The Guildmaster leaned back, his mind racing as he considered the myriad implications of what he had learned. Even with the forced conscription, the war had mostly been playing out along well-known lines. What the Marradi had done now would shake up, if not obliterate the social foundations the three duchies and the kingdom before them had been built on.

Suddenly Crispin paused, as the very first worry he had held while being led through the palace’s corridors caught up to his racing thoughts. He cast a suspicious look at the duke, who was patiently waiting for the disturbing news to settle.

“While I appreciate you informing me of this personally, your Grace, I cannot help but puzzle at the timing of it. The news is indeed catastrophic and the effects far-reaching, but I fail to see a significant impact on the operations of the Adventurer’s Guild that would require a meeting of this urgency.”

“Under normal circumstances, that would be the case,” General Marcus spoke up. “But the circumstances are far from normal. The fact of the matter is that we are now in a war for our very survival against an enemy that outnumbers us, facing challenges that, while completely new to us, we must assume were expected and planned for by the Marradi. I am afraid that the operations of your guild will indeed be affected.”

Crispin’s eyes narrowed as his gaze wandered between the general and the duke. “The protection from conscription was solemnly promised to us by your own ancestor, your Grace. Surely you don’t plan on going back on his word?”

“Don’t I?” Duke Harvand asked sharply, slamming his fist onto the table with a dull thump. “The continued existence of the duchy is at stake, Master Crispin. You would be wise not to underestimate the lengths to which I am willing to go!”

General Marcus placed a calming hand on the duke’s arm and interjected smoothly.

“As you are well aware, Master Crispin, the protections that were promised to the Adventurer’s Guild upon its founding very specifically forbid the conscription of its members. We do not intend to revoke these protections at all, despite the duke’s stated willingness to do so.” He pushed a piece of paper over to Crispin but continued speaking before the other man could do more than read the headline.

“To overcome the current crisis, the duke has decreed a state of emergency. During this time, the sole focus of the duchy will be the defense of its borders and the repulsion of the Marradi aggression. To that end, all businesses, organizations, and institutions that can aid the war effort are required to do so and will be legally placed under the command of the army. The Adventurer’s Guild, as the largest congregation of combat-trained individuals, is one such organization.”

That’s why the merchants were looking so stressed earlier, Master Crispin thought numbly. They had just lost control of their companies.

“So, you got around the restriction of drafting single adventurers by taking the whole guild instead,” he said slowly. “Clever.”

While General Marcus had spoken, the duke had visibly calmed down. “I apologize for my outburst, Guildmaster. It really has been a long day, and I am afraid that the stress of it is getting to me. Truly, I admire your willingness to protect those in your charge, but I must ask you to consider the larger picture. There is a very real possibility that the forces we have been able to amass so far will not be enough to hold back the Marradi. If our frontline falters and the southerners march on our cities, will your adventurers stand by and let their homes be occupied?”

“No,” Crispin said quietly. “We would not.”

Duke Harvand nodded. “We need every man able to hold a spear to do just that. As we speak, people from every walk of life are training for war. Baker’s apprentices, farmer’s sons, scholars, nobles, most of them holding a weapon for the first time in their lives. Can you really stand back while they go into combat?”

The flame of anger arose once more in Crispin’s chest, but it was a cold shadow of what it had been earlier. “We defend the duchy as well, your Grace. We always have. Our way.”

“And your bravery and willingness to sacrifice have always been an example to those you protected. But I am afraid that it does not matter much if our people are safe from beasts once Marradi boots trample their fields. A thousand experienced fighters could make all the difference in the coming months, but only if they are given the opportunity to do so.”

The duke smiled sadly. “I know that it is presumptuous to ask for your endorsement after presenting you with accomplished facts. We need your adventurers at the front, that much is non-negotiable, but we are willing to make concessions if it gets you to work with us instead of against us. We all want the same thing.”

Master Crispin crossed his arms and looked down at the table, the emergency order still unread before him. Ever since he had become Guildmaster a decade ago, he had spent every waking moment keeping watch over the guild he loved. Like every large and powerful organization, there were forces both on the outside and the inside that constantly tried to take some of that power for themselves or to steer the guild in a direction that benefitted them, without regard for the adventurers or the citizens they protected. Rationally, he agreed with everything the duke had said, but after fiercely defending every scrap of independence for so long, giving in felt like a betrayal of the office he held and the trust his guildmates put in him.

Crispin nodded slowly, then paused. “While I do agree that the war takes priority, I cannot in good faith pull every last adventurer from their duties. Just like protection from beasts alone is worthless, leaving the people to fend for themselves entirely would also be catastrophic. Without adventurer assistance, outlying villages will be left entirely without protection. Many of their men are already gone, which leaves only women, children, and the elderly to fight off direwolves, goblins, or whatever else might crawl out of the woodwork. Even ignoring the death toll, how long can you fight a war if your farmers cannot farm, and your roads are unsafe?”

General Marcus pointed to the piece of paper in front of Crispin.

“We thought of that. For each chapter, a small percentage of the adventurers are allowed to remain and continue with their duties. You will have to be very efficient in your deployment, but I have every confidence that you can master this challenge. You just succeeded in beating back the monster wave after all. On top of that, you just saw the largest influx of recruits since your founding.”

The Guildmaster looked down, studying the order in front of him for the first time. As the general had said, the need to keep up their work had already been thought of. In fact, the whole thing was remarkably detailed…

“I must say,” Crispin said conversationally, his voice even, “this is impressively well done considering what little time your staff must have had to prepare it.”

General Marcus sighed. “Well-spotted, Guildmaster. This was indeed prepared beforehand, though not as long ago as you likely suspect. Until today we did not know what Marrad was planning. They were either criminally incompetent, or they were following a plan that we were not aware of. As relying on your enemy’s incompetence is a dangerous way to live, we began preparing for every possible circumstance. Utilizing the Adventurer’s Guild in this way was one of several contingencies that all of us hoped would never see the light of day – and believe me, it was far from the most radical.”

“Fine,” Crispin said, resolved. “I will support your measures toward my guildmates. I will even pretend that I was included in the decisions, which I should have been. But I have a condition.”

“Name it.”

The Guildmaster rose from his chair and fixed the two most powerful men of the duchy with a look of steely resolve. “I will have your word – both of your words – that you will command us with the same care that you give to your soldiers. We may have experience against beasts, but we have never fought against humans outside of training. If you throw us against a line of Marradi soldiers in open combat we will die without accomplishing anything. If we are to fight this war for you, promise me that it will not be as cheap fodder.”

General Marcus nodded solemnly. “I give my word, and gladly. I understand that the way we went about this was not ideal to foster trust, but I have just as much respect for your guildmates as any farmer whose life you safeguard with yours. I have no intention to pointlessly risk lives, but even if all they do is defend the camps and hold nightly watches, that alone frees up more soldiers to deploy to where they are needed. I will make sure that your guildmates will have a voice in how their strengths are utilized.”

While the general had been speaking, a relieved smile had spread across the duke’s face. “You have my word as well, Guildmaster. Incidentally, I could not help but notice your use of the word ‘we’. Does this mean you will be dusting off your own armor, then?”

Crispin snorted. “With respect, your Grace, I could hardly sit on my ass while my brothers and sisters fight for our freedom. It may have been a few years since I last shed blood, but I am far from decrepit. If we must march to war, I will be leading my guildmates in this as well.”

“We shall march together, then,” Duke Harvand said, his smile turning hungry for a moment. “It will be an honor to draw blades with you.”