The Guild's Demands Read online

  The Guild’s Demands

  Book 7 of the Adventures on Brad

  By

  Tao Wong

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Copyright © 2021 Tao Wong. All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2021 Felipe deBarros Cover Artist

  Copyright © 2021 Sarah Anderson Cover Designer

  A Starlit Publishing Book

  Published by Starlit Publishing

  PO Box 30035

  High Park PO

  Toronto, ON

  M6P 3K0

  Canada

  www.starlitpublishing.com

  Ebook ISBN: 9781989994894

  Paperback ISBN: 9781989994900

  Contents

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  Books in the Adventures on Brad series

  Chapter 1

  “Daniel Chai?”

  The voice caught the adventurer as he wandered down from the stairs, running a hand through still-wet brown hair. The wooden railings of the worn medieval inn pressed on his hands, the wood helping to guide him down after a late night of revelry. A smile still lingered on Daniel’s lips as he recalled the young lady he’d left behind in his bed, asleep after a night of vigorous exercise. He only wished he could remember her name.

  The broad-shouldered adventurer turned his head, spotting the speaker seated at his table and positioned to catch sight of those descending from the inn’s second floor. He raised the battered wooden mug, filled with weak ale in greeting to Daniel.

  “Will you join me?”

  Daniel frowned, a hand dropping down to his side where his enchanted mace hung. He had put on the mace automatically, even though he was still dressed in his civilian tunic and pants which needed patching by the laundress after his most recent escapade in the dungeons of Silverstone. He kept meaning to pick up a few more pairs, but there was always something better to do.

  “Do I know you?” Daniel asked.

  “No, but I hope to change that with this breakfast,” the stranger said.

  Peering closer, Daniel took note of the finer weave of his clothes, the lack of fraying along the edges, the pair of rings with runic inscriptions on them, and the top of the bejewelled dagger that poked above the table from the stranger’s belt. It all spoke of an individual with funds to burn, entirely unlike Daniel himself and his friends.

  It wasn’t as though they were hurting for money these days. As Advanced Adventurers, Daniel and his team earned decent coin delving the dungeons on the regular. But having lost both new members of their impromptu party, the remaining trio were under-strength for dungeons that consisted of the city of Silverstone. Attempts at finding new party members had, thus far, been less than successful, as most independent adventurers of quality sought to join the various guilds that made up the city.

  Of course, it left the trio to work the first few levels of each of the dungeons over and over again. In truth, the repetition was relaxing, as they quietly and steadily saved up for more powerful, enchanted equipment to allow them to delve deeper.

  Daniel hesitated for a second before deciding to accept the invitation. While unusual, it was possible that the stranger was a client, someone seeking adventurers too cheap to use the official Adventurer’s Guild board.

  As Daniel took a seat, he did have to point out: “I have paid for my breakfast already. It comes with the room.”

  “Yes, I know.” The stranger grinned, pearlescent white teeth flashing, underneath sky-blue eyes. The shock of pale, yellow hair, almost transparent in its coloring and fineness, flopped in an artful wave across the stranger’s face. “Which is why I paid for your accommodation.” Daniel’s eyes widened a little, since the night’s accommodation was significantly more expensive than a single meal. It widened further as the stranger continued. “For the week.”

  “You must really want to talk,” Daniel said.

  “I do.” Before the stranger could continue, he was interrupted by the innkeeper who tromped out of the kitchen carrying a trencher of sausages, eggs, and blood pudding. He slapped the trencher down before Daniel, before turning away and stomping back into his kitchen. The stranger’s eyes crinkled with humor as Daniel shrugged and withdrew his belt knife.

  “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all. After all, I did pay for it,” the man said, reminding Daniel not at all subtly.

  Ravenously, Daniel speared the sausage, slicing it up and popping it into his mouth, chewing upon it and enjoying the taste sweeping through his mouth. The innkeeper of the Burnt Table might be lacking in his early-morning graces but more than made up for it with his cooking ability. It was the primary reason Daniel stayed at this location, together with the deal he received from the innkeeper for helping with his injured foot. Even Daniel’s Gift, able to fix numerous issues with the physical body, could not heal the curse that the man was under. He could only relieve the pain the ex-adventurer felt on a regular basis.

  “Before we go any further, I should introduce myself. I am Mattias Gill of the Three Skills Guild,” Mattias said. He paused, lifting expectant eyes to Daniel.

  He was not disappointed. Daniel stopped chewing for a few moments, before continuing to pop chunks of blood sausage into his mouth. The kitchen door swung open again, bringing the innkeeper with his mug of water. As he set the drink down, Mattias gestured for another mug almost immediately. The innkeeper snorted but tromped back to the bar to pour another mug of ale. This late in the morning, it was no surprise there were no other guests in the inn. Those who stayed at the inn were generally adventurers like Daniel, and most would have left early to seek new quests or begin a delve.

  It was only because Daniel and his team had come back yesterday from a multi-day exploration outside the city, completing a well-paying—but long—process of overseeing the planting of crops, that he was even here. Today was a rest day, and Daniel had plans to visit the local hospices on his usual rounds.

  Somehow, he did not think that his plans were going to play out today.

  “And what would the Three Skills Guild want with me?” Daniel asked. The guild was one of the larger, most powerful associations in the kingdom of Brad, though its power mainly came from the numerous nobles and their connections. Rumors abounded that they had close connections, maybe even a hold, on the current royalty. Most of those rumors also tied them to certain unsavory acts, though most of those were just that—rumors. They also had a few well-provisioned and well-equipped delving teams, but for the most part, it was just rich crafters. Crafting, running merchant stalls, and providing information services were what the Three Skills Guild were best known for.

  Their name was a bit of a misnomer, for the Guild had pivoted in its origins from a mercenary guild to its current status over a hundred and fifty years ago. Many of the original members had acquired their noble lineage, giving them the strong connections they were rumored for. Still, the Guild kept its name for the sake of tradition.

  “Oh, simply with an offer,” said Mattias. “We are desperate to build up proper adventuring teams, and you and yours fit the bill.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow skeptically. “That’s nice to hear, if a little improbable. We did well at the contests, but not that well.”

  “Well, the Guild is pivoting its direction slightly and will be looking for more advanced junior Adventurers, other than cherry picking from the top,” Mattias said.

  As hard as Daniel scrutinized the man, he could not find the lie. However, he knew that what Mattias spoke of was, at best, stretching the truth. There was no way that the Three Skills was looking so far down the ladder to pick up new Advanced Adventurers like them. Maybe in a couple of years, once they cleared at least one advanced dungeon.

  Of course, Daniel was also skeptical, for he’d already turned down quite a few other invitations. All of them, at least in the more recent groups, had couched it in terms that did not focus upon his value to them as an Adventurer but as a healer.

  Healers continued to be a large deficit in the adventuring economy, with few individuals having either the skills or the spells to fill that role. While powerful, potions were limited in use due to both their relative rarity and potential toxicity. That left healers to cover the gap. However, traditional healers only advanced from the process of healing, the usage of t
heir skills. Traveling into a dungeon was not only damaging to their overall progress, it was dangerous.

  “Well, thank you for the offer,” Daniel said. He gestured with one grease-stained hand pointing up toward the roof and added, “As well as the room.”

  “You haven’t even heard my offer yet,” Mattias said.

  “I know. But I’ve heard a lot of others,” Daniel said. “I don’t see how it’d be that different.”

  “Oh, but ours is,” Mattias said. He dropped his voice as he leaned in to whisper, “We will help keep your secret safe.”

  “Secret?”

  “About your Gift.”

  The blood drained from Daniel’s face, giving the game away. Not that it mattered, for Mattias looked very confident that the information he had uttered was entirely accurate. Daniel’s secret, his most closely guarded secret, had finally been disclosed—and likely, all his dreams with them.

  ***

  Of course, Daniel tried to prevaricate and downplay his reaction, but Mattias just smiled, until Daniel sighed and, glancing around the empty inn, spoke. “What do you know?”

  “That you have a Gift for healing, which is not related to your Mana, and its abilities seem to reach levels of at least a Master Healer,” Mattias said, leaning back and smiling. “There are some issues with the Gift—the Price, obviously—though my spies have not been able to ascertain what Price that is.” He inclined his head to Daniel. “Well done on that, by the way. All too often, the Gifted let that slip. In most cases, it matters not. In some cases, it has mattered greatly.”

  Daniel nodded. The stories were clear on that. The fall of the Hero Sasno when he was betrayed and his wealth taken was legend. Another was the tragedy of Sylvia when she was forced to sacrifice her sense of feeling, again and again for the amusement of the nobles who desired the beauty that her gift crafted for them. Their world was replete with such tales, and Daniel was certain the Beastkin and others had their own stories.

  Even the rise of the Orc Champion Hoze Manslayer was tied to his twisted Gift. How he was forced to sacrifice his own family for the strength he gained, twisting the original Gift he had been given because of his dealings with Ba’al. Though . . . Daniel sometimes wondered if that version, the common version, was but a perversion of the truth. Propaganda. Though, it might not be intentional—there was much bad blood between the Orc Tribes and the human kingdoms.

  “It matters,” Daniel said, finally. That much, he felt, was suitable to offer. “But, if you learned it, won’t others? And a threat . . .”

  “Not a threat. An offer,” Mattias said immediately. “You don’t threaten healers. Not if you’re smart.” He laughed softly. “Especially a skilled one. Could you imagine an angry healer refusing to heal you when you most need it? What a disaster.”

  Daniel could. And he could imagine how one could ensure compliance. People, humans, broke under enough pain. He had seen it in the hospice, in the clinics where he worked and watched former strong men and women crushed under the unrelenting pain of badly healed injuries, of diseases and sicknesses that had no normal cure. Faced with a lifetime of agony, they crumbled, willing to accept any outlet, any method of escape. Some chose the ultimate escape of death while others overused the few potions and drugs that could provide relief.

  Magic could fix much, but it cost too much, was out of the grasp of too many. It was not possible to heal all those who needed it, and so mundane medicine had to make up the difference. And even then, the cost was often out of the reach of the lowest of the low.

  It was, in truth, his own experiences in the mines, working with those in need, that kept Daniel going back. More than practice to further his own education, it was the need to help that drove him to the hospices on his days off from adventuring.

  Which, he had to admit, was likely the reason why he was here, too, in this time and place, with his secret exposed. For all too often, he’d tapped into his Gift when he shouldn’t have. When a case touched him and he secretly adjusted a body beyond what normal magic might make possible.

  “No, what we offer is protection. Help. As you might realize, the Three Skills are not your typical guild,” Mattias said, oblivious to Daniel’s self-recrimination and thoughts. “We are, for want of a better term, connected. And that connection is what you need.” Daniel frowned, but Mattias continued unperturbed. “We have spies and informants throughout the kingdom. It gives us a lead on interesting new Dungeons and quests. We would be able to head off rumors about you for a long time and, eventually, mitigate the demands on your time.”

  “Mitigate?” Daniel said.

  “Reduce.”

  “Oh.” Daniel nodded. “But not remove.”

  “It depends on the extent of your Gift, of course, but what little we know, it is unlikely.” Mattias opened his hands wide. “The fact remains, healing continues to be a significant concern. And while the King and his family—long may they rule” —Daniel echoed the ritual proclamation by instinct— “are in good health, the need for a powerful healer is always there.”

  Daniel made a face but nodded. He looked at Mattias for a second, before he finally nodded. “Thank you. I need . . . time to think about it. And to speak with my party.”

  “Of course,” Mattias said, smiling. He pushed his mug away, standing up. “Just ask at the Guild hall if you want to find us. We’re quite well known.” Mattias paused, waiting for Daniel to meet his gaze before he continued. “Just don’t take too long.”

  Daniel nodded, watching the man walk out the door before he swigged on his own mug of ale. A short while later, a slender Catkin took a seat across from Daniel, her bare, padded feet never making a sound on the floorboards. Yet, somehow, in brief moments, a plate of stew and a drink appeared before the young lady, the innkeeper offering Asin a simple nod before leaving.

  “Did you hear?” Daniel asked when they were alone.

  Asin offered a curt nod, her cat-ears at the top of her head swiveling a little as they picked up additional noises from the street. Daniel well knew that her senses—sight, hearing, smell to a lesser extent—were all stronger than his own human ones. Stronger than most Beastkin even, for the Catkin was closer to her beast ancestors—more “pure” in her blood—than many that lived in Brad. It meant her body was covered with fur, her features more cat-like than many others who might pass as humans with barely any beast features. But it provided her certain other advantages too, like her extended senses, and disadvantages like her altered vocal box that made it hard to talk in human languages.

  “QuanEr’s tears,” Daniel cursed softly. “I’m sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have. . . . This . . . I . . .”

  Asin snorted at Daniel, making him look over at the Catkin. She slowly and carefully spooned some of the stew into her mouth, chewing on the strips of meat before swallowing. “Expected. Worry later.”

  Daniel nodded, then glanced upwards. “Omrak awake yet?”

  “Not here,” Asin said.

  “He’s already left?”

  Asin shook her head.

  “He never came back?”

  A nod.

  “Oh.” Daniel grinned. “Finally.”

  Asin nodded again. The pair shared conspiratorial smiles. For all Omrak’s large and robust personality, he was also somewhat shy among young ladies, never having truly interacted with them. The past few months however had seen him thawing and beginning to savor the advantages of being an Advanced Adventurer.

  Not to say that the Northerner was not keeping an eye out for a potential wife. As he often mentioned, he needed a strong and sturdy wife for when he eventually returned home and took up sheepherding and farming once again.

  “Damn. I guess I’ll tell him later. Tonight or tomorrow . . .” Daniel trailed off, uncertain of what else to do. Normally, he’d be leaving for the hospice by now. But with this news, he was uncertain if that was the right choice. In fact, it was possible he should . . .

  “Asin?” He blinked, surprise in his voice as the Catkin stood up, waving goodbye to him. “Where are you going?”

  The Catkin pointed to the doorway, making Daniel’s jaw drop. While he tried to figure out a proper objection, Asin traipsed right out, leaving Daniel alone with his own concerns. He frowned, crossing his arms as he stared at the empty doorway.