Shields of Buire

Chapter 1

Lyniana

Lyniana stared at the sediments left at the bottom of the heavy wooden cup she held in her hand. She almost finished her first tea of the day but hesitated in ordering another one. She didn't have to check her purse to know how many coins were left.
She knew she couldn't afford it. That is, if she wanted to eat at some point during the day.
She already abstained from ordering anything for breakfast but her morning cup of tea.
Lyniana felt excited, but also anxious about the new recruit they were about to welcome in their adventurer group. A fresh guild member. Despite reading her application for the guild, she didn't know what to make of her. Would she be a team player?
Her mind wandered to distant memories; Lyniana remembered her younger days with her old squad of woodkeepers – the oath of sisterhood, the prestige, and the laughs. At the time, she could buy any food or comfort she would fancy, and party every night.
Lyniana scoffed. She didn't reach her thirties yet but was already thinking of herself as an old woman.
A tall figure fell on a chair next to her and startled her.
Hesel put his long leg on the table, raised his arm to get the attention of the innkeeper, and shouted for a beer.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked Lyniana while scratching the chaotic golden-brown stubble growing on his face. He spoke loud enough to cover the other adventurers' voices and laughs.
Lyniana pushed his boots off the table. "How many times do I have to tell you to keep your feet on the ground?"
"Fine," he replied, straightening himself on the chair.
Gertalia, the innkeeper, approached them with an ale on her plate and avoided the various drunk adventurers stumbling around. She dropped Hesel's cup on the table, spilling some beer in the process.
"Can you put it on my tab?" Hesel asked her with a big smile.
The innkeeper ignored him and walked back to her counter without a word.
Gertalia treated most of the guild members as friends, but Hesel's thick Alnerian accent remained very much unwelcome. Foreigners commonly traveled and lived in this part of the queendom, but the hate and rivalry between Alnerians and Sobrums barely faded away after a couple of decades of a fragile peace.
"You should drink fast," Lyniana said. "We have to leave soon."
"Don't worry, I know."
Hesel and Lyniana roughly shared the same age. They had been working together as adventurers for five years, she knew him well at that point.
"We don't have time for breakfast either," Lyniana said.
"I know."
"Where's Mahtli?"
"He'll join us there," Lyniana replied. "He has to finish up with some paperwork beforehand."
Hesel shrugged and guzzled his beer.
The guild's main hall served as a tavern. Lively in the morning, adventurers were often taking their breakfasts and first drinks there before a big job or a long journey.
While the wooden floors were covered with dirt and spilled alcohol, trophies decorated the walls. Adventurers have brought back several shields and diverse weapons from the battles, quests, or championships they participated in. Sometimes, wealthy patrons also offered gifts. A painting behind the counter of the innkeeper depicted the founding of the Golden Sword Guild a couple of centuries earlier, legendary adventurers shaking hands and sharing drinks.
"Lyn! Hesel! What are you doing here?"
Lyniana groaned when she recognized the nasal voice. "Eliea, how nice to see you."
"You don't have to lie, Lyn." Eliea hiccupped while sitting in front of her. "I know she can't stand me," she added for Hesel.
The tall woman was a fierce warrior, sturdy, and her height almost reached Hesel's. Eliea swayed so much on her chair, she made Lyniana seasick.
"Where is Mahtli?" she slurred.
Her glossy green eyes were alternating quickly between Lyniana and Hesel, not sure who to focus on.
"We don't know, actually," Hesel said.
"I miss the old fart. Didn't see him in a while."
"Maybe he's avoiding you," Lyniana intervened.
Eliea snorted and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Oh, I missed our banters! Really! It's been so long since we have worked together."
"Last time we took a job with you, we ended up in two tavern brawls," Lyniana said with emphasis. "In one night. On a stealth job."
"We made it out though, didn't we?" Eliea burst out laughing.
"My jaw still cracks when I open it too wide," Hesel said.
Eliea laughed louder and patted him on the shoulder. "It was so much fun, right?" She hiccupped and made a discomforted face, before burping. "I heard you're taking in a novice today. Where is she?"
"She's not with us yet."
"And you better not come near her," Lyniana said. "I know how you behave with new recruits."
Eliea smirked. "You know she's part of the guild now. Your little band doesn't have exemptions."
"That doesn't give you the right to do whatever you want," Lyniana said. "If she can smell your fetid breath, I can assure I'll break your knees."
Hesel's walnut-colored eyes widened. He cleared his throat and appeared suddenly interested in the contents of his wooden cup.
Eliea clenched her jaw, and slurred, "easy, now. I'm not looking for a fight."
Lyniana crossed her arm. "Have a good day then, Eliea."
"We can't even have fun now." Eliea snorted. "Anyway, I better go. I see my group is waiting for me. We got a big job. Lots of coins involved. A countess needs some muscles to kick her rival's butt. We may meet some of the Green Teeth girls– they're working for the rival. Good luck with the novice– and don't go easy on her!"
As Eliea walked away, Hesel glanced at Lyniana with an expression she recognized instantly.
"We better get going too," Lyniana said as she got up and picked up her cloak.
"But I'm hungry," Hesel protested.
"I know. I saw that." Lyniana sighed. "You should have joined me earlier if you wanted breakfast."
"But I wasn't hungry earlier. Look, it's still early. We still have time."
Lyniana massaged the top of her nose as she sat down again. She wanted to be there early, but recognized Mahtli liked to be late, probably as much as Hesel did.
"Fine, I guess you're right," she admitted, "Order something quickly and let's go."