cian and necromancer (or anyone else of magical preference, human or otherwise) went to form their own guild. Only after a guild was formed would a gr

all the guilds in the kingdom, and they did all so

o accept contracts. Unless the guild was already formed and some of the members died, which did happen sometimes, there were never allowed to be less than six. The strongest guild recognis

be like them, but man

y day, visible for miles around in the field of green on which it sat o

marble steps, the rest of th

r them?' Barry asked him, eyeing up

eroy mumbled. 'T

wh

shooting him a l

r not they're

ig

y are worth nothing.

egg?' Waltz butted in, running fo

tamed. If they are still alive…' he paused to glance down at the eggs, 'they could

not?' Waltz as

rimaced

erved and sold as pretty ornaments, for a mere fraction

would that

altz, giving him a

t a single

then, his eye

ork?! What do you think the odd

he third time, glanc

too easily. And if the eggs were alive, then it would have been un

and shoving his hands in his pockets.

rest of us' Le

he back heartily. 'We still get the reward

z grumbled.

's wr

the doorway before them to allow a figure to walk past.

he most vital parts of her body. Her hair glowed yellow as bright as her armour, and lifted in the air, floating as if underwater, drifting slowly in a

opped, watching her

be powerful…and revered………li

n the shoulder again. 'We all start smal

emained where he was, lingering there just a moment long

ed long

ill be as powerful as you….I will be famous

ce where loot was traded for cold hard cash, where the bureau

to see the right man who dealt in the sort of thing they were trying t

u kiddi

sk replied to Waltz in a bored tone, 'but that would m

s Waltz stormed away. 'We'll

r belt behind him, which would take all treasures placed there to a secret place deep within

reached for one of the draws, picking ou

all at once' the ma

ronze coin, trying his

ocketing it and marching away, fo

ime off enjoying the reward that was split between them. They made the m

nd on worse days when work was scarce, camping out in the elements, be it summer or winter. Life was hard, and the guild was always on the move. This time they had a little extra money to spare, and so were staying at an inn. They had each stayed at many in their time; this one was a pleasant one, large a

ement, Waltz cop

nking deeply. Opposite him Barry shifted slightly, on the verge of falling asle

its random bleats, he threw his arms up into the air, ma

ting away to a safe distance before stoppin

bench with his elbows on the table beh

red' he

face him, still resting

you go eat

hicken on your head an

way and closing his eyes

ing up at the clouds that drifted lazily over their head

Waltz mumbled to himself, 'to drift ove

oke up, 'I heard it's

peacefully. 'But I bet

at the sky, the clouds ref

sighed, closing his

alm. He spared a glance up at the blue sky above t

lit, each going to do their own thing. Some would visit family, others would visit friends,

as often as the seasons. Waltz had never settled down, he was always on the move, never staying in one place for too long. And that was the way he liked it. It was not always an easy life with the guild, each day was as uncertain

ice then sailing

voice. 'It has large wings

new already what was going on an

f their previous quests, and his sight had never returned. He was cared for and guided now by Patrick, the son of one of the other guild members. Kenneth didn't have a

y towards Kenneth and Patrick who explained the bir

king now towards Kenneth.

we do?' Ba

' Rude sighed

the pair, sa

is side, turning his head towards

ing a sinking sensation in h

paper, his fingers splayed over it. He withdrew his hand, and the three gu

aulked. 'What is this?' he stammered.

d see the adventure and exciteme

ot. It's said that she is guarding quite a plunder. The man who put up this contract has lost his son to t

ced with interest. 'How do y

nside its lair' Leroy answered, 'but these are simple

up at Leroy. 'Let's summon the other

' Leroy bowed. 'W

ow

, shooting an irrita

the r

eet before him, picking it u

's already peaked a lot of interest. If we want to clai

vor, Earnest, Kennedy,

y indicated the four of them around the table. 'And don't forge

ng by the inn, already with his

traightening up. 'We'd

the coast, being lashed by the stormy waves and trying not to slip on the se

icked a better day for this?!

im, his clothes being whipped around

tinued to edge carefully along the rocks, mov

uild' he sighed quietly under his breath, knowing the o

nding here a great hole before them, j

hen, turning bac

is!' he

ed back with a slig

forwards, climbing into the sea before he had a chance to doubt the situation. Waltz ignored the biting cold as he dipped below the surface and pulled himself along the rocks. A v

ed him, first Leroy, then Tri

lf, beginning to

feel my ball

as if the cold, wet water d

e rocky floor was raised beneath them. From here they were abl

the salty water from around his

here' Leroy said pausing and

small pieces and p

them, as the others shoved the wet cotton wool in

the plan?'

ieces of cotton woo

e said, 'then we go all out. We'll kill this hag before she ha

his sword upon his should

reached the end of the cave when the

t down she had a green and purple scaly tail, like that of a fish. As Waltz spied this, the Siren curling it slowly back and f

trange moss around them, and there was nowhere to hide. Waltz noticed Leroy ahead of them glancing all around, searching for a place to conceal themselve

d she had short blond hair upon her head, beneath which grew two long and migh

gold and silver coins, she would be the object of every man's desire. Every man,

whispered, stopping in his tracks suddenly.

ad their earplugs in. He glanced back at them, and each of them was gi

aightening up, abandoning his hunched po

t Leroy had given up on the idea of a sneak

for a moment, a look of innocence

aly tail waving to the side as she slipped into the water so

see her lips moving as she sang her song. But to him he heard nothing, n

at the siren drew clo

im. Leroy was on guard and high alert, his sword raised, ready for whatever this thing might

ttle wounded, like a little girl. Her trick wasn't working, an

mself. No you mustn't let y

ing the weapons they carried, before looking back at Ler

t hear her Waltz

n him, her profile towering over his. But still the other members of the gui

ill, reaching out to touch Leroy

s if checking on them to see if they had moved,

ted firmly on his as her

, but as Waltz watched, he saw her check

e ducked behind the others out of sight. He raised his head, glancing up at th

t shot, impaling the siren in the ribs. Her body jerked to the side from the impact as she released Leroy, but she had no time to scream as she was hit twice more by spells thrown from Barry and Ru

d fell with a heavy splash into the wa

and straightening up, taking the soaking cotton

….' He said. '

d to Leroy, 'finishing o

blood from his sword and wiping hi

upted suddenly. '

nd, spotting the figure

aid a smiling

r in surprise, wonderi

man waved over to them as other figures a

g forwards. 'That reward is

gratulated, opening a tiny purse as she di

as she did so. The coins and treasures began to move, swirling as if in a high wind that none

lled angrily. '

ession, eyeing them as if she considered the

r it if you'd like'

But Leroy stopped him suddenly, grabbing ont

ject, but a glare fro

top you' Leroy cal

are you doing?'

eld his

She turned to the others behind her, raising her hands. A flurry of light appe

the spot where seconds ag

e snapped, his tone would normally have gotten a rise out of Leroy. But this time Leroy

ghed, 'you co

ut

ld' Leroy interrupted. 'I would not

ut

ave even hoped to win against them. They were a

ut

t' Leroy flatly. '

f, anger and sadness in equal q

, speaking weakly no

eroy sighe

d back, shou

de as he noticed a sudden g

before being forci

d there. Then th

guild stared at the spot where

poke up. 'Where does he

eavily now, fo

away. 'Let's get out of this c

hrough filth and muck in a part of the kingdom where n

he massacre could be seen clearly all around, even after all this time. Within the boggy swamp and muddy filth that reached ankle deep, could be seen bones. L

eath, pausing to take in the dreary scene ar

was now blackened and charred,

o controlled him. There was something she wished for him t

your eyes on fire' she had told him curtly

off, and Waltz did not touch the ground smoothly with his feet as was intended, but landed on his back

moved fast to try to keep himself warm, searching

had said to him. 'She is guarded by a vicious beast. I want

me?' Waltz dared ask, hinting at a lit

h had said. '

himself, searching for a thing

of a skull which sat before him embedded in

the witch speaking inside

rily onwards through the dead wasteland. And

s voice said in his

shock at what

owing eyes. Behind her was the most ghastly creature Waltz had ever seen, and one he was unfortunately familiar with. It walked on all fours, with large black clawed

from what he hoped was a safe distance for a few moments, suddenl

to face him, noticing him for the first time. 'It will only a

he bau

. Now. I'm not

word and charging forwards before h

ittle girl instantly darted back

g wider. In the few brief seconds that Waltz was face to face with the vile beast, he saw its eyes

tened to rise inside him, instead using al

shrieked behind the ghoul. '

as Waltz had lunged at him. Waltz managed to block its needle

he muscles around his eyes

the witch told him, '

w again, a warning from the witch that she owned his

ck, swiping at him. It cut him, its claws digging deep into his shoulder. Waltz rasped in agony, dropping his sword inadvertently. Without a moment's pause he turned and ran, seekin

he ghoul bit into his should

enly as he called his magic to him, rea

in caught alight, leaping off him and

d knees, crawling forwards to escape th

mmoned the fire for the second time. It grew like a mane on his back and shoulders, climbing up the

advance on W

ing gingerly to his feet, ignoring the searing pa

ach without weapon. The ghoul fought with teeth a

om a short distance, eyes large and shining

y for many minutes, un

erate attack. He could not fight for much longer, so he tried to end it quickly. But if the last of

ght as he summoned his fire, the flames

ashing around and screami

ssening as the fire spread inside its

s died w

haustion, he was bleeding from several deep gashed

e thing cried out suddenly, running forw

ed. 'Get up. P

rom the dead ghoul, she began t

hed her un

came inside his head. 'W

altz mumbled, feeling

child. Now she's a monster. Don't be swayed by th

hing the blue eyed gi

the witch inform

owed hi

much longer' t

over, summoning his we

ng, glancing up with shining eye

ltz reached forward to grab the dark object that was within the p

down at the strange black

and his heart skip a beat as h

d, charred remains

lt sudde

he witch. 'Bri

's chest, and he was taken elsewhere, to t

of a young woman with pale skin,

ntly to Waltz, who offered

oo glad to ge

ch said to him. 'Yo

deciding to keep his mouth s

own forests and open and boring plains. He bore his injuries silently, exposed to the elements along the way. He had not tended

d hungry. He found the rest of his guild easily enough, rest

ot pleased