10 The Adventurers' Guild

[AURORA WRIGHT. Town of Friendship, Southern Vales, Avalon Sanctuary. Orange Day, 13th Week of Winter, Year 5008 of the Avalon Calendar.]

Aurora sat at the front of Gabriel's coach. Eating sandwiches and chatting away with Lucas the coachman as the duo headed towards the Adventurers' Guild. She had decided to sit at the coachman's perch as opposed to remaining in the enclosed carriage itself. This way she could more clearly see the city sights which they travelled past. Occasionally she would point out something of note and ask Lucas about it. Though she made sure not to point out any of the non-human races they passed, in case she caused offence. For his part, Lucas was clearly in an upbeat mood and more than happy to answer Aurora's questions.

Thus far the coach had passed through the Northern Gardens, where Aurora and Gabriel had been ambushed. Lucas had explained that the Northern Gardens were famous for flora which had been magically bred to flourish outside their usual environments. A case in point being the winter jacarandas which had adapted to cooler climates and could even blossom during snowy winters.

From the Northern Gardens, they had passed through a wide gate, which had been given the unimaginative name of North-West Gate. Aurora had been surprised at the lax security. The coach had been able to enter without needing to be checked. Furthermore, the so-called city wall, was a simple two meter hedge fence. Lucas had laughed at Aurora's suggestion that the city needed improved security, and merely stated that the city had unseen defences superior to any wall or watch tower.

The North-West Gate main road led into the markets. However, instead of entering the trade area, Lucas steered the carriage south west along a curved road that closely hugged the city wall. The coachman explained that the markets would be crowded at this time, as most residents shopped in the afternoon. Partly to ensure fresh ingredients for dinner. This statement reminded Aurora of the fact that she had not seen a fridge in Tristan's kitchen.

After skirting the market district, they passed the border of a residential zone. It was quite different from those of the manors district. The houses were smaller and were predominantly made of wood. Plus, instead of renaissance style architecture, their designs looked like something that would be found in a medieval fantasy game like the Elder Scrolls or the World of Warcraft. Aurora also noticed a high concentration of people with mixed human and animal features. Possibly the Beast-kin whom Tristan had told her about.

The carriage then exited from another gate with an uninspired name; the West Gate. Unlike the North-West Gate, this exit didn't lead to a garden, but instead to a large stone castle. Lucas brought the carriage to a marshalling yard outside the castle. A roof-covered area where other carriages, as well as mounts, were placed.

Lucas hoped off from the driver's seat and quickly offered assistance to Aurora as she dismounted. Afterwards he spoke to a young stable girl who looked to be in her early teens. Telling the girl to mind the two horses which had pulled the carriage here.

"Is that the Adventurer's Guild?" asked Aurora.

She pointed towards the stone castle. Whose walls towered five meters in height and were wide enough for two patrollers to easily pass each other at shoulder width.

"It's the town fortress," explained Lucas. "The oldest building in the Town of Friendship. It houses the Adventurers' Guild headquarters, the town guard barracks and the old town prison. Stick close to me Lady Aurora, in case there's trouble."

"Is there usually trouble?" Aurora queried. "What sort of trouble?"

"You should try to only ask one question at a time," suggested Lucas. "It's less confusing to the person you're seeking answers from. Also, you're more likely to get focused answers."

"Sorry," apologised Aurora. "I'm not usually like this when I ask questions. It's just everything is so exciting."

"I forgot you had amnesia," Lucas apologised. "So, it's only logical that you're overly excited and curious about everything.

Anyway, returning to your previous questions. The Adventurers' Guild is full of people who make their fortune from mercenary work. As a job, it's not only dangerous but also highly competitive. Imagine if for example you had spent weeks hunting down an escaped prisoner. Then as soon as you think you had them cornered, another adventurer kills them and claims the bounty. That sort of thing leads to stress. Put a bunch of armed, stressed people in one building and you're bound to get the occasional problems."

"I hadn't really thought of that," admitted Aurora.

Her experiences as an adventurer had been limited to computer games. Wherein quests could usually be completed at a leisurely pace, and without the risk of someone else suddenly taking the quest from you. In other words, her expectations were completely unrealistic. She decided to hold off on trying to join the Adventurers' Guild until she had a deeper understanding of this new world.

"Come along then," instructed Lucas.

Aurora stayed close beside her guide. She was feeling a little apprehensive and even vulnerable. Then realised that she missed the sensation of Gabriel's comforting touch, which had been at her back throughout much of the day.

Lucas led Aurora along a paved stone pathway, which had none of the elegance of the concreted roads she had become used to. He explained that the pathway didn't directly hug the castle so as to be at a distance which was easily targeted by archers on the stone walls. Also, that there used to be a trench filled with spikes between the paved path and the castle wall. However, it had been filled over to avoid accidental deaths.

Following the pathway took them over a wooden draw-bridge, then through an iron reinforced entryway, with a menacing spiked portcullis overhead. Lucas declared that both the draw-bridge and portcullis were non-functioning replicas of the originals. Since the castle now utilised far more powerful magical defences.

Beyond the entryway lay the castle proper. It was divided into three sections. The largest of which took up much of the front and part of the central area of the castle. This section was an open area which was used for exercises. It was large enough to accommodate five soccer pitches or over eight American football fields. Presently, there were half a dozen groups of mainly human warriors, practicing various weapon drills. Nearly all of them were men.

To the left of the open area, were two dozen, elegant wooden buildings that looked as if tree houses had literally been grown from a small grove of thick trunked oaks. Lucas stated that the buildings, which housed the town guard barracks, were shaped from the oaks via magic. However, he was unable to provide further information as he had never been inside.

The Adventurers' Guild headquarters was to the right of the open area. It was constructed in the same style as the stone walls of the castle; thick, ugly and primitive in comparison to the architecture of the manors and markets which Aurora had gotten used to seeing. On entering, Aurora was greeted by a smell as unappealing as the building's architecture.

"You must be a noble," said Lucas. "I could tell by the disgusted look that came over your face, that you found the smell of us commoners to be unpleasant."

"I meant no offense," apologised Aurora.

"None taken," laughed Lucas. "We are all shaped by our pasts."

Lucas motioned for Aurora to follow as he made his way towards the back of the large, tavern-like hall. A few glances and an occasional leer were sent Aurora's way as they passed a number of tables occupied by different groups of adventurers. Fortunately, the duo made it to the large wooden counter at the back of main room without incident. Behind the counter was a wall plastered with posters, outlining various requests.

"I'm here to collect on the bounty from the Wright family," announced Lucas to a bald man behind the counter.

Although clearly in his twilight years, the towering man had the physique of a professional wrestler from Aurora's original world. The man stroked his bristly black beared and glared down at Lucas.

"I didn't see you there Shorty," the man growled.

Aurora tensed for a confrontation. She knew how much she disliked it when people made fun of her height. So, she expected a man like Lucas to be even more offended.

"That's because your eyes are failing you in your old age," laughed Lucas.

Aurora then remembered that when Lucas had introduced himself, he had said that friends called him Shorty. She realised that the large man and Lucas were acquainted with each other.

"Like I said, I'm here to collect on the bounty from the Wright family," Lucas repeated himself.

"You'll have to go upstairs to for that," the towering man stated and pointed towards a set of stairs leading to an upper level.

"Isn't that the…." Lucas paused and looked towards Aurora before continuing. "The… rooms for gentlemen seeking female companionship?"

"Things changed since last you were here," stated the towering man. "The old Guild Master retired two years back. His replacement wanted to make this place more accommodating towards refined clientele. So, he converted the upstairs brothel into private meeting rooms to cater for that sort. There's even a separate entrance at the back of the building so they don't need to come down here.

It's brought in richer rewards. But it also means that most adventurers only come here to accept or drop off tasks, instead of staying to socialise. So, it's harder to network and gather information. Can't have both ways I guess."

"Thanks, old man," said Lucas.

Once more Aurora followed her short guide. She held off on asking about the request set up by Tristan to locate people who knew her. Since she was extremely interested in this Wright family. According to her Character Overview, her family name was Wright. Plus, Tristan had written in his journal that he'd rescued her from a group of people. Thus, Aurora was fairly certain that she was a member of this wealthy Wright family.

The top of the stairs led to a narrower hall, lined with doors. The duo went through the first doorway and entered a waiting area. This room was like a miniature version of the large hall below. Though instead of a towering muscle-man behind the counter, there was a slim, large breasted woman in her twenties. The woman was having a heated conversation with a pair of men clad in leather armour.

"Coraline!" Lucas called to the woman. "I'm here to collect on the bounty request from the Wright family."

"What!" the older of the two argumentative adventurers turned. "We're here to collect on that bounty!"

The younger adventurer pulled out a severed head from a leather sack and slammed it on the counter. Splattering blood on the floor, nearby furnishings and the female attendant.

"See!" said the older adventurer, pointing to the head and then to a large poster behind the counter, which pictured three faces. "We also killed the other two. But couldn't recover their bodies."

"I think you're wrong," said Lucas.

He pulled out a piece of paper which had been given to him by the guard captain. It stated that Lucas' efforts had led to the capture of two of the three men. He handed the piece of paper to the female attendant, who carefully read it.

"This clearly states that Lucas here captured two of the wanted men," said the attendant, flashing the note towards the hostile adventurers. "Maybe I can ask the Wright family about splitting the reward."

"How do we know that's real?" huffed the older adventurer.

"Exactly," agreed the younger adventurer. "Documents can be faked. But we have a head! You can't fake this!"

The younger adventurer began waving the severed head. Splashing even more blood around.

Aurora couldn't stand these types of overbearing bullies. When presented with evidence, they simply called it false and tried to win arguments by being loud and threatening. She decided to voice her support of Lucas' claim. She felt she owed him at least that much in return for being such a helpful tour guide. Furthermore, as loud as the two idiot adventurers were, they were not engaging in direct threats and their swords remained sheathed. This made Aurora confident that their bark was worse than their bite.

"I was there when Lucas captured the two men," she declared her support.

"Who are you?" the older adventurer asked. "Are you a former whore like this bitch behind the counter here?"

"Shut up and know your place!" the younger adventurer joined in. "Only reason I'd want a bitch like you to open their mouth, is so I can put my…."

The younger adventurer's statement ended in a gargle of blood. As a flash of silver separated his head from his body. Sending it tumbling to the floor, where it ironically stopped beside the decapitated head he had been waving around a few moments ago.

"Kill!" the older adventurer threw forth an iron ring, which glowed and transformed into a two meter tall, rust coloured praying mantis.

The sword claw praying mantis barely moved before it too was sliced in half by a flash of silver. A fate that was quickly shared by its summoner.

Aurora instinctively backed away from the three corpses and felt a strong hand on her shoulder. Her heart pounded so hard that it felt like it would rip itself out of her chest. She turned to face the person responsible for the slaughter and locked gazes with a pair of steel grey eyes.

"Lady Aurora," the man suddenly bent down on one knee before her.

"I take it you're the Wright family representative," said Lucas.

Although his voice was friendly, the fact his venomous stone scorpion was by his side, meant that Lucas was prepared for things to turn hostile.

"What's going on here!" the towering main hall attendant burst into the room. A small ball of lightning hovering beside him.

"Hee. Hee." the female attendant nervously laughed. "I think there's been some misunderstandings. Leading to a small mess. I hope this doesn't reflect badly on my skills as a guild attendant."