The Adventurer's Guild: #1-Jaikus and Reneeke Join the Guild

  “Remove a Specter…”

  “Ice Giant stealing cattle…”

  “Recover family heirloom from cursed crypt…”

  Reneeke turned to Jaikus. “I’m not sure about these.”

  Seven scrolls, each detailing over a score of tasks needing completion were nailed to the side of the Guild. They had gone through six thus far and hadn’t found anything their meager talents could handle.

  “Here’s one that doesn’t look overly dangerous. A Mr. Phats requests leaves of the Atalas plant.” Glancing from the scroll to his friend, Jaikus asked, “Maybe we could find some in an apothecary?”

  Reneeke shook his head. “If they could be had so readily, I doubt if Mr. Phats would have sought the services of the Guild.”

  “You have a point, Rene.” Further reading revealed that the nearest location of the leaves was some leagues within the Keota Swamp. “Maybe not.” To travel such a distance into the Swamp would almost ensure encountering trolls. A prospect neither relished.

  Flipping to the last scroll, Jaikus’ eyes were drawn to a scrawl written across the bottom.

  Lost ring. See Matron Grantha—Reakla. 5 GP

  “A lost ring. What do you think?”

  Reneeke nodded. “Sure. She’s in Reakla too.” Most of the tasks listed on the Scrolls ranged all over the realm, and even to places neither of them were in the least bit familiar. It was fortuitous that this one happened to be near.

  “Five gold pieces would come in handy,” Jaikus added. “We spent all but our last few coppers at Keeler’s.”

  “Then let’s find this Matron Grantha and see what we can do to help her.”

  Setting out from the Guild with but a name to go on, they asked passersby as to this lady’s whereabouts. It wasn’t until the sky was growing dark and they had wandered up near Adventurer’s Way that someone knew who they were seeking.

  “Matron Grantha?” questioned a lad of about seven. “Sure I know her. She lives by herself in the house next to Chondy’s Outfitters. You can’t miss it.”

  “Thanks.” After finding out the general direction in which her home lay, they quickly came across Chondy’s Outfitters and the two-storied home that shared its south wall. To the right of the outfitters was a small open plaza, so the house on the left had to belong to Matron Grantha.

  The door of the home bore ornate scrolling with faded varnish. Jaikus rapped on the door with the round brass knocker, paused, then rapped again. There was no response. He was about to rap a third time when they heard a bolt being thrown and the door swung inward a few inches before halting.

  An elderly woman squinted through the crack at the two on her doorstep. “Yes?”

  “Good afternoon,” Jaikus began. “Are you Matron Grantha?”

  Squinting harder, the woman asked, “Is that you, Booba?”

  Jaikus glanced to Reneeke who only shrugged. Turning back to the lady, he replied, “Uh, no ma’am. My name is Jaikus and this is my friend Reneeke. We saw that you were in need of someone to locate a…ring?”

  “Oh my, yes,” she replied. “My husband gave me that ring during our seventeenth year together.” Face pursing, she cursed, “He was a drunken lout, but I did dearly love that ring.” Opening the door wider, she gestured for them to enter. “Won’t you come in?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Passing through the door, they entered a nice, if not lavish, outer room one would expect to find in the home of an elderly lady. Frilly lace abounded. The door closed behind them and Matron Grantha indicated for them to have a seat upon the divan. She sat in a plush chair directly across from them.

  “Could you tell us about the ring, ma’am? When did you last see it and most importantly, what does it look like?”

  “Well, I do seem to recall wearing it last month when I went to Clara’s for dinner. Clara of course is the wife of my first son. He’s been gone these many years and we find comfort in each other’s company. She runs the bakery now with the help of my two granddaughters, Mara and Chari. Lovely girls, both. Soon it will be time to pick out a husband for Mara, she’s the oldest.”

  She eyed the two seated before her. “I don’t think either of you are right for her. Perhaps you should go and I’ll try to find someone who is more well-off.” She squinted at them for a moment. “From the looks of you two, coins don’t find their way into your pockets very often.”

  “Ma’am, we’re not here about your granddaughters,” Reneeke explained. “We’re here to help you find your ring.”

  “My ring? Oh, yes, that’s right. It went missing. Did you find it? You know you don’t get the reward until you do.”

  “Yes, ma’am, we understand that. But we have only just arrived and you haven’t told us what it looked like or where you may have lost it.”

  “Didn’t I? I was pretty sure I had. Well, it is a gold ring with a large diamond set in the middle with two red sapphires, one to either side. Those are supposed to represent my granddaughters Mara and Chari. Mara is set to be betrothed to a miller’s son, but he seems a bit shiftless to me. I cautioned her mother as to his ways but she doesn’t seem to care.”

  “I thought you said a husband had yet to be picked out for Mara?” asked Reneeke.

  She then launched into an exhaustive explanation of why-tos and wherefores, and Jaikus turned an annoyed glance to Reneeke. “Let’s try to keep her on the ring, shall we?” he whispered.

  “Sorry.”

  When a break finally came in her convoluted rendition of Mara’s betrothal prospects, final disposition, and so forth, Jaikus interrupted her with, “Now, about your ring. Could you…” A nudge from Reneeke caused him to leave the sentence unfinished. His friend was pointing across the room toward where a vase decorated with pictures of violets sat on a small table against the wall.

  “On the table behind it,” whispered his friend.

  It was the ring. From where they sat, they could readily make out the diamond and two sapphires placed to either side of the ring just as she had described.

  Reneeke turned his attention back to Matron Grantha. “Ma’am, your ring…oof!”

  A quick jab in the ribs silenced his friend. “…will be in your hands by morning,” finished Jaikus.

  “Thank you, young man,” she said with a smile. “It means so much to me. Not because of my late, layabout husband you understand, but because it represents my darling granddaughters.”

  Jaikus came to his feet. “Have nothing to fear. Jaikus and Reneeke are on the job.”

  “Wonderful.”

  As she turned to see them to the door, Jaikus moved toward the vase and the ring partially hidden behind it. Then when her back was turned while opening the door, he snagged the ring and slipped it into his pocket.

  Reneeke frowned and shook his head. That’s stealing, he mouthed to his friend.

  Heading to the door, Jaikus ignored Reneeke and slipped through to the street beyond.

  “You boys have a good time finding my ring,” she said.

  “We will, ma’am.”

  Once Reneeke had joined him out on the street and Matron Grantha closed the door, Jaikus turned to his friend. “Tomorrow, bright and early, we’ll return with the ring and collect our reward.”

  “But this is not right,” argued Reneeke.

  “What do you mean? She didn’t know where it was, we found it and are going to return it to her.”

  “Jaik, she didn’t lose it, merely misplaced it.”

  “Look, we need to complete an Adventure before we get into the Guild, right?”

  Reneeke nodded.

  “We do this, and we get in.”

  “I still don’t think this is the right way to go about it,” Reneeke asserted. “We are taking advantage of an old lady whose mind and eyesight are going.” A pause, then, “What if it was your grandmother in there?”

  “Which one?” Waving off the answer, Jaikus continued, “Besides, we need the coins. We are not stealing, merely satisfying a need that she has requested we fill.
Namely, returning her precious ring to her. We’re down to coppers, Rene!”

  Reneeke did not look convinced.

  “Trust me. This will all work out.”

  Bright and early the next morning, Jaikus and Reneeke were once again knocking upon Matron Grantha’s door. When the elderly woman answered, she squinted at the two of them. “Booba?”

  “No, ma’am,” Jaikus replied. “We are not Booba. My friend and I were here yesterday and said that we would help you find your ring.”

  “My ring? Did I lose that ring again?”

  “Apparently. You posted a notice at the Guild and we came in answer.”

  “Oh, yes. That’s right, my ring is missing again. When you find it, let me know.”

  She started to close the door and Jaikus quickly stepped forward. He laid a strong hand upon it to prevent the door from closing, then said, “We have already found your ring.”

  “You did? You boys are quick.”

  Jaikus pulled the ring from his pocket and held it out to her. “Here you go, ma’am.”

  Taking it, she said, “Thank you, young gentlemen.”

  When she again began to close the door, Jaikus said, “I believe there was a reward?”

  “Oh that’s right. I almost forgot. Wait here a moment.” She closed the door until there was only a crack left through which Jaikus and Reneeke could peer.

  “We shouldn’t take any reward,” Reneeke stated. “We didn’t do anything.”

  “Look Rene, we need the gold. Without it, we’ll be without resources all too soon. Besides, did you see the look on her face? We brought her happiness.”

  “By taking a ring from her home and returning it the next day. It isn’t right.”

  Jaikus rolled his eyes and sighed. Reneeke would never understand.

  Seconds ticked by and the woman failed to return. Peering through the crack, Jaikus tried to discover where she had gone, but couldn’t see her. He nudged the door open a little bit so he could get a better view of the interior. From the back of the house came soft, melodic singing.

  Frowning, he hollered, “Hello?” When nothing happened, he hollered once more, this time louder. “Matron Grantha?”

  The old woman appeared from the back. “Is that you Booba?”

  “No, ma’am. We are the ones who returned your ring.” Slightly exasperated, there was an edge to Jaikus’ voice.

  “My ring?” she asked. Holding her hand up, she showed them where the ring rode on her finger. “But my ring is here. I’m afraid you must have me confused with someone else.”

  “Look, we are from the Guild. You posted a request for someone to recover your ring. We came here yesterday and took on the task. Not more than ten minutes ago we returned the ring to you.”

  “Did you?” she asked. “Why, that was awfully nice of you young man.”

  “Yes. And now we would like the reward of five gold pieces you offered.”

  “I don’t know anything about that. You’ll have to take it up with Booba.”

  “Who is this Booba, and where can we find him?”

  Growing thoughtful, Matron Grantha acquired a faraway look. Then she said, “Now I remember. He’s usually in front of the Guild. Lost his arm a while back, poor boy. He comes around here every now and then to check on me. Seems he feels I should move in with him and my youngest daughter Belle, but I simply can’t bring myself to leave my home.”

  Reneeke gave her a warm grin. “We understand. We shall take this up with Booba.”

  “If you do speak with him, please tell him I am well.”

  “It would be our pleasure.” Then to Jaikus, Reneeke said, “Let’s go.”

  As Matron Grantha closed the door, Jaikus turned to Reneeke. “We’ll never get our money out of Booba! You heard what Keeler said, that man has it in for those of us who want to join the Guild.”

  “Relax, Jaik. You get too anxious about things.”

  “Rene, we have little in the way of coins remaining. What are we to do?”

  Reneeke shrugged. “Something will come up.”

  Jaikus didn’t share his friend’s optimism.

  Two locals shared their table that night. One was a rather stocky man, a candle maker by the name of Jenki. The other was Jenki’s oldest son, Jenkimar. The common room being rather packed as it was that evening, a rare occurrence if what Jenki alleged was any indication, he and his son had asked the two would-be adventurers if they could share their table. Of course, Reneeke acquiesced before Jaikus could formulate a reasonable excuse why they couldn’t. But, the father and son turned out to be a jovial pair and Jaikus was quickly put at ease.

  “We saw the trolls being marched to the Guild yesterday,” Reneeke told the pair. “I had never seen such beasts in all my life.”

  Jenkimar nodded with a grin. “Then you must not be from around here?”

  “No. We hail from Running Brook, a small farming community many days to the east.”

  “Such sights are quite common,” the son explained. “Why, just last week, Treglae’s Fearsome Four actually brought in a Fire Drake. Seeing that beast paraded through the streets was something let me tell you.”

  “Isn’t bringing such dangerous animals into the city, well, dangerous?” asked Reneeke.

  “For the most part, no,” Jenki replied. “Of course, there are those instances when less skilled adventurers try to bag a beast that’s more than they can handle.” Turning to his son, he asked, “Remember when Teeth of Hell brought in those devil bears?” When his son nodded, he turned his attention back to the two friends. “They hadn’t made it halfway to the Guild before the bears broke the holding spells and started running amok. Ten died that day and another score will never walk again.”

  “People tend to be wary whenever a new band is marching their prize through the streets,” added the son.

  “They didn’t seem concerned when those trolls were passing through,” stated Reneeke.

  “That’s because it was Ye’s Band of Thugs. Everyone knows Ye and his crew know how to handle the beasts.”

  “Quite the colorful names these parties have,” Jaikus commented.

  Jenki nodded. “They tend to. If you boys are thinking about joining the Guild, you’ll probably want to join one of the existing parties, at least until you get some experience under your belt.”

  “Why?” Reneeke asked. “Jaik and I thought we could, you know, go it alone?”

  “I suppose you could, but you’ll survive much better if you have a few extra swords with you, not to mention a spell caster or two.”

  Reneeke turned to his friend, “What do you think, Jaik?”

  “I doubt if anyone would have us,” his friend replied.

  “They might. We won’t know until we ask.”

  The prospect of going hat in hand from party to party in the hopes someone would deign to allow them to tag along just didn’t sit well with him.

  Downing his ale, the father stood and motioned for his son to do likewise. “This will have to be goodnight, gentlemen,” he announced. “We’ve an early morning ahead of us.”

  “Have an order for the Guild to complete before noon,” the son explained. “Thank you for allowing us to share your table.”

  “You are welcomed,” Reneeke assured him.

  “Good night,” Jenki said then led his son across the common room to the door.

  Once the pair had left the inn, Reneeke signaled their server for another round of ale. “They were nice.”

  Jaikus nodded.

  They didn’t have long to wait until two frothy mugs sat before them. Reneeke picked up his and knocked back half of it.

  “Excuse me,” said a voice from a neighboring table.

  Turning toward the hail, Jaikus saw that it was a dark haired lad slightly younger than himself and Reneeke. He sat with five others of similar age. “Yes?”

  “We couldn’t help but overhear what you and those other fellows were talking about.”

  “Kind of rude, isn’t i
t? Listening in on other people’s conversations?” Jaikus didn’t care for such behavior.

  The kid shrugged. “Probably. But thought you might like to know of a Guild party leaving on the morrow that may be interested in taking along a couple Springers.”

  “Springers?” asked Jaikus. “What do you mean by, ‘Springer’?”

  “Didn’t Keeler mention something about Springers?” Reneeke queried.

  The lad glanced to his buddies and gave them a grin. “A Springer is what they call a new adventurer. You know, because in the spring, the world reawakens and becomes new again. A beginning as it were.”

  “What party?” Jaikus asked.

  “Charka’s Troupe. I heard they were going to be escorting Hymal the Apothecary into the Swamp to collect rare reagents. They usually have a Springer or two on these trips, or so I heard.”

  “Why would they want someone along who would be next to useless?” Reneeke asked. Jaikus flashed his friend an annoyed look at being referred to as useless.

  “Charka’s pretty nice about such things,” the lad explained. “Always one to help out the new guy.”

  Reneeke turned to Jaikus. “What do you think?”

  “We don’t know anything about this Charka, or his Troupe. How can we know he’ll do right by us?”

  “Hey, I wouldn’t steer you wrong,” the lad assured him. “I just thought I’d let you know. Take it or leave it as you will. If you’re interested, Charka can usually be found at The Dented Helm, a hangout for fighter types located near the Guild.”

  “I suppose it can’t hurt to look into it,” Jaikus stated. Then to the lad he said, “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Turning back to his friends, they began speaking in hushed tones.

  Jaikus rose to his feet and told Reneeke, “Let’s head over to The Dented Helm.”

  Two men stood conversing near the entrance. Both were obviously Guild fighters. One had twin blades strapped to his back while the other had a mace hanging from his belt. Both gave the two wannabe adventures a cursory glance. Bobbing their heads in greeting, Jaikus and Reneeke walked past without a word and entered The Dented Helm.

  It turned out to be a rather large tavern with two floors of rooms above the drinking area. Raucous laughter could be heard coming from within. Hanging on a rusty old chain attached to a beam near the entrance was an old war helm; its left side completely caved in.

  It was a busy night and there wasn’t an empty table to be had in the common room. A bard was setting up on the small stage in the far corner and no less than three barmaids worked their way through the tables delivering mugs of ale and platters of food.

  Jaikus scanned the sea of faces. “Which one is Charka?”

  “I don’t know,” Reneeke replied. Flagging down one of the barmaids, a comely lass with long flowing auburn hair and a well-rounded figure, he waited until she drew near then said, “My friend and I would like to buy a drink for Charka. You wouldn’t know what he favors would you?”

  “He usually drinks the Black Syderkult.”

  “Black Syderkult?”

  “It’s brewed locally from a plant grown on the edge of the Swamp. I’ve never tried it but have heard it could knock a troll back a step or two.”

  “Very well then.” Pulling two coppers from his pouch, he handed them to the barmaid. “Will this do?”

  She shook her head. “No. Two more.”

  Producing another two, he gave them to her.

  “I’ll get it to him right away.”

  “Thank you.”

  As she walked away Jaikus asked, “What did you do that for? We don’t have many coins left.”

  “Just wait.” He kept an eye on the door through which the barmaid had disappeared. Then when she reappeared with a tall flagon on her tray, he directed Jaikus’ gaze toward her. “Look there.” They watched as she crossed the common room and set the flagon before a large bear of a man. Clad in skins with a beard as full as a tree in spring, the man looked questioning to the girl. Then, when she pointed over to where Jaikus and Reneeke waited, Reneeke said, “We have found Charka.”

  The big man waved for them to come over and join him. When they reached his table, he said, “Many thanks, lads. I do appreciate a flagon of the ‘kult.”

  “Our pleasure.”

  Charka’s two comrades, one a woman as thin as a rail and dressed in a green gown; the other a fighter dressed in leathers with a simple looking sword hanging at his hip, nodded greetings as well.

  “Please, sit,” Charka offered.

  “Thank you, the common room seems a bit full this evening.” Taking a seat, Jaikus gave the big man a grin. Reneeke took the seat next to his.

  “Now, what do you want?” Charka eyed the two newcomers from behind the flagon as he took another drink.

  “We understand you may be in need of a couple Springers,” Jaikus explained.

  The big man looked surprised. “And you are volunteering your services in that capacity?”

  “Absolutely,” Jaikus replied.

  “We wish to join the Guild, and it appears this may be the only way.”

  “Well, it’s true we do prefer to have a Springer or two, though the last one didn’t work out so well.”

  “Oh?”

  The woman sitting beside Charka nodded. “He didn’t make it.”

  “Well, let me put your minds at ease. My friend and I are no strangers to the sword and we would be a great asset to have along.”

  “Do you have supplies and equipment to last a fortnight in the Swamp?” When he saw how their faces turned crestfallen, he knew they hadn’t. “You’ll need to get some.”

  Jaikus was about to reply, but was forestalled by Reneeke, who said, “We spent all but a few coppers to just get here and in purchasing our swords.” Jaikus flashed him an annoyed look.

  “Not a problem. Do you know where The Dirt Road is?” asked the man dressed in leathers.

  “Aren’t all the roads in Reakla dirt?” Jaikus asked.

  “No, it’s a chandler’s shop called The Dirt Road. Bella sells travel supplies and equipment. His place is near the Swamp Wall just off Keota Plaza. If in the morning you are still serious about accompanying us as Springers, seek him out and tell him Charka sent you and that you need the ‘regular’ supplies. You tell him that, and he’ll set you up with everything you need.”

  “But, we won’t be able to afford it,” stated Reneeke.

  “Don’t worry, it’ll come out of your share of the commission.”

  “What is our share?” Jaikus asked, very interested now that the possibility of receiving gold or treasure was mentioned.

  “Five percent, and a like share of any treasure we may come across and bring back. That’s standard for Springers.”

  “If we do this, would we be allowed to join the Guild?” Jaikus asked.

  Charka nodded. “I shall put your names forward upon our return, provided you acquit yourselves honorably and abide by the contract.”

  Jaikus nodded.

  “Very well then. We leave at noon tomorrow. Meet us in front of the Guild an hour before. Make sure you stop by Bella’s first and have your equipment with you.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jaikus responded. “We will do that.” Coming to his feet, he motioned for Reneeke to do the same.

  Reneeke bobbed his head and mumbled, “Thank you.”

  “See you tomorrow,” the woman said. The man in leathers merely eyed them and remained silent.

  “That you will,” Jaikus affirmed.

  Then turning from the table, he and Reneeke headed for the door. Once outside, Jaikus was practically jumping in his excitement. “An Adventure, Rene! We’re going on an Adventure!” Meeting his friend’s gaze, he added, “And after we return, we’ll be in the Guild. Isn’t that great?”

  “Yeah, sure,” replied Reneeke as he followed his friend back to their room at Inn of the Silver Spoon. Though if the truth be told, he had been kind of hoping their bid to get into the Guild
would have fallen through. For some reason, he thought life on the farm may be much preferable than what they were about to embark upon.

  Chapter 3