“First, the bandits you killed and this Killer's Chain. Good job killing the bandits, and judging by the adventurer tags on it, you can expect a formal thank you from the guild. The guild will go over the specific tags later, but this explains a lot of the novice deaths we have had in the area. There are also some tags from other guilds, and that means you'll end up getting the attention of the most powerful and influential members of the guilds in Patterson.” Lisette opened a draw and came out with a stack of papers, they seemed to be bounties. “I will also look up the bounty on this Calico Pete and get you the money. Regardless, even if there were no guild tags on this Killers Chain, there is a standing bounty on any that are brought in. It's paid into by all guilds, so again, expect more money.”

She pulled out another sheet and signed it before handing it to Jaeger. It was a simple letter of completion, authorizing him to receive payment for the collection of a Killers Chain. At the bottom it said that the payment was to be picked up at the Bankers Guild headquarters.

“Take this to the Bankers' Guild and they will distribute the payment. As for the Adventurers' Guild business, do you have the bounty papers, or should I look for them?” She gestured to her pile. Jaeger reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper. With a flick of his wrist he unrolled it and showed her the bounty paper for the Crusher. Lisette took it and nodded.

“Great. So, Crusher, dead or alive, considering the bloody sack you left on my previously clean desk, I'm going to assume you chose the second option.”

“To be fair, the orc was a lot bigger than I'd imagined and covered in some sort of metal armor. I've seen my share of knights and paladins, but this was something else.”

Lisette shrugged.

“I keep forgetting that as an Outworlder, even with the knowledge spell you got, there are still things you don't know. Orcs come in a variety of flavors, some are just like different colored, more muscular and tusked humans. Others are ape-like monsters with a distinct accent and a few quirks. Sounds like Crusher was the latter, I'll have to make a note of that; bounty payouts vary depending on the type of orc. One second.” Lisette took a breath and opened the bag, took a quick look, and closed it again before breathing freely again. “His features match the ones on the paper, other than his armor, was there anything unique about him or his weapons? I'll need some identifying details for the client.”

“He had a big blade, I think he called it his choppa. He had a very distinctive way of speaking. Also, shouldn't the client have known what kind of orc he was, considering he ate some of those taxmen?”

“That is the problem, he ate all the tax collectors who met him. So all they had was a general description of his race and appearance. I'll take down the details you gave me and take his head. If he was a different kind of orc the Sahilmat will be able to tell." She cleared her throat and her tone changed to a monotone voice. "If for some reason it is discovered that you lied about the completion of this bounty, you will be declared excommunicated from the guild.”

“Right.”

Lisette gave a sardonic smile.

“Here is your pay, and I hope you enjoyed my speech. Guild policy changed a year ago, and now I have to say this last thing when people finish jobs, sorry. Now the last piece of business is this slaver.”

He could practically feel the praise in her voice.

“The story of how you caught him will embarrass some older guild members, both here and in other guilds, but the fact is that you, a veritable rookie, caught him. There is an outstanding bounty on the head of any slaver operating in the land. However, this man wasn't just a slave trader, he was an escaped executive of one of the largest and most dangerous organizations around, so I'm going to push for a larger payout. This may take some time, a week to a month depending on how slow things are.”

“I'd like to point out that I'm no rookie, I've been bounty hunting for easily a decade.”

“Yes, but that was in your old world. Most guild elders would see that as a child bragging about killing a roach to a monster hunter.”

Jaeger scowled, he'd earned his reputation, but he'd earned it in a place where levels and magic didn't exist. If his fight with Crusher was any indication, he might be something like a child bragging to an adult. He'd just have to rebuild his reputation here and show them who he was. With a hungry grin, he slipped the bounty money into his pocket.

His need to build his reputation was one of the reasons why he didn't mind waiting for the innkeeper to pay him. In the first place, he hadn't expected any pay, but more importantly, if he started taking in too much money, he might start to get a reputation as a silk shirt; better to wait. The fact that the man turned out to be a slave trader was entertaining, and Jaeger wondered for a moment if Mischief had planned this before dismissing the possibility.

“That’s fine, I’m going to take a day or two to rest before I look at any other jobs anyway. Lisette, do you have some time to speak privately with me?”

Lisette sat up straight and motioned for him to continue.

“I had some loot I'd like to have analyzed, originally including the Killers Chain, but you've already done that. I also had some questions about pacts and magical creatures.”

“Oh that is not a problem. We have some item identifiers on staff, they work on commission. But you've done a lot for the guild, so I'll take care of your items. Follow me, I'll take you to a private room.” Getting up Lisette placed the Killers Chain on top of the stack of bounty papers before pulling out a wand. “Now what's this about pacts and magical creatures? Interested in becoming a warlock?”

She tapped the sack with Crusher's head in it and it glowed a faint blue. Satisfied, she took the stack of papers and the Killer Chain before walking away. She grabbed a guild attendant and whispered something to them before pointing at the sack and sending them on their way. Jaeger moved with her, keeping pace as he thought of what to say.

“Are warlocks viewed negatively here?”

“Individually, no; as a group, yes. Warlocks make deals with entities that they may or may not understand in order to gain power. Sometimes the entity wants a monthly feast or to hunt evil cults, other times the entity wants an evil cult or just random violence. So warlocks are a mixed bag, I will say that if a warlock has a guild tag they tend to have it easier. All guilds screen our members and we wouldn't accept a warlock who was following evil or negative entities.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

When they reached the stairs, the pair headed up, passing a few adventurers along the way. They quickly climbed two floors and disembarked on a familiar floor.

“You said entities? What do you mean by that?”

“In this context, entities are beings with enough power to create a warlock contract. Gods, devils, demons, Fae folk, lichs, dragons, eldritch abominations, and beings from other planes are the usual suspects.”

Lisette led him away and into a familiar room. It was the same room Jaeger had spent his time in when he'd first registered. He sat down on the sofa and looked at Lisette. She sat across from him, crossed her legs, fidgeted with her wands, and looked at him worriedly.

“Why are you so interested in warlocks and their patrons?”

Jaeger debated what to say. She had made being a warlock not seem so horrible, and her talk about entities made her sound like someone who was well-versed in the subject. Maybe she'd have some answers on how to deal with his pact. Nodding, he was about to speak when someone else beat him to it.

“Because my dear, he is one.”

From a swirling portal of red and blue came a marble white leg, followed by a cloak that seemed to be a piece of the night sky. When the figure wearing it stepped all the way through, Jaeger didn't know what he saw. She, the figure was unmistakably female, appeared to be a white marble statue of a human, but so much more.

She had larger incisors than a human with a mane of rippling purple-black hair. A pair of enchanting slit yellow eyes held his, and it took too long for him to notice the real difference between them. She had four arms, each one a chiseled muscular perfection that ended in sharp claws. Three of them were open, while the last held a long marble rod topped by a swirling black orb. Not since the purple portal had dropped him here had Jaeger been more certain that this was a land of gods and goddesses.

“Ah, yes, I forget that my presence can have this effect on people.”

A deep but cheerful melodic voice sang, followed by a snort.

“No, you didn't, you just like to see everyone's faces when you do it. Now release Jaeger and let him explain how he's a warlock, because when he left not so long ago he was a bounty hunter.”

Lisette scolded the marbled goddess, who responded with a laugh and then something. Jaeger couldn't describe it, but it was as if the existence in front of him no longer meant as much. As if there were less of them, which confused him to no end.

“Give him a few moments, he’s now coming to terms with reality again.”

“I swear to the goddess, Hecate you do this every time we get a new member. You know people can't handle your unleashed presence, let alone a new Outworlder. In most guilds, people don't see their guild master more than once a year.”

“Yes, Lisette, but you must also remember that these other guilds are boring, and I abhor boredom.”

A sigh followed, and unbidden words flowed from Jaeger.

“You sound just like Mischief.”

“Oh. Who or what is this Mischief?”

Jaeger leaned back and closed his eyes. He'd been willing to talk when it was just Lisette. But now it was Hecate, his supposed guild master. But Jaeger was someone who went through with his decisions, so he spoke.

“Mischief is the creature I made a deal with. Specifically, it's a magical cat I found in the bamboo forest on my way to confront Crusher.”

Lisette and Hecate were silent.

“Describe this cat and how you found it.” Hecate commented.

“It's like I said, I was on my way to Crusher, I'd just passed through the tall grass area and was riding my horse through the bamboo forest when he found me. One moment I'm riding, the next he's speaking some damn riddle in my ear. Then the cat’s right in front of me, and after a few more riddles and cryptic answers, I try to kill him. My shot goes right through him, and then he reappears. Over and over I tried to ignore him, but he wouldn't go away. Next thing I know, he’s demanding that I contract with him, because he’s bored. Mischief said he'd teach me how to use my skills and magic, as long as I entertain him. Seeing that he wouldn't go away, I signed the contract, then he broke free of some shackles he had on and traveled with me.”

Jaeger hadn't realized how much Mischief had annoyed and bothered him, but as he spat out the information, it came to him. He'd been bothered by his encounter with Mischief and the way he'd acted.

“So to sum things up, you signed a contract with a talking magical cat that seems to be able to teleport, fly, and summon items. In exchange for entertaining him, which so far seems to be violently, you will be taught how to use your magic and abilities? One point I'd like to ask is for you to summon the contract and show me the terms.” Hecate had not yet moved, simply standing with her arms crossed.

Jaeger wasn't sure how to summon the contract, but he figured it was like summoning any other piece of magical information and focused. With an audible pop, a scroll unfolded in front of him, revealing the contract he had with Mischief.

Patron Contract

The Cat has offered a warlock contract to Bounty Hunter Jaeger Darkblade. By agreeing to this contract The Cat will become a patron of the Bounty Hunter, teaching him how to use his skills, how to cast its magics and being able to view his life for entertainment purposes, along with offering jobs to the manling. By agreeing to this contract Jaeger Darkblade will become the warlock/jester of The Cat, providing him with entertainment as desired and in return will be taught on the best use of his skills and how to use The Cat’s magics. Now hurry up and sign this, I’m bored of all this bamboo and not killing.

Hecate looked at it, read it through, and then spoke to him.

“I have a question for you, why does this say The Cat? You call him Mischief.”

Jaeger looked at it, and the name did what it had done last time, scrolling through name after name, never settling on one. This time, however, he saw the name Mischief appear.

“What does that mean? It's still doing that weird thing where it goes through names. I called him Mischief because he demanded that I give him a name and he seemed to like it.”

Hecate held up a hand to stop him.

“What do you mean, it cycles through names? Can you actually read them?”

“I mean, it changes the names on the scroll, and yes, I can read them. I can't read them all, but I can see the names Chesire, Neko, Maurice, Grimalkin, Cat Sìth, Mischief, and Wampus. A few new ones, but yes, I can read them.”

Hecate drew back as he spoke, a hand going to her chin in thought. She began to chuckle before breaking into a full blown laugh. Lisette looked at her in confusion. It took a few minutes for her to stop.

“Ah, that's pretty funny. He's all right, Lisette, I know the creature he's contracted with. Mischief is a very fitting name for this cat. I was wondering where he went, he's been missing for centuries. You say he was bound?”

“When we finished our contract, I saw a shackle on his foot. When we finished, he jumped and it broke. Then he rushed me out of the forest.”

“Hmm, I wonder who managed to chain him up. Well, Mr. Darkblade, if your patron decides to make himself known again, tell him to find me. I have much to discuss with him. Also, as a gift for this news, I'll let you in on something. The contract is quite literal, and Mischief has been out of the contract-writing business for too long. The terms he wrote are that he will teach you how to use "his skills, how to cast his magic. Mischief is bound by the terms of the contract to teach you his magic. Oh he will absolutely hate doing that.”

Hecate laughed again before summoning another portal with a clap of her staff.

“I must go now, this has been a very enjoyable meeting. Mr. Darkblade, it's a pleasure to have you in the guild and I look forward to hearing more about your exploits. Lisette, I'll leave the guild in your hands again.” With that, the statuesque woman stepped through the portal and disappeared.