James was just about ready to believe this wasn’t a real world when the weather, perfect until now, went to shit. They hitched up the horses and got ten minutes down the road before a wall of water hit them.

  Edward and Ken pulled out umbrellas like the jerks that they were.

  Charlie lasted a total of ten minutes before disappearing to Squire’s Retreat. Squire followed shortly after.

  He was cold… happy, a lot poorer, but cold.

  Nimbus didn’t seem affected at all, plodding along like it was any other day. He doubted he’d get much bond progress today though.

  Vern just sat, for all intents and purposes, like she was a well-trained, massively overpowered dog.

  He wondered idly how old she really was. Probably not very old at all.

  On a whim, James threw a Quick Heal on Vern, just in case she needed it.

  He didn’t notice anything so probably a waste.

  James was ready to remain silent for the rest of the drizzly slog.

  Edward interrupted his thoughts by saying “So, how ya doing?”

  “I’m cold. Do you have a spare umbrella?”

  “No, but there’s a shop on main street that we can take you to. Has all sorts of handy gadgets and gear like this.” Edward said.

  “There’s also the smith I got my weapons from on Smiths street.”

  “A Smith on Smith street… really?” James groaned at the logic.

  “Is their name Mr Smith by chance?”

  Edward chuckled like he thought it was a joke. “Not everyone has your naming sense James.”

  “Her name,” he said, emphasizing the word ,

  James couldn’t help but laugh at the juvenile humour.

  “That reminds me.” He said and passed over the butcher's knife. “Thanks again for that.”

  “No worries, though I do recommend visiting Joan the smith when you get back,” Edward said, glancing at him. “I notice you’ve spent a lot of that quest reward we all got. If you are low on money, I’m sure you could use some of her apprentice Ben’s work. He’s getting better.”

  “Thanks. Ummm.” he hesitated. “Edward, Ken… Thank you for taking me in so readily. I’m a long way from home and you both have been the best.”

  “You’re welcome.” Edward said, speaking on Ken’s behalf as well. “You’re also being too hard on yourself.”

  James looked up from staring at Nimbus’s mane. “What do you mean?”

  “We’ve been through a lot in what, four days since we saw you fighting in the Arena against Tristan. I’d be happy to have a few days without doing quests if you want some more down time?”

  “Let me think about it. I have some pressing reasons I can’t get into why I need to level as fast as I can.”

  “You’re leveling bloody fast already. It’s been a year since I came of age, got my class, and started training with all these weapons.” Edward said.

  “A year huh? Where’d you train? Is there a weapons trainer in Hallowford?”

  “Rock is actually the guild's weapons master. I thought you knew that seeing as you were with him at the Arena. He taught me some advanced weapons fighting, but most of my training was with my family back home in Holmesden where I come from.”

  James brought up his map and found it. He didn’t have anything more than what Anne’s map in her office had.

  “I can see that on my map but I don’t really have a good idea of scale yet. How long did it take you to get here from Holmesden?”

  “Two weeks via carriage, though the first week we stopped at various towns along the way. Hallowford is a good week out from anywhere else. That, and a chance at the dungeon, is what brought me here.”

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  “How about you Ken?” James asked.

  “My path is a guided one,” he said. “My family is part of Edward’s family’s retinue. We grew up together. Given our joint coming of age, I was assigned to accompany Edward,” Ken said in his short, matter-of-fact way of talking.

  That explained why Edward was always talking on Ken’s behalf. There was a subtle power dynamic here.

  Ken continued. “I am also on a seer’s quest. My sister Marielle has the gift of prophecy. She foresaw that I would find opportunities here that I would not find elsewhere. I think she foresaw you, James.”

  Edward nodded.

  James was silent for a minute, just processing that.

  “I’ve never actually met a seer. What’s it like receiving a seer’s quest?”

  “I see. I suspect this is another thing you should know, yet don’t, that people don’t question,” Ken said, with what sounded like a tinge of angst.

  Edward gave Ken a warning look.

  Ken nodded, then continued matter of factly. “A seer’s quest is a personal, private quest. It can’t be shared and is almost never spoken to another. To ask is taboo. Fortunately, you did not ask what my quest was, merely the experience of receiving it. As such, it’s like receiving any other quest from the System or Guild. The trigger for the quest itself was my sister’s class.”

  James had accidentally trodden on a sensitive subject. He let it drop. “I appreciate the explanation and apologise for my ignorance.”

  They plodded on in silence for a few more minutes, the rain a constant accompaniment.

  “If either of you need something, or to go somewhere then let me know. I am more than happy to help you fulfil your quests.”

  Ken nodded, returning to his silence.

  Edward also nodded and said, “For now, I’m trying to gain reputation with the guild. There’s a guild specific enchantment that I want for my warhammer. It’s called ‘Fighter’s grace’”.

  “You can only get it out here.” Edward said.

  "What does it do?” James asked.

  “What doesn’t it do!” Edward said excitedly, almost jumping out of his saddle. “Any weapon with it will adapt to my grip, be it one-handed or two. The weapon moves faster, hits harder.” Edward’s voice hushed dramatically. “And I’ve heard rumours that it’s an upgradeable card, despite being embedded in a weapon.”

  “So, how does it work? You get to say one thousand guild reputation and they give it to you?”

  Edward guffawed.

  “They have a competition once every season. To enter, you need to have a reputation over two thousand. You also need to have an Arena score above one hundred. That’s gate one.”

  “How many gates are there?”

  “Three. The second gate is to fight Rock, or another guild champion for five minutes. You don’t need to win. You need to survive, and stay in the ring. Essentially though this is a chance for Rock to establish whether you deserve to be there. He could wipe the floor with any candidate. Getting on his good side beforehand helps too.” Edward was using his umbrella like a sword, ignoring the drizzle that made it through as he emphasized his words.

  “And the third gate?”

  “That’s the best part. I’ve already cleared that one, I think. Depends on if it still counts. Fight the dungeon and win.”

  “Oh, awesome! So I too could get Fighter’s grace if I did some more Arena fighting and raised my reputation, which is currently nearly at a thousand.” James stopped talking as Edward shook his head.

  “That’s the gates you need to pass to enter. Remember, it’s a seasonal competition. There’s only ever one Fighter's grace to win. They don’t even craft it here. The Guild sends it from Delarith, the Capital.”

  “Wow, okay. So you …” James started but Edward interrupted.

  “There’s technically a fourth gate too. You still need to be Bronze rank.”

  “Okay. So…” James started but Edward interrupted again.

  “Don’t ask me what the competition is. It changes as the guild needs. Could be a quest, could be a melee. It usually involves strength of arms though.”

  James waited. When Edward seemed to be done he started again.

  “Okay, so say you win. Will you head back home after that?”

  Ken looked at Edward as if interested in the answer himself.

  Edward nodded. “Yeah, that was the plan. Now though… I’m not so sure.”

  “Not on my account I hope?”

  “Well, maybe. You are a lightning rod after all. But no, I wish to stay until Ken’s seer’s quest is complete. My family may send someone to drag me back. Ken will be obliged to accompany me.” Edward seemed a bit sad about this last part.

  Ken seemed pleased by the pronouncement.

  Edward filled the rest of the ride with stories of his homeland and the Capital’s towering guild halls.

  His stories were fascinating. James was able to paint a rough picture of how things worked. Instead of traditional lords and a single ruler, there were families, each responsible for taming their territories and keeping crime low. They maintained vassals and retinues, their influence tied largely to wealth. There were horse lords, griffon lords, and great schools of learning. Fights between families did occur, but very rarely. What struck James most was the Guild’s place in this hierarchy, or rather its absence. When a family abused its tenants, the Guild intervened. When a dungeon formed, it became Guild property and responsibility. Monster invasions, when they came, were handled jointly.

  Edward had just begun describing the lizard people of the Hokin Desert to the southeast of Delarith when Hallowford’s walls finally came into view.

  Hallowford’s streets were packed with people moving about.

  The pallor of Darneath’s semi-permanent tent city was gone now, and the area was revealed to be a large, flat, multipurpose space.

  Edward’s hand pointed to the area, probably after seeing James's attention.

  “That’s where visiting families sometimes set up. Part of the reason the Guild was annoyed with Darneath is that he’d monopolised the grounds for far too long.”

  James nodded with understanding.

  “That’s also where mounted combat training occurs.”

  Ken piped up. “Don’t forget that the locals use the area for celebrations and larger gatherings too.”

  Edward nodded in agreement.

  James turned down the road to the Guild compound's back entrance. He was hoping to “stable” Vern and Nimbus in their stable area.

  The back gate was wide open with a large number of animals and handlers bringing them in. It appeared that the kennels and stables staff were back.

  A strong female voice cut through the general hubbub. “Is that a wyvern?”