Runeblade-Chapter 180B2 : Mistakes, pt. 2

Returning to the Dusty Stables was like returning home.

Hensch had welcomed them with open arms, celebrating their victorious return with a pair of ales on the house. It was more than welcome, after a couple weeks of constant overland travel, the gesture was enough to solidify the choice to stay at this inn.

The few other delvers in the common room nodded their heads, raising their drinks in toast before returning to their own conversations. Few in number, there were only four teams that Kaius could see, and each and every one had some form of beast with them. Most small, but one had a large wolf-like beast that looked at Porkchop in confusion and interest - tongue lolling out of its mouth.

It seemed, regardless of its popularity amongst those delvers with companions, the Dusty Stables was rarely packed to the rafters. Another thing that explained the price, Kaius supposed.

At least it meant that their old rooms were still available, and thanks to the money they still had on the books they were still cleared for the better part of a week's stay.

After an evening of downing their cups and telling anyone who would listen about their heroic fight against the ‘terror of Hanset’—though they did make sure to downplay its strength—they had retired to their rooms for the evening. Sleeping on a proper bed was pure luxury after the life he had lived, and, despite an anxious gnawing in his stomach about the prospect of meeting the Guildmaster the next day, Kaius slept like a baby.

….

Crossing the common room with a pair of teas, Kaius slipped into the secluded back booth that was nestled in a tucked out of the way corner.

Ianmus and Porkchop were waiting for him. The former cradled his head in his hands, a pallid colour on his face.

“I don’t understand? Shouldn’t your Health and Vitality have dealt with the beer? And why would you drink that stuff anyway if you feel like this the next day?” Kaius caught the end of his brother asking the half-elf.

Ianmus groaned, rubbing his face and reaching for the cup of tea that Kaius offered him with a gratified smile on his face.

“It does, the remnants of the alcohol at least. The problem is that it doesn’t do much for the dehydration or lack of sleep we got last night.” Ianmus explained, blowing on his cup. “I’ll be fine after some water and food.”

Kaius nodded, it was a common thing that most young men learnt. Everyone had heard of someone who had gained their first point of vitality from the celebrations that followed being inducted into the system.

“Hensch is bringing us some cold cuts and bread soon, so don’t worry.” he said, stomach gurgling at the thought of food.

“Thank the Matriarchs, I’m starving.”

Ianmus took a slow sip of his tea, eyes closing in appreciation, before he turned his attention back to Kaius. “How long do we have until we are supposed to meet with Ro?”

“The seventh bell after dawn toll, so we have just over two hours,” he explained. The manager of the guild had told them to return to the Guild just after lunch, she’d be waiting to take them to the Guildmaster.

“I’m still nervous about this; everything you guys have said makes it sound like he’s the equivalent of a Patriarch.” Porkchop muttered.

“That’s not entirely incorrect.” Ianmus admitted. “For places like this, the guildmaster is usually amongst the most premier of local powers. Both political and personal, it’s a big deal for us to be meeting them. I just wish we knew what to expect.”

“I doubt its foul play, but I do have reservations about exactly what they will want us to share. Our general strength, capabilities, and pace of advancement I can understand, but I hope they are not so foolish as to expect us to share everything.” Kaius replied with a frown on his face. Even if they were the guild, he wasn’t about to go blabbing about Honours, or his part in the phase shift. Especially not after he had received that warning immediately on entering.

“I think the effects of our bond skill will help cover some of the impossibilities - especially the racial trait. Remember, the description of the skill was never recorded - we can pretend it evolved with our classes.” Porkchop suggested.

Ianmus nodded. “He has the right of it. The guild is old. I have no doubt in their long and occasionally sordid history, there have been similar occasions to this - though perhaps nothing quite so extreme.”

“Regardless, Ro said that the guildmaster will likely want us to wrestle with him. Isn’t that exciting? It’s been so long since I've crossed claws and knew I would lose.” Porkchop’s voice grew energetic as he mentioned their likely upcoming spar.

Kaius snorted a little. Trust Porkchop to focus on perhaps the least risky part of their afternoon. Though, he did admit, the prospect of crossing blades with a Guildmaster did cause his heart to beat a little harder. They were legendary, even if he knew little about this one in particular.

“Do you know anything about him?” he asked, locking eyes with Ianmus.

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The half-elf cocked his brow in surprise. “Seriously? You’ve never heard of Rieker, The Wardog of Deadacre? I’ve heard tales of his exploits in the Depths all the way in Mystral!”

Kaius gave Ianmus a flat look. “Grew up in the Sea, remember?”

Ianmus coughed, having the sense to look a little embarrassed. “Right, right, of course. Apologies.” he cleared his throat. “Well, he’s late into the second tier - at least that is what is rumoured. In his hayday he was known for delving religiously, never taking more than a day or two to offload supplies and sell off artefacts before diving into another. He came to fame for taking down some second tier beast that had wandered out of the north, threatening some small city on the coast north of the dukedoms.”

Kaius looked at him in surprise. “What’s someone like that doing here then? Why’d he stop?”

“No one really knows,” Ianmus said with a shrug. “He took over from the previous guildmaster about five years ago. I’ve heard rumours, from it being a temporary break, a favour to a senior guild official, or even that a secret entrance to a deep layer of the Depths was discovered and this was an easy cover for him to monopolise it.”

“Regardless, the man is a legend, and a renowned lover of battle. Honestly, I think that the two of you may get on well with him.” he finished.

Kaius paused. If this Rieker lived up to the life that Ianmus had mentioned, then he could be a powerful ally, and no doubt would have plenty of lived experience to draw on for advice on how they could ascend as fast as possible.

That, and if he really did want to test them personally, they had an opportunity to impress the man.

“Well, we’ll have to take the fight seriously then.” Kaius said with a final nod.

…

Kaius stepped into the guild with his companions in tow, fully dressed for war.

Ro was already waiting for them, standing off to the side of the hall that led deeper into the building. She leaned on the wall with her arms crossed, a stern expression dissuading anyone from bothering her.

As soon as they entered, she met their eyes and waved them over.

“At least you had the sense to not be late, or unprepared.” she said tersely, looking them up and down with a note of approval in her voice. “Now come on, I don’t want to keep Guildmaster Rieker waiting, he’s a busy man.”

Without waiting for their response, Ro stalked down the hall.

Hurrying after her, she led them through a maze-like blend of corridors and stairwells before they stepped into an open foyer on the fifth floor. It was richly decorated, with a thick woven rug of gargantuan proportions that covered the floor.

Elegant chairs lined each side of the room, while its far end was dominated by an unmanned desk and a truly titanic door.

Given how many stairs they had walked up, they had to be on the top floor of the building, and judging by the lack of other passageways or exits, it seemed it had been reserved for the guildmaster’s sole use.

Calm and confident, Ro led them towards the door. Made of richly stained oak embossed in silver, it towered over Kaius. It seemed to emanate pressure—like only those worthy would be able to so much as knock.

Their resident guild manager seemed entirely unaffected. Coming to a slow stop, she raised her hand to a massive knocker wrought out of solid silver and gave it a single solid rap on the wood.

A moment passed, oppressive silence following the knock, before a bassy voice that demanded respect answered her call.

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“Come in, Ro.”

The words were…calm—even toned, verging on polite.

Kaius just managed to catch what looked like a mild unwinding of tension in Ro’s shoulders before she swung the massive door open with casual ease, and ushered them inside.

Breath hitching with momentary nervousness, Kaius stepped in.

Inside was an office, just as richly—if sparsely—decorated as the room outside. The far wall was dominated by bookshelves, though there was a space where a comparatively unadorned door led further into what Kaius assumed was the guildmaster’s personal quarters.

Another carpet covered the floor, leading to a large hearth to his left. Trinkets covered its mantle. Scraps of armour, strange rocks that glowed with internal brilliance, and the shattered remnants of weapons. Trophies from prior battles and delves.

Above, a massive skull of some unnamed beast dominated the wall. It was enormous, nearly as tall as he was, with arm-length fangs jutting out of a wide jaw.

Kaius barely glanced at it for a second, too enraptured by what lay at the other end of the room.

There, sat behind a sturdily carved oaken desk twice as long as he was tall, was a man.

He was tall—though not excessively so, perhaps a head and a half shorter than he was. If he’d had any thoughts of that lessening the impact and respect the man commanded, that was wiped away by the guildmaster’s presence.

He dripped power. Sweated a promise of violence and retribution. Calm grey eyes watched him evenly, a hidden fire lighting them from within.

Rieker was…imposing. Even physically, he looked like he had been carved from a hardwood burl—broad of shoulder, thick, and strong. Kaius had no doubt that even if they both had all of the system’s enhancements stripped from them, that the man would give him a run for his money in raw physicality, height difference or no.

“Ah, our newest members. Heard you’ve been giving dear old Ro a little bit of a headache, eh?” Rieker said, his voice filling the room with the shuddering timbre of a spilled bucket of gravel. “Why don’t you take a seat.”

Rieker waved to the four chairs in front of his desk. It was clear that it wasn’t a request.

Gulping, Kaius walked forwards, and quickly noted that he had missed one of the chairs that had a padded mat placed on the ground next to it, perfectly sized for Porkchop to sit.

Taking the chair, his brother sat on his left while Ianmus took the spot on his right.

Ro opted to pick up her chair, shifting it behind the desk to take her position at Rieker’s right.

“Now, Ro told me about you three just as soon as you arrived. A greater beast masquerading as a bonded beast is strange, but I’ve seen stranger.” Rieker said calmly to his brother, before his focus switched to him. “We thought you just another wayward scion. It seems we were wrong.”

“A scion, a valedictorian, and a greater beast walk into the guild—then a few weeks later they kill an elite beast over thrice their level. That’s not something you see everyday. Or ever, really.” Rieker continued, watching them with focused intensity.

“Makes it worth having a little chat, don’t you think?”