The Father of the Bride

Holy Matrimony:

The day was drowning on Ishikawa had been traveling for what felt like years at this point. It was about time he got involved back into society, he had been alone for too long now. Ishikawa was heading towards the Haven country, it was one of the major parts of the continent that he had not occupied in his 237 years. Perhaps it would bring him closer to his dream of becoming a splendid ninja as his firstborn son wanted. He approached a small town in a nowhere county. The town was small and comprised of a blacksmith, tavern, and a couple of farmsteads. Presiding over it all was a run-down-looking manor house, it was an older form of living that Ishikawa often came across in these smaller countries.

Ishikawa made his way to the tavern, this was often where he would find his odd jobs to gain money, supplies, or even a warm bed for the night. Ishikawa pushed open the door and stepped into a dark room, there was a barkeep that stood polishing a tankard in his hand. No other patrons that he could see were in the tavern so that tankard had probably been in his hands being buffed for a lot longer than necessary. "Mr," Ishi said to draw the barkeep's attention "Would there be any work going in this village?". The man looked up surprised, Ishikawa imagined that there were not many visitors to this town, it's not like it was on a trade route or main road. "Hello, Sir, please have a seat can I get you a drink? We don' see many outsiders in ere'" The man suddenly realized that his customer had asked him a question and nodded "It funny you should mention work, the lord's gaffer up at de manner was looking for someone to deliver something right quick-like". Ishikawa was used to the thick country accent of people like this man, and the unusual way they talked, so he understood perfectly what the man was saying. "I wouldn't mind a to-go ale, whatever is your specialty" Silverfang said with a smile across his worn face.

Ishikawa stepped out of the tavern as he took a pull on his newly acquired waterskin full of ale, filled with The Ramsbury Gold. The ale had a sweet taste and a slight burn as an aftertaste, but it was good for a local brew. Ishikawa made his way up to the manner house and rang a bell that presided on the front porch. After a few seconds, an elderly butler answered the door "Yesss?". "I've just come from the tavern, I'm looking for work". The elderly butler seemed to suddenly look relieved "Yes, Yes, my master's daughter is being given away in the next village over today, except the master forgot to take with him the dowry. If you were to take it to him I could pay you a nice sum, at least for the ease of the job". Ishikawa nodded to the old man, who was much younger than he was, but that would be hard to tell by the look of the pair "I can get that done". The elderly butler nodded "Please wait here" he said as he turned around and shut the door.

Ishi took off his pack and rested it on the floor and took a seat on the porch looking out over the village. It had been a long few years of aimlessly wandering and it was beginning to catch up with him. Ishi enjoyed the few minutes of peace as he sipped at his Ramsbury Gold. Eventually, the man reappeared at the door and gave him another Satchel to carry. Ishi did not ask what was in it, he did not much care. He took off from the manner house and stopped by the tavern again to fill up his skin and get directions. Ishikawa then raced at full speed to the next village over, knowing that the mission was time-sensitive. It took him 30 minutes to reach the village and was able to deliver the dowry to the lord of the manner before the ceremony had started. Ishikawa was then paid by the lord and he stayed at the festivities in the village for the rest of the night, enjoying all manner of treats these villages would rarely see this type of festivity again for many years.

Ishikawa found himself passed out on a bench in the middle of the village by the early hours of the next morning, he had enjoyed his time at this village. However, his journey was still only just beginning and it would be several more weeks before he reached the Haven country. It was likely he was going to have to pick up many more task like this one before he could join a ninja village.

Exit
WC: 808
Claiming 1100 Ryo, +5 Ap, +8 Vigor, 500 words for Genjutsu Release and mastery, 308 words for 308/500 for Earth-Style Wall.

Approved