Oirhandir examined the backpack, first opening one of the side pockets, peering in, and then reaching in. Although on the outside, the little pocket didn't reach from his fingertips to his elbow, he was able to get most of his arm inside. Grinning, he peered into the main compartment. He held the haversack up as high from the table as the little merchant's lashings would allow, and called out, "Hey, Fang, why don't you reach in here and see if there's enough room for my belongings?" Fang was astonished to find that even his long arm couldn't reach the bottom of the large compartment, even though Oirhandir wasn't able to hold it up past his chin with the way it was tied down. As Fang pulled his hairy limb out, Oirhandir sat the pack back down on the table.
"2000 gold is a hefty price", he said to the cat-like merchant, "but then, that is one exquisite haversack." He continued, "I have with me 200 gold that I can leave with you as a sign of my good faith. As for the rest...(and here, Oirhandir drew forth the message from Rupert that he had been keeping for such an occasion)...you'll see that the rest is just waiting to be picked up." He let the little man read over the letter, adding that he had placed his quarter of the money in the care of Joe Smith, the proprietor of the Red Dragon Inn in Orussus. "I'm willing to swear an oath under magical compulsion, sign a contract under magical bond, send a messenger to Joe with a sealed letter that gives you the other 1800 gold pieces, whatever terms you would prefer and deem fair."
Oirhandir waited for the merchant's reply.
