Setting Up Shop

 

Iris and Sera stepped out of the Merchant's Guild, the door closing behind them with a heavy thud that seemed to resonate with how hard Iris’s heart was pounding. She paused and shared a look with her partner, the new Adventurer’s Guild Head Administrator. Iris noticed how Sera’s eyes sparkled with a barely contained excitement. She was sure hers did as well.

We did it. We're making history here.

As Iris turned her attention to the front steps, she found Kaira and Tanith eagerly waiting. Iris couldn't help but break into a broad smile at the sight of them, relief and joy flooding through her veins.

In an instant, Kaira squealed—elation plain on her face—and sprinted toward Iris. She leaped with abandon, launching herself into Iris's arms. “You did it! Oh Eona, you did it!”

Iris chuckled, her arms adjusting swiftly to cradle Kaira’s weight which felt as light as air in her adrenaline-fueled state as the woman wrapped her legs around her midsection.

Just then, Tanith enveloped Sera in a whirlwind embrace. With the grace of a dancer, he lifted her up, spinning her around as though they were the only two people in the world. Sera’s giggles punctuated the air before Tanith set her back down and sealed their joy with a passionate kiss.

Iris’s brow arched slightly, half in amusement, half in competitive spirit.

So, that's how it's going to be, huh?

Seemingly reading her mind, Kaira slid her hand tenderly under Iris's chin, tilting her face gently towards her own. “We can't let them show us up, can we?”

Iris’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Hell no.”

Without another word, their lips met in a deep, triumphant kiss.

Upon their exit from the shared embrace, the group of four briskly headed toward the Frolicking Fawn Inn, their steps fueled by adrenaline and anticipation.

As the heavy door to the inn swung open, revealing the bustling crowd inside, a ripple of excitement coursed through the room. The glowing faces of Iris, Sera, Kaira, and Tanith left no doubt as to the outcome of the meeting.

From the far corner, Gryff's voice boomed over the cacophony, “To the Adventurer's Guild! Lehelia's first native guild! Drinks on our very own Grandmaster!”

As the room roared in agreement, Iris grinned broadly. “Damn right! Lehelia’s got its own guild now, bitches! First round's on me, but hear this,” she raised her hand with a glint of mischief in her eyes, “don’t you dare let my mug go dry tonight! Let's get fucked up!”

The inn responded with a deafening cheer.

No sooner had Iris’s words settled, than Akane and Mocha barreled into her, ensnaring both Iris and Kaira in a tight embrace that had even Kaira laughing.

Every corner of the inn brimmed with congratulations. Laken and Bree were quick with their heartfelt wishes, while Gryff, in his exuberant way, gave Iris a hearty slap on the back followed by her first mug of ale. She retaliated with a playful punch to his arm. Gryff's wince only added to her satisfaction.

In the midst of the celebration, kegs were drained at record speed. Even those who had been strangers at the start of the afternoon were bonding, all reveling in the birth of Lehelia's first native guild. Though Iris splurged on the initial round, true to her shout, no one let her mug go empty. The refilling of her mug even became a game to see who would be the next one to get her a drink.

With a drink in hand, Iris made it her mission to introduce Kaira to everyone, her declarations becoming more exaggerated with each refill. My elven girlfriend might be blushing, but everyone needs to know she's the best thing ever.

A giddy thrill pulsed through Iris. If one could fly on feelings alone, this euphoria would have her soaring over the highest peaks without a second thought.

The day turned to night and the party didn’t end. Her party had all spread out amongst the taproom, each doing what they enjoyed most.

Akane was a whirlwind of mischief, pulling harmless pranks that left the crowd laughing at each person targeted. Surprisingly, people took her appearance in good stride, especially after Iris drunkenly explained it happened because of the Flash. When next to each other, her striking resemblance to Iris often led to many mistaking them for twins.

Which led to Kaira telling one guy off, and Bree having to come over and help hold the elf back when the two were drunkenly propositioned.

Later, when the former Guard Captain wasn’t threatening the lives of people hitting on her girlfriend, Bree sat at a table and started strumming her lute. Soon she was serenading the room with her voice, followed by finding her first groupie in Neri, the telv girl hanging on to every word and note with rapt focus.

It was adorable.

Amidst the revelry, Gryff seamlessly slipped into the role of a captivating storyteller, regaling a couple of girls with thrilling tales of their recent adventures. His bearded telv countenance animated with each recount, making Iris wonder if he had missed his calling. By the time she looked again, Gryff and the two companions had vanished into the night.

Mocha took a seat across from a group of heavyset telv men who were deep in the throes of a rowdy game of cards. The cute sun elf convinced them to let her join, which even prompted one man to pass her some coin to get started. The rest was history. After a few unsuccessful rounds that had the men laughing and offering to teach her, Iris caught a brief glint of mana in Mocha's eyes followed by a predatory smirk. Ah, shit here we go, Iris thought. What followed was an absolute decimation of the table and a growing mountain of gleaming copper and silver pieces in front of her friend.

When Iris had seen Mocha’s excerpt, she didn’t realize that her best friend’s [Don't Worry, I Got This] would be even more potent than she first thought.

Praetor Hana made a surprising appearance in the inn, looking almost unrecognizable without her armor. She quickly caught sight of the horse-in-disguise and joined the table to take part in the high-stakes game. In no time, it became evident that she demonstrated an uncanny ability to call out the magical horse’s bluffs.

By the end of their game, Mocha had grudgingly parted with half her previous winnings.

Across the room, Iris noticed Laken animatedly conversing with a dwarf whose striking red beard was adorned with intricate braids. The topic of discussion was Laken’s owl bear and its impressive size. However, the suggestive glances the dwarf shot back had Iris suspecting that he might be misinterpreting the subject entirely.

Oh, Laken, you’ve no idea.

The evening was undeniably one for the books. But the reality of responsibilities loomed on the horizon.

Eventually, the night came to an end, and Kaira helped Iris away from the dwindling taproom at the polite requests of the innkeeper.

Stumbling back to her room, Iris, emboldened by her inebriated state, attempted to coax Kaira into some playful mischief. The experienced former Guard Captain, however, had other plans. With a sultry hand on Iris's chest and a seductive gleam in her eye, Kaira sent her sprawling onto the bed. This could be—

The world started to whirl around her.

Damn room, stop spinning.

She spent the remainder of the night with a bucket for company, with Kaira playing caretaker as she both held Iris’s scarlet hair and gently reprimanded her for going too far.

Eventually, Iris’s last groggy thought before sleep claimed her was a simple one.

Totally worth it.

 

✦     ✦     ✦

 

The next couple weeks flew by in a whirlwind of activity, Summer was finally over, and its end brought the first chill of Autumn. The city, however, didn’t seem to care as the hustle and bustle never seemed to abate. Today… Today was an important day. Just another step in the future.

She watched Mocha and Akane rush ahead of her and Kaira.

“Come on, Iris! We have to hurry!” Mocha called out over her shoulder.

“I’m coming! Calm down!”

But she didn’t. Today was an important day and one that had come much quicker than they had thought. It seemed that Praetor Hana had been almost prescient when she had spoken highly of the Church’s Archpriestess.

Word had quickly come back from the leader of the world’s sole organized religion. And now they were going to a meeting.

“They’re excited,” Kaira said with a smirk.

“I mean, wouldn’t you? We both know what this meeting is about.”

“True enough.”

They continued down the street until they reached the city’s temple.

When Iris, Kaira, Mocha, and Akane stepped through the towering, ornate doors of the temple, their faces mirrored a mixture of anticipation and solemnity.

The meeting they were about to have was no trivial matter—she expected that they were about to have to argue for the recognition of Mocha and Akane as beings deserving of personhood. They were led into a room adorned with rich tapestries, and flickering candles casting a celestial glow over the stone walls, to meet the temple's triad of power: the High Priestess, the Hierophant, and the Praetor.

Iris had been prepared for a long debate, perhaps even a moral tug-of-war, where she would have to gather witnesses or evidence. Yet, to her surprise, the meeting unfolded with an almost surreal simplicity. And she learned then that Praetor Hana joining them at the bar was no mistake, she’d done it specifically to interact with Mocha and Akane.

Then, the High Priestess, in her flowing robes that seemed to carry the weight of centuries, extended her arms and blessed Mocha and Akane as children of Eona, handing over documentation that affirmed their newfound status.

Sometimes things do go more smoothly than you anticipate, Iris mused, exhaling a sigh of relief she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

As if scripted, Ser Meredith was conveniently waiting for them outside the temple, like a sentinel. After greeting them, she escorted them to Lady Arden's chambers at the castle—a sanctuary of elegant tapestries and the lingering scent of lavender along with her massive desk.

Iris and Kaira stood back while Akane and Mocha were invited to sit in front of Thalia. The woman went through a speech about the obligations that all citizens hold, their rights, and a brief overview of the law.

Mocha happily chimed in that they had been learning about elf laws and culture at the temple.

After speaking to them and having them swear a pledge to strive to be good citizens, she smiled and produced two documents.

With her quill barely making contact with parchment, Lady Arden granted citizenship to both magical creatures, as if the ink itself were imbued with the gravity of her words. The momentous event then segued into an equally significant topic—the harpies and their Cursed Forest.

Iris listened intently as Lady Arden explained that while she had researched the subject and determined that she did indeed have the authority to grant land to Lady Nysera, the deed hadn't been formally carried out.

Thalia explained, “Once your Adventurer’s Guild is operational, I intend to issue a quest for an escort for my representative to meet the Harpy Queen.”

Both Mocha and Akane were quick to agree. Kaira, although a touch more reserved, sighed before conceding she would join the quest once the Guild was in a position to accept formal assignments.

The two had clearly understood what their new status meant.

Iris, her eyes locking with each of theirs, promised, “That will be soon.”

Promises have weight, especially in the beginning stages of something like a newly formed Guild. The thought carried a twinge of urgency, yet also filled her with a resolute sense of purpose. We're laying the foundations for something monumental here; every stone, every promise, every piece of parchment—it all counts.

With her two magical sisters almost skipping along behind her, they left the room.

Before turning right back around and making Akane fix the chair she somehow illusioned and swapped places with a small table while literally everyone was around her.

I still have zero clue how she’s able to do this so easily.

Getting caught still didn’t mellow the kitsune’s excitement and she easily returned to swaying her three tails back and forth as she bounded out of the castle.

“Alright, let’s head back to the inn. I have to meet with Sera and go check out the Guild Hall.”

Kaira reached over and squeezed her hand. “Good luck! You have Lady Arden’s support, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Nope! We have a busy couple of weeks before we can take possession of it though. I can’t wait!”

Akane turned. Her eyes were suddenly wide as she must have realized the same thing Iris had earlier.

“I’m an adventurer!”

“Me too!” Mocha cried out as she spun around in place.

Iris chuckled. “Yes, you two are now official adventurers by order of the Grandmaster, herself. But! We need to get the guild hall set up, and that’s next week.”

 

✦     ✦     ✦

 

Iris stood resplendent in her full adventurer's attire, the red fabric flowing and spot-free thanks to Seamstress Marlena’s help while the steel armor glinted in the sunlight. She had to admit, she looked damn good and every part the adventurer.

This was a big moment, and she had to look the part of Grandmaster.

Beside her, their fingers intertwined, Kaira looked every bit as formidable in her own gear. While she had removed all insignia and accoutrement that had previously denoted her as part of the City Guard, she still looked like an elf knight in what was undoubtedly armor only fit for a noble.

Sera stood on her other side, exuding confidence, while Deldri, their new telv esquire with her distinguished brown hair shot through with streaks of grey, waited with an air of anticipation. She was a long-time esquire affiliated with the guilds and was very excited to join in with such a historical new opportunity.

Opposite them was a city bureaucrat and another esquire who represented the inn's previous owners.

The bureaucrat leafed through the documents one last time, allowing a satisfied smile to cross his face. After fishing around in his leather document holder, he produced some sheets of paper. “Here we have the approved bill of sale and the deed,” he remarked, handing them over to Deldri.

Deldri perused the documents intently, her eyes scanning every word before giving Sera a subtle nod of approval. Meanwhile, the owner's representative handed Iris a heavy ring, adorned with a collection of keys.

The keys to our future.

With everything in order, the city official beamed at Iris. “Grandmaster Stuart, allow me to officially welcome the Adventurer's Guild to its new home.”

Iris's lips curved into a gracious smile. “Thank you so much for all of your assistance in ensuring this proceeded as timely as possible. We certainly appreciate it.”

He chuckled. “When Lady Arden personally asked me to ensure you were well taken care of, I knew I couldn’t hesitate. Not to mention, it’s not every day that I get to help in some small way for a new guild to be formed! And in my queendom at that… Ah… Thank you for allowing me to take part in this.”

Iris smiled. “Please, think nothing of it. You’ve been great. I’ll definitely let Thalia–sorry, Lady Arden know about how efficiently you work.

His eyes widened at her ‘slip’ of the familiarity she shared with Lady Arden and thus showed just how influential she was already.

I probably fucked that up, but it felt right. Fucking politics.

He nodded quickly and congratulated them again before gathering his things and moving to speak with Sera. As the Head Administrator wrapped up with formalities, Iris took a moment to survey their new headquarters.

The inn was majestic with its stone facade facing the city's main thoroughfare. In front of them stood an ornate archway that led pedestrians through a gate into a spacious courtyard and manicured grounds that wrapped around the right side of the structure. To either side of the gate was a wrought iron fence atop a short stone wall that stretched outward, enclosing the majority of the property. To further ensure privacy, large, meticulously groomed hedges stood behind this barrier. Just beyond the courtyard was the actual main entrance of the hall.

To her left, the inn’s fencing parted to expose a fancy cafe that boasted an entrance directly from the main street. Further down was the large gate that led to the stables and storage with space for carriages and animals of all types. 

Which was perfect for Owlie because Laken was having some trouble finding a place for his companion to stay.

The courtyard and surrounding grounds, which were even more expansive in the rear, would become the spot for training, spars, and evaluations after they did some landscaping. Like she'd learned before, and saw when she was given a tour inside a few days ago, there was an upscale bar that still included all of the tables and chairs. Not to mention, the former cafe that would be transformed into the guild shop. Which would suit them perfectly.

 To be honest, the place was way grander than what they should have, but its status for the queendom as a whole required it. Iris could live with a bit of luxury, but with the type of people that would soon be coming through here, she wouldn't be surprised if it got roughed up a bit.

I wonder how long it'll be before we have to repair something.

Still, Sera had truly outdone herself and with Lady Thalia Arden’s nudge of a recommendation, they were going to have a prime location to start with. They’d definitely need to hire more people, as the location was simply too large for the small staff that the guild currently had.

What was once a center of luxurious temporary lodging and eating for visiting nobles was being transformed into a nexus of adventure and discovery.

And probably a bit of mayhem.

When the two officials had departed, a tangible excitement permeated the group. Sera’s grin mirrored her enthusiasm. “It’s a new chapter for us. We have a lot to set up. I've asked Tanith to grab some food for everyone and the other staff will help him bring it here around the midday bell.”

“Neri's got some errands to run for us, with some help from Akane and Mocha,” Iris interjected. “They'll be here soon.”

“What else did we need?” Kaira asked. “I thought the inn came fully furnished.”
“It does,” Iris said. “But we learned that simple things like plate ware and such aren’t here. Just furniture. We also need office supplies, but I think—”

“Yes, yes. I will handle all of that with Deldri this week, Iris. Ugh, let me enjoy this moment. We’re not even inside.”

Iris chuckled. “Sorry, stole your moment.”

Sera scowled a bit before she stood straighter and extended her arm, gesturing towards the inn's grand entrance. “Are you ready to embark on this, Grandmaster?”

Iris smirked, “Always, my friend.”

“Well then, lead on,” Sera declared with a dramatic flourish.

Chuckling, Iris reluctantly released Kaira's hand and approached the entrance. She sifted through the set of keys, selecting the largest and most ornate. As she slid it into the lock, she paused for a deep breath.

Here we go.

With a turn of the key, the door yielded, and Iris stepped into the heart of their new adventure.

The vast emptiness of the former inn, now the Guild Hall of the Adventurer's Guild, swallowed the four occupants. The muted sound of their footsteps on the wood flooring was the only hint of life in the grand space.

Iris stood at the threshold, her gaze capturing every nook and cranny of what was now her domain. Behind her, Sera, Kaira, and Deldri followed suit, their silhouettes cast long shadows in the dimly lit hall.

Sera's voice cut through the quiet reverence. Turning to Deldri, she said, “We have some crates in the wagon outside. Mind giving me a hand?”

Deldri, her gaze fixed on the intricacies of the ceiling, snapped back to the present and nodded. 

The Head Administrator continued, “After that, we can ask Gefrey to check on the stables and see what he needs to settle the horses in there, and probably…” She looked at Iris for confirmation.

“Owlie.”

“Yes, the owl bear aptly named ‘Owlie’. Of course, this is what we have to look forward to.”

Iris shrugged. “Probably not the craziest thing. I mean, you haven’t even seen Akane in her true form yet.”

Sera took a deep breath. “That can wait until my heart can handle it.”

Iris smirked. “Easy there Sera or Tanith will get jealous.”

The woman scowled. “That is not what I meant and you know it. I meant she caused a fright.”

Cause a fright? Really?

The Grandmaster rolled her eyes.

With that, the two members of the support team moved out, their retreating steps echoing through the space for a moment before they exited the wide double doors, leaving Iris and Kaira enveloped in the vast silence.

Kaira, her voice soft, remarked, “Quite the journey you've had, huh? Like you said, across the stars and—”

“Into your heart. Yup.”

Kaira snorted. “That was corny as fuck. How do you come up with these lines?”

Iris moved closer and pulled the smaller elf to her. “Because you love my cheesy lines.”

She leaned close,  ready to kiss… only to get a palm instead.

Her eyes shot open. “Woah! What the?”

“We have work to do. Now, can you be serious?”

Iris merely nodded, her eyes still surveying the expansive room. Overwhelming... she mused internally. “Yes. Sorry, all of this?” she said gesturing to the space around them. “It's... monumental.”

The main entrance area was defined by a sprawling space dominated by a grand hearth, dormant and waiting for a flame to breathe life into it once again. Adjacent to the hearth was a counter that had once welcomed countless guests. Now, it would serve as the central hub for adventurers and quest givers to conduct business with the Guild.

The swinging double doors across the open space on the other side of the central hearth led to a taproom, where tales of exploits would be shared over drinks. There was even a large kitchen attached in another room, along with stairs down to a cellar that was nearly as expansive as the first floor.

They weren’t sure what all they’d put down there yet.

Sera had spoken of a vault.

To one side, large windows revealed the spacious cafe overlooking the street, which would be converted into the Guild Shop where they would stock essential supplies for adventurers along with filling the room with unique trinkets and resources they'd find on quests.

She couldn’t wait.

On the wall in front of the counter near the entrance was where they planned to place the quest board so that it would be easily visible from all angles of the main area.

It was to be divided into ranks and tiers. Deldri had even already created template forms that would be used to detail everything about a quest and hired a team of scribes to create hundreds of copies

Iris's gaze trailed to the wall behind the counter, where a small staircase led to a segregated area of the hall. Up the stairs was a hallway with five offices that were originally used by the innkeeper and their staff. The largest at the end of the hall would now be hers, followed by individual offices for Sera and Deldri, then an administrative space for the receptionists, and lastly, a room for records and files.

Sera already had a plan to have a more secure door installed in that final room.

Next to the taproom’s entrance was the staircase that led to the second floor. Previously rooms for the inn's guests, would now be transformed into storage spaces, a clinic for an eventual healer, hopefully a place for a lite version of the Ceremony of the Paths,  and meeting rooms. The floor above that one would house hostel-style rooms of various sizes for adventurers who needed last-minute accommodations.

It was perfect.

“Shall we?” Kaira's voice brought Iris back. “We need to set things up before everyone arrives. Get these shutters open and let some light in.”

“You're right,” Iris responded, the weight of responsibility starting to settle on her. “Let's get to it.”

Kaira grinned and playfully elbowed her companion, heading to the taproom. Left alone for a moment, Iris's mind wandered. Soon, the nineteen members of the guild would fill the space and while their numbers were modest now, growth was inevitable.

Especially with Thalia Arden advocating for volunteers from both her own House Guard and the city’s guards to bolster their numbers. The woman was passionate and dedicated to giving the guild a proper start.

Once they cleared the unnecessary furniture, Iris knew Thalia would spare no expense in ensuring the Guild Hall stood as a proud emblem of both its purpose and the city it called home.

Some people would suggest Iris not give the City Lady so much leverage or power over her, but Iris had to be honest. All the refurnishing, decorating, supplying, and structural changes that were still needed were going to be expensive as fuck.

She did say the signage would be ready by the end of the week too.

Yeah, Iris would take the help in a second.

Plus, Thalia genuinely seems like a good woman. I can work with her.

Iris followed after Kaira and entered the tap room. As Kaira grabbed a worn broom from the back that was left behind, Iris went around to all the windows and started opening shutters to let light into the space.

By the time she was finished with the entire front area of the hall and returned to the taproom, Kaira was removing the chairs that had been set upside down on the tables and sliding them under.

“Need a hand?” she asked.

Kaira gave her a flat look. “Yes, but don't come to my table, find your own!”

Iris chuckled and quickly moved on to another to start removing chairs as well.

With the last table set up, Iris heard excited voices from the main area. “We have company,” she told Kaira.

“You know who that is.”

Yeah, I do.

Sure enough, Akane, Mocha, and Neri came into the taproom carrying crates.

Neri’s eyes darted around the area. “Let's put these on the bar,” she said with a bit of strain to her voice.

The poor girl was clearly struggling so Iris rushed over and grabbed the crate from her and carried it over to the bar where Akane and Mocha were already opening crates.

“Be right back,” Neri said. “The man who helped us was dropping off the other crates outside.”

Kaira shook her head. “I'll go, you start getting everything unpacked.”

Neri sighed with relief. “Thanks…”

Iris hustled after Kaira to help.

Walking through the entrance, the sounds of a creaky wagon and horse hooves faded in the distance, signaling the departure of the man who had brought the crates. Outside, the city was coming alive with the early evening hustle, but inside the Guild Hall, a new energy was forming.

Four crates lay there, and Iris shrugged. “Load me up.”

“Don’t overdo it, Iris.”

“Look, I got the stats, I just can’t pick them all at once. Load me up.”

Her girlfriend rolled her eyes but did as Iris asked, and soon Iris was following slowly behind Kaira with a stack of three crates while the elf carried the last.

Inside the taproom, the rhythmic clatter of plates and mugs filled the air. The counter was being arranged with care by three figures: Mocha, Akane, and Iris. The clinking sound of flatware being placed finally subsided, followed by the twin sighs from Mocha and Akane.

Mocha pushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Feels like we’ve been at this for hours.”

Iris shot a concerned look their way. “You two holding up okay?”

Akane, rolling her shoulders to ease tension, offered a weary smile. “Good, but tired.”

Mocha nodded. “Same. But tonight is good! All coming.”

Before anyone could reply, a voice echoed, “Hello?”

Kaira tensed, but Iris was swift in her reaction, lifting a hand to signal the elf to stay put. “I've got this.”

She walked out to the main area where three people—a telv man and woman along with a high elf woman—were standing there awkwardly looking around.

Iris stepped forward, her voice full of warmth. “Hello there! Please excuse the mess; we’ve just moved in. Can I help you?”

Recognition flashed in the telv woman's eyes. “Miss Iris?”

A vague sense of familiarity tugged at Iris's memory. Who are you? “Yes?”

Nope, nothing.

“You may not remember me because you left soon after, but I’m Lyra? I worked at the Frolicking Fawn Inn. Miss Sera hired me to be the bartender.”

Realization dawned on Iris. That’s right! The barmaid who inspired our very own bar setup. “Lyra! I’m sorry, it’s been quite some time. With everything going on, it slipped my mind.”

Footsteps signaled the arrival of Sera and Deldri. Sera, spotting Lyra, lit up in recognition. “Ah, you're already here! Did you bring the food and provisions?”

Guilt prickled at Iris as she realized she hadn’t acknowledged the other two newcomers. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t get your names.”

The woman chuckled. She nodded toward the man and jerked her head toward Iris while she addressed Sera, the two discussing food.

The telv man looked up at her and smiled. “Hi! I was hired to be one of the barmen. I’m Jonik.”

“Iris Stuart,” she responded, shaking his offered hand. “I suppose I’m the Grandmaster here.”

Jonik's eyes widened slightly, pulling his hand back a tad too quickly. “Oh, apologies, ma’am. I wasn’t expecting—”

Iris chuckled. “You’re fine. We’re the Adventurer’s Guild, not some noble House. Some of the others are already back in the taproom. I suppose you guys want to go help?”

“Yeah, if that’s alright with you,” Lyra added.

“Of course.”

The high elf woman and Sera finished their conversation, and Iris’s friend introduced her as Falene their cook. Apparently, Tanith was already parking a wagon behind the kitchen filled with food, drink, and other perishables and they were on the way in to come help unload and get everything sorted.

A jovial voice boomed, “What have we here?”

As Gryff, Bree, and Laken sauntered in, Iris’s heart swelled with joy. Turning to Sera and Deldri, she said, “I'll handle the greetings. Shout if you need anything.” The duo nodded, suppressing laughter as they departed.

Facing her party, Iris beamed. “Welcome, you scoundrels, to our new home!”

Laken shifted nervously. His gaze darted between Iris and the door leading outside. “I can't linger. I left Owlie in the stables, and I'd rather not leave the stablehand with her too long.”

Understanding filled Iris’s eyes. “Go on then, make sure Owlie is settled. We’ll manage here. Once you're done, meet us in the taproom, alright?”

His relief was palpable, a smile brightening his features. “Honestly, at this rate, I'll be living here more than my own place.”

Iris raised an eyebrow playfully. “Well, you did choose a bear as a companion.”

Laken’s expression turned mockingly offended as he stretched his arms out, showing off his pride. “Who could resist such a choice?”

She chuckled, “Fair enough, I wouldn’t have.”

Bree, looking anything but amused, interjected, “I sure as hell would've. Owlie seems to have this idea that I’m a good spot to lounge on.”

Laken, already halfway to the door, threw a teasing grin her way. “Only because she’s fond of you!”

Gryff snorted, nudging Bree, “It’s because you're bite-sized. Almost like a comfy cushion.”

"Or perhaps, an appetizer," Iris commented with a smirk.

"Hey! I'll have you know I have been told that I am... Oh, wait. Yeah. That tracks."

"You are what?" Gryff prodded.

"She's a tall drink of water, Gryff. Anyone would be lucky to have this absolute snack right here. You were too busy flirting to see the adoring fans Bree had when she started singing."

Caught off-guard, Bree's voice was a mix of embarrassment and pride. “Hold on—”

Gryff's feigned innocence only served to fuel the jests. “Oh? I would say that I am sorry that I missed it, but honestly... no, I'm not.”

“It's okay because while you had two girls listening to your embellished stories, she had a whole crowd of girls staring at her fingers strum her lute.”

“Woah, woah—”

“I can't say that I'm surprised,” Gryff said while stroking his beard exaggeratedly. “Well, actually I can just say that I'm surprised it took this long. She’s always strumming her lute. Just everywhere we go, plucking away.”

Bree threw her hands up in exasperation, “Oi! I'm right here you twats!”

Gryff and Iris’s laughter echoed through the hall.

 

✦     ✦     ✦

 

The natural light from the outdoors shined through the windows of the taproom, casting muted shadows over its occupants as the door creaked open. The orkun merchant from Fenren Trading House, Lucille of Blighwych,  walked in and quickly took in the gathered people. She greeted Iris with a courteous nod and a few exchanged words of gratitude, before she swiftly beelined to Sera and Tanith, her every move hinting at her excitement to be there.

Everyone mingled and talked while Sera slipped out of the room with Neri and Deldri in tow.

Iris sat and talked with her party while Akane and Mocha moved from table to table trying to make friends with anyone and everyone.

The kitsune introduced herself as Adventurer Akane, something they had figured out just that week at the temple.

A couple of bells later, Sera and the others had returned and joined in the conversations. As they were standing there, a rustle from the door diverted Iris’s attention back to the entrance. The three familiar faces from Stilstead village stepped in, drawing a welcoming grin from Iris. “Glad you could make it! Come, join us.”

The telv woman, her hair cascading over her shoulders, beamed, waving at Sera. “Apologies for our tardiness. We were, unfortunately, misled.” She cast a playful glare at the high elf man beside her. “Someone here insisted it was in the old town.”

“I said I was sorry!” He protested, throwing his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

As the bickering continued, Neri, eyes shining with enthusiasm, dashed forward. “You're the other receptionist, right? I'm Neri!”

Matching Neri's eagerness with a chuckle, the woman introduced herself, “I'm Audrielle. The misinformed guide here is Findal, and this,” pointing to the third man, “is Divaro. We hail from Stilstead.”

“And how long do you intend to stay with us before heading home?” Iris asked.

Audrielle, not missing a beat and seeming accustomed to taking charge, responded, “Until I'm fully equipped with the knowledge to helm a minor branch.” Her gaze shifted to Iris, laden with respect. “Assuming that aligns with your wishes, Grandmaster.”

Iris let out an amused snort, raising a hand dismissively. “Just 'Iris' will do.”

Sera, however, saw an opportunity for a lesson. She moved closer, her voice clear and authoritative, capturing the attention of the room. “It's essential we maintain titles within the guild, but amongst us in settings such as this when Iris okays it, informality is permitted. To the outside world, she is to be addressed with the same reverence due to a high noble like any other Grandmaster of the Guilds. This standard we set will be mirrored across all of Ikios.”

“Ah, yeah,” Iris said with a wince. She was still getting new to all of this responsibility. “Yeah, sorry guys! Sera’s right. We have to do this right. It’s new for all of us, but we’ll get it!”

Kaira chuckled. “We’ll help out, we’re used to a bit of order in the Guard.”

“Yeah, Captain’s right. We’ll get it, but I think the Adventurer’s Guild is different,” Bree said. “I think there’s something there. Instead of being overly formal, what about something more… fitting? Use titles, we can even have a little adventurer-only ceremony where people are given their titles by other adventurers.”

Iris smiled. “I love it! We’ll figure it out. We do need our own stuff that makes us… us. So, how about this… When we deal with customers, we’re professional, when we deal with important people, we’re formal. I haven’t dealt with the Mercenary or Blades Guilds, but I would assume they’re similar.”

“They are,” Tanith called out. “The Guard’s Guild is as well. We’re different than the more mercantile guilds. It’s expected and understandable.”

Iris nodded. “Sounds great! If anyone else has suggestions or anything, feel free to approach me. I want to have an open-door policy. I don’t know how other Grandmasters do it, but I’m one that likes to be involved and I will be taking quests of my own.”

A smattering of approving murmurs filled the room, signaling the collective support of the small staff. It would do for now.

She turned back to Sera and quirked an eyebrow, “So, Sera, why just a Branch Head for her?”

Sera explained, “Given the village's size, they won't have a Guildmaster. They'll look to us, or a future branch in Cosdale for many services. We don’t want to inundate people like Audrielle here with extensive work when she may very well be the only one to represent us there.”

Gryff's laughter echoed from a distant table, his jest clear. “Sounds like more work for you, Iris!”

With a smirk, Iris retorted, “Watch it, or you'll find yourself swamped too! I hear the stables need stocked and set up for the horses, the poor stablehand is out there getting everything ready now!”

“It’s not nice to talk about Laken that way!” he quickly retorted.

Shaking her head in amusement, Iris nodded to Sera, signaling her understanding. “Thanks for clarifying.”

Sera, ever the leader, gathered everyone's attention once more. “Let's get down to business. The coming weeks will be hectic. Every hand here will be vital. Adventurers, in the absence of a quest, this will be your main duty. This evening we’re going to let our taproom staff get used to serving a group of people to give them some practice. For now, we leave them to get their area set up. The rest of us are going to start moving unneeded furniture to the great room. Lucille, we’re still good for the buyers to come and see everything tomorrow, yes?”
The green orkun woman nodded, her lips pursed around her tusks. “They’ll be here, we just need everything ready to go.”

“Perfect.” Sera turned back to the group. “Alright, everyone! While everyone was in here chatting for the last bell, Neri, Deldri, and I went around to all of the rooms. If the door is shut, nothing is leaving. If it is open, stuff is leaving. Some of the items will be moved down to the cellar for the time being, or reused elsewhere. We will be spread out and pointing out what to take and what not to. Everyone understand?”

A chorus of nods greeted her words.

“Fantastic. Let’s get to work!”

Akane jumped up. “I can carry more in my true form!”

Iris's hand reached out in a vain attempt to stop her, a cloud of mana obscured her for a moment before the dire fox leaped out and looked around. Sounds of surprise echoed, especially from newer staff members witnessing this transformation for the first time.

“For those of you who haven’t seen this side of Akane,” Iris called out. “This is her. She’s the same person, able to understand you, though her vocal cords are a bit… limited in this form.”

Akane yipped. ‘Yeah! Let’s get to work, sillies!’

Iris sighed as the Kitsune’s [Sisterly Love] trait allowed them to finally communicate without Mocha translating.

“Well, she’s got the spirit right. Let’s get moving. We have a lot to do.”

As the room stirred into action, Sera began assigning roles and directing movement with military precision.

A soft voice halted Iris. “Iris.”

Iris shifted her gaze to her best friend and sister. “What's up, Mocha?”

“Why are you still in that damn armor? Ditch it. It's not needed.”

She’s gotten a lot better at speaking since learning at the temple.

Sharing a conspiratorial look with Kaira, who was equally armored, Iris responded with a chuckle, “Let’s get some shit done, then Kaira and I can go change before dinner. How about that? I don’t mind working in this.”

‘You’re going to have so much boob sweat,’ the fox yipped in a cheeky tone. ‘It’s gonna be smelly. Warn me so I can change back first. No one wants to smell that.’

“No one wants to smell a wet dog either.”

Mocha snickered. “Well played! But she does have a point, sis.”

Akane's yip sounded indignant. ‘I am a fox! Not a smelly mutt. There's a difference!’

Kaira rolled her eyes. “Honestly, it's like babysitting. Can we get on with it?”

A fond smile curved Iris's lips as she observed her newfound family. Regardless of the chaos, they were hers.

Her reverie was interrupted by a playful swipe of three tails across her face. ‘Last one there gives up their dessert for a month!’ the fox yipped.

Iris grinned, a playful electrical charge dancing on her fingertips.

Being the eldest means setting the young ones straight once in a while.