“That’s part of the reason I’m here,” said Selena happily. “Get dressed and follow me, I think I’ll show you how to get jobs first.”
She turned and walked through the doorway, leading him up the stairs to the meeting room. When they went inside, the room was empty of people. She walked around the table towards the large, flat board hanging on the back wall and pointed to one of the folded pieces of paper nailed to it.
“This here is the guild’s job board. Certain members are responsible for bringing in new jobs and if Garen and Vince decide it’s good enough, they post it here on the board.” Rizzo saw dozens of folded pieces of paper, they definitely had plenty of work.
“Can anyone post a job on the board?” asked Rizzo.
“Yes, it’s encouraged,” said Selena. “And if someone completes the job, the person who found it gets a percentage of the take.”
He liked the sound of that, getting paid just for finding jobs, but he did not understand where to even look. On each piece of paper there was a mark, ranging in color from red, yellow, and green.
“What do these mean?” asked Rizzo, pointing to the colored lines.
“Those represent the difficulty of the job,” said Selena. “The green ones are the easiest, and the red is the most difficult. I advise that you stick to the green ones for now. Here, this would be a good one to start with.” Selena reached for one of the green marked pieces of paper. “I found this one myself and it shouldn’t be a problem for you.”
He didn’t want to take any jobs, no matter how easy. He had to make sure he was ready, and that meant being much faster and stronger.
“I don’t think I’m ready yet,” said Rizzo. She frowned, and then put the job back on the board.
“Well, the good thing is that you only have to take the jobs you want,” said Selena. “But you will have guild fees due every month. So, don’t wait too long or you will go broke. Now, let me show you the best thing about this guild.” She sounded excited and eager as she turned and walked towards the door, with him following once again up the stairs.
They stopped at a short hallway with a single door at the far end. This one differed from the rest though, much stronger and made of thick steel. She walked over and grabbed a metal ball hanging from a rope attached to the door, then slammed it hard, the sound echoing. “This here is where the guild keeps a collection of items acquired over the years.”
The door opened and a man wearing spectacles stared at him from inside. He had the standard cloak on with his hood down, long black hair hanging to his shoulders. It didn’t appear that he got out of the guild hall very much.
“You must be Rizzo,” said the man, his eyes were squinted and studying him. “I was told you would be coming by. My name is Aaron.” He extended his hand in greeting.
“Good to meet you,” said Rizzo as he shook his hand.
“Yes, indeed,” said Aaron. “I keep track of the guild’s treasury room. Here, come inside and I’ll explain better.” He stepped back and Rizzo walked through the door. On the inside he found numerous aisles full of storage shelves lining the room, too many to count, spanning to his left and right for over a hundred feet. Trinkets, weapons, jewels, and all sorts of items were stacked high, filling every nook and cranny.
“How did the guild get all of this?” asked Rizzo, trying in vain to count the number of rows from wall to wall. He had thought the guild couldn’t surprise him anymore.
“This is a collection of every item the guild has acquired over its many years of existence,” said Aaron proudly. “The majority of the items in here are from jobs. Thieves can’t resist taking a little… bonus, from some assignments. And a lot of those items are given to the guild to fence. But you can clearly see we get more items than we can sell. And it is my job to keep track of it all.” Rizzo looked around at the room in awe, trying to imagine the work it took to amass such a massive collection.
“Do you mind if I show him around a bit?” Selena asked Aaron.
“Not at all,” said Aaron. He retreated to a small desk in front of the shelves and started reading a parchment that sat on top.
She motioned for Rizzo to follow, leading him between the shelves, deep into the treasury room. She stopped when they came across a row filled with books, covered in dust from never being touched. There were more books than he had ever seen in his life. He walked towards one and pulled it out, wiping the dust off the cover. It read The Healing Properties of Herbs.
“I thought you might be interested in these,” said Selena, watching as he continued browsing. “You never know what you may learn from these books.” The energy around the door instantly came to mind, and he wondered if somewhere in these books might be the answer to what it was.
“I can read, but not very well,” said Rizzo, embarrassed. Life on the streets provided little opportunity to learn.
“No worries,” replied Selena. “I’m pretty sure you’re not the only one here who doesn’t know how to read. Aaron can help you though, he likes teaching people things.”
“Do you know of anyone who can teach me how to fight?” asked Rizzo, thinking that might help him be better prepared for any situation.
“Most people hire one of the old retired war veterans from the city,” said Selena. “But they are probably more expensive than you can afford, at least until you start taking some jobs. I’ll ask around for someone more within your price range. In the meantime, why don’t you find a book that might interest you.”
“What about the rest of the guildhall?” asked Rizzo, wanting her to show him everything.
“You’ve honestly seen just about everything worth seeing,” said Selena. “There’s not much else besides some of the rooms that guild members have claimed for their own. Which reminds me, the room you’ve been staying in during training is yours if you want it.” She said her goodbyes and walked away, leaving him alone in the stacks of books.
Chapter nine
For the first time since joining the guild, Rizzo had the freedom to do what he wanted. It took a while for it to sink in that he was actually a member of the Thieves Guild. He walked along a shelf full of books, wiping off the dust from the spines so he could read the titles.
There was a large variety ranging from children stories about heroes going on adventures to books teaching you how to farm certain crops. One book named The Magic of Ancalen caught Rizzo’s eye. He pulled the book off the shelf and opened it.
“Well, you have good taste,” said Aaron from behind, making him jump with surprise. “When Selena was leaving she mentioned you may need some help.” He knew she probably told him about how he couldn’t read. His face turned red from embarrassment which made Aaron laugh. “Don’t worry, you are not the first one that’s come to me for help. And I enjoy teaching, so I don’t mind one bit.”
“Thank you,” said Rizzo, feeling slightly better. “I can read some, but there weren’t many opportunities to learn in the Slums.”
“I understand,” said Aaron. “Most people who join the guild come from the Slums and have the same story as you. You found a good book to start with though. The Magic of Ancalen tells the story of Aiden Payne and his adventure into Wyndlam, where he discovered magic and with it built the City of Mages, also known as Ancalen. He may be the greatest explorer to have ever lived.”
“What exactly is magic?” asked Rizzo curiously.
“I have never seen anyone use it myself, but according to the stories, it is a power that mages use to do impossible things,” said Aaron. “That book may be able to explain it better than I can.”
“Are there any mages here in Sartram?” asked Rizzo hopefully. He had to know if what he saw around the door was magic.
“No, the king forbids any mages from entering the city,” said Aaron. “And it has been that way ever since its founding, which was actually by one of the explorers who traveled with Aiden. It is said that the two explorers had a falling out and ever since then the king made a vow that mages would never
be allowed to enter. No one knows exactly why the two started fighting, but most think it’s because the king was jealous that Aiden was the one who discovered magic. And to this day Aiden has never returned.”
“Wait, what do you mean to this day?” asked Rizzo. “Sartram was built almost two centuries ago.” Aaron smiled knowingly.
“Yes, which is the main reason why there are still so many people trying to venture further into Wyndlam,” said Aaron. “In the center lies a giant forest with an ancient race living inside it. They are the ones who taught him how to use magic and it is said they gave him the secret to eternal life. But every man to have entered after him returns with no memories. They come back as if they were a child, with no recollection of their previous life or even their own name.”
Deep down, he knew this magic had to be the answer for the energy surrounding the door. But, how could it be if mages were not allowed in Sartram? He had to know for sure.
“That’s incredible,” said Rizzo as he opened the book. He flipped through some pages, disappointed that he saw no pictures. It was a long shot, but he had hoped it would show him what magic looked like. “That would explain why so many ships sail here and why Sartram has flourished so quickly.” He was silent for a few seconds as he scanned through the book. “What are the chances that a mage could be snuck into the city?”
“Not very good,” said Aaron. “There’s only one way to get into the island that Sartram is built on.” Rizzo looked confused, so he explained better. “Imagine the outskirts of the island like a giant bowl, with the city at the bottom of that bowl. The rim of that bowl is mountainous rock walls standing over a hundred feet above the water, which are practically impossible to climb. But there is a gap on the northern side you can sail through that leads into a giant lake. And that’s where Sartram is built. The mouth of the lake is the only way to get into the city. But it’s heavily guarded, and before any ship can pass it they are thoroughly searched with an orb that can detect mages.”
“So, there’s no way magic can get in Sartram?” asked Rizzo, losing hope.
“No, that’s not what I said,” said Aaron. “I said mages are not allowed into the city. Magic items on the other hand are not restricted. They are extremely rare though and very few people here have ever even seen one.”
“What do they look like?” asked Rizzo eagerly, hope returning. “Have you heard of any that have glow?”
“I have never seen an enchanted item before,” replied Aaron. “But from what I hear the orb the guards use to detect magic will glow blue, only when a mage touches it though. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” said Rizzo, deciding he should change the subject before Aaron grew suspicious. “Can I borrow this book?”
“Well, I can’t let it leave the treasury room,” said Aaron. “Why don’t you bring it over to my desk? You can sit next to me while I work, and if you need help understanding anything you can ask.”
Rizzo nodded his head, then followed him back to the desk in the front. He spent almost the entire day being drawn into the book, fascinated by adventures inside. It told of how Ancalen was a city made with magic, and how the gates were open to anyone wanting to learn. The more he read, the more he wanted to travel to this magical city.
Rizzo continued going back to the treasury room every day after his training with the obstacle course. Eventually, he finished the book about Aiden and his discovery of magic and then moved on to find other books about magic. There were a few, but none that explained how magic worked or what it looked like. Just stories about the experiences and adventures of famous mages.
When he wasn’t reading with Aaron in the treasury room, he was training, constantly pushing himself harder and harder. Selena came to find him one of the days that he was running the obstacle course with Vosh.
“Hey Selena, what brings you here?” asked Rizzo as he crossed the end of the course, out of breath from struggling to keep up with Vosh who was not even winded. Training here had given Vosh incredible stamina.
“I was looking for you, actually. I have some good news,” replied Selena, amused at how worn out Rizzo was. “Looks like you may need a second to breathe though.”
“He’s getting better,” said Vosh, laughing and slapping him on the back. “One day he may even be a challenge.”
“I don’t doubt that,” said Selena. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so determined. He has made leaps and bounds with his skill level. But back to why I came here, I may have found a weapons trainer for you. His name is Will and he is new to the scene, so he does not have any students yet. And because of that, he is very cheap.”
“If he knows how to fight, I’ll give him a chance,” said Rizzo. He was skeptical about someone not proven, but he had little choice. She reached inside her cloak and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“Here, this is where he lives,” said Selena as she handed him the paper.
He took it, feeling like he had been waiting an eternity to find a teacher. He could wait no longer, saying his goodbyes to the two and heading out of the guild.
He followed the directions she gave him to a house close to the wall by the King’s Gate. It was larger than most surrounding it, so the man had to make a decent living. There was a stone walkway leading from the street to the front door, with bushes outlining the edges and green grass surrounding the building. It was a one-story house, like most, except for in the Noble’s District.
Rizzo knocked on the door. A few seconds later it opened, and the man who emerged was not what he expected. Will was easily about six and a half feet tall and built solid as a brick wall. His face was rough, covered with a short brown beard, without a hint of a smile underneath. He had very familiar features though, making him wonder if they had met before. The man folded his over-muscled arms in front of his chest and glared at Rizzo as if measuring him.
“What do you want?” said Will in a gruff voice. Rizzo gulped audibly, intimidated by his appearance.
“My friend Selena said that you might be able to teach me how to fight,” said Rizzo nervously.
“You don’t look like much,” said Will as he looked him up and down. “The price is two silvers a week. Do you at least have the coin to pay?”
“I do,” said Rizzo, pulling out a pouch of coins and opening it. Will held out his hand for the coin, but Rizzo did not give it to him, causing a low growl of annoyance. “Can I have some sort of demonstration? I need to know that you can actually fight.” He didn’t doubt that Will could beat most men, but he wanted to make sure it was not only because of his size.
“You don’t think I know how to fight?” asked Will, sounding offended. He pointed his finger in Rizzo’s face threateningly. “I’ll give you a demonstration alright.”
“N-N-No!” stammered Rizzo quickly, not wanting to make him mad. “I just meant…” Then will started laughing
“Calm down now,” said Will. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Look, to be honest, you will be the first person I have ever trained. But, my father paid for me to be trained by some of the best when I was younger. So how about this, the first lesson is free. And then you decide if you think I can teach you something or not. Sound fair?”
“That sounds more than fair,” said Rizzo, relieved.
Will stepped back from the doorway and motioned to follow him inside. They went past a few rooms and then into an open courtyard in the center of the house. There were stands along the edges full of practice gear and weapons.
On one side, large wooden poles were stuck in the ground and straw training dummies were attached at the tops. Mostly, the center of the courtyard was a flat and clear space, with plenty of room to move around. Will walked over and grabbed two wooden swords from off the rack. He handed one to Rizzo and then took a few steps back.
“It’s probably best anyway if we both have an understanding of the other’s skills before we proceed,” said Will. “It will let me know where to start you in your training. Now, tr
y your best to attack me.”
Rizzo was not sure what to do. He held the sword up and got into a stance that felt somewhat comfortable. Will just stood there, a few feet away with his sword resting by his side.
Rizzo attacked, making a clumsy shoulder high swing. Will didn’t even move his arms and just sidestepped out of the way. He made another clumsy swing, but it was dodged again.
He’s not even trying to block, he thought. Frustration set in as he realized he was being toyed with. How could he blame Will though, seeing as how his ability had been questioned?
Will was definitely experienced, so Rizzo knew there was little chance to land a clean hit. He tried lashing out, swinging and jabbing wildly, hoping to catch him unexpectedly. The first few swings were dodged, but when the thrust came, Will brought up his sword and deflected it.
His sword barely tapped Rizzo’s, but it was enough to shift his momentum, causing him to stumble forward while Will maneuvered around behind him and put his sword point into the back of Rizzo’s neck.
Rizzo was not one to give up. He turned and jumped backward, holding the sword in front of him defensively. Will allowed him to retreat and stepped back himself.
It was obvious Will knew what he was doing. Rather than attack, he was only defending and using minimum effort to do so. He was using his skill to dodge and deflect, rather than raining down heavy blows that would be impossible for Rizzo to block.
Clearly, he was no match for Will, but he wouldn’t quit. He charged again, this time more cautiously, thrusting his sword, expecting it to be deflected. He shifted his body weight to prepare a counter, but Will saw past the feint and easily back-stepped out of reach.
Quick strikes came from Will in succession to see if Rizzo could defend himself. Arms already growing weary, he brought his sword up in a feeble attempt to block. The sword almost vibrated out of his hands with the force of each hit. The attacks seemed to flow, the momentum of each swing carrying into the next.
Even though it felt like there was little time to respond, he could tell that Will was holding back, swinging slightly slower and not even close to full strength, but it was still difficult to block. After a while, he noticed a pattern or rhythm to the attacks. He knew that if he was right, the next attack would be a shoulder high swing.
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