“On the left there’s Mack, then me,” Edith pointed and giggled like a school kid. “I used to love my armored robes. In the middle, there was Jugan of clan Stonehart, one of the smartest men I was privileged to know. Sacrificed himself in the Burning Chasm. Then your mother.” She swallowed hard. “Your mother was something else. Looking at you now, it’s as if she’s sitting with us.”
They continued the one-sided conversation, talking about old times. Edith needed the pillars of community now more than ever. Rook was happy to lend a hand; she just needed someone to listen. They stayed for a long while until it was time for the woman to rest.
“I’d say we’ve earned some much-needed rest. We’ll head back to Ollar in the morning,” Jody said, looking at Edith.
“That’d be good,” Rook responded.
The next morning, they exited the Husk and began the trek back to Ollar. After entering the gates, Jody took his leave, explaining he had Sentinel Business.
“Now you two certainly have been busy,” Brianna said with a smirk. She handed over two mugs of ale and a parchment across the bar counter, which Rook took and read. “Phane took the liberty of handling the correspondence between yourselves and King Ollar.”
To whom it may concern,
Samuel Rook Merrell and Reina Jax have my full support in joining as initiates into the Order of the Sentinels. They have done great deeds to assist the city to include but are not limited to, saving the heir to the uldanish Swiftstride Clan, ridding the village of East goldwheat of a Silver Ranked Ghoul, and lastly, assisting one of our religious factions by escorting an acolyte to one of the temples of the old gods.
P.S. Your efforts in the courtyard and how you addressed the Bloodstone are duly noted and appreciated.
-King Ollar IV
Rook let out a low whistle before handing the paper to Reina for safekeeping in her logbook.
It’s nice to be recognized once in a while, he thought to himself. A few years ago, one of the soldiers’ barracks became a ring of drug runners peddling out cocaine and synthetic marijuana to other soldiers and their family members on the installation. When Rook responded to a simple welfare check in the barracks, he found one of the soldiers flushing the synthetic marijuana and cocaine into the toilet, which opened a can of worms on the whole operation. It had taken weeks and weeks of investigation to get everything sorted out. For his trouble, he was recognized with a handshake instead of an actual award.
He didn’t live for recognition but every now and again it’s nice to get an attaboy, so the recognition of the King of Ollar City meant the world to him. Rook tried to play it cool by shrugging when Reina looked at him. He grabbed his mug and took a long drink of the cool ale. This is a cause for celebration.
“I guess we did a good job,” he said, nudging his friend on the arm.
“Guest we did a good job?!” She asked with a hint of shock. “Rook there’s a good chance that the other initiates are going to take months to achieve what we did in the short amount of time we did. It’s as if you have something guiding you to take the right quests to do the right things, it’s simply amazing.”
“I’d have to agree,” Brianna said with a smile. “You’ve made such a difference in such a short time with Reina.”
The tavern doors flew open bringing in last night’s rain with the patrons. Rook glanced over his shoulder to see Roran and Phane striding in. Reina hopped from her seat, running to embrace her father. While Phane gave Rook a firm handshake. He couldn’t help but smile at the Guard Captain, the man came in clutch with the parchment. Now Rook’s goal of commissioning shelters looked better and better.
“So, you really killed a ghoul?” Roran asked, clapping his daughter on the shoulders. “You’re definitely your mother’s daughter.”
“Way I heard it was, Rook and Reina killed the ghoul, a morgon, and a plethora of udak’ith,” Phane said, with a satisfied nod. “I’d say you’ve both got bright futures in the Sentinels.”
“It was unbelievable,” Reina said, with a chuckle.
“I bet my blade it was,” Phane smiled. “I’ve got the follow-up instructions.
“I remember when you got to this point,” Brianna said with a chuckle. “You were so excited after getting the letter, you didn’t sleep for nearly a day and a half.” Her lips curled into a sad smile. “Then it was a blur, he had left to go on adventures for the Sentinels.”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Here now, though, right?” Phane asked, patting his sister on the back of her hand. “She’s right though, my suggestion is to not get too attached to any one place that you’re staying. The Sentinels can be called on a moment’s notice, therefore most of them stay within the cities in which they are stationed. But, bloody Maker, It took me damn near six months to accomplish what you did in a few weeks.” He looked at Rook and then to Reina. “No offense, but this has to be something to do with his conjured status.”
Reina looked at him, with a frown. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“I really must be going now, you’ll visit me soon, won’t you?” Roran asked his daughter.
“Of course, Father.”
“The both of you,” the Councilman said, letting the weight of his words hang.
“Yeah, I’ll be there with a pile of mushrooms for you.” Rook opened his inventory and took out ten gold pieces. “This should be enough to commission the builders guild should it not?” He asked handing Roran the money.
He looked at it with awe. “I’ve rarely seen so much gold in one place. Even in the treasury for Ollar we only have a couple thousand on hand at any one time, supposedly. What, what did you want me to do with it?” He asked apprehensively.
“Build shelters to house the downtrodden who are worth saving. The rest of the funds, take and get rid of the walla problem,” Rook answered.
“I’ll see what I can do. But know this Rook, the walla problem runs deeper than just Ollar’s underground. The routes, suppliers, and even supply can run out, but as long as theirs a demand, people will do what they can to get their hands on it.”
“I understand, but at the very least there are guards here who can start a task force to tackle the drug issues,” Rook responded, clapping his companion on the shoulder, and then frowned. “We just have to try and do what we can to make the place better, Councilman.”
Naive as it was to think money can handle all the problems, it couldn’t hurt to try.
Roran waved them goodbye and walked out the tavern, still clutching the gold pieces.
“That’s a lot of money, Rook,” Brianna said flatly.
“Anyways, Carrick is waiting at the guard barracks once again, eager to see the initiates who finished so quickly. Hurry up and finish your meal, and we’ll head out shortly,” Phane said, breaking the silence.
“Ale Phane?” Brianna asked, gesturing towards the barrel on the counter.
“No, no, I probably shouldn’t, I’m on duty.” He slid over five copper pieces on the counter. “Just a water, please,” he said to his sister with a wink.
Rook laughed as Brianna rolled her eyes filling up the mug of ale ensuring that the head of foam wasn’t visible and then she slid it over carefully so as not to spill and reveal that thing was drinking on the job.
“Ohh that’s good,” Phane said, taking a drink of ale. "Listen the next step might prove a challenge for you Rook. I’ll give you this advice though when you touch the crystal be truthful to what it asks. Phane leaned his back against the counter and removed his helmet placing it on one knee.
Rook’s heart lurched in his chest for the first time since being here he thought about touching the crystal in Washington. The cool white glowing six sided crystal that transported him and Knox to this place. The memory flashed of the old mage speaking into his head, the sly grin the pointed silver haired goatee. Rook shuddered.
Reina gave him a quizzical look mouthing the words are you okay. He nodded lying to his friend. How could he be okay? For all he knew the crystal could transport him into another world, could reset him to level 1, could essentially do anything. His anxiety started hitting him in the chest like a blacksmith’s hammer, and weighing down on his shoulders been making his clothes feel too tight. Damn it. I gotta calm down. He downed the rest of the ale and slid over a silver to Brianna.
Phane watched the coin slide across into Brianna’s hand with amusement. Brianna returned the gaze and shook her head.
“Rook you know you’ve paid nearly enough silver to stay for the year for free, you don’t need to keep paying me. I’m not one of the fancy guilds that have sweets, this is just a humble tavern,” Brianna said.
“It’s fine,” he responded. “I like to tip, and you’re my friend, so I’m gonna try to help you out the best I can.”
Brianna placed a hand on Rooks. “You’re a sweetheart, you know that?” She asked, before patting him twice on the cheek. “Thank you for this. It all helps.”
“Alright, you two, it’s about that time.” Phane rocked back on the stool and then quickly stood up. In a practiced motion, he placed his helmet back on his head before regarding the rest of the patrons in the room. “I hope all of you have a good day,” he said with a smile.
Half of the patrons smiled, nodded, or wished him farewell. The other half grumbled into their mugs of ale or pretended not to hear them. Truly a split between those who love the guard and those who don’t.
They followed Phane towards the city guard compound. Rook was enjoying listening to the conversation between the two, mostly about sword techniques and how using her Rapier has an advantage towards a fighter with a large weapon or shield. Phane explained different follow-through techniques, distracting blows, and glancing blows. In the end, they settled to train on the techniques before the next adventure.
They arrived at the compound shortly after, Phane greeted the two guards who gave him a crisp salute. Each man held their arm across the chest in a closed fist. Rook passed through the gates and let a low whistle out. Always impressive. They stayed the path towards the same middle building, this time they were met by Carrick, Jensen, Gail, and Jody. Rook once again had to look away from the shimmering scales and wavy green hair of the uncowled Gail.
Jensen regarded them with the same leveled frown, while Carrick gave them both a hearty smile. At least one of them is happy to see us.
“Like I said, remember to speak your truth,” Phane said, before waving to the group and pivoting on his heel to exit the wooden doors.
When they closed with a gentle click, Jensen spoke up. “Congratulations, you have moved from candidates to initiates of both the Scribe and Sentinel, respectively. I wish I could tell you it’d be easier from here on out, but it won’t be. Many of the trials that you’ll face after this will pale in comparison anything you’ve done so far.” Jensen clapped a hand on Jody and smiled. “Sentinel Lieutenant Jody vouches for you, so after your culminating event, it’s official.”
Rook and Reina clapped for their examiner’s promotion. The dwarf gave them a cheesy grin and waved for them to stop.
Jensen walked over to a small circular table standing in the middle of the stage. He and Carrick nodded at one another before gingerly lifting up a small blanket that lay over top of an object sitting on the table. Rook glanced over at Reina and had to wipe a beat of sweat from his brow. It was nice to know that Reina was just as nervous. Carrick drew his staff and placed it on the ground firmly in front of him and then nodded at Jensen. Jensen nodded back before flipping a small bronze latch lock and opening up the box. The pair were speaking with nonverbal cues.
Anything they had to do and were afraid to talk about was not a good sign. Rook’s ears picked up a humming that slowly filled the air, echoing on the walls throughout the small room.
Did it make you upset that Jody didn't help?
