The night passed without incident.
At dawn, the four of them entered the town. It was strange. Kael's visit yesterday hadn't caused a stir. The locals were wary, but that was normal. They paid the group no extra mind. Back at the Gate of Ice and Snow, Jaxson had been the negotiator. That ended with them running for their lives.
They stood before the Adventurers' Guild door. They hesitated.
"Alright," Kael finally said. "I'll handle the talking."
The other three visibly slumped with relief.
Inside, a large counter faced the door. To the left was a small desk with a man in his forties. To the right was a hall with three tables and chairs. A big bulletin board hung on the wall, sparsely filled. A dusty chandelier hung from the ceiling, draped in cobwebs.
The place was empty. Just an old man behind the counter and the man at the desk. Maybe they were too early. Maybe business was just bad.
The man at the desk looked up. He studied their clothes. He couldn't place them. He offered a professional smile and walked over.
"Greetings! Posting a commission? You've come to the right place. Don't let our size fool you. Our adventurers are top-notch. Need a dragon slain? We can find you the manpower."
The four just stared.
The man licked his lips. "I'm Bill, the receptionist. We're a branch of 'The Adventurer's Hearth.' Biggest guild in Sunset City. Tough jobs get broadcast nationwide. No posting fee. We just take a cut when it's done." He seemed to realize this wasn't exactly dragon-slaying territory.
Kael spoke. "Mister Bill—"
"Just Bill."
"Bill, we're here to see if there's any work for us."
Bill's friendly 'you' instantly turned casual. "Oh. You're looking for work."
"Yes. Pay doesn't matter. Anything we can start now."
Bill was already walking back to his desk. He buried his head in a ledger. "Got your Adventurer Medallions? Tasks are on the board over there."
Kael scratched his head. "We don't have medallions. What's an Adventurer Medallion?"
"Please call me *Mister* Bill," Bill said, his tone flat. "No medallion, no tasks. Go ask the main counter." He pointed without looking up.
They took the hint. "Thank you, Mister Bill," Kael said, bowing slightly. Heroic spirit was in short supply today.
At the counter, Kael bowed again. "Excuse me, sir. We'd like to take on guild work. What do we need to do?"
The old man smiled. "Call me Sam. Don't mind Bill. He's always like that. No medallions?"
"Right."
"First time out? This life is hard. Dangerous. A few make fortunes. Most just scrape by. Too many believe the stories. You're young. Educated. Why not find honest work?" He paused. "Wait, where was I?" He seemed lonely, eager to talk.
"Adventurer Medallions?" Kael offered.
"Yes! You don't have them. No medallion, no tasks. Reputation is everything here. To join, apply here. One gold coin each. Then go to the Appraiser's next door for grading. That's two gold each. With your grade, open an account. Then you can take tasks. We take a commission. The rest goes to your account." He held up a purple crystal card. "Like this. Adventurer-only. Your credit and balance are on it. Withdraw at any guild branch. Your highest completed task is your true measure. Credit matters less here than for mercs. Tasks are open. Anyone can try. First to finish, wins. But many overestimate themselves. They die. Be careful. Any questions?"
Kael asked, "Mister Sam, we have... liquidity issues. Any flexibility?"
"Liquidity?"
"We can't pay the fees upfront. Any alternatives?"
Sam thought. "That's tricky. Hmm. Is your next meal the main concern?" The old man was sharp. He saw right through them.
Kael smiled sheepishly. "Basically."
"That's hard here." Their faces fell. "However..."
Jaxson leaned in. "However?"
"However, try the Mercenary Guild. Lower bar. No fee. But it's dangerous. Once you take a contract, you can't back out. Even if it kills you. Think hard."
Jaxson asked, "What if you back out?"
Sam looked surprised. "You don't know? Everyone knows."
Jaxson forced a laugh. "We're from a remote place. Our clothes are pretty rustic."
Sam eyed their cloaks. "Very rustic. First time in a city, lads?" The future ruler of the world was now a country bumpkin. Lirael stood in shadow, her face hidden.
Sam continued, "Break a contract? Penalty is ten times the fee. Or the Guild hunts you down. A death sentence."
Jaxson paled. "What decides the penalty?"
"Light penalties are for safe tasks. Heavy penalties involve the client's safety. If a safe task turns deadly, it becomes heavy. Last year, a merc took a delivery job. Got ambushed. He ran. Client was just maimed. The merc? Guild hunters found him. Seventeen stab wounds. Blood everywhere. Horrible."
Jaxson opened his mouth to ask more. Kael cut him off. "Thank you, Mister Sam. We'll try the Mercenary Guild." He signaled Gideon, who hauled a protesting Jaxson outside.
On the street, Jaxson looked sick. "Let's go back. You're not serious about this bloody work?"
Kael said, "Lieutenant, your Director seems unconcerned with the Empire's fate. He should mind his influence."
Lirael's face was stone. "Sir! Request permission to speak!"
Jaxson went whiter. "Fine, fine. I know what you'll say. Let's go. Starving tonight isn't great either."
The Mercenary Guild was bigger. Two stories. Gideon's head nearly brushed the low ceiling.
They learned from their mistake. Kael led, bowing to a burly man behind the counter.
"Sir, we want mercenary licenses. What's the process?"
The man eyed them. "Applying as a company or as individuals?"
"Difference?"
"Company: ten gold coins, member list. Individual: register here, get a badge."
Jaxson asked, "Fee for individual?"
"One silver coin each. For the badge and listing your name. No money now? You can owe it. Deducted from your first pay."
They all sighed. "We'll apply as individuals."
The man pulled out a thick ledger. "Names."
Kael: "Full names?"
"Not needed. But once registered, no changes."
Kael: "Kael."
Gideon: "Gideon."
Lirael snapped to attention. "Imperial Combined Operations, Strategic Division Five, Lieutenant. Serial Number: 8966."
The man stared, baffled.
Jaxson clapped a hand over Lirael's mouth and yanked her back.
Kael stepped in. "She means her head isn't quite right. But her name is Lirael."
The man nodded, writing. "Lirael. Female." He muttered, "Weird name. Head does seem off."
He tossed three iron badges to them. "You are now 'Wanderers.' I'll post your names in fifteen days. Guild rules clear?"
Kael asked, "'Wanderers'? No grading?"
"Wanderers are unranked. Finish ten contracts, then we grade you."
The man added, "No place to stay? Bunks upstairs. Hungry? Meals on credit. Deducted later." He'd seen their type before.
Jaxson asked, "What if we never get a job? You'd feed us forever?"
The man laughed. "Lad, in all Mara, mercs are never idle! But if you die on your first job, we claim your gear for the debt." He seemed good-natured.
"And if we just laze around, eating for free?"
The man chuckled. "Never happened. Besides, you've got a mage." He nodded at Lirael. The entry seemed easy, but he had sized them up. Armed. Equipped. Fit. Real beggars would be thrown out.
Kael said, "Thank you. Your name?"
"John. Was a merc. Lost a leg. Got this post." They noticed his wooden foot.
"We'll get settled upstairs, John."
They turned. John called out, "Hey! You! The mage's attendant! White armor!"
Jaxson looked around. "Me?"
"Who else? Your master is a merc now. She gets benefits. You don't. Find a tavern."
The other three watched, amused.
Jaxson sputtered, "Well, I was applying too! You forgot."
John frowned. "Did I? Come here then."
"Name?"
"Uh... Jaxson Tang."
Soon, Jaxson had his badge. Upstairs, Gideon whispered, "I thought you were Tang Xiaoqiang?"
Jaxson flushed. "I like Jaxson Tang!"
Kael smiled. "Xiaoqiang is what you call a cockroach." Even Lirael smiled.
The second floor was stark. Two rows of beds. Rough, dirty linen. But it was shelter. Gideon and Lirael didn't mind. Jaxson complaining was normal. Kael's slight distaste was odd. No one noticed.
They spent their first night on Mara in actual beds.
Ten quiet days followed. They were the only ones upstairs. They took one job: helping a farmer sow seeds. The pay didn't cover their debt. Jaxson called the place a "labor market." He finally understood the low fee. They were stuck.
New tasks appeared daily. All needed a minimum 'D' grade. They were unranked. No chance.
Each morning, Kael took ale to the doorway to sun himself. This added to their tab. Gideon trained in the woods, sometimes bringing back game. Lirael checked the board three times a day. Jaxson Tang slept until noon.
On the thirteenth day, things changed.
Kael was at his post. Lirael scanned the board.
A white-headed eagle swooped through a window. It landed before John, a note on its leg. John read it and cried out. He rushed to the board.
Urgent, high-paying jobs used message eagles. The group knew this now. They gathered to look.
John wrote:
**[Sillimar] Grand Duchy. Duke Ronan Hale, incognito, ambushed by 'Raze's Den' bandits. Missing.**
**Tasks: (1) Rescue Duke. Safe return: 5,000 gold.**
**(2) Destroy 'Raze's Den.' 2,000 gold. Kill chieftain 'Raze': 1,000 gold.**
**Min Rank: BBB.**
Kael walked back to the door. Lirael looked crushed and went upstairs. Their rank wasn't enough.
Later, Jaxson stumbled down for food. He checked the posting. Their first eagle message.
By evening, groups of rough men came and went. Mercs, checking the news. Bastoni was on the route. They stayed at inns.
Near dusk, another eagle arrived.
John announced the update. The reward tripled. Total possible: 24,000 gold. Rescue alone: 15,000 gold. Most shocking: the task was now 'SS'—**no rank required**.
At dinner, John whistled. "My first SS task ever! The Duke's family is desperate. This place will be packed tomorrow. Even the old merc at the gate is sharpening his blade. Everyone will try."
The group's eyes lit up. Kael saw better wine. Lirael saw their mission starting. Gideon saw a real fight.
Only Jaxson was unimpressed. He muttered, "The Duke is that old? Shouldn't be hiking."
John laughed. "Jaxson, you're clueless! The Duke is eighteen! Comes of age next month. The old king favors him. That's why the panic."
Jaxson mused, "Maybe he was chasing some bandit's girl? Got in a fight and cried wolf?"
John shook his head. "Raze is a big-time outlaw. Their paths wouldn't cross. Not everyone is like you, boy."
"Then why play commoner?"
"Probably visiting his fiancée, Princess Elara, at the priestess school in Sunset City. A perfect match. Their marriage would ally Sillimar with Lassell. Mean less war. A good thing!"
"What's Lassell?"
John drank. "Small duchy east of here. Seven days' travel. Swore fealty a century ago."
Jaxson sipped his ale. He mumbled softly, "His brothers must be hoping he doesn't come back." Then louder: "A toast! To rescuing the Duke and crushing Raze!"
He got drunk. The others did not. Lirael didn't drink. Kael and Gideon held their liquor. John tallied their new debt.
They hauled Jaxson to bed. In his sleep, he muttered, "Poor Raze." Kael couldn't tell who he meant. Kael lay awake all night.
The next morning, noise woke Gideon and Lirael. Outside, nearly three hundred people milled about. Mercenaries of all sorts. Several strong-looking teams.
Lirael turned. Jaxson was still dead asleep. She shook him. No response. Kael was downstairs for ale.
The guild hall was chaos. Everyone wanted updates.
John took a note from a new eagle. "Quiet! Latest: Raze flees west into the Alathas foothills. Seventy *li* from here. No news of the Duke's death. Task stands!"
A roar. The hall emptied. Everyone rushed for the gold.
Kael got another ale. Lirael stopped him. "Kael, we have a mission. No drinking. We leave now."
Kael smiled. "Jaxson Tang is still out. You might want to deal with that first."
John agreed. "See? I told you that attendant was useless. Now he's holding you back."
Lirael thought, then fetched a basin of cold water. A minute later, a shriek echoed downstairs. Gideon came down, wincing.
From above: "I'm your superior! Court-martial!"
Lirael's voice, firm: "By special order, I am authorized to use necessary force."
John paid no mind.
Finally, they got Jaxson downstairs. It was nearly noon. He clutched his head. "So this is a hangover..."
*Thump.* He staggered forward, hitting the counter. Lirael stood behind him, furious.
Jaxson forced a smile. "Alright, alright! No violence! We're peace-loving! Negotiate!" He saw her step closer. "Please! Please don't hit me!"
John watched from behind the counter. He gave Lirael a approving nod. *That's how you handle a servant.*
Lirael stopped in the hall. Maybe to preserve the Director's dignity.
Jaxson relaxed a little. "Look at me. I can't even walk straight. How can I fight? Let's eat lunch first."
Lirael said, "We can eat on the road."
"That's bad for the stomach! No hot soup? Terrible for digestion!"
Lirael took another step. Jaxson went pale. "Fine, fine! No soup! Just... calm down. Peaceful solution."
Kael walked over with his ale. "Relax. It's past noon. We're hours behind anyway. Let's eat." He handed his empty mug to John. "Another."
John filled it. Kael asked, "John, the Duke was taken in Larfanset territory. What's the Empire doing?"
"Of course they're acting! The Emperor himself ordered the Holy Knight Legion here."
"Why aren't they here yet?"
"The Legion was at the border, rotating troops. They turned around immediately. But it's a long way. They'll need three days to get here."
Gideon heard this. He said nothing. He just walked to the dining table and sat down.
Lirael had no choice. They ate at the guild.
Lunch dragged on forever. They finished near three in the afternoon.
"Finally," Lirael said. "Let's go." She hurried them. Gideon went upstairs for their gear.
Just then, the Mercenary Guild's main door swung open.
A tall figure filled the doorway.