South Jaga City, Job Hall – Year 1344, Month 1, Day 8. Spring
Olea Munroe
I strode into the business area of the Jobs Hall, the large open room at the front of the building open to the public. Aspiring members, random citizens, curious children, and random low-level municipal workers were moving here and there. Some people were staring up at the various trophies adorning the walls while others were waiting in the various lines as they attempted to conclude some business dealing or petition for some new form of work.
All the clerks were busy, most were wearing their semi-professional fake smiles or carefully cultivated neutral faces. A few of the older members openly displayed their boredom with certain clients and petitioners. The joy of bureaucracy.
Making my way forward as I weaved through the many people. Was it this busy when I was here last? I did not recall it being quite so noisy and full of people, a thought for later. I had an Alex to find, I should have probably found out what he looked like before I left the labyrinth downstairs. Also, maybe I should refer to it as the upper office to keep it straight in my head.
‘How would upper work when describing a set of hallways and rooms underground?’
It makes perfect sense if you think of it as an office for the upper most personnel of the guild, thank you very much.
On the opposite side of the room from where I exited the hallway leading to the stairwell that led to the, you get the picture. Over there next to the table where Doogan usually harassed the junior members stood a rather tall young man wearing a mid-length gray cloak over some rather fanciful leather armor. He had a small knife attached to a sheathe on his left side while his right side bore the weight of a sheathe containing what seemed to be a bronze-handled rapier.
He was busying himself by looking through the crowds of various folk until his green eyes fell on me. I think I found Alex.
‘It seems he found you, would be more accurate.’
Shaking my head at the blatant attempt to shift away my obvious display of people finding I made my way forward, hoping my wonderous jump of logic was correct. Why would anyone stand near Doogan’s bloodied table full of various sharp, rusted, bloodied objects unless they had business with the man, or in this case with someone sent by the man. The man? Nope, moving on.
He stood straighter as I approached, showing the full measure of his height, a fact hidden while he was more relaxed. He must be nearly six foot in height. Tall one here, though I was at what equated to five foot these days, so I could not really rely upon my own perspective when it came to comparisons.
“Are you Olea Munroe?” asked the probably-Alex.
“I am.” Was my short reply, no introductions when you meet someone while assuming you know who they are. Gah.
“You are late.” He accused me flatly, green eyes looking down at me. At least he wasn’t smiling when he said it. I don’t think I’d have forgiven him for finding amusement in my tardiness as if he were insulting me somehow. Just a flat observation of my failure.
“Yeah. Sorry, Doogie made me sit through a lecture.”
“Doogie?”
“Yep, Doogie. Thicker, gruff fellow that owns this table. Maybe owns the hall, I don’t know how it works really.” I told him, it did not seem to be such a jump, I’d had many stranger names for people, and myself for that matter. Was this hard?
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“First, he is Master Doogan of the guild, you shan’t besmirch his name in such a manner while in these halls. Second thing, I am Alex Ambridge, his former apprentice. I am here because my former Master has asked me to travel with you for a short while so as you may learn a little more of the wider world.” I must admit, while the words were a bit stuffy, he delivered them with confidence and not a shred of evidence that could be used to claim he was being purposefully rude. He even sounded slightly like a young Alfred the butler, all proper snark, and a few lilts in the proper places.
Taking in his appearance once again I noted his eyes of emerald-green first. He was still tall, flirting with six feet. He had Fabio length golden hair tucked neatly under his hat. And his hat, yeah, it looked like something from the seventeenth century, I think called a Cavalier. The kind worn by D’Artagnan, or Dartanian for us slightly less worldly folks. The musketeers! His cloak covered his left shoulder while leaving the right side free, a small red clasp secured it to his neck with a small toggle loop holding it to his shoulder. The armor he wore over a blue undershirt must have been custom made as it fit his form without bunching or being too loose in any one spot, it also had several small rivets spaced evenly across the front. He wore tan pantaloons banded just under the knee with black wrapped linen and secured with the belt holding his weapons. His shoes were simple sturdy leather made with a small metal plate installed near the toe. Practical and pretty. He seemed too young for all the war readiness, maybe nineteen, no more than twenty-two. Again, perspective. I’m was just over seventeen when I got, whatever I got to be sent here.
“Who is your tailor?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Furthermore – wait, what? Tailor?” He stammered.
“Yeah, you look absolutely spiffing. I’ve had nice clothes, but they always get ruined or chewed through and bloody. Your stuff looks sturdy and pretty, practical even. I need to know who your tailor is.” Honesty always wins! It also seems to be good at catching people off-guard.
“Spiffing? I am spiffing?” he continued. “I am not sure at what ruse you are playing at but false flattery will not alter my reporting of our time together one wit.”
That was something. Reporting on me, I wondered if Master Doogan had been planning something different for me before we had our meeting. Scary thoughts of an evil empire fighting to control my awesomeness and direct me to do unspeakable things in the name of corn flitted through my head.
‘This is absurd, you should stay on task. It seems the investiture into Wisdom has served you, not at all.’
“Fine.” I said to both parties. “Though I was unaware of any reports and possible bias toward bending them one way or another. What was the plan?”
“We are going to be going on the road, a three week or more journey around this section of the kingdom in hopes of getting you some worldly experience.” He said, matter-of-factly.
“Oh, that reminds me. Doogie-Master Doogan told me to say, keep it local. I wasn’t sure what he meant then, but it seems pertinent that I say it now that you mention a road trip.”
Alex hesitated before responding after this, “Are you sure he said local in regard to our trip?”
“No idea, he told me to tell you, ‘Stay Local.’ I wasn’t at all sure as to what he meant.
I really should have asked for a little more information before I had been so roughly dismissed, maybe not roughly but it was abrupt. I think Doogan was just trying to get some space so he could free his mind and think a little. It was a lot to take in, when I got here, I needed a whole night’s sleep just to process. It was tiring work getting chased by city guards.
“Well, that limits some things. I had arranged to travel with a crew headed toward this kingdom’s capital. It seems we may need to instead find some people travelling north or go it alone.” He drifted in thought there for a few moments, he had actually closed his eyes, and you could see his brow knitting together just a little, I may have to be careful not to catch feelings. If only he were not so stuffy.
“Does it hurt?”
He opened one eye to look down at me in question.
“You have been thinking for a few moments, does it hurt? Should I seek aid from a medic?”
“You are quite rude. Also, unoriginal. Alas, I think the master was seeking to test my patience and dedication by assigning you as my temporary ward.” He sighed. “Let us go.”
“Lead on!” I said, following behind the leader. Again, I noticed the quality of his gear, practical and pretty.
We made our way out of the Job’s Hall and headed west along Market Way before taking a short walk through the warehouse district and then stepping onto another road that I could not name, heading west once more. A brief time later we arrived at the western gate of the city, near the south-western shore of Jaga Lake where I was informed that we would wait to find some honest people who were headed in that general direction to travel with. Road trips were always fun. Or that is what people claim.