System Break

Barrin bent down, put his hands on his knees and took deep breaths.

Reyas scouted ahead and Gisael peered at him. "Do you want us to slow?"

He waved a hand but did not speak until he took three more breaths. "No, I said I'd not slow you, and I won't."

It was decided Barrin would accompany them as a senior member of the council and someone the Duke knew. He was also a charismatic negotiator who knew the value of things.

Reyas returned. "I saw the city walls," she said. "And no more monsters."

"The adventurers would be killing them if we're close to the city," Ailen said.

Gisael nodded. "They have thinned in the last ten leagues."

Reyas held out a pack to Barrin. "Do you want to carry your pack for the last part?"

He grinned at her. "No, but I will."

She shook her head and slung it over her shoulder. "It's not trouble. I'll give it to you at the gate."

Ailen whispered to Sakaala. "I'm interested in their innate abilities. Looks like running and stamina isn't amongst them."

"Benzhi would know."

"How was he?"

"Still unconscious but well," she said.

"We move," Gisael said and they heard Barrin grunt.

As they ran the walls of Dawnharbour grew larger. They were made with large light-coloured stones. The wall stretched across the large track of land with water on both sides. The city was built on a peninsula with the fortifications across the narrow section between the two bodies of water.

On the southern side of the city the docks stuck out into a natural harbour. There were no large vessels, only fishing boats. In front of the walls were wooden frames and building works.

With each step the walls grew and by the time they were at the gate the 30ft walls towered over them.

"That's a lot of stone," Barrin said looking up and down the long wall.

"To keep out trolls?" Ailen asked.

"Haven't you been here before?" Sakaala asked.

"Yes and no," Barrin said. "I've only ever been to Salastria. It's the closest city to home. I met the Duke from Dawnharbour there a few years ago."

"Can we enter?" Reyas asked.

"Hold on," Barrin said. "Guards are we granted entry?" he called out.

"You're not a monster, are you? Go on in and don't cause any trouble."

"Reyas will do the talking to the men," Gisael said and turned to the twins. "You can take over when we meet adventurers."

The people were green and stood out like a sore thumb despite their leathers. Reyas looked like she could pass for a local. But her raven hair, blue eyes and beautiful skin would make her memorable. She strode confidently at the front with Barrin behind. Gisael brought up the rear.

As they walked through the streets people stopped what they were doing and stared. A boy with a dirty face ran up to them.

"Who're you lot?"

"We're from the forest in the north. We're here for the tournament."

He grinned. "Got any spare coin?"

Reyas smiled. "We've none. We have goods to trade. If you guide us, we'll make it worth your while though."

"How can you make it worth me while if you've no coin?"

Reyas reaching into her pack and pulled out a qi core, showed it to him.

His eyes widened. "Are you adventurers?"

She nodded. "You could say that. Adventurers from the north. But its our first time here. Can you take us to where all the adventurers meet?"

He nodded. "They have their own square with new buildings. Can't miss it, follow me."

Barrin mumbled, "You can't give him a qi core for taking us up the street."

Reyas shrugged. "Do you have coin?"

Barrin smiled. "No but I have a bit of gold we can give him. A tiny rock is worth more than enough." He slipped one into her hand.

She smiled sweetly. "Thanks."

The boy pointed. "There."

"Do you know where the people who look after the adventurers are?"

The boy shook his head. Reyas threw him the gold and he caught it. For a moment he looked disappointed until Barrin growled, then he shrugged and ran off grinning.

The buildings were sandstone with flat roofs. They looked brand new compared to the rest of the city. The streets were hard packed sand and busy with people, carts, and work animals.

"I'll just knock," Reyas said. 

After a few unanswered knocks a group approached them from behind.

"What the hell?" a man said. He wore a sword on his hip.

"We're adventurers," Ailen said.

"Really? You look like aliens," the man said, and his friends sniggered. There was five of them all dressed similarly with chain shirts, pot helmets and sturdy cloth pants. Three of them had swords, one daggers and a crossbow and the last had no weapons.

Ailen pointed at them. "Swordsman, swordsman, brawler, rogue and swordsman."

They laughed. "Okay and what the fuck are you?"

"Svartalfar," Ailen said. "My name is Ailen and this is Sakaala."

"Holy fuck. It's them."

"Who are these?" the loudmouth swordsman said pointing at Reyas and Gisael.

"They're locals, just not local to here. Be careful what you say. Oh, and they helped us take down the cave troll."

"You can do that? Isn't that cheating?"

Ailen shrugged. "Where does it say in the rules that locals can't help?"

The five looked at each other.

"What's this one?" 

Ailen put a friendly arm on Barrin. "He is someone who you want to be friends with. He's a master smith who makes stuff that makes your equipment look like shit."

"Really?"

"Your guild leader can make introductions later," Ailen said. "We want to register for the tournament. Where should we go?"

The loudmouth swordsman kicked the sandy street. "Oh, I don't know."

Another adventurer happened by. "Don't be an ass Truante." He was another rogue but dressed in better gear and a white cloak. "I'm Trik. Follow me I'll show you to the administration building."

Ailen pointed to his party. "Ailen, Sakaala, Gisael, Reyas, Nej and this is Barrin."

Trik sniffed. "Come for the tourney, did you?"

"Yes, that and establish trade, relations, that sort of stuff," Sakaala said.

They followed him through the streets and towards the main keep. "I saw you in the logs. I figured you were alpha adventurers or something."

"No, just a different race."

"I didn't see it on offer. How did you manage that?"

"It's one of those things offered to a few."

He nodded. "The main keep has the administration in the ground floor of the southern wing for all adventurers, and they run the tourney too." He pointed. "That is the tower if you feel like testing your mettle."

"Where's the tournament held?" Sakaala asked.

"Outside the walls. The spectators will stand on top of the walls and they'll probably erect stands as well. Not enough room for an arena in the city."

"We saw the building works for stands," Barrin said.

Trik nodded. "I know you have a guild, but there's only four in it. Have you thought of merging with one here?"

Ailen shrugged. 

"No, we haven't thought of it," Sakaala said. 

"You should. I mean. Do what you want, but you need a group of five to enter the tournament."

Sakaala said, "We have five."

Trik looked confused. "Who's your fifth and which ones are Redmond and eleven?"

"How do you know their names?" Sakaala asked.

"It's in the logs. Each guild has an official roster. And Eleven's name was announced with yours with your first kills. Which of you is eleven?"

"He's not here," Sakaala said. 

"Then you only have three," Trik said.

"Why is it for adventurers only?"

"You're using non adventurers?"

Ailen nodded. Sakaala shot him a glance. "We'll see," he said.

They were in front of the main keep. It had three entrances and Trik had taken them to the southernmost. It was sandstone but in a different style to the guild halls and much larger. It was also older, but not ancient. Ailen recognised one of the flags hanging from a facia. It was orange with a black lion, the same as the guards they had killed near the mine. But most of the flags were light blue with a dark blue swordfish.

"This is the entrance. You were out front of our guild hall when you were chatting to the idiots from Castaways. Come visit us when you're done. I'm sure the guild leader would like to meet you."

"Thanks," Sakaala said. "What's the name of your guild?"

He flapped his cloak. "White cloaks." He looked her up and down and sighed then left.

"I think you'll be popular with the men folk," Barrin said and chuckled.

Sakaala smiled at him. "I always am."

Ailen laughed. "Let's go." They filed through the open archway.

It opened into a horseshoe shaped chamber with three alcoves and large waiting area. There were boards on the wall with various posters and bench seats throughout the waiting area. In each alcove there was woman seated behind a desk and behind the women were shelves with ledgers.

Above each alcove was sign with a picture and a word - Payments, trade, and administration.

"Administration I guess," Ailen said and headed to the alcove.