The trio of adventurers reached a busy market square, further in the village than the previous. Roland parked the cart in front of a butcher shop, with the three unloading several sacks and entering through the double doors. Behind the counter, they saw a short young woman tending to the meat. Her eyes met Roland’s as he approached.

“Good day, Nina! Is our master butcher around?”

“Hmm. One sec.” She pushed open the doors and began yelling, “Hey old man! The three stooges are here.”

“Now that wasn’t very nice.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” was bellowed from the back room, growing louder as the sound of footsteps on the floor echoed towards them. The butcher came through the doors, a stout, dark brown man of tall stature, wiping his hands in a cloth. Light reflected brightly off his shaved head as he approached the adventurers, while his rugged beard that took up most of his face swayed as he moved.

“Roland! Has it been a month already? it’s good to see you.”

“And you, Wallace. Holding up well I see?”

“Times are tough everywhere, you know that. We take what we can get.”

“Tell me about it,” said Roland as he offered the results of their hunt. “Apologies, the haul is a little light this time.”

“No worries. So, are you joining up for that big job too?”

“Job? What do you mean?”

Wallace spoke as he weighed individual bags on his available scale, one after the other. “Word is, the *Lord Mayor is making another once in a while trip from Egeria, and should be arriving today. Seems he’s looking for a few able-bodied people for a job on the west side.”

Roland seemed taken aback and furrowed his brows in thought, while Wallace washed his hands. “I figured with you being back so soon, that you knew.”

Roland turned to Gareth, who shrugged his shoulders, then Lucan, who cleared his throat suspiciously.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you, it’s a matter discussed by the council-”

“Why is right now the first I am hearing of this?”

“Looks like you gentlemen have a lot to discuss,” Wallace interjected as he stepped back from the counter, retreating to the inside of the shop.

~X~

Arriving at the steps of a wide building with a rounded roof was the trio, led by Roland. Upon entering they saw a lightly grey-haired, middle-aged gentleman dressed in robes, speaking with a group of young adults. Though his back was turned, he sensed their presence and turned to meet Roland’s serious expression. Sending the youth away, he turned to meet the adventurers.

“Silas.”

“Roland. Back so soon?”

“You don’t sound too surprised. Tell me, were you planning on receiving the Lord Mayor without all council members present?”

Silas momentarily made eye contact with Lucan, who responded with a quick raise of his brows. Sensing the tension, he turned to Gareth.

“Young man, you may leave us.”

“No,” said Roland, stopping him. “Stay for this.”

Thrown off temporarily, Silas turned his gaze back to Roland, attempting to pry his motives from his very eyes.

“Very well then. Follow me.”

He led them to a small, untidy space with maps and books that were strewn about. Lucan stood by the window, and Gareth in a nearby chair. Roland stood with his back to the nearest desk and folded his arms. Silas locked the doors, then turned to his guests. Roland kept a piercing gaze on him.

“Let’s hear it then.”

“The presence of the remainder of the council to welcome Sir Byron is inconsequential. Lucan is our representative, which is why I instructed him to return and meet with the Lord Mayor when he arrives to discuss a proposed venture of great benefit to the village.”

“And what exactly is our absent leader after?” scoffed Roland. “He wouldn’t dare to set foot on our shores unless there was something in it for him.”

“He’s planning to excavate the *Black Cave for a most valuable mineral found within. To that effort, he needs manual labor, but will provide us with an Egerian security detail.”

“You must be joking. You do realize that the surrounding area is swarming with those things, right? It’s practically a suicide mission, and I won’t risk our people for it.”

Roland left his seated position and faced down Silas, who proudly faced him.

“How is that any different than your routine missions with the Hunting Party, battling Fractured for days on end?”

“You know full well it’s done to secure our walls!”

“Just as this is done for the sake of improving our standing and way of life,” replied Silas with a taut expression. “We need this.”

Lucan intervened, stepping between the two as he addressed his leader. “Roland, while I agree that his lordship’s management has been lacking, I can acknowledge how the success of this mission will turn things around for us. Why can’t you?”

Not wanting to be left out, Gareth chimed in. “I’m not solid on the details either, and I’m not exactly thrilled about some back-breaking work, but if it’ll help the village, shouldn’t we at least think about it?”

“Absolutely not! If you think for a moment that the lords of the capital will make an investment after they get what they want, then you’re sorely mistaken. As for the cave, you’ll put us all at risk by disturbing what has been nesting in there for centuries!”

“See, this is precisely why you weren’t informed in the first place,” Silas replied scornfully, as he turned his back to Roland and addressed the other two. “I’m sure you at least acknowledge that all our lives are more important than a handful of ghost stories from a bygone era. Among other things, your devotion to progress is why I chose you, and not him.”

“That may be, but I would feel more comfortable with the support of the entire council.”

Lucan turned, pleading to Roland with arms wide open. “Please, I beg you to reconsider! Why won’t you acknowledge their goodwill and intent?”

“I’ve had my fill of their goodwill and intent. Never again!”

Roland punched the desk behind him, snapping it in half. Gareth looked away, while Lucan locked his gaze on Roland. He retracted his outstretched arms slowly, as his countenance shifted.

“That’s your problem, Roland,” sneered Silas. “You act as if we all fall under your whims. Your misguided pride isn’t worth making the village suffer.”

Lucan's attention turned to the window momentarily, after which he walked to the door. When Roland stepped forward to go after him, Silas intercepted him, with an apparent grin of satisfaction. He nodded to Gareth, “Go with Lucan. Your assistance will be needed.”

“Since when do you command my men?!”

“Since there was a job to be done, one more important than all of us.”

He prepared to leave the irked adventurer, before stopping and addressing him. “I’ll have you know; the plan has already been approved by the remainder of the council. Despite your impetuous posturing, it will happen.”

As his rival turned to finally leave, Roland grabbed him by the shoulder. He turned his head with the sly smile of someone postulating their victory.

“Something else you need to get off your chest?”

“Putting this farce aside, the council will need to gather in the future to discuss decisions made without equal knowledge.”

“We will see then,” he uttered unbothered, as he brushed off Roland’s hand.

Upon reaching the street, the duo of Gareth and Lucan observed a gathering crowd focused on a caravan of horse-drawn carriages with soldiers alongside, adorned with decorations giving an air of royalty. A portly man in clothing befitting a noble exited the front carriage. Seeing the duo, he began his approach in a somewhat comical manner as he bounced from side to side, one foot after the other upon the pavement.

“Greetings fellows! I am Sir Edward Byron. You wouldn’t happen to know a Sir Lucan?”

Lucan temporarily locked eyes with Roland, perched by the room’s nearby window, then turned his attention to his Lord Mayor.

“Look no further. I am Sir Lucan, one of the Guardians of the *Genesis Council*. It’s an honor to finally meet you in person.”

“Likewise. I thank you for your cooperation in this worthwhile endeavor. In good faith, I’m willing to provide an up-front deposit for the workers.”

“We’ll take it!” exclaimed the wide-eyed Gareth with a smile. Lucan put an arm in front of him to stop him from stepping forward too quickly.

“I’m sure you don’t mind us working out more of the details on how it will benefit the village down the line?”

Lord Byron rubbed his hands together, the sheen of his golden tooth illuminating his ever-widening smile. “Of course not. Come join me in the carriage and we’ll talk, good sir.”

Lucan walked up to the carriage, joined shortly after by Gareth, who saw Roland staring from the window, but then averted his eyes as he closed the door.

~End of Chapter~

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~Notes~

Lord Mayor: Governing official typically in charge of a city, or when larger, collective settlements within an area.

Black Cave: Genesis' large sealed chamber lying in the west, rumored to contain extremely valuable minerals within.

Genesis Council: A collective group of elders who oversee the direct management of the village.