Lorcan and Jaeger had just sealed their deal when Lisette and Master Erryon walked over.

“Is this the one you chose? I can't fault you, but others might.” Master Erryon said as he walked over.

“Are you questioning his abilities?” Jaeger asked, turning to the man.

“Ha. No, no, by the world-forge itself, no. This big fellow is the best you'll find; I'd give him a good chance of taking out a lot of the gray beards above us. That's the problem, but you're an adventurer, a little trouble shouldn't bother you.”

“Why would that be a problem?”

Before Erryon could answer, Lorcan interjected.

“I am disliked by the leaders of the blacksmith guild. They resent my class, my perceived age, and my lack of respect for them.”

Master Erryon laughed as he said this.

“Lack of respect? As I recall, you called each of them out and then picked apart their most precious work. Then you said that you refused to be ordered around by people who were stagnant and had forgotten what the forge and the anvil were for. It was by far the funniest thing I've seen in my time in the blacksmithing guild, which may be why I was sent here.”

Lorcan looked at his fellow master with a confused expression on his face.

“Were you not sent here to watch over me?”

“No, like you, I refuse to listen to the Greybeards. The difference is that I'm friends with one of them, so they can't do much against me. I was sent here as punishment for laughing at what you did. I probably shouldn't say more in front of outsiders.” He said, motioning to Jaeger and Lisette.

Lisette had a confused look on her face. Jaeger, on the other hand, had lit a cigarette and was barely listening. He'd had to deal with political conflicts within the guild in Beseria.

“What does that mean? Is this a guild secret?” Lisette asked.

Master Erryon looked at Lorcan and then shrugged his shoulders.

“Eh, kind of. It's more like one of those things you just don't talk about openly, especially with non-guild members.” He took a deep, contemplative breath. “The Blacksmith Guild trades with many guilds. Most are fair trade, and some are not. Our deal with your guild is the latter. The Adventurers' Guild is where the troublemakers and eye sores are sent. It's a punishment post. Having to serve a bunch of adventurers for almost no profit and with little chance of meeting nobles or big companies is punishment. Don't get me wrong, the guild sends qualified masters, but not always the cream of the crop; myself and Lorcan are exceptions.”

“Why are we a punishment post? I understand it’s constant work, but that also means constant levels.”

“Again, the base pay is not good, and the constant levels are good, but most master blacksmiths outside of here make one to five master pieces in the course of a year. Here? I've made maybe five since I've been here. Most adventurers just can't afford masterpieces, and those who can go straight to the guild and have a famous master make them.”

Lisette seemed at a loss for words, so Jaeger filled in.

“Their work goes unrecognized because, in the eyes of the adventurers, they produce fewer high-quality goods and more low-quality goods. I bet by the time most of the troublemakers have done their time here, they probably do everything they can to never come back. Maybe some kind of non-disclosure thing or a magic oath. They did something similar to soldiers back home, bad ones get sent to bad weather areas with worse pay. Some enjoyed the distance from command, others did everything they could to leave.” Jaeger shrugged at that and finished up his cigarette.

“Yeah, that's about of the situation here. The loss of contacts also hurts, most of the people sent here don't realize the importance of adventurers for parts. At least not until they're gone.” Master Erryon said.

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Lorcan looked lost in thought.

“So I was sent here in a bid to break my rebellious spirit?”

“Yes, and if you don't toe the line of the guild, and more importantly, the guild leaders, they will probably find an excuse to keep you here.”

“Is that the reason why you and the other blacksmiths have been preventing me from taking on adventurers?”

“Me? I only came because Lisette was here, I wanted to take Jaeger because he was a friend of hers. Master Flindon told us to keep you broke and desperate. I never cared enough to do anything but the others, though, yes. They would definitely keep you from finding adventurers and clients.”

Lorcan's fists clenched in anger.

“I will crush his bones to dust and bring ruin upon the others.”

He started to walk away, but Jaeger stepped in front of him, a hand raised.

“You'll work on my ax first. We made a deal, and I don't tolerate deal-breakers.”

Lorcan looked down at the man before him. A tricorn hat sat tightly on his head, a large greatcoat hung over him like armor, and his hand rested on the knob of something at his hip.

“Honor demands that I take my revenge on Flindon.”

“Then take it by doing my work. I'm offering you a paying job, and you're about to walk away from it. What does your honor say about breaking a deal?”

Lorcan’s wrathful stance loosened and he relaxed.

“The deal is the deal. You are a hard man, Mr. Darkblade. Fine, I will take my revenge in a less violent way, for now.”

Jaeger let his hands fall free and stepped back.

“That’s all I ask. Now my ax?”

“Magnificent. Such fun displays of aggression and even a tasty little secret. Oh, my dear bounty hunter, you are always so much fun.”

Mischief lay on a corner of the forge building. He had followed Jaeger into the building and then walked around. He'd missed the beginning of this encounter, but he'd managed to hear the juicy parts. A smithing Outworlder with anger issues and guild politics. It wasn't nearly as much fun or as devastating as the Gods' games, but it was better than being stuck in that forest.

“I thought I sensed you here. What is a sneaky cat like you doing in my guild?”

In a puff, Mischief tried to disappear, but a statuesque hand reached into the smoke and pulled him back. He began to scratch and bite, but nothing worked. Soon he was held in the embrace of a familiar four-armed being; Hecate, mistress of the Adventurers' Guild. She held Mischief in two of her four arms and used the other two to caress and tease him. He growled in displeasure, but couldn't escape, so he adopted a tactic unique to his presumed species; he went limp. Hanging in her arms, he just let what happened happen.

“Mrrw. Let me go, Hecate, I was just napping up here.”

A strong hand rubbed his head, drawing a purr from him.

“Now we both know that's not true. You were up here watching over your contractor. Or should I say your warlock?”

He squirmed in her grip but did not speak. She moved him until she had him in front of her face. When he made eye contact with her, he tried something he hadn't done since he'd taken the title of Chat Botté, he scrunched his face, widened his eyes and meowed his most kitten-like sound. It was a skill he'd developed and one that had always worked, but he rarely used it because nothing hurt his pride more than what usually came next.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna work on me.”

This was not the usual result. His face changed and now showed clear annoyance.

“Why not? It always works, what's wrong with you?”

“Me? Nothing. Unfortunately for you, this technique has become relatively common place. My number two,” She used her lower left arm to point at Lisette down below them. “used this technique a lot when we first met. I'm immune to it now, as are most people in the world are to some degree.”

Mischief’s eyes twitched. I knew I shouldn't have taught those 'dear little cats'. They were just so eager, murderous, and scheming that I couldn't resist.

“Now about this warlock of yours. Why did you choose him, and is what he said about you being bound true?”

“I chose him because he has a class that is useful to me. His penchant for violence and his morally gray outlook were just a nice bonus.” This time, when he purred, it was from his amusement at everything Jaeger had done. “Not to mention his magic, watching what he does with it almost makes being tied up in that boring forest worthwhile.”

“His magic is fascinating, Outworlders always come here with something new. But his magic is different and facisnating.” She stopped talking, wanting to focus. “Will your jailers know you are free?”

“No, I had time to plan this jailbreak. Originally, the plan was to tie the notification and tag to whoever I contracted with and then make them pay the price. But my contractor's unique variant class and skills made a better solution available. I sent him the notification and tag, and he was designated as the bounty hunter for my bounty. But because he is my contractor, he cannot harm me, so the notification and tag are disabled for him. As long as neither of us breaks the contract, this will work, and it gives me time to figure out a permanent solution.”

Hecate rubbed her chin, holding Mischief and tapping her staff on the roof. This went on for a few minutes; downstairs, Jaeger and the others had begun to move toward the forges.

“All right. I'm satisfied with what you've told me. The boy is now a member of my guild, so know that I will protect him as much as I can in this matter.” She crouched down and let Mischief go, and before she got up again, she patted him on the head. “It is good to see you, my friend. Try not to get caught again.”

Mischief rolled his eyes and was about to reply when the statuesque four-armed woman disappeared. In her place was a puff of red and blue smoke.

“Hrrm. So that’s what that feels like.”