Quiet conversation drew him from a realm rampant with valiant deeds and daring-do, to one of achy-weariness. He tried lifting his arm to minister relief upon a rather itchy span covering most of his chest, but found even such a meager effort beyond his current capabilities. He did manage to raise his hand an inch above the woolen blanket before weakness drew it back.
If he couldn’t scratch, he’d just as soon sleep. Unfortunately, the voices continued unabated and kept him from descending past the final stage into the welcoming arms of slumber.
Jaikus cracked an eye open to find Reneeke conversing at the foot of his bed with a man in priestly robes. “Rene?” Voice cracking and hardly more audible than the squeak of a mouse he failed to draw his friend’s attention. He mustered more effort. “Rene.”
Two heads swiveled toward him. Reneeke broke into a wide grin and hurried to his side.
“Jaik, praise the gods.”
The priest joined him at Jaikus’ bedside. “I thought he might awaken today.”
“Thank you, Father Balicci.”
“You are welcome, my son.” Stepping forward, he passed a hand over Jaikus’ chest, then paused it momentarily above his head. “He still requires much sleep. Keep your visit brief.”
“Yes, Father.”
The priest gave Jaikus a grin. “I shall leave you in the hands of your friend.”
As the priest departed, Reneeke sat on the edge of the bed. “Man, we didn’t think you were going to survive.”
“We?”
Reneeke nodded. “Charka, Lady Kate, and Father Balicci. Even Seward stopped by once he recovered, to see how you were doing.”
“Seward?” he asked in disbelief.
Reneeke chuckled. “I know. Couldn’t believe it myself when he appeared.”
Three other cots shared the room with his. Two were empty, each having a single, neatly folded blanket perfectly situated at the end. The fourth looked to have been slept in as its blanket was rumpled with half dangling over the side to the floor.
“Where am I?”
“Fjerl’s Temple in Reakla,” Reneeke replied.
Fjerl, God of Earth, was one of the more popular and prolific faiths in the realm. The people knew that if they were ever in need, succor could be found within its walls, and at a reasonable price. The very poor rarely had to pay for the simpler healings. For care of a more serious nature, healings such as being brought back from the dead or the removal of a curse, payment of one kind or another had to be given.
Most temples accepted industry as well as gold. If a person could not meet the required sum, the temple offered them the chance to perform a needed service. Often, such services required nothing more than helping to keep the grounds clean or minor maintenance. The Priests of Fjerl turned no one away. Perhaps that explained Fjerl’s position as the patron god of Adventurers.
“I’m not dead, then?”
“It was close, Jaik. If it hadn’t been for Charka appearing with the Khuodari brothers and a magic user when he did, neither one of us would be here.”
“Kh…Khuodari brothers?”
“They’re friends of Charka, you’ll get to meet them later. Nice fellows to have on your side in a tight situation.”
A lad attired as a novice of Fjerl arrived bearing a cup of cool water. Their conversation took a brief hiatus while the lad aided Jaikus in rising so he could drink. Once the cup had been emptied, the novice laid him back down. Then the lad glanced to Reneeke.
“Father Balicci said your friend needs to rest.”
Reneeke nodded. “I understand. I shall leave momentarily.”
The lad nodded, then gave each a brief bow before departing.
Jaikus gazed upon his friend. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” Indicating with a quick nod toward the rumpled cot next to Jaik’s, he added, “Two days of rest have done me a world of good.”
“Two days?”
“Yep, two days.” His expression grew solemn. “You were hurt pretty bad, Jaik. Real bad.”
“I feel like it.” Every part of him ached in one manner or another. His chest was heavily bandaged, as was his head and arms. “I thought priests could do a better job than this.”
Reneeke grinned again. “They can, if they must. But Father Balicci explained, ‘a few aches and pains are good for the soul’.”
“I’d rather do without them if it’s all the same.”
Seeing the novice standing not far away giving him a disapproving glare, Reneeke rose from the cot. “I better let you sleep before that novice comes over here again.”
Yawning, Jaikus nodded and closed his eyes. “I could use more anyway.”
“I shall return later. I’m glad you are all right, Jaik.” But Jaikus had already fallen asleep.
After another day of convalescing, Father Balicci announced Jaikus fit to leave. Though from Jaikus’ point of view, he was anything but ready. It took Reneeke’s help for him to get up off the cot, and every step produced pain. About the only place that didn’t hurt was his left nostril…no…wait…that hurt too.
“Come on, Jaik.” Reneeke said as they left the cot behind. “Charka wants to buy us an ale over at the Guild.”
“The Guild?” He had forgotten all about that. “Are…are we…in?”
“Not yet. Apparently they are still considering it.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled his voice.
“But hey, we get to go in since we will be Charka’s guests.”
Inside the Guild. He could settle for that, at least for now.
They made their way through the temple and out to the street.
“Oh, and we have some coins, too.”
“Your share of the trip to Sythal?”
“That, and Master Hymal’s bonus for recovering his reagents. He was very grateful.”
The news piqued Jaikus’ interest. “How grateful.”
“Sixty golds.”
Jaikus almost passed out right then and there. Sixty! That was twice the bonus he had originally offered. That was more money than his family could ever hope to earn in a decade, maybe two. “Sixty? Truly?”
“Yep. Apparently we brought back his reagents in such condition that all remained viable, or something like that. And there’s more.”
“More?”
“Remember that glow-moth larvae I removed from your arm?”
He shuddered. “How could I forget?” The band of newly grown skin over the area Reneeke had dug the larvae from was one of the more vocal of the voices in his chorus of aches.
“Well, as it turned out, the troll that almost killed you had been infested with them. The Guild has a standing order for larvae of the glow-moth, and since we were instrumental in leading it to capture, received a percentage of the take.”
“We’re rich!”
“Uh, not exactly.”
Casting a sidelong glance at Reneeke, Jaikus frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, there was the amount we owed to Charka for your, uh, indiscretion. The Khuodari brothers received a share since they helped bring the troll down. Also, that magic user I mentioned received a full third. I don’t know why, you’ll have to talk to Charka about that.
“Then, we had to pay the healers, time spent under their care, and…uh…” pausing a moment, he searched for the final item. “Oh, right, let’s not forget the supplies we got from Bella.”
“How much is left?” Jaikus’ hopes of being rich were quickly being dashed upon the rocks of fiscal reality.
“Together, we have ten golds, seven silver, and eleven copper.”
Sounding less than excited, he asked. “That’s it?”
Reneeke laughed. “That’s it? Back on the farm, such an amount would be considered a fortune, and you ask ‘That’s it?’.”
Up ahead, the walls of the Guild came into view. Out front stood the one-armed man who during their last encounter had kept them out.
“Think he’ll let us in?”
“Don’t worr
y, Jaik. Like I said, we’re Charka’s guests.”
Jaikus wasn’t convinced. But when they came to the door, Jeral, a.k.a. Booba, merely nodded and opened it for them.
Exhilarated beyond words, Jaikus leaned heavily upon Reneeke as they passed from the world of everyday life, to that of sagas and epics. His knees grew wobbly as they entered the foyer, itself a small room. To one side sat a counter, beyond which a rather scruffy looking man dug beneath his fingernails with the point of a knife. In the area behind the man stood shelves and hooks bearing all manner of items from simple cloaks to saddles, and before they passed from the foyer into the main meeting hall of the Guild, Jaikus thought he had observed three heads of a less than human nature.
Despite its size, the hall bore more of a tavern atmosphere than of a revered meeting place that had been the launching point for many a famous tale. Laughter, the clanking of flagons, a shout here and there all added to the cacophony.
Tables filled the hall, each packed with men and women dressed in armor, robes, and everything in between. Even a few non-human races were represented, races that Jaikus had heard about only in epics. Servants in the uniform of the Guild worked their way amongst the tables, delivering flagons of ale and trays of food.
No less than six, arched avenues gave egress to the rest of the Guild. Two sets of steps, one to either side of the hall, ascended to the floor above. Far to the right, at the head of the hall, sat a dais, stage really, whereupon bards and other performers would entertain.
What really drew his attention was the double-headed battle axe prominently displayed above the dais. Reakla’s axe! Over a thousand years ago and yet…there it was.
“Greetings, friends.”
Coming out of nowhere like it did, the salutation caused Jaikus to jump.
“It’s just Chork.”
“Chork?” Glancing around, he saw no one, only a bronze statue of a fully armored fighter situated just within the great hall. He received his second shock when the statue’s eyes blinked.
“That’s me,” the statue clarified.
“What…?”
“Long story,” Reneeke explained. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, young Jaikus. Reneeke and I have shared many a tale concerning your exciting exploits.”
“It talks?” Jaikus glanced to Reneeke, but his friend was busy scanning the faces of those seated at the many tables spaced throughout the hall.
“Talk? Of course I talk.” Its eyes flitted to and fro, and the lips moved when it spoke, but that appeared to be the extent of Chork’s mobility. “In fact, I would have you know that I speak over a dozen languages including that of the now extinct race of Tyllians, though for the most part they had very little in the way to say, as they did but drift along with the ocean currents. Did you know that they have, or I suppose we should say ‘had’, seventeen separate and distinct ways in which to say hello?”
“Uh, no. I didn’t.”
“Well, now. Let me illuminate you.”
As he began an ear-piercing series of shrieks, Reneeke spotted Charka at a table over against the far wall. “Sorry, Chork. Charka is expecting us.”
Immediately, the shrieking ceased. “No problem at all, young Reneeke. I’m sure your friend and I can resume our conversation at a later date.”
“I suppose so…”
“Wonderful. I will count the minutes until I again have the pleasure of your company.”
Hurrying Jaikus toward where their friends sat, Reneeke said. “He’ll talk and talk and talk if you don’t walk away.”
About to question his friend further, he was forestalled when Charka noticed their approach and waved them over.
“Good to see you up and about, lad.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to be here.”
Few tables offered more than one vacant place. Even Charka’s held only the two empty seats that Jaikus and Reneeke soon occupied. Three others aside from Charka and his crew shared the table. Two were the Khuodari brothers, and the third was a wiry little fellow known as Slip. From the slightness of his build, and the lack of armor and magic user’s robe, Jaikus deduced that he must be one of the Guild’s thieves.
Slip eyed the two newcomers. “Heard about your fight.”
Kerl, the axe-wielding Khuodari brother, slapped the table. “Stood up to a troll, he did!”
“Impressive.” The wiry little guy nodded approvingly.
Lady Kate laid a hand on Jaikus’ arm. “How are you doing?”
He flashed her a grin. “I’m alive.”
“Ha!” Terl, the sword-wielding Khuodari twin, slapped the table then gave out with a loud and raucous laugh. “Then you met the first law of adventuring.”
“What is that?”
“You came back alive.” He and his brother Kerl repeatedly slapped the table as they broke into laughter.
Jaikus glanced to Reneeke, wondering if he might have understood the joke, but his friend looked just as confused. Returning his gaze to Charka, Jaikus said, “Thank you for inviting us. I’ve always wanted to see what it was like inside.”
Raising his mug of ‘kult in salute, Charka silently grinned before downing half of it.
Movement upon the platform at the head of the hall caught Reneeke’s attention. Three men had mounted the four steps leading to it and were even now making their way to center stage.
They didn’t look like any performers Reneeke had ever seen. Two were heavily armored while the third, though he wore a simple suit of leather armor, had the bearing of command.
Charka took note of Reneeke’s interest in the stage. “Looks like old Ellantho plans on giving another speech.”
Both Khuodari brothers groaned. “That’s why I don’t like spending my time here. It’s more fun over at The Dented Helm.”
Taking on a sour expression, Seward said, “You got that right.”
Charka eyed the trio with annoyance. “Show some respect. He is the Guildmaster, and if he likes to make speeches, then we should at least do him the courtesy of listening. You just might learn something.”
Seward rolled his eyes before turning them on Reneeke. “His last speech was on the best way to take down a specter.”
“Wouldn’t that be worth knowing?” asked Reneeke.
“From the other side of the grave? According to him, the best way is to become one yourself.”
“That’s…” began Jaikus, then paused. He didn’t want to run the risk of offending anyone by speaking ill of the highest ranking Guild member.
“…stupid?” finished Kerl.
Jaikus glanced at those around him, then nodded.
“Don’t worry, lad. Few around here will think ill of you for knocking Ellantho’s words of wisdom.”
Over on the stage, the Guildmaster raised his hands. Conversations died, heads turned toward him, and the hall quieted.
Jaikus glanced to Charka only to have his one-time leader place a finger before his lips, indicating quiet.
“Greetings, my fellow adventurers.” Ellantho’s arms lowered as his gaze roved across the assembled faces.
“We have business here tonight…”
“No speech?” came a shout from the back.
The Guildmaster shook his head. “No, not toni…” Thunderous applause drowned out the rest of his words. He flashed an annoyed look to those in the crowd, subduing their outburst and restoring a sense of propriety. Once the noise level diminished to a respectable level, he continued.
“As I said, we have business here tonight and I shall keep my comments brief.”
Another round of applause and table thumping.
“Honor and bravery have ever been the hallmarks of our beloved Guild. Only those who exemplify these attributes can ever hope of joining our exalted ranks.”
Slip glanced to Charka. “Sounds like a Vote’s about to happen.”
Charka shrugged. “Perhaps.”
Transferring his gaze from Ellantho to Slip, Reneeke a
sked, “A Vote?”
“Whenever someone wishes to join the Guild, they put it to a Vote. At that time, those who object are allowed to come forth and state their case. Once everyone has had their say, we vote.”
“Most times,” added Kerl, “there are no objections and this is merely a formality.”
Terl chuckled. “Remember when Kog tried to join? No less than forty-five members stood in objection, almost caused a riot.”
“Did he get in?” queried Jaikus.
Kerl shook his head. “Not then. Later, though, he proved himself by slaying the Glenriver Raptor. Brought the beast’s head back and chucked it at the Guildmaster. Such temerity demanded that he be allowed to join. None blocked his entry after such a display of courage.”
“Wonder who’s up for the Vote,” Slip mused.
Very interested in the inner workings of the Guild, Jaikus returned his attention back to the Guildmaster. His eyes flicked to and fro in an attempt to discover who may be the one to join.
Reneeke, on the other hand, turned a knowing look toward Charka. The Troupe leader failed to meet his eye.
A growing murmur throughout the hall made Guildmaster Ellantho difficult to hear. Jaikus tried to listen, but the growing buzz of speculation proved too obstructive. He continued scanning the assemblage, he couldn’t for the life of him see anyone that appeared more anxious than the rest.
Finally, the murmuring grew too loud and the Guildmaster once again signaled for quiet. Jaikus turned his attention from the crowd, back to the Guildmaster and found Ellantho staring in his direction. “Now, I believe Charka, leader of Charka’s Troupe, a longtime and respected member of the Guild, would like to say a few words.”
Every eye in the hall turned toward their table as Charka stood.
Jaikus listened in shocked surprise as Charka began to speak.
“You all know me. I’ve been around long enough to remember some of you as Springers.” That elicited a murmuring chuckle. “A couple probably should still be Springers.” More laughter and several guffaws followed. “During my last venture into the Swamp, I had the privilege to get to know a couple lads who may have had more desire than brains when it came to adventuring, but let me tell you, they acquitted themselves with great courage. And like you, courage is the attribute I admire most in any individual.
“Mistakes were made; for what Springer knows a troll from a hole in the ground. But they righted the wrongs, went forward into the unknown, and never backed down. When faced with death, they stood their ground. When faced with entombment, they found the way out. These lads may come from modest stock, but they have the spirit of adventurers.
“When my man, Seward, was grievously hurt and had to be rushed back to Reakla, they went alone into the Swamp to retrieve items stolen by a fully grown mossback.” More intakes of breath. “Not only did they return to tell the tale, but they recovered that which I believed irretrievable.”
Eyes that had gazed upon Charka, now turned toward Jaikus and Reneeke. Between their youthful appearance and Jaikus' nearly mummified appearance, all understood of whom Charka spoke.
“Over the last two days, you’ve heard the tale of their last heroic deed, facing the wrath of a maddened troll infested by glow-moth larvae.” Many in the audience nodded while others who hadn’t heard the tale, spouted expletives. “I am not the only one who can attest to the bravery these two lads exhibited. The Khuodari brothers, Viruloxi, Master Hymal the apothecary, and over half a dozen guards who watched the events as they unfolded from atop the wall, witnessed their heroic deed.”
Terl and Kerl nodded in affirmation.
“If ever two individuals deserved to be accorded the honor of joining the Guild, assuredly, it must be them.”
Jaikus was completely taken aback.
Charka glanced toward his former Springers. “Stand up, lads.”
Aches and pains melted away as Jaikus rose from his chair. Reneeke offered him a hand, but he shrugged it off with a shake of his head. Making it to his feet, he stared at the men and women looking his way. Many bore grins, others gave nods. Not one held a negative expression.
From the stage, Ellantho raised his voice and asked, “What say you? Do we welcome these brave lads to the Guild?”
Silence hung in the Guild hall for what seemed an interminable time. For a brief instant, fear and doubt sought to squelch the exhilaration of the moment. But it was thunderously thrust aside as a hundred voices shouted, “Yes!”
Here ends the first book of:
The
Adventurer’s Guild.
The Adventure continues in
Caravan to Kittikin
Adventurer’s Guild #2
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