Interlude #4
The Tiger Guild of Fruen:
Carl sat quietly reading the latest dispatches from continuing war. Things looked much better than a month ago. The ogres weren’t in full retreat, however, and he had cautioned the King not to reduce the number of patrols.
His judgement had proved sound, as several large stands of ogre and orc soldiers had been flushed out of hiding in the hills and forests near the town of Hadyr, as well as just north of the Spirit Rift. Almost a dozen ogres had risked retreating into the rift and hadn’t been seen since.
“Stupid,” Carl mumbled. “Nothing living survives there for long. This ogre horde thinks it’s indestructible, Tallos, now what do you want?”
“Guildmaster, your granddaughter wishes to see you,” Tallos had been standing at attention for over 10 minutes waiting for Carl to acknowledge his presence. “And yes sir, the ogres seem to be driven by something other than just bloodlust.”
“Well, they will fail more miserably than during the Second Ogre War. And what does she want?”
“People are calling this the beginning of a Third Ogre War, Guildmaster.” Tallos paused to make sure his friend heard the next part correctly. “Crystal wants to join the guild.”
“Well,” Carl paused. “I hadn’t expected that.”
“Yes sir.” Tallos hoped the answer would be ‘no’. The guildmaster’s granddaughter still made him nervous.
“Well, if she wants to apply then so be it. I can’t just say ‘no’ and have that be the end of it. She’s too strong willed for that. However, I doubt very much that the guild members would accept her and there is the Arcane Order to consider as well.”
“Yes, I’d heard that Japheth Arcane had offered her a place at Mathghamhna.”
“Hmm, it seems that my granddaughter will be as much trouble as part of my family as not being a part of it. Of course, any family needs a good shake up now and then.” Carl returned his thoughts to the reports in front of him. “However, other business first.”
“Yes sir.” Tallos continued to stand at attention. “Reports have come in that they are just about to leave the Knotwood, sir.”
“Good,” Carl had decided to let her. “Although, I wish the King had let me choose someone else to lead the mission. I just don’t know if I can trust my son to be open-minded about what will need to be done to make sure this alliance is signed.”
“Your grandson will know what to look for and counsel his father accordingly.” Tallos reminded him.
“If the boy doesn’t become distracted.” Carl loved his grandson but sometimes he wished the boy paid more attention to his guild responsibilities. “At least Mesik is with them. He’ll learn everything we ‘really’ need to know.”
“Yes sir.” Tallos was unsure how Carl would react to the next part. “The report also says that Bactra, the gnome Thessa Simmial, and the vonakyndra are going with them.”
“Oh great,” Carl slammed his fist down on the table. “What is Garth thinking allowing that giant to go with them. I suspected Bactra would go and I’m glad Thessa will be on the trip to lend a healing hand, but Hougwarth Medinton!”
“Yes sir, it’s unfortunate, but perhaps the wood giant won’t cause as much trouble, this time, plus it is an extra sword for any fight.”
“Unless he drops it,” Carl was livid. He had instructed his son to keep a low profile on this journey. There wasn’t any chance of that now. “Oh well, nothing we can do about it until they get back. I will not waste any more guild resources on this mission.”
“You don’t think anything will come of it, Guildmaster?” Tallos had wondered if Carl had agreed with the King’s decision.
“I would never say that and you shouldn’t either. The King is not to be questioned, no matter how ‘we’ might feel.”
“Yes sir.”
“Will you please sit down and relax, Tallos. You’re making me uncomfortable.”
“All right.” Tallos laughed, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “So, what about Crystal?”
“You don’t think I should let her try, do you?” Carl smiled as he tidied up the desk and hid all the official documents.
“I never said that.”
“But you’ve been thinking it since mentioning the subject. Is she outside?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well, I guess we better get this over with then.”
“Yes sir.” Tallos tapped a sigil on his guild ring and the double doors opened.
Crystal Tigerstorm stood patiently facing the open doorway. Gone were most of her necromantic trappings and in their place she wore silver jewelry presented to her by her mother’s mother who she had tracked down in the Kingdom of Navirosov. Her flowing silk garments were blue-black trimmed with silver, as well as embroidered with magical sigils in silver thread. Her undergarment covered her feminine features, while her outer garment was sheer down to her ankles, while leaving her arms bare. She held her Starburst Staff in both hands, while her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back, a single, heavy braid hanging down the side of her face down to her wide, ornate belt. Her lips, eyelids, and fingernails were etched in runic silver coloring. She was such a radiant beauty that one almost wouldn’t have noticed her sturdy, military-style black boots, as she stepped forward.
“The guildmaster will see you now,” Tallos didn’t need to turn around to know she was still standing there. Her scent informed him of her presence. He reddened slightly and was thankful that Carl was too much of a friend to stare at anyone other than his granddaughter. “I will be in the antechamber, Guildmaster.”
Tallos quickly left the room trying not to stare at Crystal as he walked by. He closed the doors behind him, sighing in relief to be out of the woman’s presence.
“Sit down child.” Carl understood why his son had fallen in love with Dawn Almondsky, if his granddaughter was a true reflection of her mother’s beauty. “I understand you wish to enter the Tiger Guild as a more formal member.”
“Yes Guildmaster,” Crystal sat in the chair next to where Tallos had been sitting. “And I don’t expect any favoritism in such an initiation.”
“And you receive no such favoritism, I assure you. Dabuk could swear to my inflexibility, buy somehow I assume you already knew that.”
“Yes, I asked him what I would have to endure. He said it was a long and tough apprenticeship, but he didn’t go into any specifics.” Crystal laid the Starburst Staff across her knees, holding on to it like it was an extension of her body.
“You’d have to dress differently, as well as give up your staff for the duration of your training. Carl had noticed how she had become attached to the powerful, magical staff, and he was sure she wouldn’t part with it, under any circumstances.
“Is that really necessary, or are you simply being overprotective?” Crystal wouldn’t give up her staff. She’d find a way to become invaluable to the Tiger Guild another way, if her grandfather wouldn’t relent.
“Yes it is, and yes I am.” Carl didn’t like being questioned. “Is that a problem for you?”
“Yes it is, you know it is.” Crystal held her temper. “I’m not a child, grandfather. I can handle the staff and if giving it up is the only way to become an apprentice in your guild then I withdraw my request. I will, instead, accept Japheth Arcane’s offer to join the Arcane Order.”
“That is for the best, Crystal.” Carl hoped he hadn’t hurt his granddaughter’s feelings, as he knew first hand how sensitive she was. “I hope you won’t judge me too harshly? I have to do what is best for the guild, my dear. Many of my followers would balk at having a powerful arcanist become an official member of the guild, not to mention that Japheth would consider it an insult.”
“I understand.” Crystal sighed. “I only wish there was a way I could do both.”
“Hmm, let me talk to that old arcanist, perhaps you can be my liaison to the Order. No promises, as I’ll need Heward Tallinson’s approval as well, as he is the Order’s Regent of External Affairs.”
“Really? You have that much pull with the Arcane Order?” Crystal had considered her grandfather little more than the King’s servant, but now considered that all of Fruen listened to his counsel.
“Some.” Carl smiled.
“You are lot more important than you let on, aren’t you?” Crystal laughed.
“That is something for another time.” Carl motioned for her to take her leave. “Now, I have a lot of work to do, my child. I’ll see you tonight for supper. Make sure you dress more, subdued, as we will have several guests including someone I want you to meet.”
Crystal was curious as to who her grandfather meant, but knew the meeting was over and that he wouldn’t answer any more questions until later that night. She left her grandfather to work, closing the doors behind her.
“Tallos,” she nodded to her grandfather’s bodyguard as she went past him in the darkened corridor. “I guess we won’t be getting to know each other as well as I’d originally thought. Oh well, too bad.”
Tallos didn’t move until she was out of sight. He let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you Lord Kuil, my luck could have been much worse tonight.”
