Chapter 76: Guild Hall


    It was quiet in the administration building, with only a couple of adventurers and the clerks behind their respective counters.


    Gisael, Reyas and Nej took a seat while Ailen and Saka approached the counter. Barrin looked at Gisael, who nodded, and then he followed the twins.


    "Uh hi," Ailen said. "We''re a new guild. New to Dawnharbour."


    Thedy had a pair of spectacles bncing on her nose and a long pencil in her hand. She twirled the pencil and raised an eyebrow.


    "Are you registered?" she asked.


    "We are with the gatekeepers but not here."


    She pursed her lips. "The gatekeepers keep registrations? Really?"


    Ailen nodded. "Of sorts."


    "You don''t look like an adventurer."


    "Is it a requirement to be a man?" Saka asked. "There are other races, but we are rare."


    The clerk nodded. "No. It is just unusual. You''ll need to pay dues and taxes. It''s in the guild charter. Once you sign and pay an advance, I can certify you." She handed Ailen a roll of papers tied with a ribbon.


    He unrolled them and he face scrunched up in consternation. The writing was tiny and indiscernible.


    She smiled. "Let me go through the criteria.


    She looked around the room. "How many in your guild? The limit is twenty-five."


    "Oh, we have four."


    She shook her head. "You''ll need at least five to form your council."


    "Okay then we''ll add in the two women on the bench seat. That makes six," Saka said.


    "Are they adventurers?" the clerk asked.


    Saka nodded. "Yes."


    The clerk peered at them and shrugged. "Next you have to pay a standard levy of 5 pounds a month. It includes hall rental but if you want to upgrade to a luxury hall its 15 pounds per month."


    "Five pounds of what?" Saka asked.


    The clerk giggled. "You are green aren''t you." Then she looked at their skin. "Sorry. Five pounds of qi cores from the monsters."


    "Standard is fine," Ailen said, "There''s only six of us and a couple of helpers."


    "But all the standard halls are taken and the new buildings on the isle aren''t ready. So, you''ll have to take a luxury one I am afraid."


    "Can''t we stay in an inn and just pay dues?"


    She shook her head. "No, its part of the charter that all adventurers must stay in their own hall. There will be five standard halls freeing up next month. You can downgrade when one is free."


    "Why are they freeing up?"


    "Five guilds are moving on. One to The Reach and four to Sstria. You arrived just in time for the tournament because it''s the winners who will get to move to better hunting grounds."


    Ailen nced at Saka who kept a straight face.


    Barrin moved between Ailen and Saka and asked. "Is the tournament to the death?"


    The clerk pointed at the wall where a noticeboard hung. "Tournament rules are there." There was arge sign stating Tournament with four pages pinned underneath.


    Barrin nodded and walked over to the wall. He removed his goggles and began to read with a hand keeping the light from shining into his eyes.


    Ailen and Saka sat and read through the four scrolls regarding guilds. Then paid the 15 pounds of cores at the payment desk. It was half a backpack. They were handed a map of the city and the clerk marked the location of their guild hall.


    She gave them a set of keys and said, "A wee pack will arrive at your hall. You''ll be assigned an ambassador soon."


    When she saw their nk stares. "The ambassador''s job is to guide and assist with city rtions."


    "Oh," Ailen said. "Ant to keep us out of trouble."


    She nodded. "Most of the guilds did this a month ago."


    "We''re different."


    She peered at his green skin. "I can see." She sighed. "But cores are cores. The duke will take anyone''s qi."


    "Who''s good with maps?" Ailen asked.


    Barrin looked around. "I can do it. Hand it here."


    They walked through the streets again with most of the city folk stopping to stare. Their hall was closer to the main keep than the others. It was five stories high and looked like a square tower reaching for the sky. It was made of sandstone with zed windows and it even had parapets.


    Barrin used the key and pushed opened the heavy oak double doors. It was dusty inside and Saka made her way to open the windows.


    "Open on the second and third floor. Not here," Reyas said. "Cities are full of thieves."


    "They can climb you know," Ailen said.


    Her lip curled. "Then they will die, but we will at least keep out the ones who can''t"


    The ground floor was amon area with a firece, rugs, andfy chairs. There were two long tables and a kitchen counter behind. On the right-hand side, a sweeping staircase followed the walled and curled onto the first floor. It looked like a hotel with doors spaced apart evenly and a balcony looking down into themon room.


    Both the second and third floors were open in the centre with rooms round the walls.


    "Five stories?" Barrin said. "You could live on one, two at most."


    Ailen shrugged. "It''s meant for a guild of twenty-five. I guess the higher floors are more luxurious for the guild leaders.


    "Ten rooms on the second floor," Saka said.


    Ailen ran up the stairs and inspected all the floors. The third had ten rooms as well and the fourth had four rooms and arge meeting room. The top floor only had one room, a study, and a library.


    And then there was the roof which had a view of most of the city. It hadrge cushions and a sail to keep the sun off. He ran back down and reported what he''d found.


    "So, it should be," Barrin said. "It costs a fortune, 15 pounds of cores, each month. That''s a masterwork tool and then some." He chuckled. "And we let you stay free."


    Saka nodded. "Ailen do you want to go tell Trik that we''re here. They cane and visit us."


    Ailen nodded. "Good idea. Rub it in."


    She turned to Barrin. "You should put up a notice in the admin building that you''re here and interested in talking to guilds aboutmissions."


    He grinned at her. "That youss. That''s great advice. I''ll go see if there is something to write with upstairs."


    "Try the study on the fifth floor," Ailen said and left.


    Barrin looked at all the stairs, sighed and began the long climb. The first staircase was wide, and its sweeping railing was made for show. From the second floor up, they were nestled in the corner taking up as little room as possible.


    Ailen and Barrin were gone and Saka gestured for Gisael and Reyas to getfortable. They sat in a circle of chairs and while Reyas lookedfortable Gisael crouched on the seat.


    "I''m worried about the tournament. If an adventurer dies, we cane back. There''s a cost, but until we quit, we''re almost immortal. I''m worried because I don''t know what happens if you die. And the tournament is setup for adventurers like me, so the safety precautions arex."


    "If we fight, we will win," Gisael said.


    Saka smiled. "But we have to n for the worst. You can surrender if Ailen, Benzhi and I die. But still. What happens to you if you''re killed inbat? Do the gatekeepers give you another body and send you back here?"


    Reyas shook her head. "Until you spoke of this, I never thought it was possible. If we were killed, we''re dead. That''s it."


    Gisael bared her teeth. "We fight and there is danger almost every day. Why is this different? I am not afraid."


    Saka sighed. "It''s different because it''s a contest and unnecessary. We don''t have to do it."


    Gisael met Saka''s gaze. "Benzhi can decide. He will not risk our lives if it is not worthy."


    Saka shook her head. "We have to register before he is back. And he might not be back in time."


    Gisael red at her. "Go see him, dream-walk tonight."


    Saka nodded. "I will try but thest time I was there he was unconscious." She weathered their ire. "But well, he is well."


    Barrin walked down the stairs with his notices in hand.


    "It is settled then," Reyas said. "If Benzhi says we fight, we fight."


    Barrin said, "Fight who?"


    "The tournament," Saka said.


    "I''ll go put these up now," Barrin said.


    "Wait," Saka interrupted him. "You have to join our guild. Otherwise they won''t let you post them."


    "Ailen suggested " he said and sighed. "What does it entail?"


    Gisael bared her teeth. "I do not like this." She gestured to Saka. "You put them up. You are in the guild."


    Saka thought for a moment. "Okay." She held out her hand and Barrin handed the notices over.


    When she left Barrin asked, "What does joining your guild entail?"


    Gisael shrugged. "I am not sure, but I did not want you coerced. It is not our way."


    Reyasughed loudly. "Unless you trespass or threaten the forest then it is very much our way."


    Gisael joined her and theyughed together.