“Aye we could fit one of our mine carts with road wheels and some arms for a horse to pull. We could have it by tomorrow noon for a price.” I see Bart the Blacksmith running some numbers in his head.

  “And what if I intend to get my steel mining tools from you as well?” I ask.

  He nods and strokes his beard. “That’s a consideration, but I hear you have a shop built at old Jeb’s place. I want to come see what you’ve built, and if you get your coal through me, the rush job won’t cost an obol extra.”

  I worry my lip with a tusk to think on that. I would need to either make my own coal, which I know how, or I can get it delivered. “Do you make it, or get a delivery?”

  “Why might that matter?” He looks curious.

  “If you make it, I have to come to town anyway to get it. If you have it delivered, my place is on the main road to town, and they could offload my order on the way here—saving me a half day’s travel.”

  “I see. For that, you’d have to pay me in advance. I don’t trust the cart drivers from the Duchy with loose coin.” He holds his arm out and I reach out and grasp it.

  “That’ll be two gold and twenty for the lot, including a thousand kilos of coal.”

  A fucking what now? A ton? I guess with as much as I went through yesterday, that won’t last that long. I shrug, I’ll warn Tanner and he can figure out what we need to receive that much coal. I ask Bart if he takes zap payments and he nods before going to fetch an orb on a pedestal with the Bank’s insignia on it. There goes my monthly pay.

  “Thank ya Bart. I assume I can still get my soda and lime through you too?”

  “Taking to the glass business are you?” I nod. “That’ll be interesting, but with Maude gone on pilgrimage, or glass demand is pretty low around here.”

  “No brewers or distillers looking for glass?”

  “In a town this small, people return their bottles, so not much need unless they break.” I nod at that, knowing that Bart definitely makes moonshine at home.

  My mana glass would last an entire lifetime, and that is an odd way to run a glass business. It would be fantastic for potion vials as it would slow degradation, but regular glass items don’t need to be virtually indestructible.

  I wave at Bart as I turn away, he grunts and goes back to his work.

  “You know a lot of people for being new to town.” The borrowed adventurer that Melody sent with me hasn’t been doing much on this shopping trip, but I never really talked to Melody about that I guess. She’s right, we don’t know each other that well.

  “I’ve been in and around Marcrest for months. I just haven’t been in the Guild more than a handful of times. You been there long?” I ask the unassuming young man.

  “A few years. I mostly just do help quests around town. Pays the bills, keeps me busy. Melody likes to hire me because I know most people because of it.”

  “Good to know, Paul. After my current rush of activity, I’ll be in the market for a carpenter.”

  “Building, furniture, other?” he asks.

  “Building. Greenhouse to be exact.” He sucks air through his teeth.

  “That’s going to be hard, miss. We have to order windows from the Duchy and only about half survive the trip.”

  I nod. “I figured. By then I should have my sheet glass game down.”

  He grins, “Good to know miss Zhantsa.”

  I chuckle at his copying me. We head back to the Guild Hall, arriving amidst a bustle of late morning traffic. People talking in the lounge area, chatting over the job boards, and a few are arguing outside of the assayer’s room. I must have had a look on my face, because Paul speaks up.

  “Most of the adventurers come in the morning after they finish their quest requirements, gather more quests, have lunch and head out. It’s especially true in fall and winter when the cold wet air leeches all the heat from your body.”

  “Ah, the glories of being a Sky Troll. Comfy, cozy cold. I’ll plan my Guild visits for the afternoons then. Thanks for the tip Paul. Oh, am I paying you or is Melody?”

  “Melody does, but good service and all that.” He shrugs, knowing he didn’t do much.

  I nod and pull a few silver from my pocket. “Just in case you get tired of answering my questions.”

  He snorts, “I am literally hired to be talked to and to talk to people miss, but it’s appreciated. I’ll message Melody that we’re back.” I nod as he walks toward reception and talks to Melody’s counterpart.

  I don’t know how fast my guild mentor will respond, so I wander over to the job boards and start looking at the copper-level quests. Hauling, gathering, watching, waiting. Ugh, these seemed reasonable a few months ago, but now that I’m into glass making, it just seems like a hassle. I pick up a botanical gathering quest because I see some stuff that I’m interested in having around as well. I’ll eventually get into alchemy. You know, with that free time I have.

  “Zhantsa, I honestly thought you would be out for longer.” Melody asks.

  I turn and pull her into a quick hug. “Hi. Turns out I know Bart and he’s going to deal with the cartwright himself.”

  “Of course you do.” She pats the small of my back and walks on.

  Seems like she wants me to follow, so I do. She walks up some stairs that I remember leading to the assistant Guild Master’s office, and lo and behold, we knock on the same door.

  “Miss Zhantsa, thank you for meeting with us today. Did Melody inform you of our interests?”

  “Hi Gunther, she mentioned some things, but I don’t know how much is on your agenda. Who are your friends?”

  “Yes, of course. This is our treasurer and lead administrator Garvin Massey, and this is Guild Liaison Veronica Kline.”

  One of them is not local, and that feels odd to me. I look at Melody and she seems surprised and is staring at Miss Kline.

  “Nice to meet you all, I’m Zhantsa.”

  “Not Frost?” The liaison asks.

  “The Guild is apparently not accustomed to Troll customs and required me to choose a last name.” She flinches at my statement. Good. “I protested of course, but Gunther insisted it was Guild Policy. Speaking of the Assistant Guild Master of Marcrest, why are we meeting with such august company?” I try not to sound angry about the ambush, but a squeeze on my arm from Melody tells me to pull back a bit.

  “Three main reasons. First and why our Liaison is here, the Nobility notice you received. Second, he and I would like to discuss serving bounties instead of resource contracts, and third, we wish to talk about business opportunities on your land.”

  “Those were socialized with me. May we have tea for what is likely a long discussion?” Eyes narrow at my request. Is that not common for negotiations? It seems rude not to offer refreshments. Before I can open my mouth again to disparage their hospitality, Melody acts.

  “I have sent a message to Bonnie, she will be up shortly with a beverage cart.”

  I beam at the gathered uppity asses.

  “Thank you Melody,” Veronica says, “But we will not require that much time.” She stares at me as though she expects me to fold or do something.

  I step forward and take a seat. I expect Melody to sit in the chair next to me, but she stands behind me. I wonder what that’s about.

  Gunther points at the Liaison to continue her statement.

  “We want to know if it was an eligibility notification, or a grantor notification.”

  “I won’t be sharing additional details at this time.” If she wants to be nasty, I can be dismissive.

  “I wasn’t asking, Troll.” I nod and wait.

  We wait, and wait long enough for the tea cart to arrive. The teen serves everyone a cup and I motion him to leave the cart as he exits the room. I sigh in delight.

  “Thank you for the hospitality Gunther. Now imagine if I received a grantor notification from either the Empire or the Skyreach Alliance and she was my only impression of the Guild. If she’s insinuating our deals are not mutually beneficial and dictatorial, I’m sure the System would help me invalidate them.”

  “Zhantsa,” Melody says behind me, “I am certain Victoria is merely tired from her travels and disgruntled that such a small town has pulled her from the Capitol. It has also been weeks since you were last available.”

  Ahh, she’s mad that she had to wait for me, as important as she sees herself.

  “Ah, thanks for the perspective, Melody. My apologies for the wait, Veronica, but I sometimes spend time on the outskirts of my holdings. Eight thousand hectares in total, I believe?”

  “Eight thousand, two hundred and thirty four,” Melody details, “A quarter of the size of the Duchy next door, and quite able to negotiate with her neighbors, the Ocean Trolls that own the southern swamps.”

  “Let us move on to something productive, shall we? What of the opportunities on my land?”

  “Or you could answer my questions. No amount of land or blue skin makes you more important than the Guild.” Veronica almost sneers.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I huff, tired of her posturing, knowing I am in no contract keeping me here. I stand and address Gunther directly. “I look forward to a more hospitable meeting.” I make it around the chair before Gunther speaks.

  “No need to leave, Zhantsa.”

  “I disagree. I don’t want to sit in a hostile meeting, where two of the three items on the meeting are things you want from me. Whatever grudge this woman has against me will not be solved with a look or an agreement. But for now, to keep myself safe, no guild agents besides Melody are allowed on my land unless approved by me. Good day.” I take the teapot with the cup I’m holding and leave.

  Melody doesn’t leave with me. Fuck.

  I walk quickly out, but Melody catches up to me before I leave, careful not to touch me.

  “Can we talk outside, Zhantsa?”

  “Sure. I’m not mad with you, but the nature of that meeting was conflicting and counter productive.” We walk seven paces, through the main doors, and stop to the side of the Guild Hall. “Why was she so hostile.”

  “Troll stuff. We tried to exclude her from the conversation, but she outranks us. We really want to work with you Zhantsa, but Empire-level Guild is not happy about a Troll Noble establishing territory.”

  “It’s not even official! Why start with fire if there is no proof of disease?”

  “Fear. But still no excuse. Will you let me brief you on Gunther and the Treasurer’s proposals?”

  I sigh. “Not right now. That meeting really bothered me. Maybe over dinner, or after?”

  “Are you asking me out, Zhantsa?” That tone and posture, I swear she is teasing me.

  “It wouldn’t be appropriate to hit on my mentor, so definitely maybe.” She rolls her eyes and it makes a thrill of contentment roll through me. “Are you assigned to me today? Or do you need to go?”

  “This is my only task for the day.”

  “And I’m not leaving until afternoon tomorrow.”

  She looks around, then looks at me, then fiddles with her hands while looking at the ground before speaking again. “I know how this is going to sound, but do you want to come over and not spend a ton of money out in town?”

  “Sounds like a friend being hospitable. And yes, lead the way.”

  She sighs, grabbing my hand and leading me to a section of town I’ve never been to. She holds my hand the whole time, and I smile at our connection—both physical and emotional—as the busy Elf takes me home.

  ***

  “Don’t look at me like that, all long-lived races become rich. If you keep your current pace, you’ll have more money than me in less than a decade.”

  “It’s not about the money Melody, it’s about you inviting me into this splendor.”

  “How would you feel if I already had a room made up for you?”

  “I would wonder why you waited so long to invite me over. Friend.”

  “It’s because of the way you say that! Like you’re waiting for me to say okay and then kiss my ears off!”

  My smile widens into a full tusky experience, “I’ve been wondering the same thing Melody. So are we flirting, are we waiting for one of us to quit the Guild? Because I want to kiss your knowing smirk until you forget what you know.”

  She comes over, grabs my face in one hand and comes within a centimeter of my lips. “Bad Troll.” She flicks my nose, giggles and walks away. “I am clearly interested, but my job currently does not allow this style of fraternization. Behave and you can stay.”

  “I can behave, especially now that I understand.” I waggle my eyebrows.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Proudly.” My grin couldn’t be wider. “Flirting aside, did you want to talk business?”

  She sighs and walks around for a bit, fiddling with tea on the stove. I shrug and position myself on her couch so that she can join me in a cuddle when she’s ready. I tell her the same.

  She grumbles and says nothing, but plops in my lap and lays on me, pulling my arms around her like we’re riding a reclined horse. “Freckles is what convinced me that we’d have to talk about this. The hands around me were a bit too much to ignore.”

  I shrug, “Then don’t. It’s okay to acknowledge but not partake. I understand better than you might think.”

  She wiggles deeper into the couch and into me. “Okay.” She squeezes my hands that are resting on her tasty middles. “Gunther side-stepped a few regulations to make material bounties so that you could access the higher tier quests that you can fill without him getting involved with every transaction.”

  I nod and look them over. The bounties are for materials that I have previously provided. Easy day. “This is a simple yes from me. Any catch?”

  “Yeah, not a negotiation. You get the bounty and that’s it.”

  “Okay. I’m game. Next?”

  She laughs for a minute before speaking again. “Imagine the Guild’s shame when I get this deal done with comfort and cuddles.”

  I hum in appreciation. “Cuddles are the way to peace.”

  Melody barks with laughter and swats my leg. “How opposed are you to businesses on your land?”

  “I mean, taxes and rent will be a thing, but otherwise I think it’s a great idea.”

  “That’s not so hard to swallow. Gunther wants to install a bunk house and ranch fixtures so that we can have local meat again. With Tanner’s penchant for farming, our local produce should spike as well.”

  I take a deep breath in her sandy blond hair before kissing her head. “I will be taxing the organization running the ranch services, not the residents. And my fees will come off the Guild’s cut of sales.”

  “You want to make the Guild the bad guy?” Melody looks up and asks.

  “Corporate Guild pissed in my shoes today. If they want to organize a business on my land, I take a piece from them. If independent contractors, famers, what have you, want to deal with me directly, I’ll be the business baddie.”

  I expect Melody to look disappointed, but there’s a gleam in her eye instead. “Clever vengeance is hot.”

  I swat her arm. “You’re supposed to be tempering my libido missy. Careful or I will open all of the windows.”

  “Oh no, the snuggles, how will I survive?”

  I pull the blanket off the back of her couch and cover her face with it. She struggles for a minute to uncover her face, but doesn’t move from her spot.

  “We joke, but the Guild really does want to work with you, there are just too many egos involved, and each of them have an issue dealing with a brand new member as a business partner.”

  “Not you though?” I say with perhaps a bit too much hope in my voice.

  “I’ve aligned myself as your manager, Zhansta. They’re not trusting me as an independent observer when it comes to you. That’s why I didn’t try to step in at the meeting. That and they all out rank me by a fair margin.”

  I grab her hands and hug her with my arms and legs. “Thanks for taking the time with me, Melody. It means a lot.”

  “Don’t thank me just yet, I was considering folding on our mentorship if they weren’t being so damned fishy.”

  “Hey!” I try to shove her off the couch but she holds my legs and I just cant’ do it.

  “If I had done that, we could be scandalous right now.”

  I snort, “I see the true motivation. Tart.” She pinches me and I chuckle.

  “Like I was saying to Gunther, I’m game for a business setting up instead of private employees, but I’ll charge the company instead of the workers. I don’t need them mean at me when I can’t change their deals.”

  “We socialized an opportunity, and we have three families that are interested. I’m tempted to invite all three with the land you have, but we need a barracks and some ranch facilities. Preferably near the river.”

  “Mmm, going to hard no on the river outside half a kilometer from the road. I don’t want them near my operations.”

  “Your land by the river ends where it meets the road, so that’s easy. Any other hang ups?”

  “No slaughterhouse on my land.” I get a sick feeling at the thought of it. I understand where my meat comes from, but the kill floors have always bothered me.

  “Not a deal breaker. What about Tanner? He’s got his eye on a lady with a bunch of farming brothers.”

  “Mmm, my land their farm, I get first pick of the harvest, the rest is theirs with a small rent.”

  “That, that is generous. May I ask why?”

  “They aren’t asking for tools, or help, or imposing themselves on me. And they’re a family, not a business. Plus, Tanner is willing to look over my personal plots as part of his duties as caretaker. That earns him a break.”

  “You’re much nicer than most adventurers. Comfy too.”

  I smile at the honest declaration. “Take a nap, cutie. We can talk more later.” She nods and fades as I pet her hair and pull the blanket up around her chin.

  ***

  “Veronica gave me an ultimatum to tell you. If you want to stay with the Guild, they’ll agree to your terms, but they want access to the resources from your cave.”

  “Or?” I ask.

  “Or, It’s all off. The resource deals with the Duchy, any help from the Guild, and your membership. Gone.”

  “Scorched earth, what a petty shit. She must have been very embarrassed by my walking out on her.”

  “You have no idea, she was inches away from me shouting about entitled adventurers and how that blue . . . rude word should know her place.”

  I chuckle at Melody censoring herself. “I mean, that decision isn’t even hard. Do I want to break out on my own this early? No, but if she is any indication of hour big Guild is going to treat me? And forever? Hells no.” I pull my money pouch out of my inventory and get my Guild card out. “So how do we do this?”

  “We go to the front desk, have my compatriot process you out and that is it.”

  I motion for her to lead the way.

  The receptionist looks very confused when I hand her the card and tell her I’d like to leave the Guild. A screen pops up to confirm that I wish to cut my ties with the Adventurer’s Guild. I confirm, hand over my card and walk back out of the building.

  I bring up a menu to look over my active contracts, and mark the two that I have with the Guild as defaulted by them. A note pops up saying that the conditions will be reviewed by the System.

  “Melody, I’m sorry if this makes work harder for you, but . . .” She shuts me up with her mouth and we kiss outside of the Guild Hall for what seems like minutes. When her fingers tuck inside my waist band I push away with a giddy laugh and a buzz in my everything.

  “I guess that means we’re okay?”

  Her smile is wide and she picks me up with a hug. “We are great in my mind. I can weather this, but I doubt there will be no repercussions for this. Let’s not think of that today. How about we get some food to take to your place and . . . just live for a week?”

  “Don’t threaten me with a good time. Take me shopping? Share a cart ride where I get to hug you for an hour? Oh no? The pretty Elf wants to torture me!” She flicks my ear and I hiss in pain.

  “Oh! Sorry, crap, that stings for me, but not what you did. I’m so sorry Zhantsa!”

  I growl, kiss her, and bite her bottom lip a bit too hard. She shudders in my grasp. She takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. “That was not a deterrent.”

  “Take it as a promise then, Elf.” I growl again and see her half lidded eyes shudder. That little act of submission gets the fire of . . . conquest to back down in my blood. Was I about to rage over shame?

  “Sorry, Melody. I, uh, took that a different way not meant for public.”

  She leans her head forward and just keeps breathing for a moment. “I was afraid and turned on. I . . . I need to feel safe before you do that again.”

  Not a scolding? Oh, she liked it, like a lot. A devilish part of me keeps that for later. “I have a cart to get at noon, but after that, we’re free to hide on my farm.”

  She smiles, hooks my arm and leads me to the market.

  Melody knows everyone and I end up as a glorified bag carrier. With 24 strength I can carry a few bags, so I don’t mind and for the first time in a while, since she first told me she wanted to tie her cart to my horse, she looks free.

  Every time I’m about to complain about the amount that she’s buying, I realize she’s planning to stay with me for a week at least. Every time I think about that I remember that there’s only one bed and I am much warmer than her. Blush assaults me and I hold her hand harder with my big dorky crush ideas.

  “Does your race require citrus?” She asks me.

  “I should be fine with red meat and a bit of vinegar?” She makes a face. “look lady, I think my only hard requirement is meat and water. I can eat whatever, and I personally like food. Be comfortable Mel,”

  She considers my statement and sticks her tongue at me. I smile stupidly at her playfulness. Blarg, cotton candy feels. Hehe.

  My modified mine cart gets piled with my tools and our produce as we hook it to Freckles for our trek to my farm. The Watch waves at both of us as we leave.

  “So, Zhantsa, what are your land plans?”

  “Melody” I drag out her name in exasperation. “Just let me smooch your neck instead of talking business.” She swats my face when I kiss her shoulder again. “Fine. I want to keep the mine private until it eventually turns into a dungeon. From what Leeda was saying, it’s headed that way. For my topside claims, it’s a bit early, but long term I like the ranch fam, I like the idea of a farm fam, and eventually I’d like a Marcrest or a Zhantsa-funded trade school.”

  “Self-titled? SO arrogant.!”

  “Hey! I haven’t thought of a business name yet.”

  “FrostFire Industries. You are a Frost, you deal with fire on three fronts, and it seemed appropriate.”

  “Seemed, as in happened?”

  “Yes. I turned your forge, glass, and farm interest into a corporation. If we put it all under a corporation, you can be anonymous for a while longer.”

  “I like the name. I can’t be mad that you acted on my behalf because I leave for months at a time and you have been amazing.”

  She laughs sadly, “Your account has been such a hassle. Everyone wants a piece and I have told so many important people that I will not act on your behalf beyond what we discussed.”

  “Melody! People have been trying to leverage you?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

  “Zhantsa, lonely blue Troll; they wanted to take advantage. I perhaps wagered some personal capitol on you and lost on the short term. However!” She shouts, to ensure I listen instead of interrupt. “I have learned much about the Guild since you arrived and will continue to learn despite their sanctions. Plus, now I don’t have to feel bad for wanting to kiss you.”

  I smile and hug her fiercely.