Trouble Finds a Home

Writers: Ainsley1, Devin
Date Posted: 11th June 2007

Characters: Jerroll, Loki
Description: Jerroll meets up with Loki again and once again the rascal has found trouble
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 21 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "Pint Sized Trouble"

"I’ll cut yer ruddy hands off ya thieving little
ingrate," an angry voice roared from the tavern’s
kitchen.

"I swear I just wanted ta touch it! I’ve never been
that close to a firelizard egg before,” a plaintive
young voice wailed as the portly tavern master pushed
the young boy from the kitchen causing him to crash to
the floor only to grab him up again with a painful
yank of his arm.

"Wot were ya even doin’ in thar? Thot I sent ya on yer
way," the angry man demanded giving the boy a vicious
shake then grabbing the lad by his hair to keep him
from falling. Though not tall the tavern master had a
wide girth and was known to have a nasty temper.

"Ya said if I helped ta sweep an' clean up, I could
‘av a cup a broth an' a crust o' bread," the boy
answered with a fire in his blue eyes. The man had
promised him much more than that and then cheated him
from his promised wage, but the dark-haired orphan
knew better than to push his luck in this setting.

"Weren’t pleased wit the job ya done. Now I’m
thinkin’ ya thot ta repay me by pinchin’ me egg.
Why it’s worth three o' you!"

"Hey now, he’s a good boy," an old man spoke up,
"Returned my purse to me when I dropped it, he did."

The boy winced as the grip on his arm tightened and
wished the kind old uncle had not spoken. The wizened
old man was the very reason he had lost his “position”
such as it was. The tavern master had hired him to
“clean up” around the tavern and any items which might
be found should be given to the tavern master with
Loki to get a percent of all that he “found.” After
seeing the extreme need of the poor old seaman, Loki
had returned his small purse of marks and the
compassionate act had unfortunately been witnessed by
the corrupt tavern master.

"Well, I says he 'as lookin’ ta take m' egg and fer
that he deserves ta lose at least a finger," the
tavern master stated with a fiendish grin, pulling his
belt knife while keeping a firm grip on the
frantically sqirming little boy.

"_BOY_!" a voice roared across the tavern. Jerroll
stalked over to the tavern master and his captive.
"What did I tell ye abou' wanderin' off
like that?!" He fixed a glare on the orphan.

Loki had never been so relieved to see anyone in his
entire young life! Despite the fact he'd stolen the
man's belt pouch at their last meeting and the boy was
was relatively certain that at least a portion of the
seacrafter's anger was not feigned, he would take his
chances with the First Mate over the cruel tavern
master any day. "I'm sorry. I's just hopin' to make a
few extra marks while we was in port," Loki answered
as genuine tears fell from his eyes.

"This yer whelp?" the tavern master asked gruffly
noting the similarities in eye and hair color. He let
his belt knife slide back into its sheath, taking in
the other man's height and physical condition. Though
he was quite the bully when his adversary was smaller,
the tavern master knew he stood no chance in a real
fight.

"Aye, he be mine." Jerroll snatched Loki's hand and
turned his gaze to the tavern master. "And ye can be
sure I'll be takin' this out o' his hide." He gave the
boy a shake. "Ye'll be wishin' he'd taken yer
finger." With a somewhat curt nod, Jerroll turned and
dragged Loki out of the tavern.

Giving no resistance, Loki allowed himself to be
pulled from the tavern looking appropriately shame
faced. Relief flooded every part of him as they put
the place behind them. Only once they had gone a
distance and the orphan noticed the man's pace hadn't
slowed nor his grip loosened did he begin to grow
concerned. He sure hoped that _had_ been an act back
there. Sure a thrashing was better than losing a
finger but this guy was BIG and there was the little
issue of a stolen belt pouch between them.

"Ah, look mister," Loki started, not quite sure
whether to start with a thank you, an apology, or move
right to begging for mercy.

"That's twice now I've saved your hide. You owe me."
Jerroll stopped long enough to stare down at the boy.
"And there's also the little matter of the marks you
need to work off."

The boy figeted under the man's direct look, feeling
guilty, but less worried about his situation, "Sure
anythin' you say, an' ah, well, thanks fer helpin' me
agin specially after...I mean ta say I'm really,
really, _really_ sorry about takin' yer marks," He
answered all in a rush of true gratitude and remorse.
Having that off his chest, Loki stopped to consider
the man's statement more carefully, "Work off?"

Jerroll started walking again. "You seemed interested
in my ship last time. Now you get to see it up close."

"Really? Oh that's sharding great! An' I get to be
one uv the crew?" the boy enthused, thinking that he
had somehow fallen from a precarious ledge right onto
his feet.

"You get to _work_," Jerroll emphasized. "And if you
shirk your duties, you'll get tossed overboard."

"Oh," the boy answered his tone far more subdued. In
his excitement he'd forgotten the man was probably
still rather unhappy with him. "What kind a work?"

"Cleaning the ship, hauling cargo, whatever we tell
you to do. And you'll do it until I'm satisfied you've
paid your debt."

Loki bit his lip and cast a sideways glance at the man
as they walked along toward the docks. This hardly
seemed the glamorous adventure that his young mind had
first imagined, but it still sounded better than the
streets or losing a finger. The seaman was rather
gruff now, but Loki had to admit he had cause, and the
First Mate _had_ saved him twice. Given the
opportunity, the boy really thought he would like the
seacrafter. He'd been very nice the first time they
met, and generous as well.

"I can work," he mumbled, having reasoned himself out
of kicking the man in the shins and running for it.
"Will I get a crust o' bread an' a dry place to
sleep?"

The hint of a smile curved Jerroll's lips. "You'll get
three square meals and your own hammock."

The boy's face brightened again at that bit of news.
"I'm a good hand at alot o' things," he assured the
big man. "Uh, what should I call ya?"

"My name is Jerroll," he answered. "What's your name?"

"Loki," the boy replied with a grin, "But I'll answer
ta most anythin'."

Jerroll stopped in front of a handsome ship. "Well
Loki, until you pay off your debt, this will be your
home. Welcome to the Silver Sails."

Last updated on the July 19th 2007

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Trouble Finds a Home