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Archives: Liberation of Ales

Chapter 3: Shinning Hill’s Mercenaries’ Guild

    Lianora and Niklas made their way across town to Shinning Hill’s Mercenaries’ Guild. The priestess was none too familiar with Shinning Hill, and this, of course, was the furthest from home Niklas had ever been, so it took some time to find the guild until they came across a knowledgeable townsman who pointed them in the right direction.

    Finally at the guild, Lianora led the way in. A few men were lounging in the guild’s common room, and when they saw a priestess of Myrii, a few of them made respectful bows to her. Myrii was the patron god of many mercenaries. None of the mercenaries knew of in what low regard her priesthood, and possibly god, held her in, however. Lianora acknowledged them with a slight nod and continued on her way.

    As they approached the guild clerk, Lianora greeted him. “Good morning,” she said. “I have a young man who would like to join the guild.”

    The clerk straightened immediately as the priestess approached. “Very well then. There is some paperwork to fill out, and a test of ability. Is this him?”

    “Yes, his name is Niklas,” Lianora replied. “Niklas Melphist, right?” she asked him. She wasn’t sure if she remembered his last name.

* * *

    “You’ve got to be kidding me, mate!” a young mercenary man said incredulously.

    “Swear to Myrii,” responded the priest. “When she was done with him, he was a rag doll.” The two sat right near the front desk, talking loudly.

    “Koltra was a beast. No woman could have stopped that one,” the merc scoffed, leaning back in his chair.

    “If you want to tango with her, she’s still here.” The priest sipped a mug of something steaming. “Didn’t even flinch at him when he charged. I will die in the glory of battle, but there would be no glory in fighting her. I can’t imagine stopping her if she got going. She is blessed by someone, Myrii or something else. She must be...”

    “Blowing nothing but air,” the merc said, kicking his feet off of the table. “We’ll see about that. Where is she?”

    “The practice room. Don’t start a fight though. They’re doing the skill tests there today. Don’t want to scare the newbies,” the priest laughed.

    “Hah... I’ll show that wench where a woman belongs...” the mercenary replied, marching off towards the back door...

* * *

    “Yes, priestess,” the swordsman said absently, paying a bit more attention to the goings on around him. Niklas was gauging most of the people in the room. When he caught the bit of a conversation, he listened in. It appeared he would have a test of ability, so his eyes followed the mercenary heading to the practice area. That would appear to be it. Turning his attention back to the main desk. “What paperwork would it require?”

    “Oh, just some information on your identity,” the clerk replied.

    Lianora overheard the conversation between the mercenaries as well, and knowing Niklas, he was no doubt interested in sparring with this woman they were talking about. “Will it take long?” Lianora asked, feeling that Niklas’s attention was waning.

    “No, it shouldn’t,” the clerk replied. “I just need to ask him a few questions.”

    Giving a light nod, Niklas returned his attention back to the conversation with the clerk and Lianora.

    “So, what’s your age?” the clerk asked, pulling out a page of parchment from a drawer under him and picking up his quill.

    As the first question was asked, Niklas had to think about it. “My age? I believe it would be twenty-three.”

    The clerk give a light nod, scratched down the number, and continued on; “Where are you from?”

    At this, Niklas was a bit less hesitant about that information than he was about his age. “I was born in Flaim.”

    The clerk scratched down this answer, then continued to the next; “What weapons can you use?”

    As for the third question, Niklas gave the clerk a curt nod, and thought about it. It took him a few moments. “My basic training put emphasis on lighter, curved swords. However, I was also trained in using my hands, feet, and martial weapons. I can use daggers with some proficiency, but I never had to much taste in it. I suppose I can use—”

    “That will suffice,” the clerk stated, obviously not writing down more than the sword part. Finally, the last question came, “How long have you been training with weapons?”

    Niklas answered almost as it was asked, “Twenty years with the blade, eighteen years with martial arts, and under six years with the others.”

    Looking up, the clerk snickered. “Alright, I maybe can buy that weapon mastery stuff, but that would put you at three when you started training. I know Flaim breeds some tough kids, but you expect me to believe that?”

    Niklas cocked his head. “Does that seem strange to you?”

    “According to this you’re a blade master, so why would you still be a newbie merc?” he stated, obviously not believing the story.

    “There is nothing to say, I suppose. I will simply have to prove my skill... and respectfully, I am not a blade master. I still have much to learn.” Niklas seemed to be getting annoyed.

    “Fine, whatever... Well, if you get yourself hurt, maybe that’ll teach you to lie,” he grumbled, motioning to the skill test room.

    Turning to Lianora, Niklas frowned. “Are all mercenaries so distrustful of someone’s word?”

    Lianora shrugged. “Well, not many people start fighting as as three years old,” she replied. “It is kind of hard to believe, but I believe you,” the priestess said with a small smile. It was hard not believe someone so innocent.

    As Niklas headed for the door, it shot open on its own, carrying along with it the hot-headed mercenary. He tumbled into the wooden floor roughly, as if an ogre had thrown him.

    The woman they had presumably been talking about stepped through the doorway after him, carrying the axe that had once been on the mercenary’s back. She was a walking tower, with barely any hints of a feminine form underneath the armor and muscle that consumed it. She was not dressed as an average scratching-a-living merc either. Her armor was of special design, metal plates secured onto ring mail. The sword on her back looked impossibly large and unwieldy, but with her massive build, anything seemed possible. What was most striking about her, however, was the hardest to put into words. She seemed to have no body language. No expression. It was a blanket emptiness. As if the human element of her was simply missing.

    “There is to be no fights inside guild halls.” Her voice was even and without any motivation. She wasn’t angry, amused, upset, or anything else. It was nothing but a recital. She tossed his axe carelessly to the ground at his feet before turning around and returning to the training areas. She had not even recognized Niklas’s presence.

    The Myrii priestess gave a start as a pair of fighters burst through the door. At first, she assumed it was two men, but as she watched the larger of the two, she began to realize that this was a woman, a very unattractive one at that. However, Lianora didn’t think this woman cared one bit about what was attractive, or had any ounce of sexuality. Everything about her was cold and devoid of life. If she didn’t know any better, she’d assume this woman was a golem.

    “Ahh, so thats...” As the crashing through doors occurred, Niklas was cut off. He turned and cocked his head lightly as a giant of a woman, and the man who had been talking to the priest earlier crashed through, with the man obviously in defeat and the woman victorious. As she returned through the door, Niklas studied her form. While it looked like he might be ogling her, in reality he was looking for weak points in her form. “Are we done with the registration process?”

    “Aside from the testing, yes,” Lianora replied. “Let me guess, you want to spar with her? I suppose they might take that as a good test.”

    “I see. A test of ability should prove I don’t lie about my training,” Niklas said with a frown. He was obviously still a bit bothered that he had been called a liar. “I believe so. I still haven’t gauged her weak point though.”

* * *

    The giantess returned to the training area with the step of authority. While she held no special position within the guild, her status was more of a frequently-spoken-of mercenary. From time to time, she was requested by name. More often than not, however, the guild set aside more deadly or dangerous jobs for her. It was her total lack of emotion combined with her physical prowess that put her foes at risk. She was a trained fighter, not some young thing with a sword and a lucky charm. She was well equipped and, simply put, horrifying to fight.

    Despite all of this, there was an element of mystique to the woman. Besides the wide disparity between her gender and appearance, there was her methods of preparation and combat. Most importantly among these was meditation. As she sat down now, she began the peaceful embrace of relaxation. Her position and style was trademark of the elves, not humans. It was distinctively so. Any elf knowing enough of his or her own cultural heritage would recognize it as such. That information, however, is not often taught to a human, especially one as contrary to their lifestyle as this woman seemed to be.

    So she settled down. Before her lay a massive two-handed sword, larger than any normal fighter would ever desire, or even consider wield-able. It looked ridiculously heavy to begin with. The design was clearly off balance to anyone who knew something about the construction of weaponry. In order to use, it would have to take great strength. Of course, no one doubted that the owner possessed it.

* * *

    A young olive haired man came through the doors winding his way to the front desk. With an armored shoulder he bumped into Niklas on purpose while other hand scouted Lianora’s rump with a quick decisive squeeze as he passed by. Putting a coin on the table he gave a large smile.

    “Yeah?” the clerk grumbled. “What do you want?” The young man mutely stared back with the same grin plastered over his face. With his right hand he pointed to a stack of papers. “What about them?” The boy sighed and pointed to the coin, then to the papers. “I’m not getting it, kid,” the clerk groaned.

    Lianora straighted as the mercenary groped her, then shot an icy glare back at him. Any other time she may have flirted with him, but not when she had Niklas at her side. Though, even if he wasn’t there, she had a feeling that she might not have been amused either. The na?e young swordsman was getting to her; the thought of potentially betraying his trust in her as a lover didn’t sit well with her.

    As his shoulder was brushed against, Niklas took a step back from the impact. Normally he would have assumed it was a simple accident, if Lianora hadn’t given the bumper the icy glare. “Excuse me, but it’s rude to do such things. I believe you should apologize.”

    The boy half-turned and sighed. He moved away from the clerk and stood before Niklas, toe to toe. He was about four inches shorter than Niklas and a lot more wiry, not too much of an opposing figure. He took a step back and shook his head. He motioned an X-shape over his mouth and stayed silent.

    Lianora regarded the boy for a moment, trying to figure out what he was trying to figure out what he was trying to explain. “Are... you mute?” she asked.

    The boy nodded. In an attempt to explain he used motions, first pointing to Niklas and then patting his own armored shoulder, then to Lianora and patting himself on the bottom. He touched his sword and pointed at Niklas again, then crossed his index finger of his right hand over his left index finger. It was a crude explanation at best, and he was unsure whether either of them would get it without a translation from his employer. Suddenly remembering what he came in for, he turned back to the clerk and again tried to get a form from him.

    Lianora regarded the boy with utter confusion as she tried to figure out his gestures. The least she could make of it was that he wanted to duel Niklas, which was possibly all of the point he was trying to make.

    Like Lianora, Niklas was confused. While he understood the mute part, he didn’t understand the armor or the pointing. Looking at his own shoulder, he gave Lianora a raised brow expression. If cross over his mouth meant mute, he assumed a cross over his sword meant a similar thing. “Are you saying your sword and armor are simple decoration?”

    The boy sighed. It seemed as though neither of them got it, and the clerk wasn’t understanding enough to give him the forms. Life was hard as a mute. Snatching the pen quill from the clerk he quickly scribed out his message to the clerk.

    “Oh! You’re here to pay a renewal fee,” The clerk stated. The boy nodded. “Let’s see here...Geo El Orin, sword master.” The clerk sighed. “The term seems to be thrown around too much these days,” he mumbled afterward. “Regardless, you’re renewed for another year.”

    Geo nodded and turned on his heels. Now to deal with Niklas, however, getting Niklas to spar with him was going to be far harder than dealing with the clerk. Reporting back to Mora was more important than fighting with Niklas, but Geo wanted a little rough housing with the young sword master. Everything about his stance, the way he held himself spoke volumes that he was a great fighter, and Geo wanted to play. It wasn’t every day that he ran into someone in the same class as him.

    Still, the problem lay within his inability to properly ask Niklas to a sparring match. Well, if this boy was as good as Geo thought, then he’d understand a fighting stance. Dropping his body low, legs shoulder-width apart, Geo gripped the sheath of his sword on his left hand and placed his right hand on the hilt, right against the cross guard. He was ready, now to see if Niklas understood the actions Geo had taken.

    As Geo assumed his stance, Niklas cocked his head to the side, and assumed his own. He didn’t fully understand all this, but apparently his first impression had differed from the actual translation. His stance differed somewhat from Geo. While his legs were spread out like Geo’s, and his hand rested on the hilt of his sword, he stood a bit looser.

    Seeing what appeared to be the beginning of a dual, Lianora thought it best to get them in the right venue. “Alright boys, if you want to play, let’s go to the training room,” the priestess said, pointing to the double-doors across the common room. Glancing back at the clerk, she shouted, “A dual between these two could count as Niklas’s test, right?”

    The clerk nodded at her. “Sure, that works.”

    Geo dropped out of his stance and walked to the double doors, entering the training room. So this sparring match was going to be a test for the boy, Niklas, was it? Geo inwardly grinned. It had been a while since he had some fun, and he was sure Mora would approve, at least, later after he explained himself.

    “Oh, I see,” Niklas said, giving a light nod. He understood a bit more now. After the recent incident with the guards, he had to admit he was a bit more on edge. Well, if this was to be his test, so be it. Giving a light nod to Lianora, he followed Geo into the next room. As he entered, he looked around. He was already taking in whatever he could, which included how people were fighting, with what, and with what equipment. To onlookers, he really did look like a wide eyed youth, although he was appraising everything he saw.

    Lianora followed the two men inside, then took a place off to the side of the open floor where the sparing took place. She noticed that the strange warrior woman was there too, sitting with her eyes closed...meditating? What an odd woman... Lianora mused to herself.

    The giantess was serenely focused. Mercenaries walked around her as though it were commonplace for the woman to sit there. She never made any response to those around her, no matter if they passed, gawked, or even teased her mere inches from her spot.

    Frowning lightly at Veriss, he wondered what state she was in. Meditation for him was not easily broken, but he always picked quiet places. He didn’t fully understand why she picked a practice room. Turning back to Lianora, he gave a light shrug.

    Suddenly from outside, a voice boomed, causing the walls and the small clerk to shake with the force. “Geo, stop playing around or so help me gods, I’ll come in there myself!” What terrible source had bore that thunderous sound?

    Legs, dark and heavy as the blackest night’s draft, stomped at the archway, hooves stomped and pawed impatiently, striking at the earth like dwarvish axes. The rider must have heard, or rather not have heard, the problem within and call out for remedy. For the unseen mounted rider on what was surely a large beast, the way was inaccessible, for now. But it was doubtless that this strange creature—whatever it was—wanted in, it wouldn’t take much to make a tremendous entrance.

    The boy jumped at the sudden sound outside the Mercenaries’ Guild. That was Mora, he was damn sure about it. But as long as she remained in centaur form, there was no need to worry about her prancing in and ruining his fun. Geo took up a defensive stance and motioned for Niklas to come at him. He’d beat the boy down before Mora would interrupt his fun.

    Looking at the source of the disturbance, he blinked a few times. Judging by the other swordsman’s reaction, his name seemed to be Geo. Well, at least they had a name to the face. Turning back to Geo, he noticed the defensive stance and began to think of any weaknesses to it. There was none to speak of, which meant it was entirely possible the other style was based on using his opponents momentum against them. Placing his hand on his blade, he stood ready. It seemed time was on his side, and he would be patient.

    Lianora gave a start at the commotion outside, but she stayed where she was. There were people who could handle whatever was causing the trouble, if there was trouble to be had. Turning her attention back to the two young sparrers, she waited for them to make their first moves, though Niklas seemed to still be waiting, despite the motion Geo gave him.

    Meanwhile, another mercenary had stepped in and took a place along the sidelines. He was probably the one to judge Niklas’s worth as a swordsman for his registration.

    “Go for it,” Lianora encouraged Niklas.

    As soon as he saw Niklas was ready, the swift swordsman switched effortlessly from defensive stance to an offensive draw stance. He’d have this duel over in a matter of seconds. Sliding his right hand down the well worn shark-skin grip, he found his favored place to grip the extra long hilt, mid-way down. With the left hand holding the make-shift sheath, Geo’s stance lowered, feigning an opening in the right side of the stance. Now all he had to do was wait for Niklas to take the bait as so many had before him.

    As Geo’s stance turned to an attack, Niklas’s stance changed somewhat. His foot placed back, and blade unsheathed. However, he didn’t fall for it. There was a distinct difference in a feint and an actual opening; he had fallen for it many times while training with his mother, but not this day. Instead of going on the attack, he purposefully clashed his blade against Geo’s.

* * *

    Veriss rose to the sound of angry bashing upon the walls of the guild. No one seemed to care, not even the people being addressed, that someone was attempting to damage their mutual space. As usual, Veriss decided to make it her business to return peace to the resting fighters.

    Unsheathing her two-handed sword and throwing it onto her shoulder, the blank-faced berserker marched out of the training room, past the complaining mercenaries, and out the front door. When she came back, she was determined to have quiet. As she exited the door to face the troublemaker, she made her decree. “There is to be no fighting on guild grounds. If you do not comply, I will enforce this rule.”

* * *

    Geo grinned as Niklas had to close space to hit his sword. The swordsman’s weight shifted to his left leg as his right spun out and lashed out at Niklas’s own shin. However in mid kick Geo’s foot hit the floor and all weight shifted to the right foot, as he used his new found position right in Niklas’s sphere to jut his left leg forward and into the young swordsman’s gut. Years of hunting and killing for the Shadow Guild had made Geo’s impromptu fighting style unique and deadly, full of feints and optical illusions, mixed with his own mute acting ability.

    Fortunately Niklas’s martial training allowed him to tighten the muscles in his gut, absorbing some of the blow. It still hurt, but it didn’t knock the wind out of him like it could have. His opponent was quick and agile, there was no question about that. However, Niklas was beginning to learn the style. If it was about misdirection, he’d just have to judge that every attack was likely a decoy, and expect the second blow.

    This time Niklas went on the offense. As he drew out Stormlord, he produced the second, wooden sword that he had been carrying. Even if its destructive abilities were pathetic, it would definitely work in his favor. Bringing Stormlord in a wide arc around, he brought down the wooden sword from above.

    Geo allowed the wooden sword to hit him on the shoulder, forcing him to the ground, albeit helped by Geo’s acting. The young swordsman whipped his legs about him to rise to his feet again, sweeping against Niklas’s feet to hopefully knock him flat on his ass.

    This time he expected the strike, and with a quick back step avoided the blow, assuming his stance once more. Had the blow landed a bit harder, he might have not expected the second strike, but he had felt his wooden sword ‘give’ a bit, so he expected the deception. Moving to the right, he was looking for any sort of weakness, which he hadn’t found yet. Despite knowing the style put some emphasis on misdirection, he still didn’t know how to fully exploit that.

    Geo grinned as Niklas sidestepped his attack. Once again, the boy was proving to be quick on his feet, a good sign. Geo locked himself in his stance, focusing on his breathing he stilled himself. He was ready for a decisive blow. He’d take anything Niklas threw at him head on this time, not roll with the blow or anything. A full defensive action, and then, counter attack, one good solid punch to the solar plexus would get Niklas to yield, but the problem lied in the fact that Geo wasn’t a defending build. His body was built around speed. If he took the blow head on, there was a chance that he might crumple under the force of the blow, even if it didn’t show in the solidarity of the stance.

    Lianora watched the sparring match intently, noting every move. These two young swordsmen seemed to be well matched—though Geo seemed to be the sort of fighter who incorporated everything in his environment and every part of his body, while Niklas was more focused on his weapon and it forcing him to adapt. She hadn’t heard any more noise from outside, so whoever caused the ruckus had to have been dealt with.

    Niklas and Geo’s duel carried on for quite some time, each swordsman matching the other until finally, the more experienced man, Geo, had his blade at Niklas’s throat, signifying the end of the competition. Though he may have eventually lost, the fight itself had been so impressive that the guildsman was more than willing to agree that Niklas was a master swordsman and completed his registration.

    Lianora stepped into the practice ring once the fight was over, swinging her hips seductively as she strolled toward Niklas. She found both men’s physical prowess impressive, but Nik was the one she had decided to follow officially, as a Myrii priestess. “A good show. Did you enjoy yourself?” she asked.

    The young swordsman nodded, breathing heavily from exertion. “It was a good match,” he said optimistically. “Perhaps another time?” he asked Geo.

    Geo nodded, taking the time to slow his breathing. He had come in here for the simple task of renewing his license and then return to Mora’s side. However, he got caught up in having a little fun first. Now he had to return to the possibly angry centaur. That was something he was not looking forward to. Tongue-lashing was not something that he enjoyed.

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