The bell above Cordell's door chimed softly as Nyssa stepped inside, grateful to escape the light drizzle that had begun to fall more steadily. The shop was warm on her cool skin and more than inviting, with rows of fine fabric lining the walls and finished garments displayed on wooden mannequins throughout the space.

  She smiled, already imagining herself wearing a wonderful little combo of a white chemise and a cerulean overdress. Simple, but cute.

  "Good afternoon, madam," came a polite voice from behind the counter. "How may I be of service today?"

  Nyssa looked down to find a small kobold begin approaching her, his scaled features arranged in initial judgement at her appearance.

  Despite his reptilian face with a pointed snout, small horns, and yellow dark-slitted eyes, his dress manner was impeccable. A well-tailored silk vest atop his professionally framed dress shirt, similarly fitted pants down to his clawed feet, moving toward Nyssa like a fashion savior.

  The sight of him made her think of Veratreez, though the kobold was considerably more refined in his presentation than her goblin assistant.

  "Oh my," she said, allowing some of her surprise to show. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect Cordell to be a k–”

  "Quite alright, madam," the kobold said with a gentle smile that revealed small, pointed teeth. "I am actually Master Cordell's assistant, Jiya. He is, um… occupied, but I assure you I am quite capable in fashion."

  His little accent was very pleasing to Amithaera's ears, a cross between a hiss and a growl. Jiya gestured at her torn and disheveled dress with tactful concern, "Oh, no. Oh, nonono. I do pray to Gro'sha that you slaughtered whoever ruined that once-delightful garment.”

  Nyssa was thoroughly impressed. He recognized its expensive make. Perhaps she would trust the little kobold after all.

  “I didn't.”

  Why, it was herself, after all…

  He began moving toward the women's section, passing by the men's, the orc's, the children's.

  Actually, the halfling's.

  "Let us see what we can do to restore you to your once great portrait,” Jiya announced, looking through his garments.

  For the next half hour, Jiya proved himself an excellent judge of both quality and style. He selected several options that would suit a respectable young woman visiting town.

  “Too pretentious,” he would mutter, stepping down from his small ladder to scamper away for another choice, returning soon after.

  “I like this one,” Nyssa selected, looking at herself in the mirror. It was an amber dress, a little long on the length, but sparkling like fire in the magelight.

  Jiya shook his head, “But it does nothing for you. Are you visiting your grandmother in the forest while a big bad lycanthrope stalks you?”

  She frowned. Perhaps he was right. The kobold returned with another garment, finding Nyssa trying a similar yellow dress to the one she’d torn apart.

  “Madam, you have already worn saffron today. If I believed you a one-act maiden, I would have simply sewn your dress together,” Jiya snapped, showing Nyssa his new dress to try.

  Such a snappy little lizard. Amithaera would've turned him into a newt where he not completely correct. It had been a while since she turned anyone into a newt, the last one being Veratreez, and she'd completely forgotten to change the goblin back for an entire day.

  Thankfully, she got better.

  "This blue wool would complement your coloring beautifully," he said, handing her a dress of deep sapphire, turning around as Nyssa tried it on.

  "The cut is modest but elegant,” Jiya continued, turning to pull the slack back behind her, making measurements in his mind. “See here, space in the sleeves. Very practical for active young ladies. Are you an adventurer?”

  Nyssa shook her head, entranced by the coloring of the attire, “No. Just here to visit family.”

  “Are you sure? You would make a glorious swordswoman. You've the slender build for it,” Jiya commented, making Nyssa huff as he pulled the dress tighter on her midsection. “Hm… I've a corset, if you so desire. Otherwise, your thoughts?”

  "It's perfect," Nyssa answered, and meant it. The dress was exactly what she needed; respectable and beautiful, a fine addition to her wardrobe at the tower.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Jiya giggled in his kobold capabilities, coming out like a mischievous cackle, bringing a smile to Nyssa's face. He scurried away a little more excitably, returning with a light woolen cloak to protect her, and the dress especially, from the rain.

  “Will you be wearing it out?” He asked, and Nyssa nodded, moving her legs inside of her new dress, enjoying the spacious room.

  Jiya smiled his toothy grin, bowing his head, “Then that shall be twenty silver, madam.”

  Nyssa paid without haggling, adding an extra silver as gratuity, "You've been wonderfully helpful, Jiya. Thank you so very much.”

  The kobold's eyes brightened with genuine pleasure, "You are most kind. I am confident in saying that you will be turning heads very soon, madam.”

  Nyssa emerged from the clothier looking every inch the respectable young lady she needed to appear. She flattened down the length and raised her chin, chuckling to herself in awe of her own splendor.

  Now, it was time to work.

  The guildhall was only a few streets away, exactly as prominent and well-appointed as she had expected. The building was three stories of solid stone construction, with banners displaying various heraldic symbols of lords and religions hanging from the upper windows. A steady stream of people moved in and out, clearly adventurers by their equipment and bearing, with the odd merchant or official.

  Before entering, she paused at the large wooden board mounted beside the main entrance. Posted notices covered its surface, each describing various jobs, bounties, and requests for assistance. She studied them carefully from beneath her woolen cloak, getting a feel for the general level of danger and activity in the region.

  Most were fairly standard:

  “Clear out a goblin infesta-”

  “Strange lights at the mi-”

  “Chickens speaking Common at nigh-”

  Nyssa pursed her lips.

  Nothing world-ending, which was both reassuring and slightly disappointing. Things were calm, it seemed. No mention of the most evil and most dangerous Necromancer to ever walk this land. No grim warning of the Sulfur Lord.

  It was clear to her that this bounty board was for the general public, for low-level children looking to make their start slaying goblins and chasing away prankster druids.

  Of course her bounty wouldn't be on here. For that, she'd need to go inside where the strongest adventurers gathered with their strongest allies to plan an excursion into the Darklands.

  “Quite a’ fun little selection today,” a woman's voice reached Nyssa, her grating Harvellian accent buzzing in her ears. “Are you lookin' for work or just browsin'?”

  A quick glance revealed a woman a little older than Nyssa, dressed in leather armor with a sword at her hip. The woman was already making eye contact, taller and as worn as her attire.

  "Just browsin’," Nyssa replied, picking at the woman's accent, keeping her attention focused on the notices. “I'm new to town."

  "I can see that. You're not dressed nearly well enough to be lookin' through these seriously,” the adventurer replied, still leering.

  Nyssa would simply not abide by the insult. She turned her head once more to face this insolent woman, and replied, “Perhaps I dabble more in spells than swords, and I want to look good while doing it.”

  Instead of the offense that Nyssa meant to give, the woman smirked confidently, leaning in to say, “I could help you look good doing it.”

  Nyssa gasped. She was absolutely aghast at the crude forwardness of this woman. Her hand twitched, just one tiny flick away from inflicting the fool with a Finger of Death and burning her from the inside out in front of all these people.

  "Wh- Well, I never!" Nyssa said instead, stepping away from the board and the woman.

  The woman’s expression flickered to one of amusement. She stepped closer to the offended Nyssa, and clarified, if as a poor attempt to wash away the proposition, “I work with the guild, trainin’ new adventurers if they need some guidance or brushin’ up before headin’ out.”

  Interesting.

  Nyssa could almost forgive the infelicitous behavior now that this woman might be useful to her, “So you work for the guild?”

  “Mm, no. I work with the guild. Saddhar, the, uh… guild master, sends me promising greens, and I make sure they’re tip-top. Wizards and Sorcies need not apply, ‘less they’re open to learnin’ a few new ways to beat someone over the head with a staff,” she explained, her smile a constant staple on her face.

  Saddhar was a new name. Amithaera almost asked about the previous guild master, Old Barr, but perhaps the answer to his current condition was in his name.

  All things considered, she could use this woman to her advantage.

  “... I see. Well, no, I’m not an adventurer… yet.” Nyssa replied to the woman, continuing with, “I am simply parsing the board to see what passes for adventure these days. These don’t appear too frightening…”

  The woman laughed haughtily, nodding at Nyssa, “Oh, you like a lil’ danger, eh? Alright, why don'tcha come with me inside, and I'll show ya the big scary bounties?”

  Fish, meet bait.

  "You'd do that for me?" Nyssa asked, eyes wide, her tone excitable.

  “Of course! C'mon, follow me.”

  Too easy.