The merchant’s guild sat at the north end of the plaza in a large brick building. A simple brass plaque by the open oak doors announced it as the merchant’s guild. Inside the walls and ceiling were covered in beautifully etched wood paneling. The marble floor was cleared to provide a quick path to the counter where a couple men were conducting some sort of negotiation. On either side of a central aisle large plush chairs were set around small tables.

“It looks like the clerks will be a few minutes,” Clay said as the man behind the counter was currently talking to a well dressed man. “I will show you the job board since the clerk is busy. I know you do not need any money, but let me share a secret with you. Anyone who does not find work today ends up working for Tack through the holiday.”

Orn did not understand why the other students made such a fuss over working for tack. In fact Orn usually did not mind the work at all. He is a bit strict but he has only increased my work recently as he had another project. Those must be the problems he wants them to solve. It would not be a problem unless he wants me to grade while he makes more. Orn swallowed as the thought hit him, that Tack may be thinking exactly that. I definitely need to find a job.

Clay led the group over to a plank with scraps of paper stuck onto nails. “These are general requests for jobs that need to be done, but do not need a particular person to fill. They pay less, but are a good way to get in the guilds records. If you can get someone to vouch for you you can get skip a lot of that and just need to build a reputation as being capable. Lissa’s introduction will get you on the fast track for that. If you do well it reflects well on them, but if you do poorly…” Clay smiled predatorily. “Her father will have to talk to the guild master.”

The smile faded quickly and he continued. “Unfortunately, you are far to responsible. But if something goes wrong do not sweat it too much, he will get an annoying lecture at worst,” Clay then turned to flipped through the papers. “Caravan guard, Caravan guard, day laborer. Not much here. I was hoping there would be a request for a temporary letter carrier. It pays well, and needs you to at least have been introduced to the guild.”

“Mr. Brownstone, Ms. Turidte,” an older looking clerk said as he approached with a few more scraps of paper in his hand. Clay and Lissa stepped back quickly, and Orn followed their lead so the man could ad to the job postings. Once the papers were stuck to the board he turned back to the group. “Can I be of assistance?”

“Papa would like to make an introduction to the guild,” Lissa told the clerk, and gestured at Orn.

“I will get the paperwork,” he replied heading back down the counter.

Lissa turned to follow him and Clay started to flip through the new pages. “Might as well see if anything new came in. Another caravan guard, a page for an event,” Clay cringed at the posting.

“What is wrong with that one?” Orn asked not sure why it would bother Clay so much.

“It means some rich person needs a servant, it is a toss up at the best of times. But it is asking for one for tomorrow, which means something happened to the servant who would have gone. It could be innocent, they may be sick. But it also could be the servant bailed on an abusive master as soon as he made it to the capital. Best to never risk anything like that,” Clay then flipped the last new piece of paper and laughed. “Monster tracking, 2 large gold for finding the lair and another 6 for destroying them all. Yeah right. Whoever put this up is insane. No one is going to die for a pair of coins, and they do not even know what they are. Believed to be goblins, it says.”

Clay shook his head and looked at Orn, “That should be several times higher, since a team is needed to do that type of work safely. The person posting this is insane or broke.”

“It does not sound that bad. I used to hunt monsters at home,” Orn replied.

Clay gave him an appraising look, before gesturing toward Lissa waving at them from the counter. “I believe you, but I doubt that you were alone. It does not matter either way though. There is no way the guild would let you take the job, and I agree with that assessment. It is better to be safe and alive than bold and dead. You will just need to wait for a better job to come up.”

At the counter, Orn signed his name to the small card, the clerk added to a drawer without even looking at it. Her work done Lissa headed for the door, followed by Clay and Orn.

“The main temple to the goddesses is just down that street,” Clay said pointing towards a street curving slowly off to the right from the plaza. “They can usually use a few extra hands during the holidays. I did not start with them since the connections you make throug the guild is more useful but I will leave it up to you.” The last words were rushed as Clay realized Lissa was not waiting for them.

Orn stared silently down the road leading to the church when he heard Clay yell to him. “It is either that or grade papers for Tack!”

...

As Clay and Lissa headed back into her father’s shop Orn heard a familiar voice. “You are not really thinking of walking into a church are you?”

“Do you think it would be a problem?” Orn whispered, as there did not appear to be anyone else close by.

Kao considered the question for a few moments before responding. “They have a lot more power in there. I do not think they would break their word, but it only takes one thoughtless act from any of them to make an accident happen. Better to stay away rather than risk it.”

Orn nodded and turned back to get a better look at where that job was. If they will not trust me to take the job I will just complete it and bring back proof.

Kao smiled at his response and started skipping alongside of him, “gob hunting it is.”