Kingdom of Hallos, City of Beswind, Present day.
Cerlaus attempted to stand straight. "It needs Direwolf."
Hearing the man utter those words almost lit a fire in Roy's chest. Almost. "Perhaps Loradel needs the Hunt, but Xeto is the one in need of a hand right now. There's no one to give it."
Cerlaus shook his head disbelievingly. "My life can't be the only one indebted to you, there has to be another. A favor to call on perhaps?"
Roy reached through the endless rooms in his memories. Not a single person could fill the role.
"The mercenaries," said Rebecca under her breath.
"What was that?" asked Roy.
Rebecca turned to Anaria with a newfound grin. "We do have a life owed. Specifically, you, Anaria."
"W-what?" shuttered his little sylph, her eyes lost.
Rebecca placed a hand on Anaria's shoulder. "Morion, that mercenary you saved, they owe us."
Anaira shank back. "I can't…." Her voice was fragile. "I can't ask that of someone." She put a closed fist over her mouth.
Rebecca's shoulders drooped. "Not even to save Xeto?" There was a bit of plea in her voice.
Hearing her say his name alone was an oddity that perpetuated a pity for her, knowing that she was truly worried for Xeto as he was. Roy put up a hand in denial though winds that blew through the courtyard suddenly felt thick, making it harder to speak. "The waters between us weren't exactly the cleanest when we left."
"That doesn't matter," she quickly retorted, her gaze not breaking from Anaria's. "We have no other options."
Anaria lowered her hand from her mouth to her chest as she slowed her breathing.
Roy's doubts were shredded to bits as he could almost see a shine in her eyes. His lips parted, to further his surprise he saw something that was a rarity in his sibling. Conviction.
Anaria looked back at the huntress with a forbearing stare. "I'll do it." Her voice was solid. "I'll do whatever it takes to save Xeto."
Roy cracked his knuckles as he was gifted with Rebecca's adorable smile. "Then let's do this, lads."
Cerlaus raised his chin up high. "Seems like you all have this on a tight rein. I bid you all good fortune. I hope to see you all again once this trial has passed and we can share a drink as allies." He slowly trudged to the edge of the garden.
"Cerlaus," called Rebecca. "Can I trust you?"
He waved backed. "I took a walk through the courtyards in attempts to mend my wounds. It was rather dull considering I encountered no one during that time."
"Thank you, sir." Rebecca saluted the man followed with a slight bow.
He nodded before turning the corner.
Roy licked his lips as the warm sunlight seem to energize him with every passing second. He smiled, as did his companions. "We have until sundown, let's find ourselves some mercenaries."
~~~
The group reached the familiar sight of the garden surrounded by high buildings. Such a marvel, a beautiful garden that served as a gift for anyone able to find it in the back alleyways of the immense city.
Roy stopped. "Aye, what now?"
Rebecca scouted the rooftops. "This is one of the entrances to their little sanctuary. They most likely have someone watching it."
"Think they know we're here already?"
"Undoubtably." She walked to the end of the garden towards some type of stone casket. "Mare, leaf, moon. Those were the symbols used for the entrance."
"You won't get that chance," said a familiar voice from above.
Roy looked up to the rooftops to find Adulfus aiming his underarm crossbow towards the trio. How had he drifted so close without making a sound? Better yet, even Rebecca was caught off guard.
"I didn't expect you see you all here," he said, a glare shared with them all.
"Didn't expect to be back," answered Rebecca. She put her hands up, away from her holstered weapons. "We're not here for a fight."
"Then why are you here? I see that commander of yours isn't with you, shame, I had a bolt ready for him."
Rebecca's posture slumped. "We're here to hire you."
"Why would I even consider the thought of aiding you after what you did?" He chuckled. "It's amusing actually, the answer as why you are here is apparent."
The man's unwanted smile urged Roy to step up. "Aye! I know what happened is the reason for this hostility. You have every reason to be. But we're in dire need of assistance."
Adulfus lowered his arm. "Say I considered your offer. Ours isn't a trivial wage."
"A life for a life," retorted Roy.
"We don't deal in lives, elven."
"What of Morion? My sister saved his life. All we want is for you to tip the scales of generosity." Roy looked back at Anaria, her amethyst eyes heavy with drain. An uneasy feeling picked at his mind for using her kindness as a bargaining coin.
Footsteps approached from their rear.
A burly man with a hefty coal beard starred back at the trio with a single eye, his left eye covered by a black patch.
Roy felt his chest tense up, a glance at Rebecca revealed she felt the same, her hand now on her revolver.
"Don't reach for your weapons!" yelled Adulfus from above.
The aged man looked up and waved. "Stand down, Adulfus."
"Yes, Erik," he responded.
Erik folded the large fur collar of his brown coat back as a slim female kasaber joined him at his side.
"The young ones are always eager to fight," she said, as a gust of wind blew through her pale gold fur. She donned a coat similar to the one Erik wore.
"That they are," he said. Erik drew closer to them, revealing some white strands mixed into his ebony hair.
Roy walked in front of Anaria, partly shielding her from the newcomers.
Erik's eye landed on Anaria. "Is it true, are you the one that saved Morion?"
Roy felt her nod.
"Then you have my gratitude."
"We need more than gratitude," Rebecca shot back.
"Quite the hostile tongue for someone looking for aid." Erik bumped his elbow into his companion. "Wouldn't you agree, Labav?"
The kasaber nodded. "Had a certain bite to it, sir."
Erik ran a hand through his beard. "My name is Erik Thorn, leader of the Thorn Mercenaries. I should thank you for what you did. Taking the boy, Calanus, captive and finding your way into our otherwise hidden sanctum."
"Thank?" echoed Rebecca.
Roy loosened a bit. Something about the man's gruff yet somehow soothing voice was inviting.
"It taught my mercenaries a lesson, one of valuing security. Everything has worth, even life's teachings. The currency for these teachings tends to be paid by our mistakes which in turn could cost us our lives or the lives of others. But in this event, my men learned to value safety more and all it cost was a minor mar in repute. That was kind of you, wouldn't you agree, Labav?
The kasaber indulged him with another nod of agreement. "Generous folk, these ones."
Rebecca sighed. "Will you aid us then?"
Erik signaled Labav to follow as he neared the trio. "In stopping the execution of the Demon-Hunt commander?"
"How did you know that?" said Rebecca, taken unaware and before Roy could voice the same thought.
Erik walked past them. "Ears in every crevice of this city. Nothing happens without my knowing." He pushed the images on the coffin to activate the entrance.
Adulfus landed on the soft grass no far from them, a sickened on his face. "Erik, you can't invite these—"
Erik put up a hand. "Adulfus, remember the embarrassment of being bested. It'll drive you forward and keep you from allowing it to happen again."
"Yes, sir," he said defeated.
Erik looked back at Anaria. "You're all my guests now. Come down, we'll find a solution to your problem."
~~~
Roy took a seat in one of the many stone chairs in the room they found themselves in. Like the rest of the guild, it was made from the luminescent stone. The scent of wet clay lingered; it was caused from elegant waterwalls that fell from the ceiling on both sides of the room.
Erik was seated in a throne-like chair behind a desk. Only the sound of slow water flow echoed as he wrote in a leather book with a pristine quill.
Roy shared glances with Rebecca and Anaria who were seated quietly as well.
"Now then…let's begin," said Erik suddenly as wet the needlepoint of his quill with a poke at his tongue. "Name the job."
Rebecca crossed her arms. "Saving the commander from an execution."
Erik wrote in the journal. "Next, the name of the target?"
"Xeto," said Anaria, who now seemed to have warmed up to the man as Roy had.
"Sir name?"
"Alcazar, she mentioned."
Perhaps it was nothing, but Roy could have sworn to the gods that the man's eye widened ever so slightly at the mention of Xeto's sir name.
"Understood," he said sternly. "Time of when this will take place?"
Rebecca tapped her foot anxiously on the stone. "Is this necessary? We're burning daylight."
For the first time, the man appeared slightly irritated. "Documentation is important. Writing alone separates us from the animals. Now—time?"
Roy leaned forward from his chair clasping his hands in front of himself. "Sunset today, at the earliest."
"Noted." His expression returned to one of stillness. "Lastly comes the fee."
"Fee?" exclaimed Rebecca.
Erik's eyes were fixed on the pages of his journal. He spoke as he wrote. "It has already been paid, twofold."
Twofold?
"The form of payment was made by…" He pointed his quill towards Anaria. "What was it you said your name was, dear?"
"Anaria Thearid," she answered with a light smile.
Erik dipped his quill before continuing. "The life of Morion Gida, saved by Anaria Thearid, elven. Second, my life, which was saved by Roxas Alcazar, elder brother to the target, Xeto Alcazar."
"What?" the trio asked in unison.
Erik met their confused faces. "You heard correctly. I owe my life to Roxas. Years ago, he risked his own life to save mine, an unforeign feat for someone like him. Keilerah told me of his death, word she got from your commander. He was honest and true. Fate has lined up so that I have my chance to repay what I owe. I will offer my men and my own life to save Xeto Alcazar."
Roy smiled as he felt that gracious lightness of waking from a nightmare, the softness of knowing everything was going to going to turn out fine. He looked at his companions to see that they shared in his joy.
The stone door of the entrance slid open. Adulfus entered with a displeased look, one that was shared with the second mercenary that followed behind him, Keilerah.
Behind them entered Labav with a smile. "We are ready."
Erik stood from his seat, hands on the table. "The Thorn Mercenaries always pay their debts. He extended an arm towards them. "These are some of my best warriors. Keilerah Thorn, my daughter."
She grimaced at the mention of it as she looked away with crossed arms.
Erik seemed unfazed by her revolt. "Adulfus Calavo, my personal student."
Adulfus nodded.
"And lastly, Labav Ki'isk, my second in command. They will stand with you; the Thorn stands with you." He reached under his table and pulled out some sort of crescent-shaped blade that shined with the surrounding light. "Now then, we begin."