– Day 7 –

Mercenaries

We continue west past the magistrate building for about ten minutes until we reach the mercenary guild. It’s pretty apparent which building it was as soon as it comes into view, what with the ten or so overly armoured men bashing the hell out of each other in the front yard with maces and swords.

Based on the colour and thickness of the armour, I get the feeling their using cast iron for plates? That must way a tonne... but would be durable for training I guess.

The building itself is different from the ones around it. It’s a large 'L' shaped building with two floors. The first floor is indented making the second floor much larger like an upside down 'L'. The roof is red-slatted, and multiple chimneys are billowing out black smoke. Most likely there are many forges inside.

The outside walls are painted white and made of stone with old wooden beams embedded into the structure. There’s a large front yard, and the entire grounds are surrounded by a two-foot stone wall with a four-foot metal fence atop it.

As we get closer to the entrance-way, we’re stopped by a six-foot muscular giant of a man–

“VISITORS ENTERING–”

Bloody hell that was loud!

With the training in the front yard going on, it’s likely accidental injury to visitors could happen so this is their way of limiting that. A little warning would have been nice though!

We follow the footpath and head into a side building made of red brick. It’s a single room office with a bald, overly fat, man sitting behind a desk. Who is now practically climbing over said desk to get to Katharine…

“Lady Armstrong, I’d recognise your beauty anywhere. What brings you to my hovel on this fine day?”

Yeez, he even dared to try and kiss her hand! Katharine looked caught off guard, but she just managed to pull her hand away in time.

“I-I am here with Aburi Draconis to collect the mercenaries and their contracts my father secured with you yesterday.”

“Of course. Then I guess you will want to view the men. Two of ‘High-Grade’ wasn’t it, yes yes, I see it here. Simon. Simon!”

A ten-year-old boy with a wooden sword and a helmet three sizes too big appears at the doorway.

“Yes, sir?”

“Tell units A, B and C to assemble in the front yard.”

“Sir!”

“In the meantime, can I interest you in a tour? Perhaps some refreshments?”

Don’t look my way. I get the feeling I’ll catch ‘creep’.

“N-no, I’m fine, thank you. Lady Katharine and I just stopped for..a drink, moments ago.”

Katharine just nods in affirmation. Her face tells a thousand words though.

“Ah, I see, well, shall we wait outside then. This room is a bit on the small side.”

We head out into the front yard where four men are already lined up and chatting amongst themselves. All are around six-foot wearing various types of armour. Their weapons all differ, but they all have one thing in common; they’re insanely large. Looking at these guys, I don’t know why I am here. They’re all beyond expectation and extremely capable. I have little to no use for–

“I can tell at a glance that these men are well trained–”

“Yes! Lady Armstrong has a discerning eye. These men spend every day fighting each other, striving for perfection! They simply cannot be compared to any other mercenary anywhere in this Kingdom! They do the Tolian company proud!”

That’s great but…

“Lady Katharine, may I speak with you a moment? In private?”

Katharine nods then follows me behind the red brick building. I whisper in case fat man is listening.

“I have no use for mercenaries this… this well-trained. I mean, I plan to set-up shop in the town after all. These guys will be bored out of their minds for a full year.”

“Why is that a problem? Their mercenaries, as long as they get paid, they don’t care? …Why are we whispering?”

“To prevent the fat man from overhearing…. and I do though! Their skills will dull–”

“They’ve already been purchased Aburi! You’ll just have to find a use for them!”

Ooo, domineering Katharine just raised its head

“..I mean, I can hardly ask for a refund. It will hurt Fathers reputation. Please understand”

…and gone again

“Okay, okay… I’ll figure something out…”

We head back around the red brick building to find the fat man leaning against the wall. Sure enough, he was trying to listen in.

“I apologise, but I never caught your name?”

“Ah yes, I was so taken by Lady Armstrong’s beauty that I forgot to introduce myself. I am Edward Wilfor, owner of Tolian Mercenary Company, a pleasure~.”

“Then sir Wilfor–”

“Edward, if you please. I’m no sir.”

Gender identity…? Oh wait, perhaps sir infers stature? I wish I paid more attention in history back at school now.

“Then Edward, could you explain what is limited by this contract? When I laid eyes on your mercenaries, I was very impressed, but I think they’ll be extremely bored simply guarding my shop for a year. Hopefully, I can find something worthy of their skills.”

“I see, I see."

He pulls a handkerchief from his belt and rubs the sweat from his brow before continuing.

"Well, to be honest, there is no limit to what you can ask of them. I mean, they can refuse a task should they wish to, they’re not slaves after all, but it’s unlikely they would unless it meant certain death for them. Voiding the contact means they won’t get paid after all–”

“What about training others. Is that possible?”

Edward shrugs.

“That would be fine.. Hmm, but if that is your intent, I think I know the one for you. She’s a bit of a drunk, but her technique is better than anyone here. It’s her power that lets her down though; she is a woman after all– Simon! Get Bella out of her pit, customers waiting!”

Simon was running back to us when fatty bellowed to him again. He makes a sudden ninety-degree turn, drops his sword, tumbles over it, proceeds to get up, collects his sword and runs out of view again. It was comical to watch–

“Oi Edward, are these the clients?”

A five-foot eight man, significantly less muscular than those around him approached. He has a neatly trimmed goatee, short gelled black hair and green eyes. The clothes he’s wearing look fresh and are a white shirt with a red tailor-made waistcoat and brown trousers.

As he gets closer to us, I couldn’t help but shift my weight into a defensive stance. There is something about this man. I can tell he’s dangerous; more so than anyone else here. Considering he is not carrying a weapon or wearing any real armour, I’m not sure where this feeling is coming from. Our eyes meet–

“Oh, so you noticed.”

“I’m not sure I follow?”

“Heh, sure. Edward, I overheard you call for Bella. Are you trying to rip these fine people off?”

The fat man looks distressed at the well-dressed man’s words.

“R-rip off? Never! Sir Draconis merely mentioned he was looking for someone who could teach as well as guard. Bella has the best technique and temperament to teach! I even mentioned she–”

“Bella teach him!? That’s funny… Well, he’s certainly got potential--”

The fat man starts laughing exaggeratedly with his head tilted back. His stomach bounces with each breath.

“Sir Draconis? I-I mean no offence to you of course but Risk here is the strongest fighter we have–”

“Edward, he sensed my approached and got prepared for a fight, the rest of you just stood there like lemons. He’s sharper than he seems. He may… or may not be as strong as those here but this elf knows how to fight.”

Damn, I couldn’t help it, you’re scary! Scary things are Scary! I would have preferred to have remained underestimated..

“That was just a gut reaction. I do have some combat experience at a high level–”

Cue Ogre flashback, *shudder*

“--but my sword skills are currently undeveloped.”

“So you really do plan to have her teach you?”

“Yes. Everyone here is far beyond what I expected. Hiring these people to simply guard my shop would be a waste of their talents, so I aim to learn from them as well.”

“I see…Then hire me as well.”

“R-Risk?!”

“Your contracts for.. two of ‘High-Grade’ right?”

“Risk! You're our biggest–”

“Bella is a fine lass, but she’s not ‘High-Grade’, at least…not any more. The fat man’s trying to shaft you. If I join her ticket, it will level the contract.”

Oooh? The fat man was trying to rip us off then~ I shift my view to see Edward is sweating more than before with a shocked look on his face

“I’m not against it, but as I’ve said, you’ll likely be very bored–”

“I somehow doubt that. You have the look of someone who doesn’t turn from but rather runs full sprint to trouble…besides, you’ll need me to keep Bella in check. The lass is a handful these days.”

“…Very well, I see no reason to say no. Edward, is this acceptable?”

“…”

No response? Risk doesn’t look to care what Edward says either way it.

“Great, then the names Risk. Just Risk, pleasure.”

Risk stretches out his right hand. I do the same, and we firmly shake.

The grip of a python...

“Aburi Draconis, please call me Aburi though. This is Lady Katharine de Armstrong, a dear friend.”

“A pleasure. Bella will likely take some time to rise. I will grab her and meet you…”

He trails off, I guess he’s looking for me to fill this bit in.

“We will be heading to the Adventurers Guild next and then back to Lady Katharine’s manor.”

“Ah, Manor de Armstrong, then we will meet you there later today. I’ll leave Edward to the paperwork.”

The fat man, having given up, wonders back into the red brick building waving us to follow. Once inside, he heads to the other side of his desk and pulls out three parchments, signs them and throws them to the other side of the desk–

“Sign these and take the first two with you. That will conclude the agreement.”

He says in a dejected voice. Risk must be quite the earner for him, losing him for a full year has likely got him torn up inside.

I sign the documents and turn to Katharine…who’s already at the door. Seems she can’t wait to be done with this place.

We head out the front gate when I decide to tease Katharine a bit.

“Hey, what’s the rush? I think that guy likes you.”

“L-Likes me? Who, Edward?!”

“Yeah, if you want, I can hang out with the mercenaries while you chat with him.”

I couldn’t keep a straight face; I’m fighting the fit of laughter. Even Katharine seems to see the funny side of it as she battles a wide smile.

“You can be a jerk sometimes Aburi.”

“Sorry, sorry, you're just to much fun to tease.”

She stands up straight with her fists on her hips.

“Am I now?”

“Yes, your reaction is just too cute. I can’t resist it when the opportunity presents itself”

I stop laughing as her expression changes. She lowers her hands from her hips and gives a faint smile as the wind blows her hair across her face…

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

“N-no, sorry. My mind wandered. Shall we head to the Adventurers Guild?”