Jenny retraced her steps through the trail until she was back in town. She looked around and noted the landmarks: the crumbling building to the left, the broken cobblestone path to the right, and the crooked tree just ahead. She took a deep breath and walked forward toward the town center. There was a lot to do.

The first stop was something Jenny had wanted to accomplish the previous day, but the time limit on the transformation and the lurker attack didn’t help in that regard. Jenny crossed the streets and noted how the ordinary people’s eyes followed her movements. Was it her size? Maybe the weapon? Or just because she was an armed stranger just after an attack? Jenny shook her head and set aside those thoughts for later. No one bothered her, which was more than enough.

The mercenaries guild, or just the guild, as many called the place, was a two-story building crafted out of stone and wood. Painted white and blue, it had a board outside with news and notices. According to some, it was a den of villainy and depravity or to others just hardy folk who would risk their lives for coin.

Jenny looked over her own clothes and made sure everything was in place. Her armor still had a few blood stains here and there, but that was fine. She pushed the door open like she’d done so many times before.

The interior was a mix of tavern and office. On one side of the room, there was the guild’s bar and a number of tables where mercenaries could meet, talk, and drink. Opposite that was the countertop where the guild receptionists talked with the guild’s clients. The place had been built to accommodate many more people than it currently housed. There were a few patrons sitting at the bar, with most of the tables sitting disused; chairs having been piled atop them. Though that could be more due to the time of day than anything else.

The receptionist area wasn’t much better. It had space for three workers, but only one station was currently manned. The receptionist was a pudgy woman named Becka. One who enjoyed her gossip. Jenny turned to the woman and walked closer.

“Hello, I’d like to hire a courier.” Jenny said.

“Oh my, a new face!” Becka clapped, her face opening with a big smile. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you new? A mercenary?” She asked, after taking a gander at Jenny’s armor and weapon.

Jenny smiled back. “Not yet, ma’am. I haven’t registered.”

“But you’re going to, right?” The receptionist asked. “You already look the part!”

Jenny scratched her cheek. “A friend told me I should register at the capital.”

“Nonsense! I’ll help you with the process. I’m Elenora Becklam, but everyone calls me Becka. What’s your name, dear?” Becka said, rooting inside a drawer and taking out a form.

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Registering as a mercenary was something Jenny wanted to do; well, it couldn’t hurt to register here. “I’m Larissa.” She said finally.

Becka noted the name and looked up expectantly.

Jenny shuffled her feet. “Of Nowhere.” She added.

Becka’s gaze softened; she nodded and wrote something else down. “What’s your specialty, Lari?”

“I know my letters and numbers. I can shoot a crossbow; I know how to handle the spear and shield.” Jenny hesitated for a moment but forged on. “I know how to deal with people.”

“Right, that’s excellent!” Becka clapped excitedly again. “We often get those musclebound idiots that don’t even know how to use their tool!” The pudgy woman wiggled her eyebrows. “Do you have a team, Lari?”

“Not yet?” Jenny said back. “I’ve plans to meet with a friend at the capital, but it will take a while until I can go there.”

“That’s understandable, dear,” Becka wrote more things and looked back at Jenny. “Anything else you’d like to add?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Right. The registration fee is ten silver. You know the benefits?”

Jenny shook her head.

“At Copper Fang, that's your starting rank; you have access to guild missions, crafters, and stores. You can also stay at any guild inn at a discounted rate. At this rank, the guild’s overhead is two parts in ten for any commission you complete.” Becka looked up to make sure Jenny still followed. Nodded in approval when she noticed Jenny was paying attention. “Next rank, Silver Talon, gives you a discount on services, the guild fee lowers, and you can take higher paying requests.”

Jenny nodded; out of curiosity, she asked. “What about the ranks after that?”

“Oh my, ambitious, are you? There are three more ranks. Gold Claw, Platinum Scale, and Diamond Heart. Don’t ask me about the benefits, I don’t know.”

Jenny’s hand sneaked inside her bag, took a few coins and the letter, and placed them on the counter for the woman. “I’d like to send a letter to the capital as well,” she said, and she slid the letter to the woman.

Becka took the envelope and checked the destination. Her eyes were full of pity. Thankfully, the pudgy woman didn’t comment on the address. “That’s another five silver.”

Jenny took yet more coins from her bag and paid the woman.

Becka took everything and checked her paper one more time. “The badge will be ready by the afternoon. Do come by to pick it up. The letter will be dispatched with the next courier to the capital.”

That was more than enough. “Thank you, Becklam. I appreciate your help.”

“Call me Becka, dear, and it’s nothing. Only doing my job!”

Jenny walked out of the guild building and sighed in relief. It would take some time, but at least now Gizelda would know the truth. She looked about; she was near the woodworker’s shop. Jenny turned and walked in that direction, crossing the market street, passing closer to the blacksmith. She turned near the general store and stopped in front of the carpentry workshop. She walked inside, soon finding herself sat across from the master woodworker, the broken crossbow between them.

“Can you do it?” Jenny asked.

“Where you find this?” The man asked, he had a small notebook in hand, and kept comparing reading from his book and checking over the broken crossbow.

That sounded a few alarm bells. “A few days down the road to Bramble Village. It looked good aside from the obvious broken part.”

“Right,” the man said, looking at Jenny again. “I crafted this one for the late Baron; it was an exclusive commission.” The man pushed back the broken weapon. “You should take this to the Lord’s manor. I’m sure they’ll be interested in anything you can tell them about the weapon, and they might even give you a reward.”