Pageant Question 9: What is your biggest disappointment in life?

"What about Old Lor, there, hmm?" the man at the bar nodded sideways at the wisp of an old man dozing in one of the armed chairs nearest the fire.

"What about him, Shane?"  The Traveler spared only a narrow-eyed glance at the old man.  Most people didn't spare him even that as he wasn't much to see.  Wild grey hair bristled out from under his crushed, felt hat and over the layers of his invariably filthy clothes.  The Traveler was, in contrast, impeccable, in the newest traveling fashion.  Travelers were hired to move merchandise, or even people, across the untamed lands, and they were well-paid for it.  This Traveler thought highly of himself, as he had always, so far, been successful with his deliveries.  Today, however, was his third day in the luckless, so-called "town" of Janesburg.  If it weren't for the unprecedented pay he was receiving, the Traveler would have abandoned the commission, but he saw this job as his next step up.

Traditionally, Travelers were hired, and they sub-contracted as they saw fit.  In this case, the Traveler had hired Shane on his first day to be his labor.  Shane was in his late 30s, but strong, knowledgeable, and surprisingly intelligent for a labor-hire.  Shane had been trying to help the Traveler fill out their company with a mage for these past three days, but no reputable magic-worker would take them up on the Traveler's increasingly generous pay.  The job, they said, was too dangerous, and even impossible, which is how they came to be sitting, midday, in the local tavern, pondering their options.

"Well," said Shane, leaning in, "he's a mage."  The bartender, near enough to overhear, barked a laugh.  "He is, though!  At least, that's what they say."

The bartender shook his head, "They say a lot, they do, but Old Lor's reputation was made by cruel children for sure."

The Traveler turned on his bar stool to better look at the old man.  Old Lor was dust in a sack.  A ruined mop in a coat.  A pile of drunken bones.  He was no mage, of that the Traveler was sure.

Shane, however, was becoming increasingly positive the rumors were true.  The more he looked at Old Lor and remembered the tales, the more sure he became, especially when thinking about the pay from this single job and how it could start him on his own path as his own man.  Confidence welling up, Shane stood.  "I'll find out."  Both the Traveler and the bartender watched in fascination.