Vaglell was not in Hans’ desk chair. He sat at a table with two adventurers.

  Hans recognized Jay the Platinum Fighter, a human who wielded a double-bladed sword. When both blades were sheathed, as they were now, the weapon resembled a quarterstaff. Hans had taken classes from him once upon a time. Jay sat across from Vaglell and kept his weapon between his legs so that it stayed upright, resting against his shoulder.

  Jay was not much older than Vaglell. He kept his silver hair cropped short and had a boxy, angular face. Where Vaglell was of average height and wide with muscle, Jay had the frame of a ballet dancer: long, fit, but not bulky. That build suited his graceful, flowing style.

  As an adventurer climbing the ranks, Hans sparred with Jay several times over the years. The Platinum’s swordplay felt like a riptide. The waves of his attacks lapped in and out at a steady rhythmic pace. Each time your blade met his, you were a little bit farther from shore, a little bit closer to drowning. You knew it was happening, but he never relented.

  And eventually, you made the mistake he needed to end the fight.

  If he used his boon, he split into two copies of himself. That felt less like a riptide dragging you out to sea and more like two bull sharks circling you in deep water before violently tearing you to pieces.

  Seated next to Jay was a younger adventurer, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with his red hair shaved down to stubble. His build reminded Hans of Quentin’s, and his face was familiar somehow. Perhaps Hans had taught him before. Regardless, that same familiar face was very clearly uncomfortable. His eyes shifted anywhere a person wasn’t, as if he were afraid to make eye contact, and his back hunched like he wanted to make himself smaller.

  Vaglell, the Hoseki Guild Master, was his usual statuesque self with styled black hair and an impeccably shaved face. He smiled big, his mouth full of white teeth, when he saw Hans enter the guild hall. The Bard stood and held his hands out to show he hadn’t come to fight.

  “Just a minute of your time, son. That’s all I ask.” The Bard’s foot didn’t stop its nervous tapping even when he stood.

  Hans paused, aware that all of the adventurers in the hall–about fifteen–watched for his reaction. He motioned with his head for Vaglell to follow him out of the room.

  They entered a classroom that was nearly ready for use. The walls were exposed brick, raw and inconsistent, with several patches where the style of bricks changed. Repairing the walls meant salvaging from other places around town, so nothing was uniform. Luther suggested they cover it with ornate wood paneling, fashioned from bronzewood for its metallic sheen, but Hans didn’t want to wait and did not want to use any of the town’s lumber supply unless it was necessary. Brick was fine.

  Other than two stools and some buckets, the room was empty.

  When this room was finished, Hans could finally use a dedicated space for lectures instead of monopolizing the community space of the guild hall. He held the door open for Vaglell and shut it behind him. Hans slid a stool to Vaglell and took one for himself.

  “I expected to be turned away at the gate,” Vagllel said, seeming uncharacteristically unsure of himself.

  “We’re subjects like anyone else. We abide by kingdom laws and welcome our countrymen.”

  “All the same. Thank you for seeing me. I’m sorry to see the job hasn’t been kind to you since we last spoke.” Vaglell referred to Hans’ missing eye.

  “What did you want to discuss?” Hans asked.

  “First, I wanted to apologize.”

  Though Hans entered the room determined to be unflappable, he failed to hide his surprise. His head tilted and his body stiffened, like a dog reacting to an unexpected noise.

  Vaglell nodded sheepishly. “I got the inquest report, and it’s clear I was wrong to accuse you. I don’t know how you managed your own Diamond quests, but I shouldn’t be surprised. You were always a sharp kid.”

  Hans was too confused to reply, so he waited to see if Vaglell had more to say.

  When the silence stretched, Vaglell said, “I deserve your suspicion. There’s a lot I’d do differently if I got to live my life twice, but no one gets that. Best I can do is own my errors, so here I am.”

  “Five years ago, this would have meant the world to me.”

  “I know.”

  “Well, thanks. I’m grateful for the apology.”

  Another awkward silence hung in the room.

  “I have a favor to ask,” Vaglell said. “I know I don’t have any right to do that, but it’s not for me. It’s for the kid I brought with me. His name is Bridun. He and his party are prepping for Silver and could use your caliber of instruction. The rest are here too, but they're on the surface watching the wagon.”

  “Why this party specifically?”

  “Bridun’s the first Bard I’ve seen in a long time that has a shot at Diamond. His party is passable, but he’s the standout.”

  “Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to train under you if he’s a Bard?” Hans asked.

  “That’s the hitch. His Bard abilities are closing in on Gold, but his tactics and battle sense are stuck at Bronze. He gets overwhelmed and stops seeing the fight in front of him. Again, I’m asking on his behalf. You don’t owe me anything, and I recognize that.”

  Hans held a hard gaze with Vaglell. “I’ll train any adventurer who is willing to be a student,” he said after a time. “Me and you, our dynamic, how are you picturing this working?”

  “In what sense?”

  “Is this a one-time ask, or do you plan to send other adventurers here?”

  Vaglell leaned back and crossed his arms. He drummed the fingers of his right hand on his triceps. “I respect your teaching ability and all, but Hoseki isn’t hurting for instructors. Bridun’s an unusual case. As for the rest of the Guild? They are their own people. If they want to pay your fees or whatever and train in Gomi, I won’t stop them.”

  “What will you do while Bridun’s here?”

  “Jay and I are riding out in the morning regardless of your answer. It’s up to you if the kid comes back with us or stays here and breaks his funk.” Vaglell pulled a pouch from his pocket and offered it to Hans. “If this doesn’t cover it, I’ll send more.”

  Hans looked between the Bard and the gold several times before finally accepting it. “I’ll get him set up,” Hans said.

  “I know you’ll take care of him. For all our differences, I never had to worry you were doing anything but your best for your students.”

  “Thanks.”

  Vaglell stood and offered his hand.

  “Before I shake your hand,” Hans began, “I have questions for you.”

  “Then ask.”

  “Are you done harassing Shandi?”

  “I was unfortunately not involved in that, or I would have put a stop to it sooner,” Vaglell said. “She deserves her peace, and she will have it. I’ve seen to that personally.”

  Hans considered Vaglell for a moment. “Do I have your word on that?”

  “You have my word.”

  Vaglell’s hand was still extended.

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  “What do you know about orc liches?”

  The Bard lowered his arm. “Still fixated on the cabal job, I take it.”

  “Why did you hide it?”

  “Hide what?”

  Hans narrowed his eyes.

  Vaglell again raised his arms to signal peace. “I’m not being difficult. It’s not clear what you’re asking.” The Bard’s nervous foot-tapping accelerated.

  “The last lich was an orc, but that’s not in the records.”

  “No, no, it’s not,” Vaglell admitted. “That’s complicated, son. The liches used all manner of magic in that fight. There were just as many hallucinations as there were undead, and you couldn’t tell if the person next to you was real or not. Some of us saw an orc lich. Some of us didn’t. We couldn’t be sure, so we didn’t write it down as fact.”

  “Is that so?”

  The Bard nodded. “It is. You’re a Guild Master now. You’ve probably had to decide what to share and what to hold back for the sake of your people.”

  That was true. Hans had that exact experience dozens of times in Gomi.

  “I’m not perfect,” Vaglell continued, “but I want adventurers to come home alive as much as you. That’s all the lich was to me, a fight to survive.”

  Hans found himself believing Vaglell’s words. They brought him a certain ease. When Vaglell offered his hand again, Hans shook it.

  “Now, is the blood bad enough that I should leave now, or could I rent myself an inn room for the evening?” Vaglell asked.

  “Galad’s is back toward the docks.”

  “Yes, I saw it.”

  Hans opened the door and let Vaglell out. When they reentered the guild hall, Devon and Ewan stood off to the side having a conversation.

  “How’s retirement treating you, Devvy?” Vaglell asked.

  “It’s… fine.”

  “Did I hear right that you’re riding griffons?”

  Devon nodded. “Trying to.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not staying longer than the night,” Vaglell said. “I already told Hans, but I read the inquest report. The conclusion was pretty plain, so I apologized just now. I still hope I see you on the job one day, but I’m not going to ask you to leave Gomi.”

  “Thank you.” Devon gestured to the dwarf. “This is Ewan. He’s the Guild Master of the Hunter’s Guild. Ewan, this is Vaglell, he is-”

  “Aye, I know who he is. The Director is a legend.” Ewan shook Vaglell’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

  “What brings the Hunter’s Guild into our kingdom?”

  “Trying to keep more of our people alive.”

  “After Diamond quests then.”

  Ewan answered with a short nod.

  “One Guild Master to another,” Vaglell said softly. “Tread carefully. I suspect our King is still protective of Diamonds.”

  “As he should be,” Ewan gruffed. “My understanding is that agreement was between the kingdom and the Adventurers’ Guild. I’m not aware of the Borderless Association having such a thing in place.”

  “That’s why I say to tread carefully. Exploiting an oversight before it’s been corrected might feel clever, but I’m not sure the King would take kindly to it. That’s bad for the people here, and it's bad for the dwarves.”

  “Thank you for the advice.”

  “Of course,” Vaglell said, smiling. “Adventurers look out for each other, right?”

  “Aye. I’ve heard that.”

  “Fabulous. Well, I have a date with a warm bed.” Vaglell turned toward the table where Jay and Bridun sat. “Jay! We’ll be on our way now. Bridun, I’ll send your party down. Otherwise, you work hard, kid. Okay?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jay followed Vaglell out of the guild hall with hardly a glance back at Bridun.

  “The hells?” Devon asked when Hans approached.

  “I take it there’s a lot of history there, and not all of it good,” Ewan observed.

  “It’s a long story,” Hans said.

  “I can imagine. It’s also a story I don’t need to hear. My business is with ye, and your business with anyone else isn’t any of mine. I’m back to the tavern, though. Saw Master Devontes walking here and couldn’t help bothering him.”

  When Ewan was gone, Devon looked at Hans.

  Hans shrugged. “It was weird. He apologized and asked me to train a Bard and his party. Says he needs the right teacher and thinks I’m it.”

  “For-”

  “No, not for Bard. His combat sense.”

  “Rank?”

  “Bronze chasing Silver.”

  Devon’s head recoiled, and his face wrinkled. “He made a personal trip all the way to Gomi for a Bronze?”

  “Says Bridun over there has the makings of a Diamond Bard, so I guess this is Vaglell protecting that investment.”

  “I don’t buy it.”

  “Did he lie just now?” Hans asked.

  Devon sighed. “No, he didn’t. Did he say anything about the cabal?”

  “He said there was too much lich magic to know what was real and what wasn’t,” Hans admitted. “I’m as off balance as you are, but he sounded sincere, and Bridun didn’t do anything to us.”

  “I know.”

  Hans left Devon to join the Bronze Bard at his table.

  “Sir,” Bridun said with a voice that seemed far too soft and meek for a Bard.

  “Don’t worry about that.” Hans offered a handshake. “I’m Hans.”

  “We’ve met. I took your classes in Hoseki for a bit.”

  “Ah. Sorry. I’m rubbish with names.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “Well,” Hans said, trying to recover the conversation, “Master Vaglell gave me the rundown, but I’d like to check out your party before we commit to a lesson plan. All that means for you is dropping into our training sessions and classes down here for a few days. Then we’ll head into the dungeon.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Great. There are dorms across the courtyard. I’m sure you’re tired from the trip, so go and get some rest. We can start tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please. Sir isn’t necessary.”

  “I’m sorry,” Bridun said. “It’s a habit.”

  “It’s okay. I appreciate the sentiment.”

  “Understood. Am I dismissed?”

  “Uhh… Yeah. Yes.”

  Bridun bowed his head graciously to Hans, pulled his rucksack out from beneath the table, and left in search of the dorms. He passed Mazo on his way out.

  The halfling scanned the room like she was clearing a dungeon.

  “Where is he?” Mazo asked.

  “He went to the inn already.”

  Mazo deadpan stared at Hans.

  Hans stared back. “What?”

  “You made me walk all the way from my hut? Me. Walk. All that way.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to go smoothly.”

  The halfling growled as she exhaled. “I didn’t appreciate your little joke either.”

  “My what?”

  “Sending Pogo running to my house yelling, ‘Hey, newbie dumbass!’ over and over.”

  Hans laughed. “I forgot about that. I told him he only needed to do it twice.”

  “He said it over and over again.”

  “Probably just making sure he didn’t set off any witch’s wards.” Hans grinned. “You wanted the witch’s hut legend. This is part of the deal.”

  “This is not part of the deal, and I know because it’s my deal.”

  Hans crossed his arms. “Do you want me to support the legend or not?”

  Mazo scowled.

  “What was that?” Hans asked, holding a hand up to his ear.

  “You’re picking a fight you can’t win, human.”

  “That’s not how I see it.”

  The halfling rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

  “Wait!” Hans called loudly. “Don’t forget to change the passphrase.”

  “The what?” Mazo asked.

  Hans looked about at the adventurers in the guild hall, many of whom were now not so discreetly eavesdropping. “You know, the passphrase to enter the hut safely. You should change it so the wards do their jobs, you know?”

  Mazo’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you for the reminder, and this,” she gestured to the space between her and Hans, “isn’t over.”

  Hans grinned even wider.

  Quest Complete: Face Vaglell.

  New Quest: Prepare Bridun and his party for Silver.

  Open Quests (Ordered from Old to New):

  Monitor for independently grown sections of dungeon.

  Complete the next volume (Bronze to Silver) for “The Next Generation: A Teaching Methodology for Training Adventurers.”

  Manage the ongoing establishment of a Hoseki-grade library in Gomi.

  Learn to help your advanced students as much as you help beginners.

  Decide how to manage breeding requests for monsters like mimics and shadow scorpions.

  Relocate the titan bones to the dungeon entrance.

  Offer Diamond quests to Ewan and his party.

  Prepare Bridun and his party for Silver.