The Merchant's Guild hall was an imposing building of gray stone that spoke of wealth and permanence. Its carved facades depicted scenes of trade and prosperity—ships laden with goods, caravans crossing distant mountains, merchants shaking hands over successful deals. Dust had passed similar buildings in Port Cray, but this one felt more serious, more consequential.
Captain Aldrich had taken the news of Dust's testing surprisingly well.
"Opportunity like that doesn't come along often," the captain had said over breakfast aboard the Sea Witch. "Be a fool not to explore it properly. The ship'll be here another six days—plenty of time for you to see where this leads."
Now, standing before the guild hall's main entrance, Dust felt the familiar mix of nervousness and anticipation that had preceded every major risk he'd taken in his life. The difference was that this time, he wasn't running from something—he was running toward it.
Inside, the guild hall was all polished wood and serious portraits of merchants who'd built Northport's commercial empire. A clerk directed him to the third floor, where he found a door marked with a small brass plate reading "Thornwick Assessment Suite."
Gareth Thornwick was waiting for him in a comfortable room that managed to feel both scholarly and practical. Books lined the walls, but so did maps, charts, and what appeared to be samples of various trade goods. A large table dominated the center of the room, currently bare except for writing materials.
"Punctual," Thornwick observed with approval. "That's encouraging. Are you ready to begin?"
"As ready as I can be without knowing what to expect."
"Fair enough. Let's start with the basics." Thornwick gestured to a chair at the table. "I'm going to give you a series of problems—some written, some spoken, some practical. Take your time with each one, and don't be afraid to think aloud. Often the reasoning is more important than the final answer."
The first test was academic—reading comprehension, basic mathematics, elementary geography. Dust worked through questions about trade routes, currency exchange, and simple contract terms. His education with Elena proved invaluable; concepts that would have been incomprehensible a month ago now made sense.
"Good," Thornwick said as Dust completed the written portion. "Your foundation is stronger than most applicants who've had formal schooling. Elena mentioned you were a quick learner—she understated the case."
The second test was more practical. Thornwick presented him with a series of scenarios—a merchant dealing with hostile customs officials, a diplomat trying to negotiate safe passage through bandit territory, a trader attempting to establish new business relationships in an unfamiliar culture.
"How would you handle this situation?" Thornwick would ask, then listen carefully as Dust worked through the problem aloud.
For the customs scenario, Dust drew on his experience with corrupt officials in Lower Ashmark. "Find out what they really want," he explained. "Usually it's not about the actual regulations—it's about demonstrating respect for their authority, or providing something they can't get through official channels."
"Elaborate."
"A small gift, presented as a gesture of courtesy rather than a bribe. Information about other merchants' activities that might be useful to them. Or simply taking time to listen to their complaints about their job—people in positions of petty authority often feel unappreciated."
Thornwick nodded thoughtfully and moved to the next scenario.
The diplomatic problem reminded Dust of navigating between different street gangs in Lower Ashmark's more dangerous districts. "Show strength but not aggression," he said. "Make it clear you're not easy prey, but also that you're not looking for a fight. Sometimes the best diplomacy is making your opponents realize they have more to gain from cooperation than conflict."
As the morning progressed, Dust found himself enjoying the intellectual challenge. These weren't abstract academic exercises—they were real problems that real people faced in the world beyond classroom walls. His street experience, rather than being a liability, actually provided insights that formal education might have missed.
"Let's try something different," Thornwick said after they'd worked through several scenarios. He produced a small wooden box from his desk drawer. "This box contains something valuable. Your task is to determine what it is without opening it."
Dust examined the box carefully. It was well-made but not ornate, with brass hinges and a simple latch. When he lifted it, something shifted inside with a soft rustling sound. The box was heavier than it looked, suggesting the contents were denser than paper or cloth.
"May I ask questions?" Dust asked.
"Within reason."
"Is the contents something commonly traded?"
"Yes."
"Is it organic or manufactured?"
"That's a clever distinction. Organic."
Dust shook the box gently, listening to the sound. Not coins—too soft. Not spices in loose form—the rustling was wrong. He held the box to his nose and detected a faint, pleasant aroma.
"Tea," he said finally. "High-quality tea leaves, probably from the southern kingdoms judging by the scent."
Thornwick opened the box, revealing exactly that—carefully packaged tea leaves that probably cost more than most people earned in a month.
"Excellent reasoning. How did you narrow it down?"
"Weight suggested something dense but not metallic. The rustling sound meant leaves or similar material, but too uniform for random vegetation. The aroma was subtle but distinctive—the kind you only get with expensive tea that's been properly cured and stored."
"And where did you learn to identify such things?"
Dust hesitated, then decided honesty was the best approach. "Lower Ashmark had a black market for luxury goods. I learned to recognize valuable items quickly—it was often the difference between a profitable theft and wasting time on worthless junk."
Rather than looking disapproving, Thornwick seemed intrigued. "Practical education is often more valuable than theoretical knowledge. Your background gives you insights that traditional students lack."
The afternoon brought different challenges. Thornwick had him practice with various languages—not speaking them fluently, but recognizing them and picking out key words that might be useful in commercial situations. They worked on reading maps and understanding the symbols used to mark trade routes, political boundaries, and potential hazards.
"Most people think international trade is just about moving goods from one place to another," Thornwick explained. "In reality, it's about understanding cultures, anticipating problems, and building relationships that last across years and continents."
As the day wore on, Dust began to understand what kind of education Thornwick's school really provided. It wasn't just academic learning—it was preparation for a life of complexity and constant adaptation. Students would graduate capable of functioning confidently in any environment, whether dealing with merchants in foreign ports or nobles in royal courts.
"That's enough for today," Thornwick said as evening shadows began filling the room. "Tomorrow we'll focus on practical skills—observation, memory techniques, and what I call 'social navigation.'"
"How am I doing so far?" Dust asked.
"Better than I expected, and I had high expectations based on Elena's letter." Thornwick began gathering the testing materials. "You have good instincts, solid reasoning ability, and the kind of practical wisdom that can't be taught in books. The question now is whether you can develop the more refined skills needed for advanced work."
That evening, Dust returned to Merchant Delaine's house for dinner and found her curious about his experience.
"Gareth doesn't usually provide progress updates during testing," she said as they ate. "But he did mention you're showing unusual promise."
"It's unlike anything I've experienced before," Dust admitted. "The problems feel real—like things I might actually need to solve someday."
"That's because they are real. Gareth's scenarios are based on situations his graduates have actually encountered." Delaine paused thoughtfully. "Tell me, what do you hope to gain from this education? What are your long-term goals?"
It was a question Dust had been asking himself increasingly often. A month ago, his only goal had been survival. Now he was contemplating possibilities he'd never imagined.
"I want to be strong enough to make a difference," he said finally. "To help people who can't help themselves, the way I couldn't help Clara or the others back in Lower Ashmark. But I also want to understand the world beyond just my small corner of it."
"Noble goals. And achievable ones, with the right preparation." Delaine smiled. "Elena chose well when she recommended you to us."
As Dust prepared for sleep that night, he reflected on how quickly his life continued to change. Each new place, each new person, each new opportunity revealed aspects of himself he'd never known existed.
Tomorrow would bring new tests, new challenges to overcome. But for the first time since leaving Lower Ashmark, he felt like he was building toward something rather than just moving away from his past.
The question was: would he prove worthy of the opportunities being offered?