Chapter 408: Yesterday’s Heroes

Cedric Halls walked away from the docks with a spring in his steps.   That never happened.

In fact, he wasn’t even certain that was allowed.

As far as Rolstein’s guildmaster knew, any encounter with a mage possessed by an eldritch horror, a demonic parasite, an unexplained curse or the spirit of a long-deceased ancestor meant most of his hair burning away.

There was a reason he wore a lilac poncho and had a magnificent mustache. 

They looked fabulous. 

But it was also to hide the evidence of a weathered past upon his scalp. 

As he strolled away from the sound of the waves gently bumping against the moored ships and a family bond rekindled, a vision of a different night floated through his mind. One where the horizon was lit with burning rooftops. 

He imagined it all too easily. 

The screams and scampering footsteps. The scalding air ringing with the tolling of bells. A father’s sword drenched in blood, melting to the same cursed flames it was forced to plunge through. 

Desperation. Confusion. Tragedy.

A twisted fate which had been avoided … and all with minimal help from him.

Or indeed, any of them.

“–Not a bad sight,” said Bodkins, dropping down from the branch he’d chosen to spy proceedings from. “Gotta be honest, Roseline looks pretty good for a ghost.” 

Cedric nodded with a merry hum.

He was hurt when a shadow in the form of Lirian’s panther immediately jumped away. Solace came in the fact that she was probably off to hunt out the finest bar none of them could pay for. 

Even though Liriane was the swiftest to chastise them for their drinking antics, she was also the first to reserve a table. She probably figured that if a commotion was inevitable, then they may as well cause it where the window view was nicest.

“Mages,” said Cedric cheerfully. “Bloody unfair, eh?”

The halfling gave a snort.

“Nah, not mages … witches. That’s got to be twice as unfair. If mages can do anything, then what about their more unscrupulous, less law abiding cousins? I feel like we’ve been swindled somehow. I even paid for nice flowers.”

“Well, Roseline’s always made for a good con artist. Even now, Thomas believes he was the one who came up with the name for his bar.”

“Roseline decided on The Singing Mule?”

“Yup. All it took was two sips of firewhisky. She hoped for it to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. May very well still happen, of course.”

“... In that case, I’m just glad she didn’t decide on The Singing Horse.”

“Oh? How come?”

“Could you imagine Apple as the bard? His bar might actually be popular.”

“True. I can’t conjure a more horrific thought. We’d be stuck with his wine selection.”

Bodkins chuckled.  

“It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw him in a good mood. I forgot that man’s cheeks could even bend that way. I suppose now’s as good a time as any to make suggestions to his menu.”

“You underestimate his lack of taste, my friend. I dragged him to all the finest holes in the kingdom while we searched for Marina. He’s as allergic to good wine as he is to retirement. Did you know he took on an apprentice just to keep on swinging his sword?”

“The Oxwell boy? Yeah, I know him. Even saw the lad in Marinsgarde.”

“Really? What were you doing in Marinsgarde?”

“Same thing as here. Being surplus to requirements. How does it feel to be made redundant by the younger crop of faster, more talented adventurers?” 

Cedric hummed to himself. 

Words came easily to him. Usually for the worst. But now, he was having difficulty summing up the peculiar well of feelings swirling up inside him.

Relief, however, was the obvious one. 

“I survived,” he said simply. “Again. That’s always a good feeling.”

The halfling feigned a gasp. 

“What am I hearing? … Could it be that the most popular member of the Golden Hogs actually has fears betraying his heroic nature?”

“Not in the slightest. I’ll have you know that I’d consigned myself to a grisly and horrible death as a result of your tracking long ago.”

“As you’re right to. Nobody else finds buried casks of moonshine like I do. If you wonder why Thomas doesn’t stock stronger stuff, it’s because he’s saving you from eating whatever lives between his floorboards.”

Cedric gave a hearty laugh.

Regardless, the slightly depressing truth was that he hadn’t entirely jested. 

As an adventurer, he’d long been prepared for the worst. 

Unlike his companions, he didn’t take naturally to the art of slaying things with many more teeth than him. Thomas was denied S-rank solely because he was much better at avoiding Timon Quinsley than everyone else. Similarly, Liriane and Bodkins were overlooked as certain A-ranks simply because they were as adept at hiding in Thomas’s shadow as they were in actual shadows. 

Cedric was different. 

He really was a C-rank adventurer. A respectable rank. And the highest that most would ever reach. But also, in many ways, ordinary.

Relief, then–but also a touch of melancholy.

The Golden Hogs hadn’t saved the day. But perhaps that was all for the best.

Today, the plaudits were for someone else. 

The Golden Hogs were yesterday’s heroes. And if he could perform one last service, then it would be to support tomorrow’s. That was a worthy thing to do.

“Ah.” Bodkins suddenly tapped his ear. “I do believe Liriane has found a bar willing to endure her haggling. I’m not sure if our Lainsfonts have plans to join us, but we can save them a seat.”

“You’ll need to save me a seat as well, I’m afraid.”

“Surely not. Are you excusing the chance to be a menace in a public setting?” 

“The thought is appalling. But my lute can wait a few more moments. The rest of you may be keeping your copper rings in your pockets, but mine is still very much on.”

Bodkins offered the mildest look of sympathy he could while snorting.

“Then I’ll leave you to your business, guildmaster,” he said, already skipping away. “But be quick about it. Our reputation is too good in Wirtzhaven. We must amend this at once.” 

Cedric sighed as the halfling vanished, but not without making it clear just which group of bars along the docks they were going to be banned from later.

Just like old times. Except for one thing.

He now had responsibilities.

Cedric took a deep breath of the salt air, then left the docks to make his way into Wirtzhaven’s old town where the local guild hall was waiting.

He was a man far more flippant than he was professional. To offload his duties as Rolstein’s guildmaster onto his exasperated deputy so that he could go galavanting across the kingdom with no set destination was something he’d need to fork over half his salary in good wine just to pay back. 

But even he needed to work every now and again.

Fortunately for him, the Adventurer’s Guild was a large office. And every branch was a door.

“Good evening, Mr. Halls,” said the smiling receptionist on duty. “Welcome to the Wirtzhaven branch. It’s a pleasure to have you visiting us.”

Cedric smiled, offering a nod just shy of a bow as he entered.

If it wouldn’t raise eyebrows, he’d happily drop to his knees to offer his greetings instead.

The receptionists of the Adventurer’s Guild were the grease which kept the organisation functional through the worst that war, calamity and politics could offer. But more than that, they were the co-conspirators who helped ensure not everyone knew he wasn’t strictly behind his desk. 

He had an increasing amount to be grateful for.

“A fine evening to you,” he replied, not the least bit surprised that the receptionist recognised him. “Apologies for dropping in on your fine branch unannounced. I wasn’t planning on an official visit. I came to Wirtzhaven for a private matter.”

“Of course. How may I help you?”

Cedric glanced around the modest guild hall. 

Given that there were already adventurers back in their seats, he had no doubt the receptionist was aware of the commotion. He’d come just in time. Or so he hoped.

“I was present to see the cause of the, well … golden silhouette in the sky. I thought it’d be best to offer clarity and dispel any strange rumours about what that was. I don’t suppose Gaius is here?”

“My apologies, but Mr. Kessel isn’t currently in Wirtzhaven. Talina Florent is overseeing the branch in his absence. I believe she’s assisting the town guard with their inquiries and will return shortly.”

“Oh, I see. I’ll wait for Miss Florent to come back, then.”

“Understood. Would you like to wait in the office?”

“Thank you. I’ll do just that.” Cedric smiled as he prepared to be as nosy as possible. “... By the way, may I ask where Gaius has gone? He rarely leaves Wirtzhaven.”

“Mr. Kessel has left for a convocation.”

Cedric stopped no sooner than he began to move.

“Hm? A convocation?”

“Yes.”

“... Of guildmasters?”

The receptionist nodded. Cedric blinked.

“Oh … is it about me?”

“You were not on the stated agenda. The invitation from headquarters made clear the topic of discussion would be concerning Timon Quinsley’s conduct.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Cedric was stunned.

The Golden Hogs had reformed. Roseline was alive and Marina wasn’t setting the kingdom on fire. But this was the best news he’d heard all day.

“That’s astonishing. I thought the grouchy old fox could slip away from his own grave. Is he finally getting what’s coming to him?”

The receptionist professionally offered no reaction. She maintained her level smile.

“I’m uncertain how the discussions regarding Mr. Quinsley will take shape. However, I believe they’re likely to include clarifications regarding Miss Juliette.”

Cedric stared blankly.

He glanced behind him, as though expecting to see the adventurer he’d personally commissioned into the guild there. She certainly was proving popular.

Enough that Timon Quinsley, self-declared rascal, had poached her from his own far smaller branch.

“Why?” he asked, finding himself confused on Mr. Quinsley’s behalf. A convocation called for anything less than B-rank propositions was highly unusual. “What did Mr. Quinsley do? The man has always been an expert in skirting the limits of what’s acceptable. What’s the issue concerning Miss Juliette?”

“I believe it’s likely that headquarters heavily disapprove of Mr. Quinsley’s handling of Miss Juliette’s repeated promotions.”

Cedric was horrified.

After all–he never once thought that he’d take that codger’s side on anything.

“A convocation was called for this? That seems a rather blatant stretch, even for headquarters. Miss Juliette is an outstanding adventurer. Why, she’s even … well, let’s just say she’s exceptionally proficient. There are few who ascribe to the guild code as much as her. Her heart represents all that we stand for.”

Suddenly, the receptionist clapped her hands together and nodded.

“Yes, I agree! She’s a truly gentle soul. Her kindness, generosity and compassion is an example for all adventurers to follow. It would be ideal if everybody could be like her.”

“Q-Quite so,” said Cedric, slightly taken aback by this display of emotion. “Are they so desperate to be rid of Mr. Quinsley that they would pretend to take issue with a talented adventurer? Such a thing should be celebrated!”

“Indeed, it is a wonderful thing that a new S-rank is now among us.”

Cedric almost whacked the back of his head against the door, such were the amount of steps he took back.

“… S-rank?”

“Yes. She is the kingdom’s newest S-rank.”

For the first time in memory, words utterly failed Cedric.

On the road, news was delayed and his visits to the guild had been brief and focused, with all his time spent on locating Thomas’s daughter. By the time he’d learned that Miss Juliette had been offered the B-rank trials, she’d already passed it … and also everything else thrown her way as well.

But this … this was something else.

“ … When?”

“Very recently. Miss Juliette was assigned S-rank after resolving a highly volatile situation in Marinsgarde. The details of the incident are not yet fully publicised.”

Cedric’s jaw dropped open.

Marinsgarde.

Bodkins had alluded to an incident there. 

He’d heard rumours, of course. There and in many other places. About a rising star in the guild, whose light could dispel any darkness. But the more he’d heard, the less convinced he was that it wasn’t rumours creating more rumours.

It was little wonder that headquarters would demand answers.

When Cedric had first met that girl, his impression was a fish out of water. But her ability to resolve the Withering was an experience so humbling that he vowed to never question her acumen again.

Faith which was answered by the most ridiculous display of swordsmanship he’d ever seen.

She had, after all, launched a conjured magical bed like a cannonball into the sky by way of a localised hurricane which also sucked up his lute and now he had no idea where it was. 

A feat which accomplished mages could do. 

Except she was no mage. There was no magic involved. Just sheer discipline and strength of will, the likes of which only elven sword singers whose names were lost in a well of myths could mirror. 

“Heh … hahah … hahahahahah!”

Thus … he laughed.

Cedric Halls placed his hands upon his hips, caring not for the looks of confusion he drew from those around him. He simply leaned back and laughed, glad for the opportunity to witness something spectacular and amusing in equal measure even in the throes of semi-retirement.

Headquarters would never believe what Timon Quinsley had to say.

Nor would they believe any account by those under his vast network of acquaintances. 

The truth would win out eventually. But what damage would be caused to a young adventurer’s reputation if doubt was cast on the legitimacy of her rank now?

Guildmaster of a provincial branch that he was, Cedric would not allow that to happen.

“Is the convocation taking place in Reitzlake?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

A grin came in response.

Timon Quinsley thought himself a troublemaker.

Cedric would show him how it was done. 

He was a member of the Golden Hogs. And although he was yesterday’s hero, for an adventurer who was very much already an honorary member, he would be a hero for one day more.

“... Should I arrange for transportation?” asked the receptionist.

“Please do. I’ll need a sizable carriage. With horses as swift as are available.”

“Understood. I shall see to it at once.”

Cedric nodded in appreciation as the young receptionist offered a short bow.

She then made her way around the counter and swept past him, enthusiasm upon her smile, and also her contrasting eyes of scarlet and gold.