Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Paying a Price

The front door opened. Symon was sitting on a couch, the purse he snatched beside him and deflated. He held a small pile of coins in his hand. He lifted his head to see Serafina standing at the doorway. She slipped in and closed the door behind her.

“I was just counting it twice. The mark didn’t have as much as the one in the Spirit District, but it’s still a good haul,” Symon stated.

Serafina walked over to him and looked down with warm eyes. “Your first attempt at actual pickpocketing was a success. It’s a good start, but don’t let the confidence go to your head. Have you checked your ledger?”

Symon blinked, knowing he did not. He put the coins down next to him on the couch. He lifted up his shirt slightly and pulled the small ledger from his belt. He opened it and looked at the first page.

Symon

Raven Guild Rank: Novice

 

Copper Rooks: 96

Silver Knights: 7

Gold Queens: 1

Platinum Kings: 0

 

Natural Abilities

Shapeshift: Minor (Fox)

 

Skills

Flee: Proficient 

Pickpocket: Novice

Hide: Proficient

 

Symon quickly noticed that his pilfered haul was immediately added to his total. The purse had forty-four rooks and four knights. He scanned the page and saw that, despite his success with acquiring the purse, his pickpocket skill had not increased.

Serafina could see the look of confusion fill Symon’s eyes and nodded. “One success will not mean your skills increase. Nor will it mean it won’t increase due to a failure. Your skill will only improve from a number of successes and failures. You have just started on your journey to being a rogue here in Gray Gate.”

The woman in black sat down on the same couch with Symon. The empty purse and small pile of coins the only thing between them.

“Symon, things are set in motion and they cannot be stopped. It is very important you listen and answer any questions I have, truthfully. Do you understand?”

“I do,” Symon said with a small nod.

Serafina nodded as well. “I managed to see some of what happened after you stepped away from me. I saw that you ran into the twins, Lars and Fern. Who started the altercation?”

“They did,” Symon answered truthfully. “I was simply trying to walk away, and they barred my escape. When I tried to reason with them, they reasoned I give them my spoils or they would stab me. When I didn’t comply, they told me they were going to stab me anyway and attempted to take the purse. I stopped them.”

“I spied some of that. I must ask, where do you learn how to fight like that?”

Symon looked away, not sure he wanted to speak further.

“I don’t need every detail, but I must know some of it. We are going to have visitors soon and I have to tell them something,” Serafina explained.

Symon’s eyes widened a hair, “Visitors? Is it the Storm Guild? Will they come for some kind of revenge?”

Serafina grinned. “Not if I have anything to say about it. But we must prepare for their arrival and what comes next. After you tell me how you learned to fight, put your coins away, either on your person, or in your chest down below.”

The young man gave a small nod and parted his lips to speak, but no words came out.

Serafina’s eyes softened. “Symon, we are family now. I will not now, or ever, betray you. I will not risk our beginnings like a petty politician.”

Symon looked into Serfina’s concerned eyes and could feel the truth in her words. A sigh fell from his lips as he spoke.

“My parents had me professionally taught by several great warriors. When I was younger, we travelled many of the isles across the Dream Sea, past the Summer Lands. They told me, because of what we are, I had to be ready to defend myself at all times.”

Serafina nodded. “Thank you, Symon. I can change that enough to make it a believable lie.”

The woman in black stood up with determination etched across her brow. “I have to go downstairs. If someone comes to the door, and they have red hair, let them in. He will respect the guild house as a sacred place. Only open the door to him. If anyone else arrives, come get me if I haven’t returned yet. Do you understand?”

Symon nodded.

Serafina smiled. “I’ve been in worse moments than this. We will see it through. And if anyone asks you questions, play coy. They won’t be honest with you and you don’t have to be honest with them.”

Serafina walked to the back corridor and disappeared from sight.

Symon sat for a moment.

I don’t know what is happening, but why does it feel like I stepped into a deep dung pile for defending myself?

The young man began gathering up his coins and placing them in the purse. He tucked the small sack into his inner waist of his leggings, when there was a knock at the door.

Symon froze.

Already? They don’t waste any time here in Gray Gate.

There was another knock, stronger than the first. The door shuddered a few times, like an ogre was just on the other side.

Symon stood up and crossed the room. When he reached the door, he peered through a peephole. There wasn’t an ogre on the other side, just a man. He had flaming red hair, tied into thick braids. They hung past, behind his shoulders. He had a thin beard and mustache, the same color as his hair. His mouth was twisted into a smile, but his eyes held a kind of intensity that could melt stone if he stared long enough at it.

Symon took a quick inhale, before unlocking the door and opening it a few inches.

“Can I help you?” Symon asked as he peered through the partially opened door.

The man kept his cordial smile. “Indeed, you can. I’m here to see Serafina, and you as well. I came unarmed and simply want to talk. You can open the door and let me in, or I’ll make myself at home. Your choice.”

Symon was still for a breath, before he opened the door wide.

“Good man,” the red-haired man said and walked in.

Symon watched him, noticing his fine clothes and dark gray cloak. Everything he wore was stylish, like he should be in a king’s court, either as a warrior out of his armor, or an advisor, ready to whisper in the king’s ear.

“Close the door, unless you want everyone to hear what we have to discuss,” the man mentioned.

Symon closed the door and locked it.

“What’s your name?” the man asked.

“What’s yours?” Symon shot back.

The man nodded, not even a bristle leaking into his calm features. “Forgive me, that was incredibly rude. My name is Robert Winter, Grandmaster of the Storm Guild.”

“Symon,” the young man stated simply.

“Just Symon?” Robert said with a raised eyebrow. “Not Novice to the Raven Guild?”

“Would it make a difference?” Symon said with an untrusting edge.

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Robert nodded. “It does make a difference, if your one of us, or a stray that needs to be put down,” the man said with a sinister smirk.

Symon didn’t show it, but his heart hammered in his chest again.

“You play this cruel game a little too often for my tastes,” Serafina said as she stepped into the main room.

Robert turned to the woman in black and smiled brightly. He bowed deeply at the hip with one hand across his waist and the other behind him.

“Always a pleasure to see you, Lady Black,” Robert said before lifting his gaze to her, “And to once again bask in your beauty causes my heart to quicken again.”

Serafina kept a neutral gaze at the man in her home. “Pretty words will not worm your way into my heart, no matter how many attempts you try.”

“An try I must, for if I stop, I will know an unfathomable defeat,” Robert smiled as he stood up from his bow.

Serafina ignored him, “What brings you by?”

Robert glanced to Symon, “Should we talk in front of him? He may not like what needs to be discussed?”

“Symon is my new novice. He can remain, as witness to what we must discuss.”

“Even if what we discuss turns to the bleak side of things?” Robert said.

“Robert, out with it,” Serafina said with a hard tone.

Robert’s smile diminished slightly before he spoke, “Lars and Fern told me some things, and Jak told me other things. All of it leads to a problem. The Raven Guild was never supposed to take on new members and serve as a reminder of…” Robert trailed off and glanced to Symon.

“Of some unpleasant things from the past,” he finished.

Serafina nodded. “I’m aware of what was declared. I have lived it for many decades, a reminder of that very night. But as you know, I’ve had plenty of time to research the particulars of what was declared on paper.

“The Raven Guild could not return to active service, unless a grandmaster for the necromancy academy served for longer than five years at their post. Slanka Mistmourn has been the head mistress of the necromancy academy and she has reached her five-year anniversary last month.”

Robert closed his eyes and shook his head. “Lady Mistmourn and the necromancy academy are a farce, a cruel joke. She barely has any students as is, and the other academy grandmasters don’t require students to take her teachings to become true mages. Her academy is laughable, as is her influence, status, and power. She is the weakest of the grandmasters and holds no sway.”

Robert opened his eyes with a stern gleam. “And that is only the tip of the problem. The other guilds will not take it lightly that you’re recruiting for your guild. You don’t have the authority for you haven’t attained the rank of grandmaster and you have no guild stone.”

The red-headed guild leader turned his attention to Symon, “And least we forget, your man hurt two of my men. It was against the code and therefore, there must be reparations.”

“They tried to stab me!” Symon blurted out after hearing enough.

Robert’s eyes cooled. “That was not what was spoken to me. They told me that they were simply questioning you, and you attacked them without provocation.”

Symon’s eyes narrowed. “They lied.”

Robert shrugged. “Where is your witness? Lars and Fern can back each other’s claim. The lovely Serafina couldn’t have witnessed it, for she was engaged in a distraction and teaching young Jak not to make a fool of himself out in public.

“And may I add, you may appear like you’re speaking the truth, but if you expect me to believe a word from you, a stranger whom I only met today, over the word of my own people, you have some growing up to do.”

Symon looked to the side.

I don’t have any witnesses, and he’s right. No matter what the truth is, he won’t believe it unless I have others backing me.

Robert turned his now tired gaze to Serafina. “Lady Black, despite the fact that Slanka Mistmourn has remained here at Gray Gate for longer than five years, will not wash away what has transpired. The other guilds will not want to share profits with your guild again, especially after so much time has passed. The others have grown quite comfortable over the last thirty years, and they will not like that your guild will rise from the ashes. Neither will some of the mage grandmasters when they hear word of a skilled young man joining your guild.”

Serafina gave Robert a calculated look. “Symon has travelled far to come here. He is originally from the Isle of Baldos, an orphan given to the monks on the island. We both know, all orphans must learn to fight to defend the monasteries from all manner of pirates and monsters. He had reached the proper age of ten and six, leaving the isle and traveling for the last three years. He dreamed of experiencing Gray Gate, but when he arrived, he no longer had any more coin.”

Robert eyed the woman in black with a suspicious edge. “And, out of the goodness of your heart, you took him in? There is more to your story than you’re telling. I have heard the stories about the monasteries on Baldos. They do indeed know how to fight, but even they cannot drop two large men in a short moment.”

Symon spoke up, “She couldn’t tell you the rest, because I didn’t tell her the rest. It’s true, I did learn from the monks, but I also learned from others who came to the monasteries to learn peace after a life of violence and bloodshed.”

Robert and Serafina turned their attention to the young man as he looked down at the floor.

“Everyone who comes to Baldos is a lost soul. I was orphaned, but there are others who came to cast away their former lives and serve Takar, Father God of Forgiveness. We all had to pool our skills and knowledge, and I was taught by a few other monks who wanted to atone from their bloody pasts.”

Symon looked up to Robert with dark eyes. “In the name of Takar, I ask for forgiveness. Whatever the truth may be, I simply tried to defend myself and hurt two of your men. For this, I am very sorry,” Symon said and bowed.

Robert eyed the young man for a breath, before turning his attention to back to Serafina. He rubbed one of his temples and let out a tired sigh.

“This has become a tangled mess and I already need a drink to soothe my nerves,” Robert said with a weary tone.

Serafina’s expression remained blank. “How much will this cost?”

Robert looked at the woman in black and his eyes glimmered with an experienced shine. “There is a lot to consider. The other guilds will already know what transpired in the bazaar. Most of the guilds may be a little more indifferent to your guild’s resurrection, but the Demon Guild and the Dragon Guild may not. If I remember correctly, Kylana from the Demon Guild has always despised you and she will not make it easy.

“A moot will have to called. We will need to discuss what has happened and what will happen next. I may be able to convince some of the others to leave you alone, but they won’t do it out of the goodness of their own hearts. There are also reparations for my two men for injuries and time taken away from their duties,” Robert said as he tapped his fuzzy chin.

“How much?” Serafina said with hard eyes.

Robert stopped tapping his chin and gave Serafina a simple smile. “To oil the wheels, protect you and your new novice from nasty beheadings, and ease your guild back into the fold? I would have to say, a hundred platinum kings should suffice.”

Symons’ eyes widened. Never had he heard anyone speak so casually about a hundred platinum kings. Each king is worth a hundred gold queens, and are only used by the wealthy elite, tokens of their status and power.

“A hundred platinum kings!” Serafina said loudly and held up her wrists. “Why not take the very blood from my veins?”

Robert grinned. “Don’t be coy, Lady Black. If you were a fire drake, or an ice elf, I would gladly syphon much of your blood and sell the ichor to the mages myself as payment, but we both know, Norden blood does not contain as much mana as the blood of true mythics.         

    “No, if you want to survive and see your guild return to Gray Gate, that is the payment required to make it happen. I’m sure I can help convince the other grandmasters for leniency, but they won’t do it for free.”

Serafina dropped her arms to her side. A darkness crept into her gaze as she looked away. The darkness receded as she looked back at Robert and her hand slipped into her black dress pocket.

Symon watched as she pulled out a small, but hefty coin sack. It was tied tight at the top and she held it in her palm. She lifted her arm and stretched it out, palm up with the sack of coins.

Robert glanced at the coin sack and then back at Serafina. He reached out and took the small sack. Quickly, he stuffed it into an inner breast pocket of his fine shirt and bowed slightly to Serafina.

“It’s all there,” Serafina said with a strained voice.

“I trust you,” Robert said and stood up to his full height. “I will begin setting things into motion. As a figurehead for the Raven Guild, you cannot attend the moot, but I would use this time to ensure you have an alliance and contract with Slanka. If you don’t have her backing, your claim of leading the Raven Guild will be quickly struck down. Without the backing of the mages, no guild can survive here.    

“Do what must be done and I will do what must be done,” Serafina said plainly.

“Very good,” Robert said with a nod before turning and looking at Symon. “Good to meet you, Symon. I hope you survive long enough to truly make a name for yourself.”

Robert bid them farewell as he walked to the front door. The door opened and closed shut behind him.

There was a silence in the large room. Symon looked over to Serafina as she stared at the door. There was a resignation in her eyes. She continued to stare for another breath before turning her attention to Symon.

“This was to happen,” she said with a sad tone. “I’m sure you have questions, but I will simply explain what I can. I am not a true grandmaster of the Raven Guild, not yet. I have spent most of the last thirty years studying and honing my own skills. It was much more difficult since we do not have our guild stone. I have spent decades, clawing every rook, knight, queen and king coin into my pocket and into my chest in the treasure hold. I was one platinum king coin away from achieving grandmaster status and a step closer to resurrecting the guild.”

Serafina let out a small sigh. “But, much of this was a calculated risk. I knew, as soon as I made you one of us, there would be a price to pay. I may have the rank of master, but to run an effective guild, I will need to recoup my hundred platinum kings, plus one more, to become grandmaster.”

Her eyes took on a wicked gleam and her lips curved into a smile. “The debt is ours to repay. Symon, you will aid me in acquiring one hundred and one kings. It will take time, but after the Raven Guild is accepted once again, we will have plenty of time to carve out our destiny.”

Symon looked down.

One hundred and one platinum kings seem like an impossible number of coins, but if she managed to collect that much, that means I can do it as well. She sacrificed her treasure to ensure we would both survive. Without her, I would still be sleeping in a cave and stealing food. No, I’m a part of this now and I will do everything I can to make sure our family grows and lives on.

Symon lifted his gaze and connected with Serafina’s eyes. “The debt is ours and I pledge to repay it.”

The woman in black kept her smile. “Good to hear. Now, clean yourself up. We have an appointment with the grandmaster of the necromancy academy and we shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

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