Mike Carss
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Guildhouses are sort of like franchises. The franchisee takes the risk of opening (primarily a financial burden), but are otherwise supported by the guild in nearly every other way, including employees.
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That evening, both men tried their best to keep busy and dodge Laird’s ability to corner them with questions. Nathan used his newfound interest from the guards to act as a shield, and Brohm kept company with Randy the cook, offering to help. Their camp sat on an embankment twenty metres from the road. Surrounded by sparse deciduous forest with some undergrowth, it gave them a tactical advantage against attacks during the night. As soon as Nathan was done eating, he stood up and check
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All chapters have been posted, so you're more than welcome to binge it. 😁 I hope you enjoy!
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Easier said than done when someone's giving you the hairy eyeball. 😄 Characters with perfect lies and never showing cracks tend to make for boring characters. I want to show that despite their attempts to deceive, Laird can see right through them. That doesn't make Laird superhuman -- he's just seen enough BS to be able to see through their lies. If Laird keeps pushing, N & B might need to revise their story. But how they do that without causing more distrust? 😬
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The problem remains that they've proven themselves too good. Laird's instincts are tingling -- he doesn't trust Nathan and Brohm's backstory. Had N & B said they were soldiers, then no problem. But what do soldiers know about running a guildhouse? They wanted to better their chances, hence why they leaned toward being traders.
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All excellent points. For new recruits, Shaw absolutely defers to Laird's judgment. In Nathan and Brohm's case, they're in an unique position. As you said, there's a gap in an area that needs to be served by the guild. But whether or not that'll make a difference is unknown at this point. The guild has a reputation to keep, and they won't hire just anyone to fill their needs.
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You got it spot on.
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Thanks! ❤️
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He's definitely one of those guys who are impossible to please. 😑
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Despite learning the shortcut to the underground passageways under Tornel Keep, travelling through there was a harrowing experience for both of them. Yeah, it's an option if they ran out of money, but they'd consider it a last resort. Neither of them wants to return. It's not without danger, either. They'd have to pass that underground stream, and it's possible they'd make a wrong turn and get lost.
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Well, they are very "untrader-like". Traders normally hire protection since they're usually unable to protect themselves from bandits. Nathan and Brohm have bucked the trend, and Laird's suspicion is off the charts. 😬
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Had Nathan been told a year ago he’d try to join the Adventurer’s Guild, he would’ve laughed in their face, yet here he stood within the walled courtyard of the guild’s headquarters in Croydon. Shielding his eyes from the sun, he surveyed the central building. It towered above the surrounding estates and properties—quite a sight to behold. A motley crowd of men and women, armed and armoured, milled about and chatted in small groups. Members scanned job boards, groups formed to leave with o
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Can an honourable act redeem a criminal’s past? Nathan and Brohm are granted a precious gift: their unsavoury pasts are wiped clean, allowing them a chance to restart their lives anew. However, fighting against their old habit of using violence to solve problems proves to be a difficult challenge. To make matters worse, bloodthirsty creatures are emerging from the dark. Their source—an unexpected visitor known only to Nathan and Brohm—forces them to deal with the threat covertly. But the solution is dire, and both are hesitant to carry out such a profound sacrifice.
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Thanks to both of you. 💗
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That means a lot to hear. Thank you so much. 💗
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I'm happy to have you along. Thanks! ❤️ Their continuing story is more even-keeled -- a better ebb and flow rather than the constant running -- but the overall stakes by the end are definitely raised.
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I'm so heartened to hear that. Thank you.
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Thank you kindly. 🥰
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This is one of the main thrusts in the continuing story. I tip my hat to you. Thank you. 💗
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An hour down the road toward Morgana, Brohm led him south to the edge of the forest. The thick bramble forced them to dismount and head in on foot. “It’s not too far in. There’s a big stump I used to hide our stuff.” The canopy overhead muted the morning light considerably, but Brohm found his hiding place without any problem. On the far side lay Nathan’s rucksack and the saddlebags, heavy with coin. Brohm dug a hand into a patch of long grass growing near the stump. Pulling back, he r
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Luckily they don't have far to go. And once they reach the swamp, they're kind of home-free because who'd expect them to go there?
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Brohm led them past countless rows of barracks containing an untold number of sleeping troops. Spying around a corner, he waited for a patrol to move out of range. Once clear, he held Nathan close, and aided him across the road to the cover of shadow. “How do we get out of here?” Nathan whispered. “We’re almost there. That big wall ahead is the edge of the compound.” They reached another holding point and waited for another patrol to move on. “Go.” Brohm nearly dragged h
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They just need to get to Morgana, who is relatively nearby.
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Keys jingled. Nathan woke immediately, shielding his sensitive eyes from the torchlight, fearing the worst. Ayers appeared, followed by extra footsteps punctuated with clanging armour. Guardsmen. “It’s your lucky day. We’re moving you to somewhere a little more public.” He unlocked and swung open the squealing door, throwing a pile of clothes at his feet. “Get dressed.” Squinting in the light, Nathan pulled himself up, surprised to find more strength than before. Meanwhile, two armed
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@drsawzall, @akascrubber Yeah, had I written this now, it would've been different. I'll admit I'm a little embarrassed by the gratuitous nature of these scenes. I guess I was going through some shit at the time. 😅 Maybe I read "kill your darlings" and took it to heart? It was over a decade ago so I can't recall. Anyway, the worst is certainly over. Thanks for sticking with me (and Nathan). 💗
