[Center][I][B]---- A journey begins ----[/B][/I][/Center]
[I]Echoing footsteps bounced off stone walls, small patches of frost dotted the ground despite the light breaking over the horizon. So early in the morning, the sun's warmth had not yet had chance to fight back. The Barons retainer was making his way down to the Black Bull Inn, the sound of his metal plated boots clanking with his heavy footsteps. Large gasps of frosted breath puffed from his mouth, he seemed almost close to exhaustion. 

The wooden door creaked open, a few smoldering flames still lived on the wall torches, just enough to lighten the retainers features. Round and stocky you could almost hear the chainmail stretching under his blue tunic. Clearing his throat he tried to pull up a chair in a flustered hurry, yet it took a few long seconds to find himself sat down. His breathing was heavy and small beads of sweat formed on his brow. His skin told him it was freezing yet his body needed to sweat, it was an unfortunate imbalance typical of larger men. 
It took a while for him to feel comfortable, he resented being given a task that required waking so early. If there was ever a man who preferred to cower in his bed rather than face the dawn it was he. He raised a clenched fist to his mouth, a sickly crackling cough to clear his throat once again. 
Taking a deep breath he raised his head, confronted with a group of five sat on the next table over. [B]"Ah, good...your awake!"[/B] slightly embarrassed he leaned to one side. His hand shuffled in and around his pockets. He eventually pulled out a small stack of papers. [B]"These"[/B] he signified, holding them up in his chubby hands [B]"...are a collection of notes, it is all the information we have on the thief."[/B] resting his elbows on the table he quickly unfolded a couple, sliding them from under each other he quickly found the one he was searching for. [B]"Ah, this is the note you will present to the stable keep. He shall issue you each with a horse."[/B] 
Next he unwrapped a small leather pouch from his belt and dropped it onto the table next to the papers, the sound of coins. [B]"Gold, for upkeep of the horses and yourselves on your journey.[/B] whilst it was almost unheard of to give gold to mercenaries before they had completed the set task, the gold was not enough to keep five people and five horses, not for very long at least. 

[B]"I...I think that is it."[/B] with a wrinkle of his brow he patted his other pockets, trying to find the seemingly non-existent thing he had forgotten. [B]"Yes...that is it"[/B] the chair creaked as he stood from it's weakened wooden legs. Opening the door to leave he was once again met with the unwelcome chill of the outside. He pulled his tunic further up his neck, [B]"Good luck!"[/B] he managed to say as his neck turned back. squeezing out the door he flapped at the door behind him, inadvertently slamming it shut, the sudden snort of a newly awakened Inn-Keeper came from over the wooden bar, a quick cough and the plump man awkwardly climbed to his feet. [B]"Sorry..."[/B] he said with an apologetic smile, shuffling through the door and into the storeroom. 

Not far from the Black Bull stood a man, lent against a wooden post he was waiting for the group. Four horses were tied to a wooden fence not five feet from him.[/I]