A REASONABLE CONFLICT RESOLUTION

With Mocha standing nearby ready to go, Iris prepared to climb up onto the wagon, but the sound of footsteps approaching from behind her made her hesitate. She turned to see Reeve Evelyn walking towards her. As Evelyn approached, Iris noticed she was carrying something in her hand.

“What's that you've got there, Evelyn?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Evelyn smiled warmly, pulling away the fabric that hid the object, and holding up a helmet. “Iris, I have a little something for you,” she said. “Our blacksmith made this a while ago for some passing knight, but the woman never returned. It’s been collecting dust in the man’s workshop, so we decided to present it to you as a reward for bringing us notice about the harpies and for the number you did kill.”

Iris took the helmet, examining it closely. It seemed really familiar, but she couldn’t place the name. It had a sloping visor that would cover her face and neck, leaving just a narrow slit across the eyes, with a distinctive pointed tail at the back. It looked sinister and would match her current armor pretty well.

“Wow, thank you, Evelyn,” she said, feeling a sense of pride wash over her. “I can’t believe this. How’d you know?”

The woman chuckled and gestured to Iris in a waving motion, causing the adventurer to look down at herself. She wore her full armor, sword, and dagger. Her hair was put up in its customary ponytail, and thus out of her face. Her quiver wasn’t on her back since she would be sitting on her wagon, but she could see the woman’s point.

She was ready to leave, and there was no helmet in sight.

“Fair point,” she muttered.

The woman smiled. “Now you can protect that pretty face of yours. Try it on lass!”

Iris lifted the helmet to her head and adjusted the leather straps to fit securely. As she pulled down the visor, the world suddenly seemed quieter, and her vision narrowed only slightly but her peripheral vision was the thing hampered the most. It was a strange sensation and would take getting used to during a fight but she couldn't help but feel safer knowing that her face was well protected.

She removed it, smiling at the woman while placing a hand over her heart. “Thank you, truly. We will hurry to Brightburn and I won’t let anything stop me from seeing the lady. I’ll deliver the message. If no one comes, I’ll come back myself. I promise.”

Evelyn nodded gravely. “I appreciate that, Iris. I hope you do start that Adventurer’s Guild. If those who join it are even half the person you are, the world will be a better place.”

Iris nodded, her heart swelling with pride. “I will,” she said firmly, tucking the helmet under her arm. “I'll make sure it happens.”

With that, she turned and climbed up onto the wagon, settling in next to Tanith on the driver's bench. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. This was the first step on a new path, one that could lead her to great adventures and even more significant challenges. But she was ready for it. With her armor, her magic and weapons, and now her helmet, not to mention Mocha, she was prepared for anything the world could throw at her.

She felt a single tear fall.

My first quest reward.

✦ ✦ ✦

After leaving Stilstead, Tanith explained how they would soon be crossing a river. As the wagon drove along, Iris kept stealing glances at her goofy horse. Mocha was by herself next to the wagon, strutting where the other horses could see her not having to do any work. She was even neighing happily, which was surely about not having to carry the heavy human.

The jerk.

Iris peered at Sera through the little hatch in between her and Tanith, trying not to be too obvious. The merchant was engrossed in her ledgers, scribbling notes and making calculations with a focused intensity. Iris couldn't help but admire the woman's dedication to her craft. It was clear that Sera took her business seriously and was willing to put in the hard work to make it thrive.

That was why even after a short time of knowing the woman, she had asked for her help to establish a guild. Iris was a great judge of character, not that Mocha would agree, but she was sure this time.

Sera and Tanith were good people.

As the wagon approached the bridge, Iris couldn't help but admire the view. The river flowing beneath it was crystal clear, and she could see fish swimming in the water. The bridge itself was a marvel of engineering, made of sturdy wooden planks and supported by thick stone pillars.

But her attention was quickly drawn to the people on the opposite side of the bridge. They were gathered in a small group, looking in the direction of the approaching wagon. Iris could see that they were armed, which made her feel a bit uneasy.

As they approached the group of armed people, Iris turned to Tanith and asked, “Who are they? Do you think they mean us harm?”

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Tanith furrowed his brow in concern and replied, “I'm not sure, but it's better to be cautious. I'm going to slow the wagon down and we'll approach them slowly.”

Iris nodded in agreement and watched as Tanith pulled back on the reins, slowing the wagon to a crawl. Mocha followed closely, seemingly content to let them take the lead. As they got closer, she could see that the group consisted of five men, all heavily armed with spears, roundshields, and chainmail, each with determined expressions on their faces.

The high elf guard leaned toward the hatch. “Sera, possible trouble. Lock the door and shut the hatch.”

The woman glanced up quickly from her ledger and nodded. “Understood,” she said before quickly shutting the hatch. Iris heard the bar to the door slam into place.

One of the men stepped forward and called out, “Halt! Who goes there?”

Iris took a deep breath and called back, “Merchants on the way to Brightburn. We're just passing through. We mean no harm.”

The man, a telv she could tell because he was the only one without a helmet, studied them before shaking his head. “Not without paying the toll, you’re not.”

Tanith frowned. “Toll? What toll? I’ve traveled this road many times, and there’s never been a toll.”

“There is now,” the man replied with a smirk. “It’s the fee for passage. And if you don’t pay, we’ll make sure you don’t cross.”

Iris narrowed her eyes. “But we’re already across the bridge.”

The man laughed. “And now you have to pay to get off.”

She sighed. “We can just turn around and not pay anything.”

He laughed again, and it was starting to grate on her nerves.

“You’ll have to pay to get off the bridge on the other side now too!” he said, all too happily.

Iris peeked around the wagon and looked back at the way they came. Sure enough, there were three riders on horseback at the other end.

She focused back on the jokester. “Who are you? You’re clearly not affiliated with anyone legal,” she said before turning toward the man sitting with her. “Tanith, what’s the law say about banditry?”

The high elf narrowed his eyes. “Banditry is punishable by death,” he said. He looked at the man. “Surely everyone here is reasonable.”

“Just pay the toll, and we’ll let you go, no banditry. Just simple supply and demand.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “That’s not…” she sighed. “No, never mind. How about this? I will get off the wagon and walk, but let the wagon off the bridge, and we can negotiate the toll? Is that fair?”

The man’s smile grew, showing some frankly disgusting teeth. “You have a deal. Hop on down. Come walk with us.”

She smiled and hopped off of the wagon. Mocha made to follow her but she held up a hand. “Stay with the wagon, Mocha.”

Her horse let out a snort before giving the men a death stare.

“Don’t worry,” she reassured the horse.

“Stop delaying. Come on,” the man said.

Iris sighed, and pulled at the mana around them, letting it flow into her. She settled into her [Rushing Wind], feeling herself feel lighter, quicker. She would have to move quickly if things turned south.

With a deep breath, Iris stepped forward and began walking with the group of armed men, keeping a careful eye on their movements. She couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy, knowing that she was outnumbered and outmatched in terms of weaponry. But she was determined not to let them intimidate her.

After all, she had magic.

She followed their lead as they made their way off the bridge and onto the dirt road, where a makeshift toll booth had been set up. From there, she watched as Tanith guided the wagon off the bridge and parked it alongside the road on the other side from where the hastily constructed hut, barely big enough for two people, stood. She saw the guard slide to the edge of the bench, his eyes tense and focused as he kept watch over the situation.

Another man, an overweight telv who was sweating profusely, wearing a ragged cloak and wielding a rusty sword, stepped out of the ramshackle structure to join them. She narrowed her eyes at the stark difference in equipment.

“Ten gold coins for passage,” he demanded, a scowl set deeply on his face.

Iris raised an eyebrow. “That seems a bit steep, don't you think?” she said, trying to sound casual.

The man sneered. “Pay it or we confiscate the wagon.”

Iris shook her head, crossing her arms. “I don’t think so. I’m not paying that much for a toll.”

The man with the rusty sword scowled at her. “Then we’ll take the wagon and everything in it as payment.”

Iris narrowed her eyes, sensing the situation was quickly escalating. “I don’t think you understand the situation here,” she said, her voice cold and firm. “I’m not paying your ridiculous toll, and you’re not taking our wagon. We’re leaving, and if you try to stop us, I won’t hesitate to use force.”

The rotund telv laughed, clearly not intimidated. “You and what army?”

Iris took a step forward, and the air around her crackled with energy. “Just me,” she said, her eyes glowing with magic. “Now stand aside, or face the consequences.”

Iris could hear the sound of hooves pounding on the stone bridge before a voice called out, “Hold! Hold!”

As the riders approached, Iris tensed slightly, recognizing them as Erick, Galen, and Eira. She narrowed her eyes as they reined in their horses next to the group of toll collectors. Mocha moved closer to the wagon, positioning herself to rush to Iris’s aid if needed.

“What’s going on here?” Erick asked, his eyes scanning the group of armed men.

She almost rolled her eyes at the man’s acting. After what Tanith and Sera told her, it wouldn’t surprise her if the three terrans were working with these bandits.

However, Iris could act as well.

“Clearly, these bandits are trying to extort us for an exorbitant toll,” Iris explained, her tone laced with frustration.

Galen snorted in disgust. “Typical. They think they can take advantage of anyone who passes through here.”

The large telv man feigned hurt. “My, we’re just doing our duty, milord. These merchants wish to cheat us.”

Eira, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “We can take them down easily. Let us handle this.”

Iris wasn’t sure if the woman was talking to the bandits or her, but she figured she’d find out shortly. “Thank you so much, Eira. I am glad you guys were able to get here so fast to help us.”

The woman narrowed her eyes, but Erick placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Iris, Iris, Iris… Eira here wasn’t the only one that gained magic when we arrived,” he said.