The capital was busy as usual, Alistair noted. The flow of the market was brisk and loud, deals and haggling amongst the men and wise beasts, arguing over valuables and trinkets alike. It was a bright and cheery day in the provincial capital, Ruonde. Of course, it wasn't a particularly bright day for the wizard. He rubbed his coin pouch. Maybe a silver would materialize in it if he thought hard enough. Nope. Figures he'd get called all the way to Ruonde and not have enough cash beyond his rented room. He doubted there ever was a significant number of gold here in the Goldsong Inn.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes, turning away from the window in his room to his pack. After placing a small knife in his belt and making sure he had his papers, he went down to the common room.
"Are you ready for breakfast, then?" The innkeeper was a young woman, somewhat plain, tending a cookpot in a fireplace. "I have some fresh beef stew and just got bread for trenchers an hour ago."
"My apologies, but I'm late for a meeting. I'll be back here for dinner." The wizard didn't want to make any reference to his cashflow problems.
"Of course, sir. Dinner will be ready by sundown." The innkeep turned back to her cooking, which smelled deliciously savory. Alistair hadn't eaten meat in a while. Sometimes he forgot what meat tasted like. But it would have to wait. He needed to talk to the contact. He stepped out of the inn into the bustling street, sidestepping a small gaggle of playing children.
The market seemed even more hectic at ground level - Alistair couldn't even see down the street, the number of people just swamping his vision. The din of trading and buying was a cacophony, though over it he heard some faint singing. Turning down the street, he maneuvered through the crowd towards the central plaza.
Ruonde Central was an enormous affair, a open cobblestoned area so vast you could have launched a crossbow bolt from one end and not been able to reach the other. At the center of the plaza, giant statues of the twin goddesses Io and Eurythia stood, arms locked and outstretched, both figures singing some eternal hymn that nobody could hear. The hymn he could hear he attributed to the young girl in a robe he saw under the statues, standing on a raised platform, chanting a devotional. She had attracted a crowd of listeners.
"We join our hands in happiness in our hearts,
towards that vast and awe inspiring future
we journey together
spreading our overflowing joy"
Alistair shook his head and kept walking. Overflowing joy was no substitute for an overflowing purse. He headed towards the most prominent building surrounding the plaza, the imposing Hall of Mercenaries.
"Identification?" The guild watchman was sitting on a stool next to the massive oaken door to the guildhall, looking bored out of his mind. Other than the quilted surcoat he wore with the guild mark on it, he looked entirely unofficial. Alistair shrugged.
"Here. Alistair of the Waynwood. Class B."
The watchman flipped through the paperwork then handed it back. "All in order. Your contract is waiting inside."
"Thanks." The watchman waved him off brusquely as he entered the darkened guildhall. It had to be some kind of ridiculous architectural standard that each Mercenaries Guild was built like a massive fortress that let almost no light inside; he could barely tell it was the day, only by a tiny window set far up in the rafters. The candles cast a rather depressing flicker over the rest of the hall, but he was used to that. He walked to the front desk, lit by an unpleasantly bright oil lamp.
"Ah, Alistair." The secretary, a robed woman with a patch over an eye, glanced up at him from her desk. "Kyris has been waiting for you in the first meeting room. Also, your dues are expected fairly soon."
"I really shouldn't be paying dues when I haven't had the chance to do a job in the past six months." Alistair shook his head. "Hope this one actually works out, Piris."
The woman shrugged. "I don't set the rules, Alistair. Go get this one done." The wizard nodded and left down a side corridor, another dungeon-esque passage lit by candles in wall sconces. He knew that it was all meant to be intimidating to non-members, but it was really damned irritating to do any kind of business in here. Should have met at the market cafe. He stopped at the right door and knocked.
"About time you got here, Alistair." The door opened to reveal a familiar face.
"Hello to you too, Kyris." The wizard stepped into the conference room. It was relatively well lit, with a large window set in the wall overlooking the central plaza. The ranger sat at the table, which was covered in paperwork, and directed his attention at a form. He sat at the table.
"Business first. 3,000 gold. You interested?" Kyris was wearing a leather jack over her blouse and had her own knives sheathed across her back, but was otherwise in civilian clothes. Alistair quickly snatched up the form and read it.
"Imperial Edict - The Grand Forest
As you may be aware, navigators have recently breached the Silverhorn Mountain range and have found a pass through, into a vast forest. By order of Emperor Constantine IX, we are commissioning mercenaries to join survey teams in mapping out this forest and claiming it in the name of the Empire. Mercenaries should expect to be occupied for six months with their survey team in the wilderness, and although the surveyors will be well qualified individuals, taking this contract absolves the Empire of any responsibility for your well-being. Be well versed in wilderness survival and land navigation.
For a satisfactory report by your survey team, the Empire shall award twelve thousand gold pieces to each mercenary escort team."
Alistair looked up. "So there's a reason the reward is so high, right?"
"There were high casualties among the navigators due to the inclement weather in the Silverhorn. The first surveyor team is three months overdue, and the Emperor believes there's some greater hazard in the forest. But without scouts and information, there's no way or reason to send the Legion there." Kyris picked at her nails. "There are six surveyor teams, and the Guild is handpicking people to join them. Your name came up, you'd be with me, Siegfried, and someone else Siegfried is bringing along."
Oh man, Siegfried. "How is that old bastard doing, anyway?"
Kyris laughed lightly. "Still old, still thinks he's everybody's dad, still has that stain in his chestplate that nobody can scrub off."
"Well if he's going to be our team lead, I'm definitely in. What's our time frame?" Alistair leaned back into his chair.
"Siegfried sent word he'll be here in four days, and once all the paperwork is submitted we'll be on our way to meet the surveyors at the foot of the Silverhorn Pass. The trip should take a week."
"Good thing I traveled light, then." Alistair frowned. "Actually, four days is a bit too much time, I only rented my room for two. Do you mind spotting me some cash?"
Kyris groaned, then pulled out a small purse of silver and pushed it across the table. "The entire point of 'continuing education' is for you to actually turn it into something useful. That alchemist you apprenticed under is fleecing you dry."
"Yeah, I know. But nobody else would take an academy reject." Alistair pocketed the silver then stood to shake the ranger's hand. "I'm staying at the Goldsong, stop by if you need anything. I'm going to enjoy the sights and some food."
Kyris nodded as she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders. "I'm crashing at a friend's place. Can you believe the Guild had no beds available? Too many people coming to see the Dawn Festival."
"Well, we'll be able to see that before we leave, so it's not a total waste. I'll see you later, Kyris."