Bodyguards

Morning came and i am now heading down to the port in order to meet my guards for today, let's hope they serve me well.

The streets are full of people and I can see many boats sailing off into the horizon, fishermen most likely. As I admire the view of the ocean in the morning the tavern comes into view.

It is as empty as yesterday, barely a few giants sitting here and there with the barkeep looking bored. He sees me enter and straightens his back, giants are so goddamn tall.

''Merchant, come, i have good news for you''. He seems happy today, i wonder what happened.

''Good morning Olan, what are the good news?'' I ask with a smile.

''Yes, yes good morning to you merchant, it is about what we talked yesterday, when i announced it late into the drinking hours, the men were very interested, dozens of them that is, when i told them you only wanted the strongest they broke a few tables trying to best each other''

He told them in the late drinking hours, a bit late, well at least he told them.

''I see, that is good news indeed. What of the two winners.'' The giant Olan smiles slyly as I ask him this.

''Well you see sir merchant there were three winners, it would be unjust to only hire two of them after they fought so hard to prove their strength''

Really, you do this to me, so i get all three or none, they better be good.

''That is no problem Olan, i can hire one more for the day, i respect strength after all''.

Olan nods and says.''What about the pay, I trust you won't cheat them on the coin''.

Of course i won't, imagine me cheating three giants out of their pay, there aren't enough marbles in the world to give me courage to do that.

''No need to worry Olan, a deal is a deal, an honorable man would never break their word after all'' A sligh jab at him for breaking his word and getting three instead of two, it's no big deal im rich after all, 2720 coins are no small sum.

As we chat for a while the door opens and three giants walk in, and oh boy they look scary, if i didn't know better i'd call them huge statues of pro wrestlers, even Olan looks kind of tiny compared to them.

Speaking of Olan he calls the giants over.''There you are, come, this is the merchant that hired you''

Breath, I hope they don't smell fear.

''Good morning gentlemen, i see that you have come to work for me for today.''

The one in the middle speaks, he is a fellow baldy but his beard is longer than my arms.

''You said you only wanted the strongest so here we are, how much you paying again''

''Ten coins each and you are coming with me from morning till night'' I answer with a straight face.

''Good, what we gonna do all day, we ain't killing no one for you, just so you know''. They won't kill anyone for me he says, what if it's not for me then, i don't want to know.

''I need your help carrying some goods to the town square and protecting me on the way, there should be no problems but you know how humans are, petty and violent''.

The middle giant lets out a huff.''Good, we can do that, they call me Vun and I served as a soldier''. Oh boy a soldier, I hit the jackpot here, he's a keeper this one.

''I am your employer for today, Caspian Season merchant by profession, what about your friends Vun''

The leftmost giant answers first, he is full of tattoos, first time seeing some in this world. ''I am Ubam, a sailor, I came here for the good pay''. Good, he seems decent enough.

The last giant, tinier that the other two continues. ''Greeting merchant, I am Finun, a dock worker'' Great i can ask him about the kings merchant.

''Good to meet you all, first let me prove to you that i can pay''. While saying that I grab my bag, not backpack and slightly open it showing them the inside, it was full of coins, not that many, only 100 or so, just in case. Most of my coins were hidden in my backpack under my tunic.

They all nod and just stare at me, probably waiting for some orders. Let's do this.

''Before we head out i have to ask something, Finun you say you are a dock worker, would you happen to know when and where the shipment bringing the king's goods will arrive''

Finun stops for a second to think then nods. ''Yes, it will arrive soon, i'm not sure where exactly but it must be a big vessel so if we head to the area where they are anchored we should find it''.

''Why did you not help unload the boat Finun, they must pay well for a strong man's help''.

Finun just shakes his head and says. ''Good, yes, but you pay better''. I see so they don't get paid a lot as dock workers. That too is fine. I may be able to bait a good amount of giants into working for me in exchange for coins.

Vun, the soldier, interrupts my musings by asking. ''Sir Caspian when are we heading out.'' He doesn't refer to me as a merchant, at least he knows my name.

''Right now, unless you need to do anything before we go''. None of them say anything so I get up to thank Olan and head out the door.

Once outside I tell Finun. ''Lead the way to the docking area''. He assents and starts walking, i need to power walk in order to keep up, long legs and all that.

Once we reach our destination I can see a lot of giants just waiting around, probably waiting for the boat, so we do the same. After a while our smalltalk is interrupted by the strangest tingle I ever felt on my back. I instantly get up and look at the ocean, no one else seems to react.

As I stare a boat becomes visible on the horizon, it is shining in a pale white light, after a while the sensation goes away and all the giants start getting ready for today's job.

I too prepare myself for interacting with the merchant, make sure the hat is on properly, dust myself off and straighten my back, it is best to leave a good impression.

Let's do this.