The Axe Falls -Ch24- (Patreon)

Entering into the guild-house for adventurers, Nick found himself grinning.

It was exactly as he remembered it, though nearly empty. There were only a handful of non-employees in the entirely of the building.

There was even a clear indicator that there weren’t as many employees working as well. The number of people serving adventurers was down to three.

Sara was at one of the counters as was two other people. Nick knew neither one of them.

The three of them were standing near one another and talking. With no one to service, they had very little to do he imagined.

I wonder if they were let go, offered jobs elsewhere or… or joined the army. Quite a few of them were probably ex-adventurers. Right?

“I would imagine so, Sire,” agreed Lucian.

“Alright,” Nick said, turning to look at Claudia next to him. She was a bundle of excitement that looked like she could barely control herself. “Remember everything we talked about. Follow the plan. Okay?”

“Yes!” Claudia said in an excited tone and with more volume was expecting. One second she was bouncing in place and the next she abruptly turned toward him directly.

A second after that and she flung herself around him. Hugging him tightly with the whole of her body. A few seconds after that she released him and sped off for the service windows.

All three employees were watching her and Nick now.

Including Sara who had raised her eyebrows and seemed genuinely surprised to see him.

Should probably check in and get re-evaluated since we’re a promoted class now.

See if she has any word from Erica as well.

I mean… she could have left a note for us, right?

“She could have. The guild does offer post services for those in it,” Lucian said.

Adjusting his poleaxe Nick made his way over to Sara and stopped in front of her. Setting the butt of his poleaxe down to the wooden floor Nick smiled at her.

“Afternoon, Sara,” Nick said with a small dip to his head. Standing this close to her only now did he realize he was actually significantly taller than her. That he was now looking down at her.

I grew from the promotion, didn’t I? I thought it’d just been weight changes.

“You did indeed grow. You’re likely at your full height now. To be fair, you needed new clothes anyways. Those were over-worn and threadbare from hard use,” Lucian countered. “Thankfully neither Claudia or the count could tell since we always had armor on.”

“A-afternoon, Nick,” Sara said, looking up at him. Her eyes were scouring his face as if to make sure it was him. “You were gone for a while. I honestly didn’t think you’d be coming back.”

“Just needed to take care of some things,” Nick said with a chuckle. Next to him Claudia was excitedly filling out the paperwork. “Ended up taking on a short-term mercenary gig, then came back here. Nothing out of the ordinary I’d say.

“Anyways. Is Erica around? I wasn’t sure if she’d gone with her family in the end or stayed with her group. Did she get my note?”

Sara blinked once as if she needed a second to process what he’d just said. Then she nodded her head.

“Oh! Yes, Erica got your note. She was very annoyed,” admitted Sara. “She left you a note as well. I’ll have to go fetch it out of the postal boxes in the back though.

“As to where she is, she ventured off to Artax’s Swamp dungeon. I… I got the impression she was trying to avoid her family given where they went.”

So she knows Erica is a Fash. Figures.

“Great. I’ll take that note,” Nick said and then leaned up against the counter, holding his poleaxe with his right hand. “While you’re back there, could you look for any beginner level requests? I’ve brought a newbie with me and I’ll be helping them along.”

Sara’s eyes flicked to Claudia then back to Nick.

“Certainly. I’ll get the note, a few quests, and a party formation form,” Sara said with a smile. It lacked the radiance he’d seen in her before and had been expecting. “It’s good to see you, Nick. It’s been somewhat… of a… well… the war is certainly bringing out the worst across the board. People are trying to find what comfort they can.”

Nick could most certainly agree with that.

He imagined there were quite a few people who were going to be missing family members. Loved ones who would never be coming home again.

Empty chairs at the dinner table and voices never heard again.

He’d only been in a couple battles and hadn’t fought in the line at all, but he could easily imagine the horror of it. Imagine what the country was going through.

Unfortunately I’m the cause in a way. Though I didn’t ask anyone at all to fight for me.

Not to mention I’m sure they’re all fighting for themselves realistically.

“You, too, Sara,” Nick said then turned to look at Claudia. She had just finished with her paperwork and the clerk who was helping her was walking way.

Claudia was staring hard at Nick with a blazing smile and wide eyes.

“Did you—”

“I did it!” she said as soon as their eyes met while at the same time snatching Nick’s forearm. Sara’s voice faded off under the onslaught of Claudia’s enthusiasm. Who then turned and looked to Sara. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I’m just really excited. I never thought I’d get this opportunity!”

Sara smiled at Claudia, nodded her head, and then sighed.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s always good to see eager new-folk coming in,” Sara said graciously. “With the war going on, most of our clients and employees all got pulled away. There’s no end to the number of requests right now that are available. I’ll be back.”

Nick watched Sara for a second as she left before looking back to Claudia.

“See? I told you it’d be simple. Far simpler than you’d believe,” Nick said with a grin. It was good to see Claudia so excited and happy. Ever since the attempt on her life she’d been equal parts morose and angry.

“I had no idea,” she said, still gripping Nick’s armored forearm. “And after this, we can go get me a weapon, right? Then the saddle?”

“Exactly. Then we’ll get supplies, have dinner, see the doc tomorrow morning, and get into that dungeon,” Nick confirmed. “A new chapter for Claudia. I wonder how it’ll end?”

“Who knows? I’m just excited I get to experience it,” said Claudia as her eyes drifted off to one side. Then she released Nick and turned back to the counter as the clerk reappeared, amulet in hand.

Claudia looked like she was going to put a hole in the floor where she stood given how she was just about vibrating. Her entire body was trembling.

Grinning, Nick looked out to the door and waited in silence.

Things were moving again and he was back in a place he wanted to be. He was excited, too.

He just wasn’t going to show it.

Quicker than he expected, Sara came back. In her hands was a folded piece of paper and a form.

“I’m sorry,” apologized Sara. “I realized I can’t grab any quests till she finishes her form and you form your party. So we can handle all that tomorrow morning. Just be here right after sunrise and I’ll let you two in so we can get it squared away.”

Ah, that makes sense.

“Additionally… additionally I need to see your amulet,” apologized Sara “I have to confirm that you’ve reached your first promotion. Without financial backing, or paying an upfront fee, you can’t form an official group unless it’s established by someone in their first promotion.

“It’s to protect new adventurers from being taken advantage of. I can’t even begin to imagine if group quests were handed out to unsanctioned groups. The sheer chaos involved there would be unimaginable. There’s a reason people don’t go to the unmanaged dungeons unless they’re willing to kill or be killed.”

True… though… weird to think that Erica went to one of those dungeons. They must have been pretty confident in themselves. That or she picked up a few bodyguards to go with her.

That sounds more appropriate I guess.

Nick reached up, pulled his amulet out of his armor and then laid it down on the counter-top. He’d already checked with Lucian about this possibility.

All Sara would be able to tell from checking the amulet was his power level. Being part of the first promotion tier would change his power.

Level ten was significantly higher than level nine, rather than just an incremental change. It was noticable for anyone trained to look for it.

“Ah, yes,” Sara said and removed her fingers from the amulet. “I can certainly agree that you’ve at least reached the first promotion tier. Did your stats grow significantly?”

Shit, I forgot to check that.

“I did as well,” muttered Lucian.

“Somewhat,” Nick said with a shrug of his shoulders.

A large individual moved up beside Nick at the third counter. They were easily as tall as Nick was and broad shouldered. To the point that they nearly bumped into him since he was leaning toward that direction.

“Ah, sorry,” Nick said and stood upright, looking to the other person.

A woman’s face with large brown eyes turned toward him. She had dark shaggy brown hair and a pair of long dark horns sprouting from her temples. They curved elegantly and pointed straight upward.

“S’okay,” she murmured, turning back toward the clerk. She was dressed in very simple clothes and didn’t seem to have weapon or armor on her person.

A monk maybe?

The woman set down several papers in front of herself.

Before she could say anything at all, the clerk retrieved a single liv from under the counter and set it down in front of the woman. She took it without a word and then trundled off, heading out of the guild.

“Anyway,” Sara said quietly, getting Nick’s attention back to her. “Come back tomorrow morning and we can get that all finished up with that form filled out.”

With a grin, Nick nodded his head to her.

“Alright. That’s not a—”

“Nick! I’m done! Let’s go, let’s go!” Claudia said while invading his space once again. Grabbing onto his arm she started to drag him physically away from the counter.

Reaching out he snatched up his amulet and the two papers that were on the counter. Flicking his amulet on with one hand he tucked the two papers into his armor and then waved to Sara.

Claudia was technically his employer at the moment and she didn’t mean any harm at the moment. She was just incredibly excited.

“See ya tomorrow, Sara,” Nick said and then turned away, letting Claudia pull him from the guild fully.

“Yeah, see ya,” Sara said from behind him, her words trailing after him but not catching him.

***

Standing in the middle of the street, Nick scratched idly at his shoulder. He had nothing to do while Claudia shopped for a staff that suited her.

Realistically he could probably help her find one if he tried, but it was also something she really needed to learn to do herself. Her future would likely hold more situations where she would need to handle situations that were similar.

She didn’t need him hovering over her shoulder, trying to help her with something she really needed to do on her own. He was here to guide her, provide her with support, and build his own foundations to claiming his throne.

He was working for Claudia in a similar way that Lucian was for him.

“Hey Gramps,” Nick said, watching people move about the storefronts around him. There wasn’t much foot traffic right now in this part of the city. Those who would normally be buying and selling were quite busy with the war according to Sara.

“Yes?” Lucian asked in a curious tone.

“Where’s your grave?” Nick asked with a sudden insight. “I want to go make sure it’s proper. You’ve done a great deal for me, and I’d like to make sure your resting place is honored.”

Lucian began to chuckle at that. Then slowly his rumbling voice turned into deep belly rumbling laughs.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that!” Lucian said while laughing. “Your ancestor, my son-in-law, carried me back here after defeating me. Alas, he could not save me, but that wasn’t the goal. My daughter was his prize, and in the end, my prize as well.

“To honor my daughter, his wife, his one and only love, he buried my bones in the deepest part of the royal castle. He laid me to rest as the royal vault and I became part of the home of my grand-children. Then their children and on and on.

“Their home was a family member, and I was delighted to be so. Not to mention… the royal vault is quite nice. It’s the hoard of my family. How could a dragon ask for any better tomb?”

Nick thought on that and realized Lucian was right.

Lucian had become the vault, a home, and family member, for his future generations. If Lucian had only been an assisting spirit to the family, then he likely wouldn’t have done as much.

The first Randolph king had truly understood Lucian and bound him deeply to his family.

“Sounds like we’ll need to make sure we rescue you, Gramps. Can’t leave you as a hostage, can we?” Nick asked with a grin. “Sorry in advance though, when I do have kids, they’ll call you Grampy-Dragon or Grampy-Castle.”

Once again Lucian started to laugh. Apparently he found that response perfect for his mood. Echoing laughter that was filled with mirth and joy.

“Oh, that’s fine. I wouldn’t mind that at all!” Lucian said. “In fact, if they come down to the vault, I can even speak directly with them. Lot of the youngsters would come ask me for advice.”

Nick felt his attention shift when the big woman with horns from the guild slowly trod into view. He was listening to Lucian, but he was also distracted.

“Beast-kin,” Lucian said simply. “Don’t see them too often in these lands, even when your family was royalty. Long ways from home. Unsure of the species though.”

As if sensing his eyes on her, the woman looked up and met Nick’s gaze.

She stared back at him and went still.

Just as he stared at her.

Several seconds passed and then Nick raised a hand at her.

“Hey,” he said casually.

Tilting her head to one side, Nick realized that she was very muscular. That her body looked like it could take a beating and keep going.

She wasn’t overweight, but fit and sturdy looking. There wasn’t much feminine appeal to her shape, but her face wasn’t unattractive.

“Hullo,” she said in the same low tone he’d heard from her previously. She didn’t break eye contact and just stared back at him.

“You okay?” Nick asked finally, feeling like something was off about her.

“No,” she said simply with a shake of her head.

That was an unexpected response. Frowning, Nick slowly made his way over to her. It was odd to him, even as it happened, but neither of them had broken eye contact as of yet.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, coming to a stop a few feet from her. She was actually an inch or two taller than him when he realized.

“I gambled all my money away,” she said in the same tone. He could finally detect an undertone of sadness in her voice. That she wasn’t lifeless. Just somewhat reserved. “Then lost all my gear, too. I think they cheated. Can’t prove it.”

“Ah… I’m sorry to hear that,” said Nick.

The woman nodded her head to that but said nothing else. She didn’t look away from him though. Holding his gaze just as he held hers.

“Err… how can I help?” Nick asked. He felt weird about the situation but for some reason he felt like he had to ask.

Especially since he’d asked her if she was okay.

“Oh. Hire me,” said the woman with a smile for the first time. “You could hire me. I’m a level seventeen Swordsman but I’m moving towards Champion. I take hits that others couldn’t.”

“Ah… if you have no gear though, I couldn’t really hire you, could I?” Nick asked. He was genuinely confused on what her expectations were since she didn’t have anything to her name.

The Beast-kin opened her mouth, then closed it with a soft pop.

“Yeah,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Good point. Can’t hire me if I don’t have the equipment to do the job. Then… how about hire me and provide me with a loan at the same time?

“If you purchase my equipment for me, I could give you ten years of my life in servitude. I know my the worth of my equipment, and what my worth is as I would level over ten years.”

Nick had suspected she was a little dim-witted, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Just maybe that she overlooked the obvious at times.

“I’d take the offer,” said Lucian. “Regardless of the price she asks for, having someone hold the front for ten years for us would be very useful. We’d have to enter a contract in with the guild though to make sure it was adhered to.

“How much?” Nick asked.

“Mmm… ten years service… actually… that’d be pretty expensive,” said the woman. Up to this point, neither Nick nor her had ever looked away from the other one. It was actually starting to feel rather awkward for him.

“Price?” asked Nick.

The woman swallowed then shook her head.

“Twenty golders,” she said with a sigh and a shake of her head. “You could just as easily hire a second promotion at that rate.”

“So let me get this straight,” said Nick. “Ten years service for twenty golders. You’ll use that money to re-equip yourself and to buy said service.”

“Yes,” she said with a dip of her head.

“Additionally, you won’t gamble during that period of service,” said Nick. He didn’t want to have to pay off her debts if she started gambling again.

“I… like gambling though,” she said with a grimace.

“Okay… you can’t gamble more than ten liv a month. You also can’t gamble your equipment, or yourself, away. I own those if we agree to this. Until you pay it off,” said Nick firmly.

“Oh… okay. Yes. I agree,” said the woman, nodding her head once again.

“Great, let’s go get you into a contract at the guild with me. What’s your name, by the way? I’m Nick. Nick Dal. My companion is Claudia.”

“Iris. No last name,” said the woman who then gave him a broad smile. “You won’t regret this. I’ll earn that coin back with my service.”

“We’ll see about that, Iris,” said Nick. “But so far, I definitely like the look of you. I imagine you’ll be a great defender for me.”

Iris only smiled at him.

Neither of them breaking eye contact.

Damnit. I don’t want to look away first.

Shit… uh… oh, I’ll just make an excuse.

“Iris, I’m going to look away from you now. We need to go find my partner and let her know we’re going to the guild,” Nick told her.

“Oh, ya. I understand,” Iris said, still gazing at him but with a wide smile. “Thank you for telling me. I was wondering if I needed to look away first. It’s been a while since someone held my eye like this. It would have been disappointing if you looked away first.”

Something I’m missing about Beast-kin?

“No. They’re more in touch with their animal sides than you’d think,” Lucian said. “Unlike a dragon in human form, or those with a lot of dragon blood, Beast-kin are still mostly human.”

Nick finally looked away from Iris and felt like a massive weight was removed from his shoulders.

Pivoting, he went to find Claudia.