Through deserts and forests we roll,

In wagons that creak with no soul.

No bandits, no fights,

Just long, sleepless nights—

This journey is taking its toll!

Goldie Honorhide.

The wagon was cramped. For me, it was unbearably so. Makara was better as she was more orc-sized. I found the people unbearable as well. Alongside the four of us, ten others travelled in the same wagon. We left in the rain, and it was damp and musky. One person seemed to have breathing problems, and another had farting problems. A rich lady thought she was above us all, but she couldn't have been rich enough to afford her own wagon, so I don't know what her problem was.

Felix and I settled into jogging alongside the wagons. We didn't mind the wet and cold, but the mud was annoying. Give me snow any day. The rain eventually stopped, and it was low, overcast clouds. I watched the forest go by and got a feel for the land. We were moving through the foothills of the mountain range we had come through.

It was a week's travel to Becov, and there were set stopping points as this was a regular route. I watched the caravan workers and guards, and it was all routine. The second night, the stars came out. We were moving south, so they were changing slowly.

Goldie called it a boring trip. Once I got away from the others, it was quite restful.

Becov was probably ten times larger than Ocova. There was a dedicated inspection area for caravans, and as the caravans were regulars, it didn't take long.

Makara was in charge of the crates, and when the guard came along, he was more fascinated by her than anything. Shark Mer were unknown here. Her cloaks and loose gowns hid her species from a distance, but one look at her face and teeth, and there was no doubt.

She talked to the guard in a friendly way and didn't show her teeth once. She opened one crate for him to look in, the one that was mostly ore. I don't think he even noticed he didn't inspect the other crate. That was her Skill in play. It was a subtle skill called Misdirection. I was watching carefully, and she used herself as the focus. It was a Mental-based skill. I think this was a best-case scenario for her as the guard was bored, and she stood out and was unique in this part of the world. I wonder how many times she has used the skill on me.

There were several inns to select from, and Yoboc chose a dwarf focused one near the town centre. It was called the Legend of Seven. I asked Yoboc what it meant, and he waved it off as a famous ancient myth about seven dwarves. Seven was a lucky number for dwarves.

I had a lot to do while here, and not having to sort the ID sped everything up a lot. First up was joining the Mercenary Guild. That was straightforward. I needed two members in good standing to support me, and Yoboc, Goldie, and Makara were all members in good standing.

I shared the Skills and Classes I wanted in the presence of a Journeyman Truth Sensor.

"It is a Lie Detection skill, lad," said the senior dwarf who interviewed me. "You don't have to tell me the truth, but don't lie. What type of jobs do you want to do as a Mercenary, and what classes and skills do you have to enable you to do that?"

"I have an Apprentice Guard Class, so guarding jobs," I said.

"There are two Mercenary categories this normally fits into. There are the property guards, who guard the caravans and buildings, and the personnel Bodyguards. This is more specialised, but you don't need the specialised class to do it, as long as you have close protective skills. Most Guards do, as we need at least Apprentice Shield, Unarmed, and another melee weapon."

"I have all that, so put both down as jobs, please," I said. Yoboc advised me to get as many categories as possible. I don't have to accept jobs I don't want to do, but I at least have the choice.

"Right, next."

"I am a Journeyman Hunter/Scavenger with two monster kills," I said.

"So, do you want Hunter and Monster Hunter Jobs?"

I nodded. "Yes, please. What about Scavenging?"

"Technically, that opens up the Treasure Hunting jobs. You don't need specialised treasure-finding skills, but this will make you more employable. You do need Journeyman Level Sensing Skills."

"I have Olfactory and Spiritual Sensing at the Journeyman level."

"That is more than enough. Hunters often have Tracking. If at Apprentice and above, you can also take Bounty Hunting jobs."

"Tracking is at Journeyman Level. Add it, please," I said.

"Right," he said. "Also, remember that if you have skills at Journeyman and above, you are qualified to train others in those skills. I can mark you down as a Tracking Trainer. Are there any other journeyman-level skills you want to train others in?"

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"Yes, please. The only other skills I have for training are Sprint, Animal Bond and Stealth at the Journeyman level."

"I will add it, but I doubt you will get many takers for those." The dwarf said. "Anything else?"

"I have the Explorer Class and Map Skill. What jobs would they open up?" I asked.

"Do you have Farsight and the Bow?"

"No."

"Can you ride?" he looked dubiously at my huge bulk, dwarfing him.

"No."

"Then you don't qualify for Scouting jobs, but they will help in your Treasure Hunting Jobs. Do you have any thieving, assassination, or spy skills?" I shook my head, "Shame, there are some high-paying jobs in those areas. Anything to add?"

"What about courier-type jobs?" I asked, thinking of Makara's ID.

"You can't ride. Couriers are about getting from one point to another as fast as possible. This usually means riding, flying or Journeyman-level long-distance movement skills. Do you have any of those?"

I reviewed my status again, "No, only Sprint, which is short duration. I think that is about all, then."

"OK. I will make up your ID token for Guard, Bodyguard, Hunter, Monster Hunter, Bounty Hunter, and Treasure Hunter. There is a board where you can post your training and how much you charge. If you want training, that is where to look. The Jobs Board is also out there, and you can't miss it. I recommend you join a team to get to know the ropes."

"I am part of the Bearded Sheilas already," I said.

"That has to be a dwarf-run team, so good choice." He grinned. "Welcome to the Mercenary Guild, Ivan Medved."

That was it. There were no questions about affinities or special skills. You revealed what was enough for the jobs you wanted to do. If you made it past the lie detector and could not perform the job, your reputation will drop. The Guild maintained a reputation system with successful jobs completed, and this would help you get better jobs in the future. I do need to complete some jobs to build a rep, but it will probably be in Jern.

I stopped at the Training board and looked at the skills offered and the prices per lesson. I have the core skills needed and Yoboc and Goldie are good trainers. Free too.

I moved to the job board. The jobs were listed in the rough category with difficulty and a recommended party. Sometimes, specific skills at a specified level were required. There were also open jobs for everyone. For example, the herbalist wanted the following list of herbs, but the person collecting them needed at least an apprentice level of Herb Lore.

I browsed what was on offer for a while but I would not take a job right now. There were some hunting jobs for particular pelts or meat. There was one Monster Hunting Job, where a wolf pack was confirmed as led by a monster Dire Wolf that had attacked a farm. The Duchess was fronting the coin for that one and offering to buy the monster core. The pack was estimated at about twenty wolves, some of whom were spiritually enhanced. That meant they were on their way to evolving into monsters. A team of experienced hunters was recommended.

Yoboc said this was a small Guildhall. The main entrance opened to the jobs hall and guild counters. Behind them were sorting rooms. There was a bar to one side and training yards out the back. Downstairs and underground were temporary accommodation and meeting rooms. Upstairs were the Guild offices. Some Mercenaries were lounging in the bar area, but few were around at this time of day. Mornings and Evenings were the busy times.

I saw some Guild-recommended craftspeople advertising. I noted one who said they specialised in leather and bone armour. I would need some armour if I were to hire on as a guard and be taken seriously. Goldie said I looked like an oversized farm boy, even in my leather vest.

Before that, I was meeting Yoboc and Goldie at the Kirghiz Treasure House. They had offices in most reasonably sized towns and would store coins, and you could take them out at another branch. It kept them safe, and you didn't need to lug around a lot of heavy coins. My ID was enough to pass their higher scrutiny, so I opened an account. I put most of my share of the coins in there. Goldie had sold our two monster cores, and apparently, I had enough coins to buy a small house. I have no idea why I would want to buy a house.

I kept what Goldie thought would buy me armour and yet more clothes. I didn't want boots. Goldie came with me to the armourer. Yoboc left to see what caravans were leaving for Jern and when. Makara contacted the Mercenary Guild to message the Chelonian School about our contract. Hopefully, they can send people to Jern, and we can settle everything there.

"You are a big one; come and let me measure you up," the slim lady at the front counter of the armourer's shop said. She looked quite old. She had to get a step ladder to measure me.

"Look around at the styles we do," she said. "We specialise in leather armour, with reinforcing. The reinforcing is often bone or metal and designed to protect the more vital areas and make the leather more durable against traditionally weak things, like blunt weapons, but keep the flexibility."

I looked around and saw various options.

"We currently have some Troll bone in stock. It is strong, and it will slowly self-repair as we have the city Osteowright working for us," At my blank look, she added, "They're a specialist in working with bone. The self-repair is slow, but it is an effect that would otherwise require enchantments. We do have a deal with Enchanters-R-Us, and we can add various effects. The most popular is waterproofing in our climate."

This was all getting confusing, and I could see the price rising. She hadn't even started on the different types of leather and hide, which could add other benefits.

In the end, Goldie helped me settle on a tough Boar Hide, which had the boar's short fur on the outside, which negated the need for waterproofing. It wasn't as flexible as other leathers, but it was tougher. We did go for the Troll bone-reinforcing, meaning I would not need separate gauntlets or greaves.

I got a long-sleeved jacket and trousers with an open-faced helmet and half-finger gloves so that my claws could still be used. They also made boots, and I was not the first beast-kin they had outfitted. They had a foot covering that would protect me from damage while allowing my claws to be used. They looked like boots but were not.

Goldie said I still looked like a rural hunter, but I figured that was what I was, so what was the problem? Goldie also made me buy what she called town clothes.

She then took me to a healer who looked at my eye. "I'll be honest, sweetie," the old lady said, "Eyes are tricky. The eye itself is gone completely, and there is scarring over the optic nerve. I am the best in town, and I could probably have restored it if there was something left to work with. You want to go to Hrothgar, as the Duchess has eye damage, and the experts gathered there—unsuccessfully, to my knowledge."

"We are heading to Jern. Is there someone in Jern that could help?" I asked.

"Look up old Bomdaed. He might still be practising if he is alive. He can clear the scarring and start the regrowth. That is what you will need, a full regrowth, and they are Master Level Skills. I hope you have plenty of coins."

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