to guillaume, a missive.

[Quincy]

A tiny figure in a dusty, white cloak delivers an enveloped letter to the meetinghouse clerk. There is one word on the outside, etched in big, fat letters: GISCARD.



DEER COWNSLOR GISCARD

Mi naym is Kwincee I am lewking for werk I am a fiter two. I wus wandering if yu haf need ov a gard. I am veri strong and powarful and wons hoo wud hurt yu thay wud run away frum the site of me. It is veri importint that the guvarmint ov thes Myrky Wuds has the vari best protecshun frum wat is bad, and thar is no won bettar than me for this tasc I offer yu mi servises and protecshun Thar is nuthing that I wud flinch frum I no how importint et is. I hav mini skills. I am also vari colm and colectid and hav a very levil hed. Yu wud be vary smart tu imploy won such as I.

If yu hav any qwestyuns I wud be happi tu talk in parson wherevar yu say. I can be reeched at the Broke Dagar Tavurn. Thank yu for yor tiem dot

KWINCEE




The writing is very large, very boldly written; it is a sure hand, despite its agonizing illegibility.

Once Quincy is away from the Meetinghouse, she takes a deep breath. She's never really applied for a job before; she doesn't know if Guillaume is in need of a guard, but it can't hurt to try. It will be a long while before her Windchime plans really take off, and in the meantime, she needs some financial way to get by.

Might as well start at the top ...

[Guillaume]

By the end of the first sentence, he is staring, aghast. By the end of second, he is laughing quietly into an elegant fist. By the time he's done reading the entirety of it, the laughter has faded, replaced by horrified wonder.

He reads it twice over again, savouring the words, before penning a reply.




I, Giscard Guillaume, Lord of Lothbury Estate, Councilor of the Myrken Wood Judiciary In Regards To Commerce and Trade Etc.; to Kwincee: Greetings.

These humble words cannot express my delight upon receiving your generous offer. Indeed, a timely offer, for I find myself the only Councilor sat upon the Judiciary without a guard to ensure the sanctity of his person, save for good Councilor Treadwell, whose girth in any case strikes fear into the hearts of all who treat with him. It is with joyful anticipation that I send my internuncio to meet with you at the tavern you name; fear not, for she is highly-trained and well-educated, and will find you with some ease. Your name is, I assure you, not unknown to us. You may address any questions which you have to my servant, who speaks with my voice and listens with my ears.

And on the contrary, my lady sellsword: thank you for your time.

Done by my hand at Council Chambers, this 2nd Day of June,
Giscard Guillaume.



He is not quite so unmanly as to giggle, as he seals the thing with wax and stamp -- but there's a certain merriment to him nonetheless, a certain glee. Oh, the girl's letter was a horror of mistakes and poor assumptions, the letter was almost meaningless, as a means by which to assess a warrior's prowess. But what matter of it?

And who, more importantly, could possibly resist it?

A bell is rung then, as he sips of his evening meal, and his reply entrusted to the hands of the one who arrives at this summoning. Quincy will find it awaiting her within no more than a day.

[Quincy]

The Meetinghouse clerk receives a crisp, new envelope come an early morning at the start of the week, and he scarcely looks up in time to catch sight of a girl's bobbing hair as she hurries out the door.

----------





DEER COWNSLOR GISCARD,



Ferst I must thank yu for the byooteeful armer that yu sint tu me it is veri shinee and scaree I liek it a hole lot I hav nevar seen such armer I chairish it and I liek tu pawlish it so it stays brite liek the teribul sun

It wus a veri evintfool nite mi first nite wus for everiwon veri bluddy and veri weerd tu I think I wont for yu tu no that nuthing that hapind made me stop wonting tu werk for yu that my vows thay ar tru and I hav no deeseyer tu sherk frum duti now that i hav fased it cumpleetly dot But I also feel that I hav servd yu porlee I am so sorri for yor hors drivar he wus gud at driving them horsis that buggy i meen

I wus going tu help hem but I wus tu laet, and I undarstand if yu miet now feer mi incompitens and al I can du is ashor yu that wile undar mi protecshun no such harm wil evar cum tu yu and I hoep this greevus faaling has not made yu reconsidar me but I undarstand if it did tu and this armer so expensiv I hav kept it in ekselint cundishun if yu wil wont it bak frum me

And I hoep yu did not bump yor hed I never drived a buggy befor and them horsis thay wus in a big hurri.

Sorri I spel as gud as Starka gards peeple

KWINCEE