Eldric stared at Sylvia, her audacious plan swirling in his head. Infiltrating the Shadow Guild, an infamous community of thieves and assassins working inside the bowels of the town, changed into a venture. However, what preference did he have? Branded an outlaw for retrieving the Shard of Wind, he became a fugitive in the very land he swore to protect.
"Are you certain approximately this, Sylvia?" He requested, his voice slightly a whisper. "These are dangerous people."
Sylvia, a spark of exhilaration dancing in her emerald eyes, tilted her head, hopefully. "risky, sure. however desperate for coins, even more so. We provide them with something valuable; they offer us data."
"And what exactly will we offer?" Eldric countered, his brow furrowed. He possessed little beyond his blacksmith's abilities and the mysterious Shard, which he wasn't keen to reveal.
"A hazard to strike a major blow in opposition to the very state that branded you a villain," Sylvia purred, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "The Shadow Guild thrives on chaos. They'd love to look at the King squirm."
Eldric took into consideration her phrases. The idea of inflicting trouble on the monarchy that condemned him held a certain enchantment. However, could he consider these shadows? Could he risk the use of their techniques for his noble quest?
His indecision was cut short by the sound of hurried footsteps. A younger apprentice burst into the forge; his face faded with fear.
"Eldric," he gasped, "the guards are here! They are trying to find you!"
Eldric cursed underneath his breath. Time was of the essence. He glanced at Sylvia, a silent question in the air.
Sylvia, ever the opportunist, grinned. "It looks like we are on a tighter timetable than expected. Lead the way, blacksmith."
With a heavy heart, Eldric led them through a labyrinth of secret passages hidden within the forge. These were escape routes his master had proven to him, meant for emergencies. Now, they have been his handiest hope.
They emerged right into a bustling marketplace, the throngs of human beings presenting a temporary cloak of anonymity. Sylvia tugged him down narrow alleyways, their steps echoing within the oppressive silence. Eventually, they arrived at a nondescript building shrouded in perpetual nightfall.
Sylvia pointed towards a shadowed doorway. "the entrance to the guild's headquarters. Right here's hoping your allure offensive works, blacksmith."
Eldric rolled his eyes; however, there was a hint of entertainment in his voice. He drew a deep breath, steeling his nerves. This wasn't steel he could forge; this became a scenario he could not hammer into submission. He wished for a special method.
Pushing open the creaky door, Eldric and Sylvia stepped right into a smoky, dimly lit tavern. The air thrummed with chaotic electricity—whispers in forgotten tongues, laughter tinged with chance, and the clinking of unseen goblets.
Heads turned toward them, a motley group of rogues, assassins, and figures shrouded in darkness, scrutinizing the newcomers. A hush fell over the tavern as Eldric surveyed the scene.
He noticed a parent hunched over a corner desk, their face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. A silver raven insignia gleamed on their cloak—the mark of the guild's chief, the Ravenmaster.
With a confident stride, Eldric approached the desk. Sylvia accompanied her near the back, her hand resting close to the dagger strapped to her thigh.
Eldric cleared his throat, the silence pressing down on him. "Ravenmaster," he stated, his voice consistent no matter the hammering in his chest. "I include a proposition."
The parent on the desk remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised their head. A couple of piercing blue eyes gleamed from below the hat, taking in Eldric and Sylvia with a calculating gaze.
"A proposition, you assert?" The Ravenmaster rasped, their voice a low growl. "Permit's pay attention to it, outsider."
Eldric took a deep breath, his heart pounding at a frantic rhythm. "The King's vault has been breached," he started out, his voice ringing out inside the cavernous tavern.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. The information of a hit heist from the heavily guarded royal vault was sufficient to pique each person's hobby, even the guild's.
Eldric endured, his voice laced with a hint of entertainment. "But," he stated, "the stolen artifact wasn't gold or jewels. It became something a ways greater… exciting."
He reached into his satchel and retrieved a small pouch, the emerald light of the Shard of Wind pulsing faintly from within. With a flourish, he positioned it on the table.
The Ravenmaster's eyes widened in surprise, the blue irises gleaming with a predatory glint. The tavern erupted in murmurs and whispers of...unbelievable energy and impossible secrets and techniques swirling through the air. Eldric raised his hand in silence, the burden of a hundred eyes on him.
"I didn't take this for myself," he declared, his voice slicing through the thrill. "But it led me to the truth."
He leaned nearer, his voice losing to a conspiratorial whisper. "The King isn't always who all of us think he's. He holds secrets of his very own, secrets that threaten the very material of this realm."
A nerve-racking silence descended upon the tavern. The Guild members exchanged wary glances, the gears in their minds certainly turning. here become an interloper, apparently effective, offering them a danger to not only rate a mythical artifact but also strike a prime blow against the very authority that continuously hounded them.
The Ravenmaster leaned back, a small, predatory smile gambling on their lips. "Intriguing," they rasped. "However, why come to us? Virtually, a blacksmith with such precise skills should command a hefty charge elsewhere."
Eldric met the Ravenmaster's gaze, a flicker of defiance in his own eyes. "I want statistics," he said, his voice firm. "Facts about a legend, a prophecy—the region of the next Shard."
The tavern remained silent, the burden of Eldric's words striking heavy within the air. The legend of the Shards changed into a trifling whisper amongst whispers, a relic of a forgotten age.
Ultimately, the Ravenmaster spoke, their voice a low snigger. "Ah, the Shards," they uttered. "A whimsical story, wouldn't you say? but thoroughly, blacksmith. You've piqued our interest."
Eldric leaned forward, hope flickering in his chest. "What rate do you ask?"
The Ravenmaster steepled their arms, a sly smile playing on their lips. "A simple project, blacksmith. one that aligns instead... with no trouble with our personal pastimes. a selected report from the Royal Data. A record that lays bare a sure King's... let's say, less than honorable beyond."
Sylvia, who had remained silent till now, raised an eyebrow. "A bit of blackmail, are we?" she said, a touch of entertainment in her voice.
The Ravenmaster chuckled, like rustling leaves. "possibly, my pricey. possibly. However, remember that it is a show of proper religion. information for records, secrets for secrets, and techniques."
Eldric weighed the provide. It became a raffle, a foray into the dark underbelly of the city. However, it became his only risk to analyze more about the Shards and continue his quest.
He looked at the Ravenmaster, his jaw set in willpower. "We will be given."
A sluggish smile unfolded throughout the Ravenmaster's face, their blue eyes gleaming with a risky mild. "amazing. If so," they said, their voice dripping with malice, "welcome to the sport, blacksmith. The hunt starts off this night."
**writer's notice:**
Eldric has made a cope with the Satan, or rather, the Ravenmaster. In exchange for facts about the subsequent Shard, he should borrow a record that would bring down a nation. But can he consider the guild? And what are the outcomes of gambling in this dangerous sport? discover in Chapter 9, where the strains between hero and outlaw blur in an exciting heist!
This bankruptcy delves deeper into the political intrigue and increases the stakes for Eldric. The guild's provision adds a thrilling new assignment—a daring heist that pits Eldric against the very forces looking at him. The cliffhanger ending guarantees motion and leaves the reader wanting to see how Eldric and Sylvia will navigate this perilous situation.