From: sbeitzel@netcom.com (Stephen Beitzel)
Subject: New character: MERIDEN
Followup-To: sbeitzel@netcom.com
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 23:17:07 GMT

At midday there is quite a bit of traffic going on in town.  Still, at
midday people are hungry, for food or even a bit of gossip - perhaps
that's why there was a lull in the noise when the stranger rode up to
the Cloven Shield.  Probably, that's what it was.  Certainly it was on
no account of his, for he didn't look too odd, and not at all imposing.
Well, not imposing anyway.

However it came to happen, several people were standing about when he
reined in at the pub and clambered off his huge horse.  It looked as though
he were riding a mountain, partly because of his small stature and partly
because the horse was huge.  Instead of draping the reins over a post to
tether the horse, he fiddled at one of the pouches on his belt and pulled
out a thread.  He tied the thread around the horse's neck, and then fastened
it to a hitching post.  He said, "Good boy, Brodoni, now stay! Stay! Be good!"
and walked into the inn.

When he stepped inside, things were busy there, too.  He didn't catch
everyone's eye at once, and he certainly didn't command attention.  Still,
eyes flicked across him, and then back.  The details started falling into
place - short, about 5'5" - 5'4".  Red hair, bits of gray.  Young looking,
say in his early twenties.  Blue eyes.  Embroidered.

It was this last that caused eyebrows to raise slightly, and more than one
snicker.  From his cap to his breeches, the man wore embroidery.  The cloth
had been stitched over with such care and precision that between the snakes,
flowers, lightning bolts, spirals, dots, and other patterns there was none
of the original fabric left visible.  In contrast to the obvious care taken
with the needlework, each pattern dangled a thread, as if it had not been
finished off.  The man was covered in patterns and fringe.

He threaded his way through the tables and up to the bar.  When he signaled,
the barman approached.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"First, I could do with a cup of wine, and that soup smells wonderful -
I'd like a bowl of that.  Less pressing, but still of interest, I'd like
a room for tonight.  Do you have any available?"

"The wine and the soup are easy and they're 5 copper.  The room I'll see about
later, if that's all right with you - I'm being kept busy right now.  You
have a horse?  All right, I'll have the boy take it around to the stable."

"I'm not sure that's..."

"Will!  Will!  See to this gentleman's horse, and then mop that mess up!"

"I don't think he should..."

But Will had already dashed out to the front.  The man followed hurriedly.
There was a flash outside, then a collective gasp.  Some heads turned.

The stranger got outside only to see Will lying on the ground and Brodoni
snorting nervously.  He rushed to Will's side and felt his forehead and then
his wrists.  Will was groaning.

"You'll be all right.  You'll be all right.  Just lie here for a minute."

"What?  What...happened?"

"Ah, that was just...my alarm.  To keep Brodoni from leaving under strangers'
supervision.  Now, are you feeling better?  Good.  Let me get my things,
and then you can take him around to the stable.  His name is Brodoni, and
mine is Meriden.  Be careful not to touch any of the items in his bags - it
could be very dangerous."  Meriden grabbed his pack and went back inside.

At the bar, he fiddled with his pouch and then opened it and pulled out 2
silver coins.  To the barman he said, "Here, for the lunch, the room, and
the stable."  He fell to.  "Excellent soup."
-- 
Stephen Beitzel        | "Jack the sound barrier.   | Disclaimers are for 
<sbeitzel@netcom.com>  | Bring the noise."          | sucks; these opinions
<sbeitzel@wet.com>     | - Neal Stephenson          | belong to EVERYONE!
Newsgroups: alt.pub.cloven-shield