I stood in the center of the street, bringing traffic to a near standstill, and simply stared. This obviously annoyed some, but I was awestruck.
Four stories of glorious stone and wood construction, over two hundred rooms for people to stay in and facilities to feed and shelter a thousand. Two large sets of double doors stood separated from the street by half a dozen wide stones steps. A constant flow of people in and out at any hour of any day. The product of over a dozen years of my own personal labor - and a workforce of about a hundred others. The sight put a smile on my face every morning I arrived in front of it.
I turned to the right slightly and walked to a squat building next to it. I did not have any offices built into the massive guildhall, always thought it should be a place of gathering and merriment in place of work. It always worked for me, but I have since hired a secretary so I could take some time off now and then, but he complained about not having a workspace or anywhere to put his papers so I had the one room office built leaning on the guildhall to satisfy his needs.
I never saw the need for paperwork. After all, I handled the work fine without any.
I pushed the door open and the man behind the desk looked up at me. I say man, but he looks like a child. Short and thin with a childish face made him look about fourteen on a good day. The shaggy blonde hair didn't help that. He looked frustrated at first, as if he was being disturbed right before private time with his wife but it quickly resolved into a worry when he recognized me.
"Great timing, sir. We face disaster. I was going through the documents and four of our teams are unaccounted for. That's twenty-two members of our guild possibly dead."
He took off his thin wire framed glasses and ran his hand through his shaggy blonde hair. He looked as if he hadn't slept all week.
"Sir? What are we going to do?"
Oddly enough, I don't recall anyone being 'unaccounted for'. "Well, who's missing?"
"Jim's team of twelve, Alex's of five, Frederick's - that's Frederick Almon - and his two sons, and then Lori and Lauris."
"I'm not worried abou-"
"You're not worried, sir? That's twenty-two lives at stake! How could you not be-"
I hold up my hand to shut him up for a second. "Jim gave his team a few days off to catch their breath. Alex sent a missive saying his employer asked for a time extension and offered compensation. Frederick's son Casey met a woman on their last job and they are staying to see how things work out. Lori and Lauris are newlyweds now and are celebrating down south. You might notice I sent them some money to pay for their trip. Some of my oldest family members, they are. It's about time they made it official though."
I cocked my head to the side and put on a questioning face. "Didn't I hire you so I wouldn't have to worry about anything while I'm gone?"
"Sorry, sir, but I can't keep records of events that I'm not made aware of." He didn't look sorry, in fact he looked equal parts relieved and annoyed.
It's cause he always locks himself up in here. I shake my head and say "You need to get out of here more." If he spent more than a minute around others in a day he might learn a thing or two. It's not healthy to isolate yourself. Boy, do I know that well.
Something I said seemed to have been taken the wrong way as he began to get flustered, his face reddening like a crying babe. "I try to do my job but if people withhold information, send no notice, or don't check in, how am I supposed to keep track of over two hundred and fifty men and women-"
It's actually two-sixty-eight not including outsourced workers.
"-at any given moment. We need to know their locations and the jobs they've taken along with how much they will receive from the reward-"
Don't forget about the employer's information and their approximate time of completion.
"-that is of course if it wasn't a prepayment. All the while I review requests and try to sort through the available teams in order to select the ones best suited for that task and arrange the initial transport to the worksite and back here."
And supply any funds needed for necessities and emergencies.
"Is it even possible for one man to keep this all in order?"
I've never had any trouble. But I've known my family much longer than he has.
His face began to grow embarrassed after his spiel ended.
"And now I've gone and yelled at my employer for my own failures. I apologize, sir. I'll clean out by tonight."
"No need, Sam. It's good to get these things off your chest. And despite a few mix-ups now and then you're much more competent than others I've had help out." Besides we're all family here.
He ran his hand through his hair again and let out a deep sigh before saying, "It's a relief that everyone was fine. Sure is a load off my mind."
"Now then, on to business. I hear tell of a potential client making outrageous claims for jobs. Sam said- Samuel that is- that you should know more of it."
"Ah, yes. That. Think nothing of it. The way she was acting led me to believe that she wasn't all there. Last I saw, Bob, or is it Rob? -Either way, he was escorting her away from the guild."
"I see. Strange, that is. Mind summarizing for me?"
"Of course, sir." His brow furrowed as he thought. "It began with Sam actually. Apparently, she approached him asking after you, insisted for a good ten minutes before compromising and agreeing to see me when she was assured that you weren't around."
"Did she give a name?"
"I believe it was Amaria, or something of the sort."
I know a couple Amaria's. "What'd she look like?"
"Uhh, maybe three fingers taller than I. Long black hair, almost to her hips. Sound familiar?"
"Don't know her, continue please."
"When she came in she kept looking side to side. Paranoid or something. She walked right up and demanded we send an expedition into the square sea with at least a dozen of our most skilled combatants. She refused to say why to anyone but yourself and grew increasingly vocal when I said that I don't have the authority to force any of our groups on to a job at the word of one woman who wouldn't explain herself. She left shortly after and was calling out in the guild for you until Rob - yeah, it's Rob - removed her from the premises."
Yup, sounds crazy, but she wouldn't be the first. "I'll hear what she has to say, but I ain't hearing it alone. If she comes back let me know."
"Will do, sir."
"And quit with all that yes sir crap, I got a name you know. Besides it makes me feel like I'm in the navy again or something."
"Of course, sir."
"Oh, for the god's sake, anyways, was there anything else you needed?"
"Nope, I believe everything else is in order."
"Then get on home boy. You look tired and I'll not have your grandmother come by again yelling about how I work you too hard. That woman scares me."
"She did that? Oh, gods sir, I'm so sorry I'll talk with her tonight."
"Don't bother. It will probably anger her more. Besides, aren't you still taking courses at the university? Take an early night and be up for your classes. It's a waste of time and money if I was being honest but I suppose it helps a few. You can't be falling asleep in classes now."
"I thank you for your concern sir, but this job and school are separate. And thus, I'll not half ass either. If you still require me to work then I shall and I will still attend class."
"Boy, I may be getting up there in years, but I'm no incompetent. I've done this job for longer than you've been alive. So, get on home and I'll send a runner in a day or two."
Sam nodded his head. "Thank you, sir. Really. I don't think you understand how much this opportunity means to me. I won't disappoint you again."
You haven't disappointed me. I'd have said it aloud, but he'd already left and talking to yourself is a little crazy. Apparently, we have enough of that already. I shrug to myself and leave after looking at the papers left on the desk. I locked the door to the small building and head to the guild hall.
Up the steps. Through the doors. I stop and take a deep breath and it's only at this moment that I find myself thinking I'm home. The clamour of hundreds arise around me, everyone either sitting at a table with a beer in hand or staring at the massive board of commissions to be taken. Some were conferring quietly while others conversed boisterously. Not everyone was familiar but at least half I could name and tell you something about.
It was a basic area with high vaulted ceilings supported with massive pillars of stone. Rows of long tables were in the centre of the room with seating for hundreds and off to the far sides of the room were smaller round tables or booths, some were set into the wall with curtains that could be drawn across the opening for a bit of privacy. At the far end of the hall was a giant board with hundreds of papers pinned to it. It took up most of the wall with a rolling ladder to accommodate the height on the first level and a spiral stair up to a second level where the set up was repeated.
There was an opening at the far right of the hall that led to living quarters that were permanent accommodations for some or the equivalent of a room at an inn for others. All of my family is welcome to stay for any period of time.
No matter what the world had to offer, the guild hall always served as a place for its members to return to.
Almost everyone was engaged in conversation of some sort and not wanting to interrupt I strode on by. Regardless I was still met with nods, waves and smiles. Those who weren't, I called out to.
"Alphonse! How's the wife?"
"Better now that the leach is out of her."
"Wonderful, was it a boy?"
"Girl. Named her Sophie after my gran."
"Congratulations. I'll be sure to visit soon."
"Do. And 'fore you go, catch."
He tossed a cigar from his pockets and took one out for himself. A snap of his fingers set the tips to ember.
"Been saving one for ya."
I took a deep inhale, taking the smoke in. It tasted oddly of cherry. I blew it out in a series of rings and moved on.
A little ways away Rickard waved me over. He was a nice young lad, eager and caring of all those around him. Boy could be dense though.
"I wanted your advice on something."
"What's that?"
"You know Susie?"
"Course I know Susie, been what? A year and half now?"
"Yes, actually. I think she wants to get married, I don't know what to do."
"That's simple. Run. Leave her and run off to some other island where you'd never hear from her again. Leave no note, tell no one."
"You're insane! I could never leave her. I love her like no other."
"Then why are you asking me? Seems you already got an answer."
I slap him on the shoulder and walk on. Looking back only briefly to see him rise from his seat with a look of determination. The boy can be too dense for even his own mind to see his emotions.
Two puffs of the cigar until my next stop.
"Holly. How's life been treating you?"
"Fantastic, are you still coming over tomorrow for Henrietta's birthday. Last one before she's gone to her grandfather's for a year."
"Wouldn't miss it. I got her a present but wasn't sure which she would like more. A doll or this knife." I pull said knife from my coat.
"Quit joking around. The knife of course, she hasn't touched a doll since she was five."
"It was only three years ago, didn't want to shave my options." I flip the knife, catching it a few times by the leather-bound grip inlaid with a double helix of silver and gold and an elegant guard. The no nonsense blade was sheathed tightly in leather. I tuck it away again.
"We start serving at sundown, if you're not there, don't expect me to save any for you."
"Ha! Like I would ever miss your cooking, I'll be the first one there."
I walk off again as a client that is vaguely familiar to me sits down across from her and they strike up a conversation.
Many more nods, smiles and waves before I find an open seat near the mission board. I sit down with a grunt. A little habit of mine that I can't seem to break. I don't like how it makes people assume me old and frail. But I sit down and my mind slips for a moment.
Joseph sat across from me, he was one of the oldest members and was like a brother to me. We smile to each other in greeting but I don't interrupt his flirting with the waitress. She was young and completely unfamiliar to me and so I resolved to ask Joanie, who was the guild member who ran the kitchens, about her later today. Or maybe I should talk to her myself and warn her not to take Joseph's antics seriously. I shrug and decide to bring it up if the occasion arises.
Joseph ends his flirtatious speech with something along the lines of "âŚif you are ever feeling cold at night, my bed is always warm."
I found this a good opportunity to cut in. "It's true you know. His bed is warm, has a strange habit of putting coals under the mattress. Pretty sure it's caught fire a half dozen times."
"Oh, shut it, Palmer. That was one time and this little lady didn't need to know about that."
"But it's a great story. And what's even better is that there are hundreds more. Like the time you took eggs from a nesting grey raptor, or maybe the one where you tried rock climbing and ended up suspended from your ankle fifty men off the ground."
"Palmer Josiah Reed, shut your mouth or you're going to find my boot where your teeth should be."
"Oh, is that how it is?" I laugh. "I'd like to see you try."
He stared angrily straight at me, his face growing increasingly red. I stared calmly back as the new waitress, visibly nervous, backed away from the table.
A few seconds pass before Joseph breaks into a roaring laugh, startling the waitress. He pounds the table a few times, making the cutlery and mugs jump before he wipes a tear from his eye and makes introductions.
"Maya, this here is Palmer Reed. You could say he is your boss considering he owns and runs this fine establishment. You will probably see him around here a lot, slacking off when he should be busy but he keeps it running. Call him Palmer or Reed he says he doesn't like titles. That means no Guildmaster Reed, no Sir Palmer, or no sirs, anything along that vein actually. Understand?"
She nods her head to Joseph and looks curiously at me.
"Reed, this is Maya. Joanie hired her on a few days ago while you were on your vacation to the capital. Don't know much else but she seems to be a fine lass."
I lean over the table offering my hand, she takes it hesitantly. "Nice to meet you, Maya. Hope you like it here, if you have any questions or concerns, Joanie and I will always listen."
"Thank youâŚuhm.. Palmer? Joanie told me the same when I started."
"Great! Then why the hell am I still speaking? Sorry to hold you lass, hope Joseph didn't bother you too bad. He's only fooling you."
"Joanie warned me about a few people. She gave me a list." She intentionally leaned forward and whispered loudly enough for Joseph to hear. "He was the first."
"Ha! It's what you get Joseph. Told you Joanie remembers. That lady can hold a grudge."
He smirks slyly. "I regret nothing. It was worth waking up two days after with a lump the size of an ostrich egg on my head."
"You're just lucky she only threw the cleaver and didn't take a swing at you. She may look small but that lady has got the muscles of a dwarf. If fate had a sense of humour we would be like as not to have two separate Josephs here today."
I look over at Maya who was still listening and caught that curious stare again. "Something the matter, dearie?"
"Uh... no. Not really. Just⌠are you really Palmer Reed?"
"The only one that I know. Were you expecting the King of Aibas?"
"Kind of, I guess."
"I get that a lot. Well, I'll tell you this lass. I ain't no king nor will I claim to be. I'm just a man with lots of family in my guild house and an undeserved reputation. Now when you got the time, mind grabbing me a large mug of steamed goat's milk?"