As SJ neared the tower, she landed to the side, allowing herself to grow and headed to the steps. An extensive trail of beings was queued, waiting to enter the tower and dining hall area. Many of them were poorly dressed in comparison to the usual beings that frequented the tower. SJ climbed the steps, her cloak removed, and her immaculate dress was on full display. Several beings turned and looked at her from the queue. There were very few fae in Asterfal that SJ knew of, and seeing one enter the tower was probably a shock for many of them.
“Jasper, how are you?” SJ asked as she approached the entrance. The guard looked at her and smiled warmly.
“Ambassador. So good to see you again. I have not seen the deputy mayor today. If you are looking for her?”
“No. I am seeking information, and you may be able to save me the time of queueing at the desks.”
“If I can help, I will.”
“Do you know anything about the guild ranking and who oversees it?”
“I do,” Jasper smiled, happy that he would be able to help. “The rankings are confirmed through the auditor’s office. All guild actions and affiliations are held and recorded there. You can find them on the fifth floor. Take my advice, and don’t expect a warm welcome. They are a strange bunch of beings.”
SJ had completed audits under Petunia during her last visit and wondered if they were related.
“Thanks, Jasper. Your help is appreciated.”
“No problem,” Jasper smiled.
After leaving Jasper with his guard duties, SJ made her way into the tower and straight up to the fifth floor. She still had the map that had been created for her, and she removed it from her inventory and checked the details. It appeared the auditors took up most of the fifth floor. The corridor was circular, as many in the tower, with rooms off either side as she traversed it. She read the signs as she passed by various doors until she reached one that read ‘Guild Affiliations’.
‘This looks promising,’ SJ thought as she knocked on the door.
“Enter,” a voice replied.
SJ opened the door and entered the office. It was much larger than she had imagined, and she realised that three of the other doors from the corridor also led into the room. Where she had entered, there was a counter with a clerk sitting at it, and behind the counter, there were many desks with beings working away at them. For the number of people in the office, it was almost silent. The quiet was only broken by the scratching of quills on parchment.
“Good afternoon. I wonder if you can help me?” SJ said.
The clerk was a male dwarf; his black beard was plaited neatly with silver threads interwoven, and he wore the brilliant blue and gold robes of a member of the tower. Perched on the end of his bulbous nose was a pair of glasses, which gave him the appearance of a headmaster.
The dwarf looked SJ up and down.
“You are the ambassador for Killic, are you not?” he asked.
“I am indeed,” SJ smiled.
“You completed work for the auditor’s office in District 3; I remember reading your findings. Very interesting.”
SJ was taken aback by the fact that what appeared to be a clerk knew so much about her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are. Could you tell me your name?”
The dwarf sat more upright as he replied. “I am first class auditor Olian Porchester. Welcome to my office. I oversee the city’s Guild Affiliations department.”
What surprised SJ more than anything was that if this dwarf ran the offices, why would he be sitting at the front counter?
“I am sorry. I didn’t expect that you would be sat at the front desk.”
“I will never ask another being to do what I am not willing to do myself,” he replied, appearing to sit even more upright than he already was.
“I see. Then, you are the perfect being for me to speak to. Could you let me know where I can find information on guild rankings?”
“I can,” Olian turned and pointed towards the far wall. “Over there are all the guild rankings and where they stand within their respective areas. Which guild were you looking into specifically?”
SJ could see parchment covering the wall.
“I have no idea yet. I was trying to understand the best guilds to consider becoming a member of.”
“Well, each trade and sector is broken down into lists. They are posted alphabetically and are adjusted monthly. I can allow you to view them if you wish. We usually charge for such information, but since it is you, I can allow you to review the details for free at this time.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you so much.”
The dwarf reached to his left and lifted the countertop, allowing SJ to pass through.
“Please take your time. If you have any questions, one of my staff members should be able to answer them.”
“You are so kind. Thank you, Olian.”
“My pleasure, anything for a fellow auditor,” he smiled.
‘Well, that wasn’t the response I was expecting after what Jasper said,’ SJ thought.
“Seems your previous actions have put you in good favour,” Dave said.
‘I know, but I never expected that anyone outside of Petunia would have read my report.’
None of the beings at the desks paid her any attention as she passed between them. All appeared to be studiously completing their assigned work. SJ couldn’t imagine working in an office like this. There was no interaction between them. Only occasionally would one stand and move to another desk and place parchment down without saying a word, then return to their desk and continue again. It was as though they had a conveyor belt as the parchment was passed from desk to desk until it finally reached the end of the office and was added to a pile that was then carried and placed by Olian.
‘They really do seem very fastidious,’ SJ thought. ‘I can understand why Jasper may assume them to be a little strange.’
SJ reached the far wall and viewed the parchments attached to it. Every single trade or profession SJ could imagine appeared to be listed. It started on the left with Adventurers Guilds and Affiliations, then Alchemist Guilds and Affiliations, then Animal Handling Guilds and Affiliations and kept going, list after list covering the wall. Certain guild types had very few listed under them, whereas other professions had huge lists. The longest she could see was the Brewers Guild and the number of affiliations it had, with a significant number of inns and bars listed underneath it. It covered at least six large pieces of parchment and was scribbled in small compact columns. There had to be hundreds listed.
‘The amount of time and work involved with compiling the lists alone has to be significant,’ SJ thought, astonished by the information.
“It is a little extreme,” Dave sounded just as surprised at what she was seeing.
‘At least the ones I am after are the first on the wall,’ SJ said as she perused the Adventurer’s Guilds listing. There had to be over seventy guilds listed which surprised SJ as she hadn’t expected there to be anywhere near that many. She wasn’t interested in any of the lower-ranked guilds.
‘I need to make a note of the top ones,’ SJ thought.
“Excuse me?” SJ said, turning to the nearest desk, where a male elf was busy scribbling away.
The elf turned and looked at her, his expression disgusted and annoyed by the interruption.
“What?” he snapped.
“I’m sorry to disturb you. Do you have a spare quill and a piece of parchment I could borrow?”
“No,” he said, turning away and continuing his work.
‘That was rude,’ SJ thought. She noticed a kobold rise from his desk carrying an inkpot as he moved to a small counter at the edge of the room, where she noticed several larger ink containers. She moved over to him, but before she arrived, he finished filling his pot and turned back to his desk.
‘They are like robots.’
On the counter where the ink containers were was a pot containing new quills and several small inkpots.
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‘I just need some parchment now,’ she said, picking up a quill and pot.
“And what do you think you’re doing?” a haughty voice said, making her jump. She could see the being in her vision as a female goblin came stalking across the office. Her blue and gold robes flapping around her as she did.
“I’m sorry. I was borrowing a quill and ink to make a note of the guilds.”
“You think you can just come in here and copy our work down?” she snarked as she reached SJ. She was pretty tall for a goblin, almost reaching SJ’s chin. SJ could no longer see Olion and hadn’t realised that he had left the office.
“Olian said it was fine for me to read the details,” SJ said.
“Viewing them is one thing. Copying them is something entirely different. There is a fee to pay.”
SJ could see that no one else in the office was paying attention to the interaction as they continued with their tasks.
“I meant no offence. I didn’t realise. If you can assist, that would be greatly appreciated.”
Just as the goblin was about to reply, a being at the far end lifted a handbell and rang it.
“Break time. You will have to go. You can come back when we reopen. One hour,” she said as she took the quill and pot from SJ, placing them back neatly on the counter before ushering SJ towards one of the doors and out. SJ was too taken aback to react and stood flabbergasted as the beings all filtered from the office through the various exits before the doors were all locked, and they disappeared down the corridor heading to the stairs.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Dave said.
‘You’re telling me,’ SJ thought, still standing with a baffled look on her face. ‘I suppose I will just have to come back in an hour then.’ SJ followed after the retreating beings as they made their way to the dining hall. As she followed, many went up to the counter to get food or drinks, while she noticed others leave into the gardens before lighting pipes of tobacco. None of them appeared to be talking to each other. There was just no social interaction.
‘I never experienced any of this last time. They really do appear to be a little strange.’
SJ grabbed herself a coffee and walked out to the garden, where she took a seat under a gazebo. She had nothing else to do while waiting for them to reopen. Time seemed to drag as she waited for the hour to tick down. Five minutes before it was up, she noticed all the beings beginning to filter back out of the garden and dining room and back upstairs. Like robots, they all re-entered the offices again, before the main door where the counter was unlocked again precisely on the hour.
SJ entered again. This time, the female goblin who had challenged her before sat at the front desk.
“You again. So what do you need?”
“I require a copy of the Adventurers Guild rankings. Only the top ten for now,” SJ said. This goblin was quite obnoxious, and she wasn’t in the mood to use pleasantries after having to wait.
“And you couldn’t remember ten names after viewing them?” the goblin scoffed.
SJ could feel her anger rising as the goblin replied. Through gritted teeth and trying to stay calm, SJ replied. “I wish for the details. Do you have their addresses? Not just the ranks.”
“That will cost extra.”
“How much?”
“Ranking details are four silver, and addresses will be one extra silver.”
SJ closed her eyes in frustration. ‘Dave, can you remember the details?’
“Nope. I didn’t pay any attention to them. If only I were permanently recording, I could watch them back.”
SJ looked back at the goblin. “Fine, here,” she said as she removed five silver pieces from her inventory and placed them on the countertop.
The goblin scribbled notes down before standing and moving to a table at the far end of the office and placing it on a pile on a beings desk before returning.
“It should be available for collection tomorrow,” the goblin said.
“What?” SJ spluttered. “You didn’t say there would be a waiting time.”
“What do you expect? My colleagues to stop what they are doing to fulfil your request immediately. We get many enquiries every day.”
SJ had had enough. “I just gave you five silver for some information, which, in my opinion, is an absolute joke, and you then tell me I have to wait until tomorrow for a list of ten guilds and their addresses. I want my silver back, and I will find another means to get the information I seek.”
“No. All transactions are final,” the goblin replied. “You can forgo the information if you wish, but the fee is not refundable.”
“WHAT?” SJ shouted. Now, she could feel her blood pulsing in her temples. She couldn’t describe how infuriated she was by this completely unhelpful and obnoxious being that had zero charisma.
“Where is Olion?” SJ snapped.
“He will be completing his other duties. He won’t return to the office until tomorrow.”
SJ held her head in her hands, trying to keep calm. All she wanted to do was equip her claws and run the goblin through. Her frustration and thoughts even surprised Dave. “I didn’t expect this reaction,” he said.
‘I don’t have time to waste.’
“I don’t know why you are restricting yourself to three days. Now that you are here, you can always portal back before the festival,” Dave said.
The thought hadn’t even crossed SJ’s mind since she had arrived. She had only ever considered returning with Alice in the coach. If she hadn’t been so frustrated by the whole situation and hadn’t allowed such a meaningless interaction to wind her up so much, she might have actually seen the funny side of his comment.
‘Argh,’ SJ screamed in her mind. How could she have been so thoughtless? She had even added the quest pressure from Carlito, giving her seventy-two hours because she hadn’t considered portalling.
‘It doesn’t change the fact I have less than forty-eight hours to complete two further quests, and waiting until tomorrow will reduce it to less than a day.’
“All this to find out about this Justin character,” Dave said unhelpfully.
SJ wasn’t paying any attention to what was happening in the offices when she heard a voice she recognised calling her name.
“SJ. What are you doing here? Alice had mentioned you had accompanied her, but I never expected to find you here.”
She looked up and across the office to one of the other entrances where Alex stood. Alex had still been away at the elven kingdom, smoothing over the problems created by the elf lord who had stormed the council chambers when she had departed Asterfal last time, and she hadn’t seen him since her return.
“Alex. I am so glad you are here. Maybe you could help me?”
“What is the problem?” Alex asked as he walked over.
SJ noticed the goblin shift slightly in her seat as Alex approached. SJ then spent a moment explaining what had happened.
“I see. Mistress Debu. Would you be so kind as to expedite the ambassador’s request? I would be most grateful for your assistance in this matter,” Alex said.
“Sir. Of course, I can see what can be done,” the goblin replied as she jumped from her chair and hurried to the desk where she had dropped the request.
“Thank you, Alex,” SJ smiled.
“Not at all. I was hoping to catch you while you were here. I was thoroughly impressed with your findings from District 3. Petunia filled me in when I returned. Few can read numbers the way you do, and I wish to pass on my thanks.”
SJ’s cheeks heated up from his comment. “There is no need to thank me. I was more than happy to help.”
“Please join me for a drink while your request is fulfilled. Mistress Debu, please bring the information to my office.”
“Sir,” the goblin replied as she stood over the clerk’s desk where the request had been placed.
“Shall we?” Alex offered.
SJ followed Alex back downstairs until they reached his office. It was only two doors from the chancellors, and SJ could hear raised voices coming from the open chamber door.
“That doesn’t sound good,” SJ said.
“He is meeting with the Merchant’s Guild representatives. The charges for materials have been increased again.”
“That’s not good.”
“No. We won’t be able to fund the rebuild as things stand unless something drastic happens.”
SJ was unsure how much information the chancellor may have shared with Alex, so she wasn’t willing to discuss the fact that she was looking into the problems.
“I hadn’t realised the issues that had been caused since removing Jelart until we arrived,” SJ said, taking a seat in his office.
“It’s been problematic. Since my return from the elven kingdom, I have constantly been involved with various problems. We have all been under significant pressure, and there are comments that the council may even look into challenging District 3’s work due to the costs.”
“Can’t you use external sources?”
“What do you mean by sources exactly?”
“Merchants and traders. I am sure some of the towns that come under Asterfal have the means to provide resources.”
“They do, and they are doing it in part. The problem isn’t the external support; it is the internal costs associated with the city. Everything is increasing in price. It isn’t just the material costs but labour, food, housing, and everything else that is being pushed up. I cannot identify the direct reason behind it. Yes, we are using many more resources than usual, but there is normally more than enough available, and the increase in jobs due to the rebuild should only help the districts if anything. Improving the income of many beings. You would usually expect an economy to flourish with expansion, and instead, it is declining. It just doesn’t make sense.”
“You have no thoughts at all behind the cause?”
“The only word that comes to mind is greed,” Alex said as he handed SJ a glass of wine.
SJ smelled the sweet bouquet of the drink before sipping it. It was lovely but left a dry aftertaste.
It was a short time later, as they sat talking about the continuing issues, when Mistress Debu entered, handing SJ the requested details of the guilds.