrator:
Hesketh looks at Sir Richard who just approached. Richard looks at Hesketh and then at the diminutive Luther and decides that if things go much further, Hesketh is going to give Luther some first hand experience at what the barrel feels like in the barrel throw competition at the Hampshire fair.

Next Luther, Jhereg, Richard file