Back in the Saddle Again - Richard’s musings.

Coming into a new settlement always brings situations like these.

I come in, I bump into someone who’s in a bind, I take action and the wheels of destiny just spin around me. It’s annoying in a sense… I’ve been doing this for too long, so I can tell when things aren’t a coincidence. For all I know, Darlin’ has been pulling the strings of chance to make these things happen, and, to be honest, I no longer care. Sure, it felt like cheating at first, but after the two hundredth time of these things happening, you learn to just ignore it. Especially when these strikes of good luck saves the lives of others… including mine.

This time, I happened to bump into a good looking girl with pretty legs and sad eyes. Being chased by a pack of debt collectors meant that it was the same story all over again. I’ve seen this happen in every world I’ve traveled to, and it’s never easy for those that have to go through it. So I did what I always do: show who’s boss, kick some ass and save the girl. Without any arrogance I can say that this is just business as usual for me… so it loses its charm after you do it so often.

But something was different about this girl. Something that told me she wasn’t like every other “working girl” I’ve met over the centuries. Every time I looked at them I always saw someone broken and dead inside. Forced into such a life for any reason, it’s like the humanity within them has left them entirely.

Then this girl bumps into me and makes me see something.

Despite the hardship, she’s still fighting her own fight. I could see it in those blue eyes of hers, trying to pull me in so hard. She put on the usual act and the usual tricks that might’ve worked for me when I was a greenhorn. But the man I am today has seen it all, heard it all and used to feel it all. I guess my own humanity has disappeared as well after so long.

Still, when I saw how hard she was trying, it told me something about her: she hasn’t lost it yet. She’s still holding on to her heart, she’s still trying her best. But I could also see she was slowly losing it. It wouldn’t be long before she became just another broken woman to be used and abused by people.

I can’t say I’m any better… I used to be like those guys too. Until I grew up and decided never to “purchase love”. It’s been about eight hundred years since I made that vow, and I’ve kept it so far. Even when I get “the itch”, I won’t be looking for such things anymore.

Damn it! Get the broads outta your mind, Wolf! You got work to do.

Anyway, I better get my crap together and set up shop in the city. For what I heard from my contacts in the Guild, this city is run by some dumbass Lord who’s raising taxes, extorts people using bandits to do the dirty deed, kidnapped women from various villages surrounding the territory, uses his influence and riches to buy the support of other minor nobles, and has avoided the scrutiny of the Duke and his magistrates for years.

Basically speaking: He’s an asshole.

Since things are about to get complicated in this place, I might as well make a few requests to the MOGOs to prepare for any eventualities. I still got enough credit with them, so I should be covered for the next couple of months.

This request is gonna be a tough one. I really don’t like ‘em. It’s always some crooked politician, some arrogant hag or corrupted noble stirring up things hoping no one will find out. However, this time they’ll be the ones who are gonna have a run of bad luck.

This time, I was hired to do the job.

Guess I’m back in the saddle again…