Chapter 119

His escort led him in to a room that was only too familiar to him already. He had once had to solve a dispute between two dungeon running teams here which he'd solved by having them race each other through their own copies of the same dungeon. The setup he had pioneered was still present. Two copies of the same dungeon on one giant Dungeon Room table. Giant monitors so the crowd wouldn't miss a moment of the action now studded the walls.

The room reminded Jay of a sports bar only with live betting.

“Jay!” yelled Aiden from the back of the room. Aiden was standing next to a large round table where a few people were already seated.

Jay's escort paused once they had reached the table and Jay and Aiden exchanged a quick handshake and back-thump hello.

“Should you need anything else please ask. I will remain in the room until your attendant arrives.” Jay's escort stated as Jay nodded in thanks. She took a few steps away from the table and kept an eye over the room in an unobtrusive manner.

“Jay, you made it!” Norri said happily from the other side of M'redith.

Aiden moved out of the way and Jay moved past him and took a chair between Aiden and M'redith. Norri sat to M'redith's other side.

“Sorry, I've been here a while but I had to talk with M'tthew about tonight. He's having things set up now.” Jay said as he looked about the room, a bit distracted.

M'redith leaned over to Jay, tilted her head up, and gave him a kiss on the cheek when he wasn't ready for it.

“I swear I'll leave right now...” Aiden said only half-jokingly.

“Alright alright, Goddess you're a prude.” M'redith said with a smile.

“So Redguard should be here in the next fifteen minutes or so at the most. Anyone have any idea what we're going to say when they get here?” Jay asked.

M'redith laughed, “How about, thank you?”

Aiden chuckled, “I'll leave that to you. I hate being the center of attention.”

Norri laughed, loudly. “Since when!?”

While Aiden and Norri went back and forth Jay leaned over to whisper with M'redith.

“You have something prepared for that guy you swore at as he carried you to safety?” Jay said with playful eyes and a teasing grin.

M'redith punched Jay on the upper arm, but not too hard.

“Ow!” Jay said with a smile even though it didn't hurt. “I guess I deserved that.”

M'redith agreed, “Yes, you did.” But she smiled as she said it which took the sting out of the comment. “I've thought about it but I can't think of anything fancy. I'm just going to be honest and say it however it comes out.”

“I do that sometimes too.” Jay admitted. “I wouldn't recommend it.”

M'redith chuckled, “Gee, thanks a lot.” She ran a hand through her hair nervously.

“Seriously though, you'll do fine. I think they'll have a good time tonight no matter how you phrase saying I'm sorry.” Jay insisted with a grin.

As the group sat there the room was alive with activity. People were eating, drinking, placing bets. Occasionally when someone important would arrive an announcement would be given.

“Lord Qence, arriving!” or “Weavemaster Caln, arriving!” or even, “Baker's Guild, arriving!”

Jay didn't know who ran the Baker's Guild but they had just arrived it would seem. His group continued to make small talk and tease each other nervously as announcements were made and patrons enjoyed themselves at the tables between Jay's group and the main stage where the Dungeon Room table was set up.

As announcements of arrivals were given out the crowd would react, sometimes with a minor nod, other times with a number of people who would leave the room to seek out the person who had arrived. No matter who arrived when the announcement was made the crowd would quiet slightly for a moment before returning to full volume.

Jay's table of potential Adventurer Guild members stood out from the other people gathered in the room. Most of the people were older than Jay, and the majority of them were rich. Not rich like Jay. Really rich. Most had made their money from methods other than fighting. One thing they all had in common however was the knowledge that should a monster ever come their way they could depend on The Adventurer's Guild for protection.

It wasn't something that happened often in the city. The further one went from the city however the more common a monster attack would become. Many of the people in the room had been saved at one time or another by an Adventurer's Guild member, if not a full group or members.

Normal people looked up to Adventurer's Guild members the same way people back on Earth might view a search and rescue team or an ambulance crew or a fire department – they serve just in case they are needed and can be depended upon in an emergency. When not rescuing people they spent their time in dungeons.

But what happens when the search and rescue crew become stranded, injured, or both? Or the ambulance crew come under heavy fire? Or the fire department gets attacked mid rescue?

They call Redguard, that's what happens. Guild members knew it, and normal citizens knew it. They're not a secretive organization by any means. It was well known that if you needed rescue from monsters, you called the Guild. But if your rescuers needed rescue – you called Redguard.

The announcement speakers crackled to life and the microphone was obviously live. The announcer cleared their throat before speaking. “REDGUARD, ARRIVING,” he said in a tone of voice that sounded as if all of the letters had been capitalized. It was a strong voice, loud and sure of itself, and the murmuring in the crowd instantly died down and changed to whispers.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Redguard was rarely used to being announced. Usually their arrival was the announcement, a loud and violent event that drew every eye within miles. Tonight however they were off duty, and would be allowed a more gentle arrival.

Jay's escort disappeared from view only to reappear a few moments later with a number of men and women following behind her. As she reached Jay's table she paused.

Etiquette called for the leaders of each group to be introduced first. Etiquette also called for the owner of the establishment to be introduced first. The escort was unsure of who to introduce first before M'redith saved her the trouble.

Although Jay's entire table rose to greet Redguard it was M'redith that spoke first, “M'redith, Glimmerhide Group. We're pleased to have you.”

“I'm Lt. Fries, pleased to meet you, or meet you again actually,” the man in front of the group said. His head was shaved bald but was somewhat made up for by the bushiest eyebrows Jay had ever seen. Lt. Fries sported a bushy mustache to match.

The Redguard party was comprised of Lt. Fries, two women, and two men, all wearing what looked to be matching casual cloth clothing. The pants were black and they each wore a red shirt with white sleeves. They were all armed and wore blades at their waists.

Introductions were given out. “May I introduce Sgt. Kerin,” one of the women with curly dark hair nodded, “Sgt. Cherri,” a woman with straight red hair smiled, “Sgt. Combs,” one of the men waved, “and I believe you already have met Lt. Swan.”

A man with short and dark curly hair smiled widely at M'redith and tried not to laugh at her obvious discomfort.

Jay whispered to her, “What's wrong?”

Not moving her lips she replied, “That's the one I yelled at.”

Jay smiled and nodded. That made sense.

“Great to meet everyone! Please, have a seat!” M'redith said and everyone found themselves a spot and got comfortable.

“Before we start, I'd just like to take a moment and apologize for my behavior. I said some things that I regret and I am sorry for that.” M'redith got out as she blushed a light red.

The gathered Redguard all laughed but not at her. It was a more inclusive laugh. “That's ok,” Lt. Swan said, “I've said worse before. I mean – I apologized after the fact of course.” The rest of Redguard found that funny.

Feeling much better M'redith nodded and sat down. Everyone made small talk with each other and they were having a good time. Gradually something that they shouldn't notice at all became far more noticeable than was usual.

The room, just like all rooms, had a scent to it. You smelled it when you walked in but then gradually became used to it until you couldn't smell anything at all. A new scent had began to permeate the air in the room and Jay found himself drawn to it, whatever it was.

Others at the table had picked up on it as well and looked around in confusion.

Jay couldn't quite place the scent, but it was alluring. It drew him in and he wanted to smell more of it. It reminded him of the scent of M'redith's breath after a kiss, or her skin fresh after a bath. It smelled like everything he'd ever wanted, and more, all rolled in to one scent made up of hundreds of lesser notes all twisted together until you couldn't tell them apart. All Jay knew was he had to find that scent and smell more of it.

The others in the room had begun to react as well and the noise in the room changed from inebriated banter to confused searching rather quickly.

Jay looked around the table and his party with the exception of M'redith looked confused. The Redguard did not look confused but instead wary and alert. They sat on the edge of their chairs as if expecting an attack.

A figure wearing a silky hooded robe walked up to Jay's table and stopped just before it, head bowed. The figure reached up with both sleeves, hands concealed within, and put back her robe's hood. Her head raised gracefully as the hood lowered.

The scent only intensified, and Jay was surprised to find himself looking at a woman unlike any he had yet seen. She was taller than other Eden women, even men, and was closer to Jay's height than anyone else's height. Her hair was fiery red and streamed down her back, the color shifting not just when she moved, but when she did not as well, giving the appearance of a raging fire.

Her skin was pale and she had a narrow spray of freckles across the top of her nose. Her eyes were green - large and round and they shined brightly. She smiled with impeccably perfect teeth and Jay heard more than one person at the table sigh at the sight of her.

The last thing he noticed before she spoke were her ears, which were longer than a humans and a bit pointed, especially at the top of the ear ridge.

“Hello, my name is Sha'li.” she said, and her voice was husky and held more than a hint of desire in its tone.

Jay was struck dumb for a moment before he mumbled without thought, “You're a half elf?”

“I am!” she said happily to Jay and he found her focus on him almost overwhelming as her scent washed over him. He struggled to think straight.

M'redith wasn't thrilled with Jay's reaction but found that she was struggling as well. Between the scent and the half-elf's appearance she could definitely feel a resonance within her, a desire. She fought it off but the scent was unrelenting, and wonderful.

Sha'li lowered her eyes for a moment and concentrated before standing up straight once again. The scent dissipated when she did so, and the other patrons in the room immediately noticed the loss. A susurration rose in the crowd as people all tried to understand what had just happened.

“I will be your attendant tonight. Should you need anything I will be only too happy to have it brought here for you. Redgrass, the staff, the owners, are all thankful for what you do.” she said as she focused on the Redguard members specifically as if shining a spotlight on one end of the table.

“I've never met an elf before!” remarked one of the Redguard and Lt. Fries smacked him in the back of the head with a disappointed frown.

Sha'li laughed and waved Lt.Fries' concerns away. “I am not an elf. I'm a half-elf. Although some of me is more full-elf than half elf,” she said as a hint of her scent washed over the group.

“What does your name mean?” Norri asked after Lt. Fries seemed mollified that one of his men hadn't offended the half elf.

Sha'li's smile transformed in to a thin lipped smile and she shook her head, “That would not make great party talk I am afraid.”

“Please?” Norri pleaded and M'redith thought about smacking her in the back of the head for a moment. What was Norri thinking, pressing the question when she had been politely rebuffed?

Sha'li finally grinned and shrugged, “Perhaps later. Listen, Lt. Fries, M'redith,” she started and both gave her their full attention, “I am not offended by your questions. I'm afraid my personality leans towards the Elf side as well so I tend not to be easily embarrassed, or offended.”

She paused before continuing. “If your questions are about elves though I'm afraid I know as much as you do. I've never met one, and I have little answers to give you. Hopefully that helps?” she said and it appeared that many of the people at the table no longer had as many questions.

“All I want tonight is for you all to have a great time!” she finally said as a final summation.

M'redith and Lt. Fries both nodded and seemed to relax a bit and the rest of the table seemed happy.

“Now that is settled, who would like to start things off with a toast?” she said and offered them another brilliant smile.