Chapter 58

The dining hall was crowded and it was clear there were a number of full members present who would normally never eat here. They tended to have favorite restaurants or inns where they took all their meals, along with the money needed to pay for such a thing. The men and women stood out and were all dressed in fine clothing and armor. Guild Members, it appeared, did quite well for themselves.

Students, with some exceptions, usually fell in to one of two camps. The haves, and the have nots. The students that came from wealthy backgrounds tended to have plenty of disposable income and were able to eat out whenever they felt like. They had plenty of coin to throw around while they went through the basic training course and weren't afraid to do so to make their stay more comfortable.

Then there were the other students, the have-nots. They made it in to the Guild thanks to a contest, or through the good graces of someone else. Regardless of how they had gotten in they lacked the coin needed to live a free life in the city. Many of them lacked even the coin for eating out and so instead took all their meals at the dining hall where they did not have to pay any further price to eat.

It had slowly become clear to everyone in class that some people were in the haves column. Carly for example, and Chenowith. Both acted as if others should have to adjust to them instead of the other way around. They had money and it showed in their clothing, their behavior and attitudes.

Others, like the man who had offered Jay a copper to dry him the day before, had nothing. They lacked the coin to gain entry to the Guild and had joined in some other manner. Now that those students were at the Guild however they found that they lacked the coin to do much other than study and attend classes.

Jay's friend group was a bit of an outlier and had thoroughly confused the richer students. At first they had pegged Jay as a have-not. He didn't appear to have any connections at first and acted like he had never seen a city before. Aiden obviously had little coin and was easy to put in the have-not column. M'redith puzzled them too though as she did not behave like a have-not but like a woman used to a bit of money – yet she had clearly thrown in with Jay and Aiden for some reason.

No one could figure out why they were hanging out with each other. People became even more confused as word of Jay's abilities and weekend activities began to spread and spread they did. The Guild was an excellent place for gossip. People in class had started to pay a little more attention to Jay as he had made something of a habit out of standing out. Jay just didn't fit neatly in to any preconceived group.

It would be normal for a student who had just started to grow in to their power to gather new friends and allies and form a fresh friend group to make better use of that power. They would be expected to use that opportunity to climb up a few rungs of the social ladder. Instead of doing that Jay was hanging out with Aiden and M'redith and the richer students couldn't understand why.

Carly and Chenowith waved from their table where they were already eating. Chenowith made the 'come sit with us' motion which M'redith replied to with the 'after we get our pizza' hand motion.

“I don't get it.” Aiden said while facing away from the two seated students so they wouldn't see him speak. “Why are they interested in us after it was made pretty clear that we don't all get along so well.”

M'redith usually laughed at Aiden's little jokes but she didn't this time. Answering seriously she said, “Because they want something. One guess as to what they want?”

Jay sighed as Aiden shook his head, “I get it. So they've got an angle on Jay then I'm guessing?”

M'redith nodded not taking her eyes off of the two seated students who were talking to each other in an excited manner. Carly was making wide sweeping motions with her arms and hands while Chenowith spoke calmly and made placating gestures with his hands.

“So there is zero chance that they are just being nice?” Jay remarked cautiously as he too watched the two students discuss something enthusiastically.

M'redith shook her head. “I doubt it. I'd be careful of both of them until you figure out what they are trying to get out of you. Welcome to life in The Guild.”

Aiden chuckled, “Relax. Treat it like you're solving a riddle. It'll be fun. Besides,” he said as he pointed, “there's pizza and we're next.”

Aiden was right and Jay grinned as he stepped up to the front of the line. Before him lay a spread of sizzling hot pan pizzas, each in a circular black cast iron pan about ten inches wide. The pizzas were deep dish and big enough for one person to eat in a sitting. M'redith got one with what looked like ham on hers. Aiden took a plain cheese. Jay picked out a pepperoni and extra cheese pizza. The pizzas were each transferred to a plate as each piece dribbled cheese as the pizza settled.

Each pizza was still so hot they sizzled.

The entire room smelled of hot pizza.

Beverages were tall glasses frosted with actual ice on the inside filled to the top with crisp ginger-ale.

The group took their trays of molten cheesy pizza and took a seat at the table next to Carly and Chenowith. Chen gamely tugged the tables together so that they could all sit together.

“Hey guys,” Carly said in a slightly stilted voice. Jay got the impression that she was still somewhat effected by her previous run in with M'redith. Good, he thought to himself. That should make this easier.

“Hi you two. How was training?” Jay asked as he sat down next to M'redith. She always seemed to be seated or standing off to his right and he had gotten used to it enough that he sat with her to his right at that moment without thinking.

“I did acceptable. Not good enough to get Warren to notice me though Jay.” Carly replied with a snarky smile.

Chenowith looked at Carly sideways and Jay got the feeling that he had also kicked her under the table by the way she seemed to suddenly shift in her seat.

Jay shrugged looking a little embarrassed, “I wish he hadn't done that.”

Chen shook his head, “He had a good point. And you did win that one match. You made a good decision and he was just pointing that out.”

“Ya,” interjected Aiden, “go for the ankles!”

Jay, Aiden, and M'redith chuckled a little at that but Carly and Chen just smiled tightly.

Things went quiet for a little while as everyone took the awkward silence as the perfect opportunity to refocus on pizza. Everyone took a slice and began eating – too soon it turned out. Each of the students huffed and made exaggerated breathing sounds to try and cool down the too-hot pizza they each had just put in to their mouths.

It took ten minutes for everyone to finish eating their pizzas. No one felt the need to discuss anything during the meal which helped things progress quickly. After the meal ended M'redith didn't hold Jay's hand and lean on his shoulder but instead sat quietly with her hands on her lap as she sat back in her chair.

“So,” M'redith said breaking the group's silence, “has anyone seen any good plays lately?”

Aiden looked at her like she was crazy before he turned to look at Jay who looked back and shrugged.

Chenowith smiled as Carly nodded and the three launched in to a conversation about a new play that was really an old play but with a new twist. In the end the audience learns the main character had been dead the entire time!

Although M'redith hadn't seen the new play it was obvious that she was familiar enough with the old one to get by just fine. Carly and Chenowith seemed much happier talking about plays, apparently that was a subject they discussed frequently.

As they talked Jay paid close attention to how they talked. They didn't joke or make small jests. It was as if they were all playing a game to see who could be wittier or say something no one else had thought of in regards to the play. They set each other up for the next comment. They traded comments back and forth and did not interrupt one another.

It was a marked contrast to the way Jay usually behaved with his friends. Jay frequently engaged in loud enthusiastic conversations about nothing or interrupted his friends for a good joke. They did the same with him. For Chenowith and Carly however Jay was beginning to understand that there was actually a specific way they engaged in conversations. It was very different from the way Jay usually approached speaking with others.

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M'redith however appeared to know exactly what she was doing. At one point Aiden raised an eyebrow in surprise at the way she was conducting herself. It was like seeing an entirely new side of her. She put Carly and Chenowith at ease without them even realizing it and soon they were happily conversing with her over their favorite plays.

Eventually Carly caught on to the fact that she was being handled and shook herself out of it. Slowly she circled the conversation back around to Jay.

“And what about you Jay?” Carly asked him, “What is your favorite play?”

Jay grinned and looked over at M'redith, “The one I went to with M'redith. That is the only one I've seen so far but I had a great time.”

M'redith beamed for a moment with a great smile just as Carly tried to arrange a fake smile on her face and only half succeeding. Jay just wasn't giving her anything to work with. Jay saying he had only seen one play was something a have-not would say. It was a bit jarring to the conversation and left Carly with nothing to play off of. Carly paused for a moment unsure of how to respond to that.

Chenowith saved her by changing the topic of conversation entirely. “I know you like dungeon runs, right Jay?”

Jay nodded. Chenowith had picked the right topic to get Jay excited. “I do. I know they can kill me but fighting through a dungeon is just fun for me! I'm hoping I get to go on another one this weekend.” Jay said as he pursed his lips in thought.

M'redith didn't react but turned to face Jay and calmly listened to him.

Chenowith nodded, “You know, we'd love to get together sometime and hear all about one of your runs.”

Carly looked confused at that for a moment before she appeared to remember something and nodded in agreement. “Of course.”

Jay smiled. “That sounds like fun. I enjoy talking about myself just as much as the next person. I don't know when we can do that though, I feel like I am up to my ears in unfinished tasks at the moment.”

Chenowith looked disappointed at the refusal and Carly's lips pressed together tightly.

“That's ok,” Carly tried. “We'd be happy just to hear anything you felt like sharing. I heard someone even mention something ridiculous about a quest.” she finished dismissively as she pointedly did not look at Jay as she spoke.

Jay almost took the bait.

Almost.

Jay had felt M'redith tense up next to him and instantly understood that they had finally arrived at their true purpose. If he just stayed quiet M'redith would speak up and take over. She would say just the right thing that would smooth this over and keep everyone friendly if not friends.

But M'redith wouldn't always be around. Jay knew that he needed to learn how to get out of situations like this on his own or he'd eventually find himself in real trouble with no way out. He had already remained quiet for too long as he thought things out and Jay could already sense M'redith preparing to speak. Jay spoke up before she could.

“Well people can say whatever they want. Another time perhaps, when things aren't so busy?” Jay said noncommittally.

Carly was about to say something when she stopped as Aiden reached over and took her tray away from her, “What?” she asked instead as Aiden then took Chenowith's tray. He then took M'redith's and Jay's trays and brought them up to the counter.

He had made enough of a commotion to ruin Carly's train of thought and by the time she had thought of a proper reply the moment was lost as M'redith took that moment to speak instead.

“Thanks for saving us a table,” she said as she stood up in one smooth motion.

Jay got to his feet as he unfolded himself from his chair. Jay's height was easy to forget until one had to sit next to him while he stood up. Even though Jay was not a fighter his height alone could at times be intimidating.

“Of course,” Carly answered after pulling herself together. “We should do this again.”

M'redith smiled but did not respond as Aiden returned to the table and the three friends took their leave.

Carly and Chenowith watched them go and waved goodbye.

After they had gotten outside of the packed dining hall they walked slowly to class. They were early and had time to spare so they took the long way around along a path bordered with flowers.

Aiden spoke up first, “So they want to know about the quests?”

M'redith nodded, “Sort of. They want to know about the quests just to make sure that Jay is really worth their efforts in pulling him over to their side. They were just unprepared for Jay this time. They'll try something different next time.”

“Unprepared for me? I felt like I was the unprepared one – it was like being a kid at the adults table when you three were talking about plays. I could barely follow it.” Jay said with a self deprecating smile.

Aiden laughed, “Oh good it wasn't just me!”

M'redith smiled but continued, “They thought that Jay would respond the same way they would in a conversation. It didn't occur to them that a Traveler might not value the same things they do. They're just not sure how you fit in and that makes it hard for them to decide how to manipulate you.”

Jay sighed, “So they talked to me like I was a rich boy and I responded as a poor boy would and that threw them off?”

Aiden grinned, “You're a rich poor boy it seems.”

M'redith laughed, “That's probably how they see it at this point. And they're wrong again. They don't understand that you're none of those things.”

“I'm not?” Jay asked confused.

“No. You're just Jay. You're hard to put in to a category because you're your own category. A category of one. There is no one else like you in all of Eden. Until they figure that out they'll just keep trying ineffective strategies to earn your trust.” M'redith said with a sad smile.

“And I want to avoid them earning my trust right?” Jay asked just to be sure.

M'redith laughed and pushed at Jay's arm playfully. “I mean you don't have to if you don't want to. Do Carly and Chenowith seem the trustworthy types to you?”

Jay took a moment and actually thought that through. “Chenowith seems ok. He's at least ok to talk to. Carly though – she seems like a real snake. I get the feeling she's just looking for the right button to push sometimes instead of actually talking with me.”

Aiden laughed at that. “I wouldn't let her hear you say that.”

“I'm not planning on her hearing anything I say.” Jay said resolutely.

“So what does this mean?” Aiden asked M'redith.

M'redith sighed loudly, “It means we're out of time. No more hiding in the shadows. If Carly already knows about the quests then that means it is only a matter of time before everyone knows. It means Jay is about to go from unknown to very popular. He'll most likely be pulled out of classes and put on some special projects. Dungeon runs. Treasure hunts.”

“Pulled out of what now?” Jay asked with a raised eyebrow.

“They can't do that! His classes are paid for already!” Aiden said almost angrily.

“Oh they won't go up to him and tell him to leave. With someone like Jay you don't use the stick unless you run out of carrots. They'll make him an offer he can't refuse – at least an offer that they themselves would find it hard to refuse. Again, they don't know Jay so you can bet on a number of different approaches. They'll try everything and see what sticks.” M'redith said all in a rush.

Jay didn't look happy. “But I don't want to leave yet.”

“Then don't.” Aiden said. “Just do what you want to do. Like M'redith said, they can't force you.”

M'redith laughed mirthlessly with a worried look on her face, “Um I absolutely did not say they couldn't. I said they wouldn't – at first. I also said they wouldn't use the stick unless they ran out of carrots. They will absolutely use the stick at that point.”

Jay looked like his dog had just died and M'redith smiled kindly up at him. “Jay. Relax. This is normal. It is all just part of becoming powerful. Powerful people are popular. Popular people are well sought after. Surround yourself with good people and make sure you are fairly compensated for any deals you make and you should do just fine.”

Jay thought that was easier said than done. If it weren't for M'redith and Aiden things might have turned out very different for Jay on Eden.

M'redith wound one arm around Jay's arm and hugged it to her chest before dropping it and holding his hand. That was enough to kill Jay's bad mood and he finally smiled.

“Ok. As long as you two aren't planning on disappearing on me any time soon.” Jay said as they reached the Dungeon Room building.

Aiden grinned, he was happy where he was. Jay had proven to be a good friend to have and that opinion had only grown as Aiden had gotten to know Jay more.

M'redith grinned as she looked up at Jay.

She had already found an offer she couldn't refuse.