The meal was good, Hakon was generous enough to pay for it without any troubles, and after a bit of relaxation, it was time to leave the establishment. As I stood outside of the ale house, I moved a few steps to the side, to let the doorway be unobstructed, and I looked over the town landscape. There wasn't much I knew about Amandor, besides it being a fairly prosperous place. So in order to do any business from within its stone walls, I had to first get myself a base of operation.

  Approaching some people who were resting in the sun's warmth, gave me a few directions towards taverns that could let me stay for multiple nights in a row, on a single upfront payment, which was preferable. My work usually ends with me being missing for a few nights, while I've hunted a vigilante or a bandit across the woods, so having a place that wouldn't be seized from me was beneficial. One fact was clear, though - all of those places were for adventurers. That means each would cost me an arm and a leg for a single night, not to mention a week, which was preferable for me. An alternative to a private room was even worse, a blanket on a pile of straw, in someone's cellar, to at least have a roof above my head, but it would be shared with others.

  Having to choose between being ripped off, or spending half of the next day pulling dry straw out of my hair and clothes, I decided that paying a bit of money for privacy, was maybe the better of the two choices, and with the help of locals, I would end up at the doors of a sleeping inn. The sign had a longsword, a staff, and a claw of a large beast attached to it, not even painted, but attached!

  "Heroes Rest. That's a bit on the nose." I mumbled under my nose, as I entered the building. I was met with a smell of beer, wine, and some other alcohols, but no food. These barbaric adventurers were drinking, without a snack or a meal to it. And the people were equally as barbaric as their manners. Few warriors or fighters, in full armor, weapons at the ready, as if someone wanted to attack them at any minute. The markings of their ranks proudly on their necks, in the form of small metal plates, with a symbol carved into it, usually with a gem or precious metal. This particular group was all uniform in markings, so probably Amandor had its own, independent adventurer's guild.

  Not wanting trouble with them, I quickly walked over to the bar, which was exactly on the opposite side of the entrance, so that anyone who would enter, had to go through the crowd of people wanting a refill of their drink. Was every adventurer begging to be in the spotlight?!

  The bar was manned by a man of average build, but he was taller than me by at least a head. His beard was quite long, reaching down to his collarbone, but beside that, there was nothing special about his looks. I hoped that he was normal, and when he spoke, I held my breath.

  "Hello miss, came from a mission? What can I serve ya?" He spoke with a surprisingly melodic, and cheerful voice.

  "You could say that, will probably stay in town for some time. What's your prices on stay, per night?" As I asked, he simply looked me over, and raised an eyebrow, as if he expected something. I already knew that he was looking for my adventurer marking. "Oh, I'm not with any guild. Independent."

  When I said that, the silence became tangible, and some chair scraping could be heard behind me. Probably half the customers were looking at me, and I cringed at myself for coming here. I didn't like being in the spotlight, that's why I never bothered to become an adventurer. But now I felt their stares burning a hole in my back, but I had to power through somehow, and get a place to sleep, to not end up on the street.

  "So, how much?" I tried to flash my teeth in an innocent and friendly smile, which might've helped, though I couldn't tell.

  "That will be 5 silver for each night. With guild participation, it's a single silver, and if you're with any allied guild, only 2 silvers a night."

  And then I realized what his deal was, with that friendly smile. He was a guild employee. I could very much tell, as his smile grew, and his hand went down under the bar. This bastard! I knew, that right there was a paper form, that he was oh so ready to help me fill, to associate me with these barbarians. But I wouldn't allow myself to lose independence, nor my purse's contents to these savages! I stormed out, without a second thought, or a word!

  Turns out, the adventurers guild had a monopoly on sleeping inns. I checked 4 of them, and every single one was at least 5 silver a night, and I wouldn't pay that much for basic lodging. And it was all because of my arrogance! Hakon offered me a bed at his associate's, where he was staying, yet I still decided to find something on my own. Now I ended up with nowhere to sleep, and no idea where my previous traveling companion stayed. My last option was the most drastic of all of them, yet I decided to still try it.

  Walking all over the town, looking for an inn, was helpful in figuring out a layout of the place, and asking people for directions did help me overhear some rumors going around. I heard there was a party happening, with dances and drinking, organized by the local lord, in his fortress. Usually, they need a lot of security, so I hoped that I could maybe get a place to sleep, while working there. That, of course, required me to stay at a market, listening to gossip of delivery boys, maids, and whoever was shopping, to hear who's helping with the party preparations, which wasn't the easiest way to gather intel. Firstly, standing in one place and snooping on every conversation was suspicious, so to not alert the patrolling guards, or spook out the people here, I had to constantly be on the move, or even browse some wares. Secondly, some of the locals were only bragging that they know someone who works there, or that they were invited but refused, to feel better about themselves, or for prestige.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  After an hour of snooping through the entire market, buying some nice pastries for a quick snack, and browsing through surprisingly pretty clothier's stand, I finally gathered enough information, and even knew where to go. The only jeweler in town, was repairing some jewelry for the lord's wife, and a courtier was supposed to bring in the piece of jewelry, and immediately return, so as not to be robbed, and later one of the knights would pick it up, without worry of robbery. And that was my chance!

  The jeweler's workshop was surprisingly small, but well packed with different tools, and riches. The stone walls were covered with a colorful tapestry, giving it a really warm and welcoming interior, and with the furnace constantly burning, it also kept in the heat. The sound of an anvil from the depths of the different room, informed me that the jeweler was working right now, so it was potentially the perfect time for me to appear.

  "Hello?" I asked, only to hear the work stop, and footsteps approaching.

  "Please, come in, come in." He waved me into the workroom, where he wanted to obviously show me something. As I followed him, the man stood next to a comically small anvil, with an equally small hammer lying on top of it. There was a ring, that had a color of copper, next to the hammer, but he had something completely different in his eyes. A beautiful necklace that he lifted and presented.

  "That's a beauty." My words were serious, but still an understatement. A set of golden chains, connected to each other in a spiderweb pattern by much smaller chains, of the same gold. Every few inches, was a red gem embedded into the gold, in a way I couldn't really comprehend, as the abundance of shapes and shines made it difficult to see.

  "Yes, and Lady Aries will surely enjoy my work. Perfectly polished, no blemishes, and no sign of..." I cut him off by lifting my hand.

  "I do apologize, but I'm not one of the knights."

  I wanted to continue speaking, but he immediately hid the necklace in his off hand, while grabbing the hammer with his main. Seemed he was ready to protect this piece with his life, and I lifted my palms to show I meant no harm.

  "Calm down, master goldsmith. I don't want to do anything with this necklace." Seeing him slightly lower the work tool, I continued the explanation. "I'm a mercenary. Heard that one of the lord's knights was supposed to collect a work piece from you, and I wanted to try and hook a job with the local nobility."

  Now the jeweler completely calmed down, and put away the hammer, and wiped his temples. "For all that is Holy, do not scare me like that!"

  The situation didn't need more explaining. My point was very understandable, and he let me wait in the main room, and wait for the knight. And in two hours, I had my chance.

  As he walked in, there surely was an aura about him. Was it something noble? Regal? It was hard to say, but he held a pride, that was nothing like that of an adventurer. He was tall, with sharp features, and a neatly shaven beard. His facial hair and brows were deep brown, while his actual hair was blond, and neatly styled, with a shine to them, only possible with some form of an ointment or cream.

  He wore a coat, from underneath which I could see a tabard. Half of it was a golden wyvern, and the other half was a golden chalice, with the middle being split by a flanged mace. The background was a uniform red. Under his coat was a weapon, but only its vague length was visible, with every detail being hidden under his outer coat. He gave me a quick glance, obviously slightly surprised at my gear, but immediately he went to the workroom, where he spoke with the goldsmith.

  I could overhear some details, but most of it was just hushed whispers, which were difficult to pick up. But when I started to worry the knight might slip out the back exit or something, he came back to the room where I waited, and stood before me. He lifted his arm towards his chest and clenched his fist, and with a polite head nod, he spoke.

  "I am Sir Erwin, from the family of Plattenberg. I currently serve as a knight for Lord Otto of Amandor. I heard from master goldsmith that you wanted to talk with me." He spoke with an official tone, and all the honorifics that were expected of him.

  I then stood up slowly, giving him a deep nod, with a very slight bow, just out of courtesy. "My name's Karya. I'm an independent mercenary, and I've heard that lord Otto was hosting a dance. Rumors brought me here, where I heard that you might be collecting one of his lady's belongings, and I decided to ask, if I could find employment, as a guard or escort for any of the guests."

  I knew that when talking to knights and nobility, being humble was one way to go about your business, but being assertive often brought much more benefit. And seeing his expression, seemed I piqued his interest.

  I could feel how his eyes traveled from my legs to my shoulders, judging if I would be of any help. But for the longest moment, I could see how he observed the sword that hung off my hip. He opened his mouth and was about to speak, when he looked over my face, my hair, and then at my eyes. By the shift in his cloak, I could say, he grasped the handle of his weapon, yet did not pull it out.

  "And what abilities do you possess? Can you wield that sword well enough to be of use?" His voice was steady, but he spoke slowly, as if he was judging my character, not my abilities.

  He might've thought I was a vampire, which I was, but I could see his confusion. Behind me was a small window, and sunlight shone down on me, and directly touched me, and yet I was not turning into dust. My ashen hair, and crimson eyes, on the other hand, were so comically fitting for his unspoken accusations. And when I was about to speak, I could see how his eyes immediately locked on my mouth, as to see the fangs.

  "I can fight, I can move some cargo, but most importantly, I know how not to insult a noble guest, and keep them comfortable, even when performing guard duty." I flashed him a polite smile, and I could see how he tried to peer under my lip. With how I spoke, he could not see my fangs well enough to judge their length, but my words had some merit to them.

  "It is true, my lady, that most guards usually embarrass the Lord, with either their antics or unsightly comments. And if what you say is true, you might be of use."

  He thought for a moment, potentially judging if he should risk inviting me, or not. But after a few uncomfortable seconds, he decided.

  "Fine, I'll take you with me to the fort, and try your abilities. If I find your prowess with a weapon good enough, I might risk introducing you to Lord Otto. But you'll speak with him yourself about your pay." Sir Erwin finished speaking, lifted his hand from his weapon, and extended it towards me. I shook it, still keeping up my polite smile.

  Inside me, I was ecstatic. I might be able to sleep in a comfortable, warm bed for free, and be paid for it!