Season Two
Trouble in the West March
Root Hollow is an idyllic little town.
Like something out of a painting or a storybook, Germanic style architecture dotted both sides of the cobblestone streets. Gardens full of flowers bloomed here and there between buildings, and carriages rattled along the streets.
In the center of it all stood the Adventurer’s Guild. A massive complex that took up an entire block on its own. The building had everything an Adventurer needed in one place: a place to eat, sleep, train, and work.
And it was almost always busy: filled to the brim with adventurers of all kinds and the townsfolk who journeyed inside searching for these heroes for hire.
This particular morning, Alice Irving sat on one of the sofas on the ground floor of the reception area. Though it was still early, she had already dressed for the day in her uniform and was busy packing supplies into her rucksack.
“What’s all this?”
Alice looked up with a smile as a quiet, small voice drifted across the empty hall.
The voice belonged to an equally small woman, with shaggy brown hair she cut herself and eyes like starry twilight skies. She also wore a Guild uniform and carried several books in her arms as she entered the reception area.
She caused Alice’s heart to flutter just by being in the room.
“Medicine. I think,” Alice said. She picked up one of the vials off the floor and wrapped it with a square of cloth to protect it before she placed it into her bag.
“Orbahn told me what they all do but I honestly don’t remember them all… I just offered to carry the extra weight.”
When they were alone, the small woman smiled easily. She did so again as she walked over and bent over the vials on the floor waiting to be packed. Her slender finger pointed at each one.
“Poppy milk. It’s pain relief and a sedative. This one here is a general antidote - it works for quite a few poisons. This poultice is a coagulant. Good for gashes that can’t be stitched.”
She looked up at Alice through her bangs.
“Should I label them for you in English?”
“No, that’s okay,” Alice replied with a smile. “I wrote them in my handbook, but I want to leave the labels alone.”
The woman nodded and got to her feet and Alice admired the effortless grace with which she moved.
She admired everything about Eve.
Eve, the capable secretary of the Guild; from what Alice had seen since she arrived in this world, Eve was the heart that kept the guild running. Day and night she poured over paperwork, answered phone calls, and kept the Guild in shape.
She did everything asked of her efficiently with a mask of indifference, but everyone knew she cared deeply for her work and the adventurers that work supported.
In addition to everything else she could do, Eve learned to read and write in English in record time. That fact left Alice, who still struggled reading common Rothnian, with conflicted feelings.
Her eyes fell to the stack of books in Eve’s arms.
“Are those the ones that were on your desk these past few weeks?” She asked.
“They are,” Eve replied. “I’ve finished with them so I need to dispose of them.”
“Why?” Alice raised her eyebrow, but before she could get an answer several other guild members wondered into the room and Eve’s mask fell into place.
Alice smiled in defeat.
Once they were no longer alone, getting information out of Eve became impossible.
Her eyes trailed over the books in Eve’s arms and she noticed one of the book titles was easier to read.
“Is that…a trashy romance novel?” she asked.
Eve’s face remained stoic but her fingers flushed. She handed the book titled “Love, Lust, and Faerie Dust” to Alice.
“Oh my god,” Alice giggled. “The titles of these book suck in every universe, huh?”
“You should take it with you if you want,” Eve suggested in a quiet voice. “You need reading practice and it’s written in the lower alphabet to reach a broader audience.”
She made the smallest of faces only Alice could see.
“It’s certainly… a story.”
A laugh burst from Alice.
“Okay, I’ll bring it.”
“Hey, Eve,” someone called over by the secretary’s desk. “Did anyone put in a breakfast order yet?”
“The Dove Tail isn’t even open yet,” Eve said as she turned to address the adventurer who called to her. “It’s on you to manage your hangover if you can’t manage your alcohol consumption.”
“Have mercy,” the man pleaded.
Alice chuckled as she finished putting her medicines in her bag.
Eve stepped behind her desk and disappeared behind it. When she stood up again she handed the man a little paper envelope. He took the envelope with gratitude and trudged across the hall to the front door. He bid Alice good morning as he stepped into the town beyond.
“What did you give him?” she asked.
“Asprin,” Eve replied. “And told him to go to the coffee house.”
Alice laughed again and Eve smiled once more when no one was looking.
The quiet mornings…
The simple routines…
I like this… She thought.
In a little over a month Alice had started getting used to her new life. The life she used to live seemed so far away. The endless traffic, throngs of people, and neon signage were like a dream.
I’d never imagined this world would feel comfortable so quickly.
_____
The quiet mornings never lasted as long as Evalyn would like.
As the members began to wake a general hum of conversation permeated the complex. The Guild hall buzzed like a hive, with sleepy bees moving about. With others around Evalyn found it uncomfortable to be open with Alice so she focused on the work in front of her instead.
Occassionally her eyes drifted to the giant woman. Alice had become friendly with everyone in a short time. And after she and Evalyn ironed out the story of how she came to Root Hollow, the secretary’s anxiety over the guild members’ nosiness eased.
At a quick glance, she blended in completely. For that, Evalyn was grateful.
And a little jealous…
Alice stood up when the other members of her party entered the main hall.
Felix raised both his hands into the air when he spotted her revealing their lack of bandages. Though the skin on both sides still had stitches in several places.
“The time has come!” He announced to the room at large. “My hands are free!”
Several adventurers around the hall cheered heartily. Felix laughed.
Evalyn hid a smile behind her hand.
The four of them were always together these days.
“I could barely sleep,” Alice replied and gestured to her packed supplies.
A knot twisted in Evalyn’s stomach that she silently cursed.
Since a certain…encounter… with Alice a week ago, Evalyn had put distance between them as a mixture of emotions warred within in her.
A certain self-consciousness tugged at her heart each time Alice gave her a knowing glance. They spent very little time alone the past week, and none of those times did they even go so far as to kiss again.
But what else could she do?
It had been amazing, and Evalyn had made a mistake. Alice broke through her barriers so easily that Evalyn had let down her guard completely. She used her Gift unrestrained.
She might as well had lit a beacon, advertising her whereabouts.
Until I know why I did that I can’t take risks… She would understand if I told her that but…
Laughter swelled at the table where Alice and her friends gathered. Dahlia held the the trashy romance novel Evalyn gave Alice in her hands, and appeared to be reading passages out loud.
Felix clasped his hands over his reddening ears. Orbahn smiled and shook his head.
Evalyn looked away.
The door to the Guild swung open and the hall erupted in chaos.
Four intimidating figures stepped into the Guild hall amid shouting and waving hands. Patty and Daryl rushed through the crowd and threw themselves at the adventurer at the head.
“”LEON!”” They cried. “”You’re finally back!””
The large man at the front, wore a mismatched collection of armor over his uniform. His face had a long scar that ran diagonally across from brow to chin and a wild mane of red hair fell over his shoulders. He unbuckled the Zweihander across his back and handed it to a slender woman standing behind him, before he bent down and looped an arm around each of the teens hugging him.
“Look at you two! Do you ever stop growing?” His voice, deep and rumbly, reminded Evalyn of a manticore. According to his Guild records, that wasn't as wild a guess as one might think.
“Leon, check this out!” Daryl produced his Adventurer’s license. “I passed Rank Assessment! I’m joining Hazm’s party!”
“That’s great news,” Leon beamed and ruffled Daryl’s hair with a hand large enough to crush the teen’s head.
Evalyn winced at the thought, then remembered how Alice’s hands could do the same.
And yet she hadn’t been afraid then.
Leon turned to Patty, whose face was still bruised from the fractures in her skull. He turned her face this way and that before he asked what happened.
“Oh…I uh…” Patty’s face flushed and she looked down.
“Little Patty went toe to toe with Secretary Eve for three minutes!” someone shouted.
“Shut up, Ellie!” Patty shouted back. The hall laughed but Leon’s eyes widened. He glanced at Evalyn, who was obviously unharmed, then back to Patty.
“Did you win?” He asked.
“No,” Patty gave him a bitter smile.
“But she almost did,” Evalyn said. “She was amazing. It’s a shame you missed it.”
Leon’s headpat to Patty was much gentler than Daryl’s.
“It really is.” He agreed.
Leon drew up to his full height and turned to the woman behind him. She wore a modified uniform that resembled mages robes more than a tunic and breeches. In the crook of her arm where Leon’s Zwiehander leaned, she also held a long intricate staff.
Everything about her screamed “I know powerful magic!” to Alice.
“Are the souvenirs in your rucksack, Morgan?” He asked. Morgan shook her head.
“They’re in the carriage in the stable,” she replied. Leon turned back to Patty and Daryl.
“You heard the lady,” he said. “If you want them now, go look for the packages wrapped in blue and red.”
The two teens pushed past the group and bolted out the front door.
Alice chuckled as they vanished and Leon’s head turned in her direction.
“Ah. So you’re the one.”
Evalyn froze and a hush fell over the hall as Leon stepped through the crowd and up to Alice. Once the tallest adventurers in the Root Hollow guild, the top of Leon’s head only came to Alice’s chin and the Adventurer tilted his head back to take in her face.
“You’re as imposing as they say, Aurumia,” he said with a charming smile.
Alice’s shoulders stiffened as the Cirvanti term of endearment translated in her ears.
Evalyn’s skin prickled with jealousy.
“I’m… afraid we don’t know each other well enough for you to call me such a name,” she said.
Leon smiled, undaunted.
“Forgive me! You must have never been to Cirva! We are very friendly where I am from,” he said and offered his massive hand. “I am Leonias Cinna Du Rufinus. Everyone calls me Leon.”
Alice glanced at her party members and Orbahn nodded so Alice grasped his hand with her own. Leon admired the similarity in their size.
“Alice Irving. I just joined the guild.”
“We heard about you when we got to town this morning,” Leon replied with a hearty handshake. “It’s a shame we did not know about you sooner, Aurumia! Your strength would be beneficial to our group.”
“Your group are plenty strong,” Evalyn said as she appeared between the two giants.
When…did I leave my desk? She wondered.
“Don’t you want to turn in your commissions and receive your pay?”
Leon looked down at the small woman standing protectively in front of Alice and smiled once more.
“Of course! Lead the way, Noctemia.”
Before Alice could interject, Evalyn led Leon’s party to her desk. Leon, Morgan, and the other man and woman in the party all shot a side glance at Alice as they passed.
“What was that about?” Alice whispered as they reached the desk and were out of earshot.
Dahlia giggled and shook her head.
“Eve just defended your honor,” Felix said with a smile. Alice raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, was he hitting on me? Is he’s a fuck boy?” She whispered.
Dahlia and Felix fell apart with laughter. Orbahn coughed to prevent the chuckle crawling up his throat.
“Leon’s party are one of the two S RANK parties that operate out of this guild,” He said. “He’s known for poaching powerful adventurers for his own party. Only Morgan has been with him from the founding of his party. The others he only keeps around until he finds someone stronger.”
“He IS also known for sleeping around,” Dahlia added. “SO, you’re not wrong either.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“I see,” she turned her attention to the desk where Evalyn was counting out payment. A large stack of cash and a fat bag of coins sat on the desk.
“Jesus,” she muttered. Dahlia sighed.
“Oh to one day earn that much on one contract,” she said wistfully. “I’ll never buy my home back at the rate we’re going.”
“Hm?” Alice turned to her for more information, but the group at the desk stepped away and settled into an empty table. The woman in the party whose name Alice didn’t know disappeared through the door to the Dove Tail.
Evalyn caught the group’s attention.
“Hey, you four. Come here.”
Alice and the others hurried over to the desk. Their shared excitement hummed in the air. Evalyn slid a contract across the table to Orbahn. The party leader scanned the document quickly and he raised his eyebrows.
“A joint request?”
Evalyn nodded and twirled her pen between her fingers.
“The villages of Marshwood and Gilly River both called last night. The drinking water from both villages has been disrupted. Gilly River village has managed to hold out because, well, they’re on the river. It’s less convenient but they can draw water directly from there. But the well water supply is shared with Marshwood and they’ve run out.”
As she spoke, Evalyn pulled out a map and drew a series of lines between two of the villages.
“Gilly River village has been ferrying water back and forth to Marshwood every few days, but even after it rained the water supply is showing no signs of replenishing so they reached out.”
“Noctemia, this sounds like a B RANK request,” Leon said from his seat nearby. “Can you trust it to a C RANK group?”
Felix’s head whipped around, ready to curse Leon out but Evalyn raised a hand to stop him.
“You heard from Daryl earlier that Rank Assessments just happened. Orbahn’s party are B/C RANK. This commission is perfectly within their capabilities,” she said.
“What if we want it?” Leon asked with a spark of competition in his eyes.
Alice scowled, but she didn’t get the vibe that Leon intended to actually screw them over. If anything, she felt he desired to stir the pot a little and ruffle her friends’ feathers. It worked rather efficiently.
Felix bristled, but again Evalyn motioned for him to hold back.
“Guild law states I would have to give it to you,” she said, her face stoic and unreadable. “But I would point out that you just arrived, and would probably benefit with some time off. This is a time sensitive commission, and Orbahn’s party are ready to leave at once.
But if you insist-“
The hunt board lit up like a marquee sign, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Lineah, spun around in her chair and pulled the punch tape free from the printer. She whistled.
“Leon, honey, you might want to hold your commission stealing horses,” she said.
Lineah got to her feet and cleared her throat.
“We just got an S RANK hunt request for a Mature Lindwurm. Last spotted heading past Arborfell pass.”
_____
“Are you sure you have everything?”
At the stables behind the guild Evalyn hovered as Alice and the others loaded their bags into a wagon that would take the four of them to Gilly River Village.
Felix, paced next to Evalyn as Orbahn, Alice, and Dahlia loaded barrels of water without his help. Along with the water they packed bricks of purifying powder, and tools they might need to fix the wells in town.
A few stables down, Leon and his crew were unburdening their horses to switch for fresh ones. Morgan stood in the wagon, lowering the excess bags to Patty and Daryl. The other two party members were consolidating their rations.
There wasn’t time to resupply with a Lindwurm on the loose.
Orbahn did a quick count of everything in the wagon then jumped down and dusted off his trousers.
“I think so,” he said. “We might be a bit over-prepared even.”
“Wait, what about Alice’s club?” Dahlia asked. “Didn’t the smithy deliver a new one? It’s not back here.”
“I believe it arrived. I’ll go get it,” Evalyn said. She turned and hurried away.
Alice quickly fell in step beside her, walking casually while Evalyn practically moved at a jog.
“I’ll be right back, you don’t need to come,” Evalyn said. Alice smiled.
“I know, but,” She looked over her shoulder, then grabbed Evalyn’s arm and pulled her in between the buildings. “I had a feeling you were seeing us off, but it didn’t feel right just to wave good-bye.”
Heat rose around Evalyn’s collar and she looked around. No one seemed to notice the two of them tucked away.
“What… were you hoping for?” she asked.
Alice’s sweet smile turned playful and she knelt down. Evalyn stepped back to make room between them but her back quickly hit the wall behind her. Alice closed the distance and planted a kiss on Evalyn’s lips.
Power sparked between them, and Evalyn gripped Alice’s shoulder in a panic. But Alice’s tongue slipped into her mouth and her protestations died before they formed. Her grip loosened, and she slid her arms around Alice’s neck.
Control yourself. Control it. Hold on. It’s just a kiss…
Her soul screamed and threw itself against her ribcage. Or was that her heart? Either way, she found it hard to focus.
Can she tell? Fuck. How do you kiss again?
Alice pulled away and Evalyn gasped for air and sanity.
No. Not yet. More. More…
Alice’s golden eyes glowed slightly as she searched Evalyn’s face. She also looked dissatisfied. Her thumb touched Evalyn’s lips, wiping them gently.
“I wish you could come with us,” she said.
Evalyn reached up to touch Alice’s hand, but she caught herself and lowered it. Alice frowned.
“Come back safe,” Evalyn said, staring into her eyes. “I’ll… be waiting for you.”
At this Alice smiled. They emerged from their hiding spot and found Alice’s new highly reinforced club waiting by the shed. She gave it a few practice swings, then attached the large weapon to her back.
Evalyn admired the giantess in front of her, and her heart fluttered.
Both wagons pulled out of the stable at the same time. Orbahn’s party turned their horses south-east, while Leon’s wagon headed north-east.
Evalyn watched until both wagons disappeared down the road. Then she reached for the mark on her wrist and rubbed it gently.
After a moment, she felt the feeling of Alice rubbing back and smiled.
So many emotions swirled in her chest that she couldn’t make sense of. Evalyn groaned and ran her hands through her hair as she walked back to the main hall of the Guild.
I need to start looking for answers, she thought as she opened the door and stepped into reception.
But first… I need to work.