After spending a couple of days fixing the main house, making it liveable, I figured it was time to get to the guild for work. We still have some savings from my first interaction with the guild. Come to think of it, my second bow is still at the guild. I never heard the outcome of that assessment. Early the following morning me, Lynne and Kira head to the guild to look for work. Lawra and Mari stay at the house to make it a bit more liveable. Neither are suited for hunter work. I better find some projects for them.

We arrive early enough that there are hardly any queues. The girls explained that there are many different jobs you can get through the guild. The board I spotted at the entrance the first time I was here look to be for open requests. Since I can now read, what only days ago looked like random scribbling make sense to me. I am still amazed it only took me two days to learn to read. As soon as I learned the alphabet, it all fell into place. Kira's tutoring was pretty good as well.

There are details for certain herbs and plants that are in short supply, bounties for criminals and other jobs that are always in need of doing. We have a look at the board, but nothing sticks out as a suitable job for either of us at the moment. I did notice one note though, a number of young girls have been missing in town recently. No sign of bodies. Kidnapping assumed to be the cause. Likely to be a rogue slave handler. Assistance leading to resolution will be rewarded by town nobility. I guess hunters, deal with all sorts.

Lynne sees me reading the note. "It happens, people looking for a quick profit target the poor, and only when the parents of the poor girls join together to appeal to the lord does this happen." There doesn't seem to be any police in this world. "Will you and Kira be in any danger." Lynne smiles at me. "There is little chance that a criminal will target hunters. They are afraid of how the guild members will react. However, ever since me and Kira became your wives it became impossible for us to be targeted by a rogue slave trader."

How does me marrying the girls make them immune to slave traders? Lynne knows I am struggling to figure it out, and she seems to enjoy having the knowledge that I need. Cheeky girl. She relents and tells me the reason. "All slaves are bound by a magic slave contract. It is a far more binding contract than a marriage oath. However, the slave contract and the marriage oath can't co-exist. A married woman can't be made a slave, since the oath is in effect until she or her husband dies. As long as you are alive I am safe." I assume this is something that everyone knows as common sense here. There are still too many gaps in my knowledge.

I guess I know too little about this world to go about solving crimes. We head for the counter looking for advice on a suitable job. Looks like most job requests go through the receptionists. Makes sense. The guild wants to allocate someone they have confidence can do the job. The same applies for any tasks like dealing with beasts etc. I guess their file on me is their greatest tool. At the counter Lynne heads up first and is quickly assigned a suitable dismantling job. Looks like a steady occupation, but I guess it depends on how much is brought in, so contracting work is required to deal with the ups and downs in demand.

Me and Kira approach separate receptionists. My receptionist is someone I haven't met before. I tell her about the bow I left for appraisal, and she quickly disappears out the back. A few moments later she comes back with my file and bow. "There were a few updates to your file since last you were in. Let me go through them. Karil with Brute's support recommend that you are given a level 3 Advanced mark on your spearmanship, with a note that you are close to level 4 Expert. Karil was very impressed with your archery skill. He can only confirm level 4 Expert for archery, but he thinks you are higher. For now we will put you as level 4 with a note that level 5 Master to be assessed at earliest opportunity."

Stolen novel; please report.

The receptionist takes a break from my file and offers her own congratulations on the improved rating. She insists that these are exceptionally high for a new hunter. I just node and she moves on to the appraisers comments. "The appraiser was extremely impressed by the quality of the bow, especially considering the relatively common materials used. For someone to be self taught this level of skill is likely a level 4 Expert, but after consultation with Marka, it is also likely that you have a general crafting skill." Well that was a bit more vague. I am fully aware I got the crafting skill, but I can't just tell them as that would mean explaining my analysis skill, which I suspect is even more rare.

The receptionist tries to explain the decision by the guild. "We are happy to confirm a level 3 Advanced bowmaking skill, but would like further evidence to prove it to be higher. The same applies to the crafting skill, if you have one. Since we only have a little information to go on, we need to reserve judgment, but I assure you this is all very positive." Not quite what I was expecting, but I guess she is right. In time I will be able to convince them of the level of my skills.

"I was also looking for work in town based on my skill set. I am planning to stay around for a bit longer, while I get settled into my new home." The receptionist goes to one of the boards behind the counter, and comes back. "There aren't any bow related craftsmen in need of support at the moment. However, I do have a blacksmith who is so desperate for support he is willing to take any promising candidate on short term. He is trying to fill a significant order within the next few days. It could be just the test the guild needs to prove your craftsmanship skill. Even if you are a complete novice to blacksmithing, if you pick it up quick, it is a good indicator."

The smithing job seems perfect. I know how quickly I pick up skills already, and I always wanted to learn smithing. The workshop in the farmhouse can be set up for smithing in the future as well. Accepting the job, I turn to Kira, who shakes her head indicating that she couldn't find anything suitable today. Surely someone would appreciate a level 1 healer, but I guess people ignore scrapes and bruises in this world. Disease seems rare, which I find very strange.

We say goodbye to Lynne. Kira is showing me the way to the blacksmith which is on the other side of town. Looking around as we are walking I decide to try using the analyze skill to explore this new world. Analyze usually just tell me what I already know, but some times it reveals thing I only suspect. It is these little nuggets I am looking for. The ones I find are surprising. Several of the young raggedly dressed boys I see around town are in fact girls dressed as boys. I ask Kira about it. "I am surprised you noticed. It is common for poor families to dress their young girls like boys. Young girls can be kidnapped and made into slaves, and since poor families can't always keep an eye on them, they hide them."

"What if their disguise is poor enough for most to see through it?" "Then there is a good chance that someone will take advantage of that fact." It is quite a disturbing fact, but it also gives me an idea. "Tell me Kira, of all the girls dressed as boys around us now, which one is the worst?" Kira looks around and nodes her head towards a petite figure tip toeing through some mud. It is clearly a girl dressed as a boy. A cute feminine face, none boyish mannerisms. A likely next target for the rogue slave trader.

Using my alert skill marker I mentally place it on the girl. I want to see if I can attach it to a person. For a long moment I stand still waiting to see if the marker moves on my menu map. It does! If that girl is kidnapped I should get an alert and I can track her down. Turning towards Kira, she looks curious. I could send her to track the girl, but there would be no point. If she starts looking for clues to the slave trader, she might put herself in danger while I am not around. I will just ask her to look after the others at the house.

We arrive outside a busy looking workshop. Several young boys are running around doing errands and working the bellows. A couple of young men are readying equipment, while the blacksmith himself is standing in the middle shouting orders. I say goodbye to Kira and go to introduce myself.