Rylan and I set out with our packs slung over our shoulders and our weapons at our hips. Even though he had manifested a Gift with a magical ability, Rylan had trained with a sword for the past two years and I was glad to see he hadn't immediately switch gears. It would take him some time to develop his Gift well enough to be effective in combat. I had seen far too many Adventurers rely heavily on their powerful Gift or magic items, only to flounder and stumble once it was negated or taken away. Even low rank dungeons generated silence zones and anti-magic fields. They were exceedingly rare, but I had come across a few over the years. That's why it was beneficial to train in multi aspects as a solo Adventurer.
The winding, dirt path out of the village of Crooks Hollow eventually merged with a wider, paved road called the Kings Road, which cut across the country from East to West. Once on the Kings Road it was pretty much a straight shot to the Capital if you didn't break off at one of the many forks and intersections that led to other villages, towns and farmsteads as well as static dungeon locations.
Other travellers dotted the Kings Road, all heading East into the Capital city for the Guild Recruitment Festival. More than just Adventurers made the trip into the Capital for the festival. Merchants, entertainers and craftsmen flocked to the festival everywhere to hawk their wares, sell their trade and make their fortune. There was no event in the entire Kingdom that attracted as many Adventurers into one place as the Guild Recruitment Festival.
I had made this trip a few times a year since starting out as an Adventurer. Many Guilds had houses or estates in or near the Capital, granting lodging to new recruits to keep them as the facilities available to Adventurers in the cities was far greater. I unfortunately had to make the trip back and forth multiple times during the year as I couldn't afford the cost of lodgings in the Capital for long periods of time. The trip into the city would take most of the day, with the sun rising on the horizon to signal the beginning of the journey, only for it to set on Crooks Hollow in the far distance by the time I reached the Kings Gate. Many travellers would stop off along the way, turning the day trip into an overnight or multi-day journey as they explored some of the low-level static dungeons nearby.
"Do you want to check out the Haunted Forest?" I asked Rylan, gesturing to a pathway leading off the main road. "There's also the Bone Kings yard or the Cove of Treasures not too far away."
"Nah I'm good. There's not much point in doing any dungeon work without a license," Rylan shrugged. "And I want to get to the Capital before dark."
While static dungeons out the in the world didn't require a license or registration to enter--although it was highly discouraged--none of the creatures killed in the dungeons would count towards the Adventurers rank or stats. They could keep any coins and treasures they find, but would still need to have their Adventurer's license if they wanted to register or sell any of the equipment to a verified vendor. Most importantly, you wouldn't gain any reputation towards your Rank.
"Sounds good," I nodded. "Let's keep going."
The Kings Road became more crowded the closer we came to the Capital city. Merchant wagons, throngs of travellers and columns of mounted parties all contested for space on the Kings Road. Groups mingled with one another and solo travellers bumped into acquaintances, creating a cacophony of excited conversation for nearly the entire trip. Rylan and I mostly kept to ourselves with small talk and discussions about Guilds and what Dungeons we wanted to visit first. I was starting to get excited, because even if we were registered as solo Adventurers, we'd be able to tackle far more difficult Dungeons, and with my new Silver Rank I could bring Rylan into some higher level Dungeons and really cash in. Then I remembered that he was most likely going to be signing with a Guild and I'd be back to clearing Dungeons on my own. I tried not to let it bother me though, especially with how excited Rylan was about his Gift.
We arrived at the Kings Gate just as the sun was dipping behind the distant horizon to the west. I stopped and took a moment to silently thank my mother for everything she did for me, and promised to return home safely. I knew it was hard on her, knowing risking my life out here on my own, but not once did she try to dissuade me from my dream.
"Come on man," Rylan tugger at my sleeve impatiently.
Just then, a ruckus in the crowd caught my attention. A few metres behind, a man dove to one side to avoid being trampled by a horse. The rider, clad in black armour, didn't apologise or even slow his pace.
"Woah, who are they?" Rylan asked as we both moved to the side of the road.
A column of riders three wide, clad in matching black armour with screaming skull helmets and long, flowing red cloaks came galloping by at an unsafe speed--clearly in a hurry. The crowd scrambled to dive out of the way, with more than a few innocent bystanders getting shoved or kicked by the armoured knights when they drifted to close to the party.
"Dread Guard," I replied. "They're a Platinum Rank Guild."
"They look so cool. Maybe we could try signing up with them?" Rylan asked enthusiastically. "Look, they even have a mage."
Bringing up the rear of the column was a slender, hooded figured mounted on a smaller, jet black mare. The staff in the figures hand seemed to absorb what light was left from the setting sun. A skeletal hand topped the staff, clutching a sickly green crystal that pulsed and writhed with magic that unsettled more than a few people. As the figure past Rylan and me, the hood slipped back just enough to reveal a young woman's face. She was pretty, with ice-blue eyes and silver-white hair. The woman's eyes locked onto mine for just a second, but i felt a shiver roll down my spine and a lingering feeling of dread hung about my shoulders.
"Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?" Rylan shook his shoulders and head, as if trying to dispel some awful feeling.
"Probably something to do with one of their Gifts," I replied. From experience, the Dread Guard were extremely selective with recruitment. They also required all members to dress how they decided, with the gear they supplied. "I don't think they're a good fit for us. Don't worry, we'll find something."
"Yeah. After feeling that, I tend to agree," Rylan frowned after the column of black riders. "Fuck those guys."
Adventuring brought in all kinds of people. Most were just trying to make a living using their Gift, with a minority trying to become the best of the best. But occasionally, you got some people joining up for the wrong reasons, and most of the Dread Guard were just wrong.
"Jacob Masters! Is that you?!"
A guard by the entrance to the Kings Gate waved to me over the milling crowd. He was tall, with steel-coloured hair and a thick moustache. His armour was polished steel with leather and mail. A golden lion on red backing emblazoning his surcoat of cream and red. The colours of the Royal family and their guard.
"Fenn," I grinned, recognising the man. "I see you've had a promotion."
"Yeah, what do you think?" Fenn spread his arms wide to give me a better look at his new gear. None of it looked enchanted, but it wasn't likely that he would be venturing into any Dungeons. "A damn side better than gate watchmen."
"Yet you're still manning the gate," I chuckled, gesturing to the line of travellers filtering through the gate. Watchmen were stopping each one of them, making it a slow process.
"With the high number of travellers visiting this year they wanted a Royal Guard at each checkpoint, and as the newest guy and familiar with the Kings gate it was an easy pick," Fenn shrugged. "I don't mind. Especially when I get to boss around my old watch commander."
I glanced over to a short, balding man in the faded blue of the city watch. He had a sour look on his face as he did a cursory inspection of a couples gear. I remembered him from my previous times passing through the Kings Gate. He had always been quite mean to the other watchmen. Throwing around his rank and not really doing much except for chiding his subordinates. A quick glance at the other watchmen on duty told me they found their watch commanders bad mood incredibly amusing.
"Well I'm glad you were assigned here to tell me the good news," I clasped hands with the older man in what I was told was a warriors grip. "I've got someone else with me this year. You remember Rylan, don't you?"
Fenn looked past me at Rylan, who had been standing a few steps back, looking a little awkward. Fenn had grown up in Crooks Hollow. He knew Rylan and my father, and had been family friends to both our families. But when his wife died in Goblin raid, he packed up and moved to the city, not wanting daily reminders of the love of his life he lost. He hadn't visited since, but I know he and my mother kept in contact.
"Oh my, if it isn't little Rylan," Fenn grinned. "Come 'ere boy."
Fenn pulled Rylan into a bear hug and lifted the younger boy off his feet. Rylan and I had spent a fair bit of time around Fenn's home when he and his wife lived in Crooks Hollow. When our fathers were away on adventures our mothers would often catch up with Fenn and his wife. Fenn hadn't signed up as an adventurer at the time, since he and his wife were trying for a baby. After she died he moved to the Capital and got his Adventurers license. He wasn't very good at it, and had no friends doing it at the time, so after a few short stints with some low rank guilds he decided to retire and became a city watchmen.
"Good too see you Mister Cobb," Rylan said when his feet touched the ground again.
"Ah don't be so formal, lad. Call me ,Fenn. You're a man now," Fenn smiled with a fatherly fondness for Rylan. "I suppose you'll be getting your Adventurer's license like this big oaf."
"Yeah. We're going to join a guild together," Rylan grinned.
"That's good, lad. But don't let the lack of a Gift discourage you with the Guilds. there's nothing wrong with solo adventuring, especially when you're starting out."
Fenn gave me a knowing and sympathetic look. he'd known about my limitations over the last couple of years and trying to get into a guild. He also knew Rylan hadn't developed a Gift, as I had mentioned it as a point of interest that two boys from the same village, around the same age, were so late in receiving their Gift. Apparently it was normal around Crooks Hollow. My father had been a year younger than Rylan when his Gift manifested, and Fenn said he wasn't much younger.
"But I have my Gift. It manifested last night," Rylan raised his right hand, palm up. A small flame the size of a grape burst into existence and flickered. The orb circled around Rylan's palm as the younger man concentrated. He had been trying to control the flame on their travels and had managed to make it dance on occasion.
"Blasted fool," Fenn cursed, grabbing Rylan's wrist in a grip as hard as iron. He yanked is hand down, causing Rylan to lose concentration and extinguish his small flame. "You're not on the farm anymore. Unapproved and unlicensed use of Gifts in the city is a capital offence."
Fenn glanced around at the throngs of people, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention. He sighed and released Fenn's wrist, then glared at me. "You should have driven this into him already, especially with a new Gift. You're not a Copper Adventurer anymore, Jacob."
"It's not Jacob's fault!" Rylan exclaimed hurriedly. "He told me, more than a once. I just got excited and forgot. I'm sorry!"
"It's better to be cautious than sorry, lad. If the Wardens caught you doing that you'd be in a lot of trouble. Regardless of your age and ignorance."
The Wardens were nothing to joke about. They were an elite force of ex-adventurers that answered to the King's Inquisitors only. Their sole duty was to patrol and hunt down illegal Gift use, and were often brought it from high level Guilds. Their Ranks, Gifts and Adventuring history was scrubbed from official records, so no one actually knew what they could do. Everyone just knew to steer clear of a Warden. The last time I had seen a Warden, she had apprehended six ex-adventurer's turned criminals who had been preying on merchant wagons. The Warden had dealt with all six criminals by herself, with the help of the Black Whip Gift. An ability that allowed her to lash out with whip-like tendrils from her hands, wrapping up her opponents and holding them as firmly as iron shackles. The tendrils were so strong that each man was helpless as she lifted them into the air and carted them off to prison. No one knew what happened to those Adventurer's caught by the Wardens. Only that they were dragged off to Irongate--the Warden's prison and stronghold--and never heard from again.
"I'll keep an eye on him. It won't happen again," I assured Fenn.
"Good," Fenn nodded.
It was then I truly started to see Fenn as the Royal guard he was. This was usually something he would have to report to the Wardens, and I felt bad for putting him in such a position.
"I'll be staying at the usual spot," I said, wanting to change the topic. "Why don't you come by for a drink when your shift ends."
"Rhena will be glad to see you again," Fenn winked, his serious demeanor dropping at the mention of Rhena. "I don't know if I'll have time tonight, with the festival and all. But I'll be sure to drop by before you head out again."
"Sounds good. It was great seeing you, and congratulations again on your promotion."
Fenn and I clasp arms with a warriors handshake, followed by a quick hug with plenty of hearty slaps on the back. The older man repeated the process with Rylan, but added another stern warning about his Gift. Fenn waved us through the Kings Gate checkpoint, past a gaggle of travellers who here being all but strip searched before entry. None of them made any comments, but they glared at the clear favouritism shown to Rylan and I from the on-duty Royal Guard.
The city streets were bustling with tens of hundreds of people all vying for their own space as wagons, carts and mounted travellers pushed their way through the sea of visitors. Shopkeepers a long the busy street were either cursing the crowds or rubbing their hands together greedily as they called out for one traveller or another to come by and taste their apple pie or grab a mug of ale. Hawkers darted through the crowds with baskets of dried meat, apples and trays of useless trinkets that were promised to bestow the power to slay an Ogre King on even the most feeble of men. All for the low, low cost of a few coppers of course. After a few minutes I heard one particularly persistent hawker try to sell the same brass ring to four different people, each time the effect changing drastically.
Thankfully, the Inn we were heading to was relatively close to the Kings Gate. I had originally picked it out of convenience in my first year, but i come back each year since I had become good friends with the owner, Rhena.
"Here we are," I said with a grin.
We were standing on a narrow, almost empty street before a large, three story building of grey stone and white-washed wood. The upper-most floor had clearly been an addition built on years later when the city around the old building had grown, and the need for more rooms had risen. The red-tiled roof looked new though, replacing the old slate shingles that had been in dire need of repair. The building itself looked as if it needed some serious maintenance, with vines and creepers growing up the bricks and wrapping around the whole bottom floor of the building, but that wasn't the case at all. Rhena had a Gift that called plants and fauna to her, even small critters. She couldn't control it, but if she stayed in one place for too long, it began looking like a jungle of wild flowers. Even in the middle of a city. The image of a stumbling, hooded man gripped a tankard adorned the sign hanging over the front door. The name of the Inn was once gilded, but had since faded.
The Cloak & Stagger.