The recruits shared a perplexed look, unsure how to answer. Even the usually confident Bordan seemed at a loss. After a few moments, Edwin addressed the Chaptermaster.

“Can we…talk about it for a minute?”

That didn’t seem to be the answer he had hoped for, but he gave them an encouraging smile anyway.

“Of course! Take a few minutes, talk it over. I do need your answer afterwards, though, as time is of the utmost importance.”

Bordan and Leodin stood, heading for the door. Edwin started moving in that direction as well, when he realized that the mage hadn’t moved at all, looking out the window with a bored expression.

“Would you like to come?”

She slowly turned her head, giving Edwin a disinterested look.

“I am ready. You decide if you are as well, it does not matter to me.”

It was the first time he had heard her speak, and the condescending tone of her voice made him instantly dislike her.

“Fine. Suit yourself.” Edwin answered, annoyed. Then he turned to Mennick.

“Could you join us for a moment?”

The instructor shared a long look with the Chaptermaster, then stood.

“Sure.”

Outside of the room, the other two were waiting. Although Bordan had regained his cool, Leodin was visibly nervous. Edwin closed the door behind them.

“The mage does not find it necessary to honor us with her presence.” Edwin told the others. “But since everybody important is here, let us start. Mennick, do you really think we are ready?”

The instructor squirmed a little under their expectant gazes, then he pulled himself together.

“Although Master Hector may have…embellished what I said somewhat, ye wouldn’t be here If I didn’t think ye could handle it. It’s why Kollig didn’t join ye: He’s not ready. You three are.”

He turned, looking at each of them individually

“Bordan, ye didn’t need training anyway. Ye refreshed yer memory on how to hold a sword, what ye need now is practice fighting monsters instead of Marradi.”

“Leodin, yer one of the best shots I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a few. Yer swordfighting could use work – a lot of work – but that’s the problem with all marksmen, and it shouldn’t be much of an issue if yer fighters do their jobs.”

“And Edwin… Normally I’d keep ye here for another month at least, probably more. Yer macework is shoddy at best, ye keep falling for feints, yer attention is lacking and ye don’t protect yer legs enough. But ye’re strong as three men, fast as a horse and just as tenacious. Some people don’t learn properly until they’re staring danger down the throat, and I think ye might be one of them. I’m making an exception for ye in honour of yer troll ancestors. Just be careful, keep yer eyes open, cover yer damn legs, and if ye don’t mess up, ye’ll come out the other side all the better.”

Mennick paused, raising a finger. “But remember: It’s yer decision. If any one of ye isn’t comfortable with this, ye don’t have to go. As much as Master Hector wants this, he can’t and won’t force ye. So do what ye said, talk it over amongst yerselves, then decide.”

With that he turned, opening the door and walking back into the room. Again, the recruits stood in silence.

“I think we can do it.” Bordan finally said. “I’m in if you both are.”

Leodin nodded slowly. “They wouldn’t send us on any really dangerous assignments for our first mission, right? And we’d have the mage.”

Edwin snorted. “I’m not sure how much help that one will be.”

The younger marksman stared at him in disbelief. “Didn’t you see what she did to that dummy?”

Edwin shrugged, unsure how to explain his reservations without giving too much away.

“I think she’s too full of herself. It’s not like she’s seen combat either and she prances around like she’s been doing this for years.” He finally answered.

“Don’t know, maybe you’re right, maybe not.” Bordan said with a shrug. “But what do you think?”

Edwin thought about it, scratching his chin. At moments like this he missed Walter’s beard. Walter had found it scratchy and annoying, which was why Edwin didn’t grow a single hair on his face but being able to run his hands through it had been strangely soothing – and had probably looked very dignified.

The other two were still looking at him with anticipation, so Edwin marshaled his thoughts, pushing his beard-related ruminations away.

Mennick’s words had worried Edwin a little. He felt like he had made a lot of progress with his combat skills, but the instructor’s scathing review was a stern reminder of how far he still had to go. He felt that he agreed with Mennick: Without the benefits of his enhanced body, he wouldn’t want to go anywhere near a monster. He did have those benefits, however. And it wasn’t like he would be alone: With Bordan and Leodin at his side, he was sure that he could take on a monster or two without too many problems. Even if he had to protect an arrogant little mageling on her first foray into the real world.

“I would be lying if I said that Mennick’s speech didn’t give me pause, but I believe we can do this. I’m in as well.”

“Great.” Bordan said, both him and Leodin smiling. “Let’s go back in, I’m sure the Chaptermaster is getting antsy.”

Bordan seemed to be correct, as Master Hector was pacing along the windows. When the three of them entered, he stopped, eying them with obvious apprehension.

“We’re in.” Bordan said, not waiting for him to ask. “What’s next?”

The Chaptermaster sighed in relief, smiling at them. “Very good! I am confident that you will not regret your decision.” He gestured to Mennick, who had retaken his seat. “Mennick will advise you, making sure you have everything you need. Fiona has your assignments downstairs; she will have a route planned for you based on the individual deadlines and locations. You have the rest of today to prepare, but you will have to leave tomorrow. If there is anything else you need, feel free to ask Mennick or Fiona. They can answer all your questions.”

He sat down as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. “You are doing the Guild a service, acting in the best traditions that were passed down to us all the way from the days of the Aventure Society. The Guild will not forget this, and you may find that this opportunity turns out to be to your advantage in the end.”

--- ----- ---

“Don’t just bring yer weapons and think ye will be fine. First of all, ye need enough water and provisions. Ye never know how long a hunt will take, and how long ye need to spend in the wilderness before ye can restock at a settlement.”

Mennick was quickly leading them down towards the entrance hall, lecturing them all the way.

“Make sure ye all have cloaks and spare clothes. It may be summer, but the nights can be cold, and wet feet and clothes can make a hunt miserable. Sleeping rolls, flint and steel, tinder, all of those things can be just as important as yer sword. And pack yer bags well: Heavy things go in the bottom and close to the body. Ye’ll be spending hours on yer feet and need to be ready to fight at a moment’s notice, if yer pack is causing ye trouble and limiting yer movement, repack it.”

He whirled around in the middle of a flight of stairs, almost causing the others to fall over each other in surprise.

“And no false bravado! If ye’re tired, rest. Ye always find the monster when ye’re least prepared, so make sure yer worst is still good enough to fight! And remember, just because the request says one thing, doesn’t mean there aren’t more, or something else entirely. Some villager mistaking a direwolf and a direbadger from a hundred meters away, or seeing two goblins where there are five, happens all the time. Make! Sure! Got it?”

They mumbled in acquiescence, but Mennick had already turned around and stomped onwards.

Edwin started to wonder if the instructor had maybe exaggerated his faith in their abilities after all, but then decided that the gruff old man was probably just being protective. He had expected to have at least a few weeks to stuff all of those lessons into their heads, or maybe these were the kinds of things that were the reason why new groups were usually led by an experienced adventurer. It was only natural that he felt the need to catch up on giving advice, in the faint hope that some of it would stick.

“And remember yer formation! Don’t run off the first time ye see a monster and leave yer back line uncovered. Stay together, fight as a unit, and ye will be fine. Monsters are vicious and usually stronger than ye, the real power of adventurers lies in our teamwork and our preparation!”

Edwin’s head was spinning, trying to keep up with the information, when they reached the entrance hall. Fiona was behind the counter, looking up at their arrival.

“Did they accept?” She asked Mennick, and when she received a short nod in reply, she pulled a small stack of papers from under the table, arraying them in front of her. She beckoned them over, addressing them as they crowded around the counter.

“Alright, take a look. These here are your requests.” She waved at a line of unrolled letters to her left.

“I’ve made sure that there is nothing outside of your capabilities, and I’ve planned the optimal route for you. As long as there are no major delays or issues, you should be able to finish these without problems.”

She pointed to her right, where she had placed a map of the region surrounding Pel Darni.

“You will be going southwest, near the Clawed Woods. These villages are at the very edge of our area of responsibility, the Guild at Pel Mahavir takes over anything south of this line here. We tried to get them to help out, but they have a lot of area to cover as well and sending a party this far north would have taken them too long. Anyway, let me show you your route:”

“You will be heading west along the main road for three days, but we should easily find a cart heading to Pel Andris to take you along. Once you reach this town, you head south, probably on foot unless you get really lucky. After two days, you will arrive at the outer reaches of the Clawed Woods, and the origin of your first request. Most of these requests are from the villages near the Woods, as they are the first to spot monsters leaving it. After you finish three requests, you need to head east. This fourth request is time-sensitive, and if you complete it later, you won’t make the deadline. After the fourth you head back west to the edge of the forest and continue south. The first six requests are all close together, within one or two days of travel of each other. The last one is south-east of the others, right at the border towards Pel Mahavir. The regular road to that village comes from the eastern road and we don’t have a good map of the trails in that area, so you will have to ask the villagers for the best way to get there from the west. They should be able to guide you.”

Fiona leaned back, meeting the stunned expression of the recruits with a professional smile.

“You have enough time to finish everything, but if you take more than one day hunting on any one of them, the margin on the later ones shrinks dangerously. Especially the fourth one, if the first ones take too long you might need to move it up. I’ve sorted the letters in the order that you should complete them in, if you’re unsure about something or need to change plans, all the details are in there. I’ll send a runner to the mercantile office to secure you spots on a westbound cart, be at the western gate tomorrow at first light and you will be picked up. Any questions?”

The group looked at her in awe, trying to process the flood of information. She smiled, stacking the papers back up and handing them to Bordan.

“I take it you’re the leader? Here, don’t lose them.”

Mennick slapped the counter, drawing their attention.

“Alright, quit staring and get moving. It’s getting late, and if ye want to buy supplies and whatnot, ye need to hurry before the shops close for the night. Fiona and I’ll be here for a bit, if ye end up having a question after all, come back before sunset. Now git.”