A human subordinate nearby, dressed in common clothes but with sharp, alert eyes, hurried forward. With both hands, he presented a small, heavy pouch sewn from thick leather to Viper.
"This is a small token of our apology. Two hundred Golden Crowns of fine quality, accepted at any respectable merchant guild."
Viper rested the pouch in his palm. He didn't hand it directly to Roland, but rather displayed it for a moment before gently placing it on the wooden surface of a nearby stall that hadn't been overturned.
"I hope this might somewhat compensate for the unpleasantness you've experienced during your visit."
Then, his tone shifted, and his voice grew lower.
"Additionally, as a deeper apology and a show of my personal respect for your strength… I heard my men mention that you seem to be searching for an elusive traveling merchant?"
Grom's pupils constricted to pinpricks.
