“I give up!”

Bordan was doubled over, his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

After paying for their fare at the pig and scroll, which Adventurer’s Guild recruits apparently got at a discount, Mennick had led the group back to the guild.

“Ye lot were quite lively at dinner. Lively enough to disturb the other customers. Seems to me like ye need to work off some energy.” he had said, and when they got back to the training yard, he had handed Bordan and Edwin shields and practice weapons and instructed them to fight.

At first Bordan seemed to enjoy himself, easily blocking, redirecting, or evading all of Edwin’s clumsy swings while sneaking his own past Edwin’s defenses. He wasn’t cruel, mostly tapping his wooden weapon lightly against Edwin’s arms or legs, but Edwin was certain that he would have been blue and black all over after a while, if not for his unnaturally durable body and quick healing. As it was, the strikes hurt only for a moment.

After a while the older man stopped smiling. Then he started to slow. Not long after that, Edwin landed his first hit, a sneaky low swing at the legs that Bordan had used on him plenty of times. The former soldier saw it coming but couldn’t get his shield in place quickly enough. He staggered backwards, his eyes narrowing at Edwin, beads of sweat rolling down his face. Edwin returned his glare with a cheeky smile, settling into his stance. From that point it went downhill for Bordan. He put up a good fight, landing plenty of hits on Edwin, but taking as good as he gave. Until, finally, he ran out of steam.

“You’re not even winded! What kind of monster are you?” Bordan glared at Edwin, sweat dripping onto the packed dirt.

Mennick laughed, clapping his hands in delight. “Now ye know what I meant earlier, Bordan! No idea what they fed him as a kid, but he’s a beast. Can ye imagine what he could become once he’s properly trained? I want ten of him! Say, Edwin, ye got any brothers? Sisters? Maybe a dog?”

“I’m afraid not. You will have to do with just me. “Edwin replied, smiling uncomfortably. As long as they believed that he was just a freak of nature, everything was fine.

“Alright, next one up is Leodin. Ye will be a better match, since ye both are new to this.”

Leodin, who had watched the fight with growing trepidation, shuffled over to the practice armory, emerging armed with just a wooden sword. Edwin looked at Mennick questioningly.

“No shield?”

“We train how we fight, and he’s a marksman. He’s carrying a crossbow and plenty of bolts, no need to weigh him down even further. And there’s no point in him only learning how to use his sword with a shield if he’s never going to have one when it counts.”

Fighting Leodin was quite different than Bordan. It was obvious to Edwin that the young man had received some training with his weapon, as he used several of the maneuvers that the old soldier had executed. They seemed less smooth, however, often slower or less precise. The shield gave Edwin a clear defensive advantage, and Leodin mostly scurried around the ring, keeping his distance, darting in to try and weave a strike past Edwin’s defenses, then leaping back. When Leodin started to struggle to keep away, Mennick stopped the fight.

“I hope ye noticed the difference in technique between yer two matches, Edwin. Bordan acts as a frontline fighter, holding his ground and tying up his foe in combat. That is the style that ye want to learn as well. Leodin is a marksman, and only uses his sword as a last resort. If he must fight in melee, he doesn’t have to hold his position, because there’s nobody behind him that he needs to protect. Instead, he keeps his distance and tries to stay alive as long as possible, waiting for ye fighters to stop messing around and helping him out. Teamwork! That’s how an adventure party works.”

Edwin pondered it for a moment, then asked:

“But if his main goal is to stay alive and buy time, wouldn’t a shield be just as useful to him as it is for me?”

“Of course it would!” Mennick nodded appreciatively. “But ye carry a crossbow, a quiver, a sword and a shield and hike through the hills for a few days and tell me how ye like it!” He paused, eying Edwin. “Well maybe ye actually wouldn’t mind it much. But the rest of us have to consider carefully what to bring on an assignment, and shields are heavy. Adventurers are always thinking about the weight of their equipment, that’s why ye never see one wearing chainmail. Ye only bring what ye absolutely need, because every pound more that ye carry makes ye move slower and tire faster.”

Mennick looked at Leodin who was sprawled out on the wooden deck, catching his breath. Bordan was sitting next to him with his eyes closed.

“Blasted soldier, always nodding off the moment he sits down.” The instructor grumbled. He clapped his hands sharply, waking Bordan and gathering everyone’s attention.

“Alright, I guess we finish a little early today. Clean this up, then ye can go.” He turned to Edwin, beckoning him close. “Do ye have enough money for yer gear? At least a weapon and a shield?”

Edwin nodded. “I don’t know how much it is, but I should have. I saved for a long time before I came here.”

“Good. Why don’t ye go to Armin’s Arms over in the western quarter, if ye tell them I sent ye they will give ye a fair price. Get a mace and shield first, and a dagger if ye have enough to spare. After that ye need a spear, and then armor. But that has time. Also make sure ye have spare clothes and a cape or cloak.” He eyed Edwin’s pack that still sat next to the door. “That will do for now, ye’ll want a proper backpack eventually. But again, not a priority. Ye will learn what ye need once ye start going out. For now, get the essentials. Training starts at seventh bell, so be here on time tomorrow. Now off with ye.”

--- ----- ---

Edwin left the guild house and turned right, walking back along the guard Fortress wall. The western quarter was the commercial and industrial center of Pel Darni. Whether it was blacksmiths, stonecutters, leatherworkers or tailors you were looking for, you would find them there. Only businesses catering especially to the wealthy, ones selling books, overpriced frilly garments or other luxury goods were situated in the center or the southern quarter where the nobles had their mansions.

While he was walking, Edwin tried to decide how much money to spend. He could easily get all the arms and armor he wanted, but it would be impossible to hide anything from his teammates once he had a party, so it was probably best to stick to Mennick’s suggestions. Walter had never needed to worry about money, and Edwin decided that he didn’t care much for it – even if he was merely pretend poor.

Edwin knew he had arrived at the western quarter several turns before he actually set foot in it. The clanging of hammers on steel, sharp sounds of picks on stone and hatchets on wood mixed with a myriad of smells, some more pungent than others, to create a unique mixture he had never experienced anywhere else. The western quarter was the beating heart of the city, roads wide enough for two carts to pass each other easily lined by countless workshops, and even if it assaulted all of Edwin’s heightened senses it brought a smile to his face. It felt more alive than most places, somehow.

Realizing that he didn’t have a clue where Armin’s Arms was supposed to be, Edwin stopped. Most of the smithies were situated near the outer wall, near the dyers and tanners, concentrating the loudest and most aromatic workshops farthest away from from the nicer parts of the city. Some of them were closer to the center, though, especially if they sold goods to passers-by more than they exported them. He could search for it or ask his way there but looking around he got a better idea. Edwin walked towards the mouth of an alley, where a scrawny teen in ragged clothes sat with a beaten expression and an outstretched hand. Street urchins weren’t a big problem in Harvand, but that also meant that nobody worried about the few that existed.

Edwin stopped in front of the boy, startling him. He blinked up at the giant towering above him, worry written on his face. Edwin crouched down to seem less threatening, and to be heard over the noises of the quarter.

“Hello. I’m Edwin, what’s your name?”

The boy hugged his knees, inconspicuously pulling his feet under his body. He was preparing to run, Edwin realized, and felt a pang of pity. The smiling face of Min bubbled up from the depths of Walter’s memory. He had always had a soft spot for orphans, that Walter, probably because of his own parents.

“M’ name’s Olin.” The boy mumbled.

“Nice to meet you, Olin. I have a proposal for you, a job, if you will.” Edwin flashed a smile at the boy and produced a copper coin from his pouch. “You see, I’m new to the city, and I have a few errands to run today. I could use a guide who knows his way around, maybe even knows the fair merchants from the crooks. What do you say?” He flipped the coin up, catching it again. “Interested?”

“S’ppose I am. “ Olin said, a hopeful look forming on his grimy face. “Two coppers. Up front.” He held up two fingers. “Know the whole quarter, all the shops. Get’cha anywhere ya want, real fast.”

Edwin cocked his head, thinking. “How about this: One copper up front, one in the end. And every time I get a better deal than I expected at a shop that you recommended, you get another coin as a bonus.”

“Deal!” Olin said quickly, his eyes gleaming. “Whaddaya need?”

Edwin chuckled, flipping the coin over to him.

“First I need clothes. Nothing fancy, just a few sets of shirts and pants. Inexpensive, but sturdy. Do you know a place?”

Olin scrambled to his feet and scrunched his face in thought. Then he snapped his fingers, grinning up at Edwin. “Sure do. C’mon!”

The boy ran off, expertly weaving between pedestrians, making his way down the street to another alleyway. For a moment Edwin thought he was making off with the coin, but when Olin reached the alley he turned around, waving impatiently at the large man.

“This way’s fastest. Ya comin’?”

Edwin laughed, following him between the buildings. He might end up enjoying going shopping for once.