‘Dammit Larrik, you don’t need to be a dick!’

He glared at her. ‘Knight Stathis, while I respect your prowess, your recent behaviour has shown you to be lacking in certain key virtues. Until these key flaws in your character are resolved, then I am unable to travel with you.’

‘Come on, you were the one going all googly-eyed over her!’

He mounted his horse. ‘Nevertheless, Knight Stathis, you must forge yourself in the fires of the world, that you may emerge purified and resolute. I suspect that Master Yeros’ teachings may have weakened the purity of your resolve, not to mention. While his valour is undoubted, his virtue I would question, especially his worthiness as a teacher. And you, Cleric Pajaran, should find more appropriate travelling companions. This one, I suspect, will only lead you into trouble.’ He kicked his horse into action and trotted off down the road, abandoning them.

Stathis sighed and turned to Pajaran. ‘Pub?’ She nodded, battered chainmail clinking. It wasn’t far, a battered sign swinging above the door, showing a grimy female head covered with stubby protrusions, once a corona of snakes, now worn and broken.

Inside, the place was doing a rousing trade, adventurers and travellers spending their profits, gold flashing as it was handed over, the bar staff moving as fast as they could. In one corner was an elf drinking by themselves, bow and arrows neatly propped up next to them, a necklace of rings catching the sunlight. Stathis dejectedly slumped into a seat as Pajaran went to the bar. With her chainmail and mace, she fit in here well with the other adventurers.

Stathis sighed. Now they’d have to try and find more work and get enough money to get out of this ass-end of nowhere town, so they could get back to pretty much anywhere. It was that or send a letter home and ask for help, and that would be embarrassing and far worse.

Pajaran returned with a full pair of tankards, pushing one in front of Stathis. ‘That was pretty crap - Larrik really needs to work through his shit. Better off without him, I say. He really needs to get over his issues.’

Stathis gave her companion a wan smile. ‘Yeah. Although now we’re stuck here, with no money and no way out. Not the best start to an adventuring career.’

‘Hey, you could call up your family.’

‘Gods, no. I’d never hear the end of it, from either Carissia or Mother!’ Stathis took a long drink of her beer as Pajaran pulled out a leather scroll case and popped it open. She pulled out a tightly-wound scroll, unrolling it and spinning it around.

‘While we’re on the subject of adventuring, I guess it’s early, but I got you a birthday present.’

Stathis read it, hurriedly swallowing her beer so as not to spit over it. ‘Where did you get this?! It’s an adventurer’s charter!’

‘Yup. Wasn’t easy.’ She looked bashful. ‘Sorry, I may have had to drop your name a few times, I know you don’t like that sort of thing.’

Stathis groaned. ‘Did you have to? But where did you get this from? It looks legal.’

‘Oh, that shitty judge back in Lower Easton. I think he pissed your mother off somehow and was worried that she’d send someone to finish him off. Said you’d put in a good word for him.’

Stathis snorted. ‘If she wanted him dead, he’d be dead, or close enough already. This is amazing! But I’d rather keep her out of it.’

Pajaran stared at her, unapologetic, brown eyes unblinking. ‘If I had your family, I’d be using it every time I could! It took me five years to scrape together enough to pay for my church induction, and my crap gear almost got me killed half-a-dozen times over. You get to roll in with custom plate and a magical sword! I get that you don’t want to rely on them, but that doesn’t mean you have to pretend they don’t exist. I bet you could click your fingers and Carissia would show up and level this place.’

‘I think even she would want some pretext first. I heard she passed through recently, blew most of the local monsters away already. But I don’t want to be my mother’s daughter, I want to be myself.’

‘Yeah, yeah, you’ve told me all about what she believes of you. And I’ve seen you do that scary glowy stuff, so I’m not calling her entirely wrong. But what you could have, so easily…’ Pajaran took a large gulp herself. ‘Anyway, it’s my adventuring company. Although of course, you’re my loyal second-in-command, so you get to take over if I die.’

Stathis looked over the paperwork – Pajaran’s name was at the top of the scroll, or at least, the top beneath the previous members, their names all crossed out, neat dates of death penned by each. The most recent was over fifty years ago.

‘Let me guess, the charter was forgotten somewhere?’

Pajaran nodded. ‘Yup. Last lot all died close together, probably a curse or monster or something, standard stuff. Some kid inherited the charter, didn’t fancy it, forgot the thing, and then the judge ended up with it down the line. The Goldthirst Company. And I sure could do with some gold, not that you’d be concerned, oh great and powerful Duchess of… where was it?’

‘Greybridge. I think?’

‘You’re a duchess, and you don’t even know where of!? Come on Stathis, why don’t we travel there, I can be your bodyguard and advisor or something. Probably has a temple you can kick the current priests out of, put me in charge instead.’

‘The place is really dull. No monsters, no dungeons, everyone even pays their taxes on time. Or at least they do now, after what Mother did to the last lot that tried to shirk on payment. You’d hate it. And it’s most of a continent away as well, and you’re a long way off being able to teleport us there.’

‘Fine then, we’ll do this the hard way. Although we could do with some more people, round out the numbers. You’re good with a sword and have your special powers, and I’m happy to heal us both, but we need someone with magic, and someone that can deal with traps without setting them off. And another fighter would be good, stop us getting smacked around so much.’

‘Hey, I said I was sorry! How was I to know that the statue would make a giant boulder drop down?’

‘You noble knights, always so tough and dumb. Just leave the thinking to me and try not to get hit in the head again.’ She and Stathis looked at each other, then laughed.

‘We still need to get some work. I heard Carissia came through here a while back and blew away most of the local monsters, unfortunately. And that the Ghost Spider stole something from the castle as well.’

‘Stathis, we’re not going after the Ghost Spider. It’s probably an entire team of thieves and assassins! They killed the Duke of Cormontara and most of his guards and started a massive riot, they’re bad news. Let’s keep to monstrous boars, small packs of harpies, gangs of skeletons and things that we can actually deal with. Your mother might be willing to pay for your resurrection, but I’m poor and I’d rather not go to my eternal reward just yet, thanks. Let’s go check the board, see what we’ve got.’

Drinks in hand, they wandered over to the bounty board. Aside from the usual bounty posters, including a fresh one for ‘the Ghost Spider’ (a huge reward, but the picture was a cloaked figure, of indeterminate race and gender, and Pajaran was right, that such a person or persons was way out of their league), there were a few more likely prospects.

‘Monstrous spiders? Could go for that, although the pay’s terrible. 3 gold per? That’s way under the standard rate! And if the guard can’t deal with it, there’s probably something worse out there.’

Stathis pointed at another poster. ‘Bodyguard work? If we get another few people, could do that.’

Pajaran checked the poster, then shook her head. ‘It’s some dickbag noble. You have the looks and the rank to be able to tell him to shove off and make it stick, but he’ll be trying to get me alone all the damn time, and I’d be the one to get in trouble if I broke his legs or face. There’s a job for the mage’s guild, go gather some magical reagents and material components for a wizard’s guild. Although that looks like a con, they want dragon’s teeth. So unless you’ve got a scaly family friend to call on, that’s not practical either. Gods, your sister really did clean up, didn’t she? Not even any undead infestations or demon-haunted groves to profit from!’

A figure brushed against Stathis, a slight woman, dressed in plain leather armour, swords on each hip, their black hair cut messily short. She staggered forward, clearly heavily drunk. Stathis twisted to keep her pouch away from her, in case she was a pickpocket. Not that she had much to steal though, just enough coin for a few nights lodging somewhere and some food. The woman leant against the wall, squinting at the posters, pulling down the one of the Ghost Spider.

‘Mean of you to run away, just ‘cos I got drunk and slept in! I’ll find you again.’ She slumped away, needing the wall to support herself, Stathis not wanting to interfere. She poked through the rest of the bounty board, checking if there was anything else current hidden behind the other papers pinned there, but they were all old.

A voice came from behind her. ‘Looking for some work? Might just have something for a pair like you.’ Stathis turned to face the speaker. It was an elf, at least to judge by their pointed ears, although their face mostly hidden behind a fuzzy russet beard, a black mark tattooed over one eye. ‘Looks like you might be wanting for something a bit more exciting and better paying than killing bugs in the woods?’

Pajaran responded. ‘Maybe. Depends what, and how much the pay is.’

‘Come talk to my associate, she’s the one with the gold, and the need for some work to be done.’ He gestured towards a backroom, a curtain dividing it from the main room. Pajaran and Stathis followed him. Amongst the roughly-dressed adventurers, one stood out; either a slumming noble or an out-of-work courtesan, tight silks drawing admiring glances from other patrons, black hair elegantly cut with a red-dyed forelock. She looked irritated for some reason, as she sipped at wine.

The bearded elf pulled the curtain aside and walked through, revealing a private booth. A woman was sat there, flame-red hair spilling out from beneath a hood, a chunky golden bracelet gleaming with gems and magical power. She drew back her hood, revealing a narrow, aristocratic face, some glamour making her eyes appear as orbs of gold, more enchanted jewellery around her neck, runes and gems glowing with power. There was the faintest murmur of magical energy, something trying to intrude into Stathis’ will. She brushed it off as Pajaran went slightly glassy-eyed and slack next to her. Stathis pinched her, hopefully snapping her out of it, as they sat down.

‘This is Karmalina Glingorm, who has an issue she would like resolved to her satisfaction, and the gold required to fund it.’

Stathis nodded. ‘The Auric Enchantress? I’ve heard of you.’

The woman smiled back, blank golden orbs making the expression cold. ‘My reputation precedes me. Excellent. Time is pressing, so I’ll get straight to the point. My loyal friend, the famous bard Cothay Firefingers, has been captured by an evil necromancer, with the aid of the Black Stone of Kaningarath, an artefact of the Black Triad. Unless I subject myself to his will, then Cothay will be slain.’

Stathis hadn’t heard of the stone, but it sounded bad. ‘Why can’t you rescue him yourself? From what I’ve heard of your powers, it shouldn’t be an issue.’ She pinched Pajaran again under the table, hopefully breaking whatever enchantment Karmalina was using.

Karmalina frowned, oh-so-slightly, as though not expecting any questions. ‘Should I get too close, then a spell upon Cothay will cause him to be slain by dark magics. So I need someone capable of sneaking in and freeing him, and to destroy the necromancer.’

‘Who’s the wizard that’s kidnapped Cothay? He’s pretty famous, seems a bit crap of him to get grabbed like that.’ Pajaran leant forward, waiting for an answer.

‘He was ambushed and captured, and has been placed under a death-curse which limits his powers. No doubt, given time, he would be able to escape, but time is something in short supply. Tonight, the moons will be in conjunction, and a dark ritual will be completed. Unfortunately, I am unable to contact anyone else, so Krathik here’, she gestured at the bearded elf, ‘has been seeking out allies. I can see that you have an aura of purity, and so can be trusted with such an important mission. And neither of you are powerful enough to draw the necromancer’s attention.’

Given what other people saw when they looked at Stathis’ soul, she was probably lying about that, but it was still flattering to hear.

Pajaran asked the inevitable question. ‘What’s the pay? This sounds dangerous.’

‘The necromancer himself is weak, his minions only skeletons. If it weren’t for the death-curse upon Cothay, I would deal with him myself. But I do like to support the adventuring community, so two thousand gold should suffice.’

Stathis opened her mouth to negotiate, then shut it again, nudging Pajaran.

‘We accept! In the name of the Goldthirst Company. Half up front.’

The woman smiled, expression not reaching her eyes. ‘I will need time to fetch the money. Cash on delivery, as is standard. Although I will, of course, transport you close to where he is being trapped, to save you the journey yourself. And of course, Cothay may be inspired by your deeds; I’m sure a song or two from his lips would be a boon to a nascent group.’

Pajaran nodded her head. ‘Deal. We get in, break Cothay out, deal with the necromancer, before the night is over.’ She held out her hand, Karmalina taking it as they shook. She looked mildly displeased at the physical contact, some magical binding happening with a snap of amber light. ‘Pleasure doing business with you. Let’s go get started then. Never been teleported before.’

‘Of course. Krathik will await you on the edge of the village, simply return to him, and he will make the arrangements to call me, and finalise payment.’

They finished their drinks quickly. Karmalina was clearly in a hurry, casting a spell as soon as they were done, thick yellow light surrounding them.

They arrived in an open field, splashing into a muddy puddle, cold rain pouring down. Karmalina immediately cleansed herself, magic siphoning mud off her clothing and preserving her hair. ‘Now, be about your business. Krathik here will wait for you.’ She incanted again, blinking out of sight.

Krathik waited until the light of her spell had died away before speaking, voice rough and gravelly. ‘I’m not getting paid to risk meself, so I’ll be waiting here. Couple of bright young things should have no problem with this, so get to it. Just watch out for the stone, heard bad things about that. You find it, bring it here, I’ll see it safe.’

Pajaran answered, her mace already in hand. ‘Mystic doodad of evil, watch out for it. Got it. Which way we going? This rain is shit.’

He pointed. ‘Down that way. Follow the road, should see you there soon enough.’ He pulled out a pipe, settling himself against a wall, as comfortably as he could manage given the weather. ‘Cothay ain’t rescuing himself, get to it.’

Pajaran and Stathis looked each other, Stathis drawing her own blade. ‘Let’s go then. Get this done. Get the money.’

Pajaran grinned back. ‘Damn straight! Our first proper adventure, instead of bloody church business. Let’s get this done!’