I stood in front of my door, staring in bewilderment for an uncertain amount of time. How did my given name end up on that door?

“Is this your handiwork, Lynx?” I growled, not removing my gaze from the carved letters. ‘Halfairo Rouden’ seemed to stare straight back at me.

“When would I have done that?” Lynx’s previous amused demeanor had been replaced by one of mild annoyance. “Don’t you think you would’ve heard me carving your name into the door? Besides, how would I have known that’s your real name?”

“It’s not my real name,” I snapped quickly. “My real name is Arrow.” My face flushed as I hoped he wouldn’t decide to debate what ‘real name’ meant. “Alright then, how did it get here?”

“They’re showing up on their own.” I looked over to Lynx in time to see him shrug. “Every room that has been claimed has the owner’s name on the door.”

“What? That’s absurd!” I took a step into the hallway and observed the door across from mine.

‘November Ochre’ was clearly engraved on Vember’s door.

“How is this happening?!” I roared.

“Calm yourself, Rouden!” Lynx ordered, drawing my ire with the name.

“Don’t ever call me that!” I boomed. “That is not my name.”

“Oh, so everyone has their true name on their door except for you?” Lynx scoffed. “Whose name is it, then?”

I ignored him and stomped toward the bed. There was an abundance of sheets – who in their right mind needs that many sheets? – so I grabbed one and forcefully yanked it off. I marched back to my door and draped the sheet over it, covering the name.

“Right, so that’s not suspicious of you,” Lynx sighed.

I faced him with a glower. “Do you have a purpose for being here?”

“Indeed, I do.” He crossed his arms. “But only if you’re done having a fit over your name.”

“Who’s having a fit?” I crossed my arms back. “What do you need, then?”

“The guild is gathering downstairs in the sitting room by the foyer for a meeting,” Lynx explained. “We’re expecting everyone to attend.”

“And that includes me,” I sighed. I paused to consider my options. “And, what if I don’t?”

“As a member of the guild, you are expected to participate in all guild meetings, unless you have an extenuating circumstance.” His tone of voice made it clear that ‘expected’ meant ‘required’ in this case.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“You know, I’ve made quite an effort to avoid ever joining a guild up to this point,” I stated cautiously. I didn’t necessarily want to decline membership of this guild, given how evidently powerful they were – but I was still reluctant to join one at all.

Lynx sighed deeply. “So, what are you saying? Do you intend to just dwell here in this mansion inhabited by a guild, being the only one here who isn’t a member?”

“I don’t know what I intend.” I shook my head. “But my point is this – I’ve never done well with taking orders, and I don’t care to start.”

“Then do whatever you want!” Lynx threw his hands in the air and turned away from me, starting toward the hallway. “But if you have any inclination of being a guild member, you’ll be in the sitting room by the time I’m done gathering everyone.”

I watched him silently, my arms still crossed, as he knocked on November’s door until it opened. “Meeting downstairs,” he stated quickly before huffing off toward the next room further down the hall.

November stayed in her open doorway, eyebrow raised curiously while she watched the now-irritated man march away, then directed her gaze to me. “Now, what did you do to put him in such a state?”

A roguish grin began to take over my face, the tension I had felt during my discussion with Lynx dissipating into amusement that I had managed to annoy him so much. “Just listen, Vember,” I told her. “If your dear Lynx can’t handle a bit of simple pushback, then perhaps he shouldn’t be in charge.

“Is that so?” She returned my grin. “Who should, then? You?”

I scoffed. “Well, that would certainly be a better idea. Especially since he wants me to be a guild member so badly.”

“Are you joining the guild?” Vember’s tone was a mixture of disbelief and genuine curiosity.

“Well,” I sighed, “I may as well see what this meeting’s all about before making any decisions.”

“Dressed like that?” she asked. I was about to ask her what she meant, when I noticed she had already removed her armor. Meanwhile, I still had all of mine on, as well as my rucksack and my axe still on my back.

“I suppose I could stand to lose a layer,” I muttered, turning back to my room. November followed me in and watched me locate my closet, where I carefully set down my axe and rucksack. I removed my arm and chest armor and was somewhat surprised to see the bloodstains coating the shirt I had on underneath, having almost forgotten about being shredded by the maze.

“My word, Arrow!” November cried. “Maybe you should change your clothing entirely.”

“Oh, that’s what you’re worried about? My clothing?” I chuckled while I removed the rest of my armor. “I don’t think I have the luxury of that much time. Lynx might try to throw me out if I’m late to this meeting.”

“I’d be shocked if he managed that, Arrow.” Her eyes wandered around the room, until they landed on the door. “Why is there a sheet over your door?”

“Don’t ask,” I sighed.

“Are you trying to hide your name so that no one knows where your room is?” she guessed.

I hesitated before answering, wondering what excuse to give her. Eventually, I decided her excuse was good enough. “Yes. That’s why. Leave it there, please.”

A mischievous glint flashed in her eye. “Can I see your name carving?” She started lifting the sheet.

“No!” I marched to the door and slammed my hand onto the sheet, keeping it in place. “Let’s just go downstairs to this blasted meeting.”

“You know,” Vember teased, “I don’t know what your surname is.”

“Correct. And now I know what yours is, Miss Ochre.” I escorted her into the hallway, shutting the door behind me.

“Is there a reason you’re hiding it from me?” Her expression was sincere.

“Nothing to hide,” I replied breezily, walking down the hallway toward the stairs, opposite of the direction I had seen Lynx heading. “My name is Arrow, nothing more or less.”

“Then what does your door say?” November’s voice was growing more insistent.

“It just says ‘Arrow’,” I lied sharply. “Now drop it.”

We descended the long staircase in silence.