Orion urged his horse into the lane leading to the gate. Unlike Lesan’s guards, Visgamar’s guards didn’t demand a toll but they did constantly scan the crowd, searching for rugged men and children to boot.

The roads had been fair to them and Nyrtia, the Western God of fortune, had blessed them with a safe passage. They hadn’t come across Wes or Rover, meaning those two had likely taken a detour. In total, the journey had taken them a week, four days quicker than before.

As the two of them entered Hexham’s road, they dismounted under the guards’ watchful eyes and led their mounts to a clean-looking stable. While their horses were relatively weak and slow, they were still worth a gold and 60 silvers. So, they left them in under a stable boy’s care for 20 silvers, enough for a month.

Afterwards, Orion bought cheap dishes from the market and showed off his pragmatic knowledge. Kora guessed someone had toured him around the city, claiming he and his dragon-egg-refined tongue wouldn’t risk common food just to find the tastier sort. All the truly delicious dishes were too expensive to buy though, due to the Mages having a monopoly on fatty ingredients.

They then went to the Seeker’s guild. On the way, Kora glanced at him weirdly. When he questioned her, she reminded him about Maya’s naughty reward. In response, he brushed away his emotion and replaced it with his deadpan expression – he was inwardly hopeful, but there was no way he would admit it to Kora.

When they entered, Maya had her back to the door. She was leaning on her curved marble table and was engrossed in what seemed to be a book. The beams of sunlight from above highlighted her hazel hair, which was tied up in a ponytail today, and she wore her typical dark tunic and beige trousers.

A tightness knotted his feet, crippling him to the spot. He could feel his heart beating, and each breath seemed harder than the last. However, instead of succumbing to the tension, he relaxed and forced himself to walk. He was a Zakari: his inborn charm would grant him many more naughty rewards in the future. Freezing in front of each one would sully their great name. Moreover, the thought of granting Kora anymore quips thawed his legs and froze his heart.

Maya heard their resounding footsteps and spun around, a grin creeping onto her face.

“Whytie! and Kora. I guess you killed the monster?”

Kora nodded and passed over Aaron’s note, while Orion blankly watched on.

Maya skimmed it. “Wow, high praise. Well, either way, you’re both 3-star Seekers now, only 2 more to get the shiny badge and come to the great meeting,”

When she saw the sparkle in their eyes, she chortled and flapped her hand. “I’m just kidding, the meeting is so dead. Worst thing ever, I’d recommend staying at 4-stars,”

Orion’s eyes momentarily widened, before he straightened his face. Maya was a 5-star Seeker? What!?

“I saw that,” she replied, scrunching up her face and shaking it in disappointment. “I thought you were better than this, Whytie. Not like all the rest, and yet you thought so low of me?”

He cleared his throat but otherwise didn’t respond.

Maya rolled her eyes and rummaged under the marble table, eventually dropping a clinking pouch onto the table.

“20 gold coins for the contract,”

But before either of them could check it, she pointed at Orion and raised her eyebrows. “Don’t think I forgot your reward, naughty boy,” She pointed at Kora. “You too,”

Orion’s heart sank.

“Smith’s got it upstairs. Go and talk to him,” Maya finished, bobbing her eyebrows at them.

Orion’s heart shattered and his poker face chipped. He had known it was a trap, and yet he had still hoped.

Kora smiled and nodded at Maya while Orion rushed up the stairs, certain his face had bloomed as bright as roses. Despite his speed, their laughter still caught up to him. He sat by the contract board until Kora came, tousling his black hair before sitting beside him.

Maya had played him like a fiddle, squirming under his iron gates before sneaking away with his pride. He didn’t regret hoping, but he did regret cracking under disappointment and blushing like a maiden.

A few pensive moments later, he stood. “Come on, let’s go to Smith,”

Kora patted his back. “It’s alright, kiddo. She got lucky by dodging you,”

He frowned and threw her “comforting” hand off.

They knocked on Smith’s door and soon entered the grey-haired man’s office. He was behind his desk, this time wearing a yellow eyepatch. He looked up and shook his head, failing to keep his face straight.

“Don’t worry, kiddo, Maya does that every cute guy she comes across,” he said as he broke into a rumbling chuckle.

Orion wished he could just find a hole to jump into but had to put up with sitting on a chair instead.

“The naughty reward, it’s actually another contract. 4-star rated, well-paying, and relatively safe compared to the other 4-star contracts.” Smith explained, smiling as he realised the two Seekers were already hooked. “It’s from the Visgamar council, specifically the Visgamar’s Guard, or better put, the Imperial Guard.”

He stopped and scratched at his chin. “Well, the first part was kind of a lie. I don’t know how dangerous the contract is, none of us does, but that’s why this contract exists. Did you kids know Visgamar is split between good and bad?”

They nodded.

“Yeah, the bad side, Rats’s side, has been up to something. There have been reports of monsters in their ranks, but also of growing tension and secrecy. The Empire fears he’s plotting against it, but they can’t move against him. Visgamar’s Guard is evenly matched with him and if the Empire moved an army here, then someone else would abuse that opportunity. You’ve surely heard the criers yelling about the rising tension across lands. It started ever since the Zakari got razed, and now it’s become palpable.”

He paused and gazed directly into their eyes.

“Anyway, the contract calls for unknown Seekers to infiltrate Rats’s higher echelons and feed back information. Both of you are new here so trust me when I say this: this job a superb opportunity if you survive,”

“Can we have time to think?” Kora asked.

“No. You’re either in now, or you forget this meeting ever happened,”

She looked at Orion, into his eyes. They nodded simultaneously.

“Great. Visgamar’s Guard has already planted a few men into Rats’s gang, and I’ve sent a few people so you’re not alone. I’m sure you’ll figure a way to get close to him. Finally, here’s a tip. No, more of a rule,” Smith said, his voice low and harsh, “Don’t think of Rats as a human, think of him as a monster to hunt. Otherwise…”

He paused. “Otherwise, he’ll do things you kids aren’t ready to hear yet,”

Smith explained a few more details, then let them go. Minutes later, they were walking on Hexham’s road, having deposited their reward money in the Seeker’s bank.

“Yhaoli,” Orion said.

“What?”

“Your friend, Yhaoli. He’s involved in this,”

She moved to whack him but he leapt in time, wagging his finger in response. It felt good to get back at her.

“But yeah, Jax, he is. Got any idea of where to start?”

Orion stroked his stubble for a few moments when a maroon-haired loudmouth came to mind. “I know just the person,”