And how hath thou been, Captain? ‘Twould seem from thine activities upon the Shires’ pathways, thou liest amort beneath the trees.

Methinks, that be not the case here but that thou art bechained or otherwise bound by fell folk?

‘Twould be an honour to chronicle thy deeds a daring do and valor upon the battlefield, young Captain, save thy lettering be as of import as thy sword-craft and I so would have thee learn the fair speech. And so we shall thus begin thy labors. 'Tis my thought thou wilt not find such a trail.

Nay, Captain; as Squire Reynald wilt tell ye, I be but a lettered ink-horn mate. My weapon of choice be the book rather than the sword and I do find my merriment in the depths of the library rather than the gore of the field of battle.

The life of a mercenary is not for me; ‘tis a young man’s calling bethink me and not for one of mine eld. Now, adventure as a mercenary is best supped from afar.

I am honored by thy request to be sure and my thanks unto thee all the same.

Art thou captain of thy company? And what of thy comrades yet to join thy ranks?

I shall assume the constabulary is not present at this time. Thou appeareth a goodly lad and such attention be not of thy need. Now the lassie's father, perchance?