Chapter 44:The Night Owl Guild [Bonus]

Chapter 44: Chapter 44:The Night Owl Guild [Bonus]

The caravan stopped just outside the city walls. Daniel, Lyra, and Fluffy climbed out of the wagon. Daniel stretched his arms above his head, his joints popping. Lyra looked around, her eyes taking in the massive stone walls. Fluffy stayed close to Daniel, her ears twitching nervously.

The caravan driver waved at them. "Good luck," he said. Then he climbed back onto his wagon and drove toward the merchant entrance.

Daniel looked at the city gate. It was huge. Made of thick wood reinforced with iron. Two guards stood on either side, wearing simple armor and carrying spears. A line of people waited to enter.

"Come on," Daniel said. "Let’s get in line."

They joined the queue. It moved slowly. When they reached the front, one of the guards held up a hand.

"Entrance fee," he said. "One silver per person."

Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out three silver coins. He handed them over.

The guard counted them. Then he looked at Fluffy. His eyes narrowed.

"Is that a beast kin?" he asked.

Daniel nodded. "Yes."

"A slave?"

"Yes."

The guard looked at Fluffy’s neck. At the faint marks where the collar had been. His brow furrowed.

"Where’s her collar?"

Daniel met the guard’s eyes. His voice was calm. Steady.

"I don’t need one. Am strong enough to handle her."

The guard stared at him for a moment. Then he shrugged. "Your problem. Move along."

They entered the city.

Green Lake City was busy. People filled the streets. Merchants shouted from their stalls. Children ran between the crowds. Carts and wagons rolled along the cobblestone roads. Buildings rose on either side, tall and sturdy, made of stone and wood.

Lyra stopped walking. Her mouth fell open.

"It’s so... big," she said.

Daniel nodded. "It is."

Fluffy pressed closer to Daniel. Her ears were flat. Her eyes were wide. She had never seen so many people before.

"Fluffy doesn’t like it," she whispered. "Too many people."

Daniel patted her head. "It’s okay. Stay close to me."

They started walking. Daniel’s first priority was the library. He had promised Lyra. He wasn’t going to forget.

He stopped a passing merchant. "Excuse me. Where’s the library?"

The merchant looked at him. "The what?"

"The library. You know. A place with books."

The merchant shrugged. "Library? Who the fuck gives a fuck about books?" He walked away.

Daniel frowned. He stopped another person. A woman carrying a basket of fruit.

"Excuse me. Do you know where the library is?"

The woman laughed. "Library? What’s that? Some kind of new tavern?"

Daniel sighed. He stopped a third person. A young man with a bored expression.

"Library," Daniel said. "Books. Reading. Where?"

The young man pointed vaguely toward the east. "I think there’s something over there. Maybe."

Daniel followed his directions. They walked for twenty minutes. They found a dead end.

He stopped another person. An old woman with a kind face.

"Library? Oh, dear. I don’t think we have one. Not a public one, anyway."

Daniel’s eye twitched. "What do you mean, not a public one?"

The old woman leaned in. "The guilds have their own libraries. Private ones. For members only. The Night Owl Guild has the biggest. But you’d have to join to use it."

Daniel nodded. "Thank you."

He turned to Lyra. Her face had fallen. She looked disappointed. Defeated.

"A guild," she said quietly. "We have to join a guild."

Daniel looked at her. At her sad eyes. At her drooping shoulders. He remembered what she had told him in the desert. Her dream. To be an adventurer. To join a guild.

"Hey," he said. "Don’t look so down."

Lyra looked at him. "But the library..."

"We’ll find it. Or we’ll join a guild. Either way, you’re going to read that novel."

Lyra’s lips twitched. "You promise?"

"I promise."

They asked around for the Night Owl Guild. It took another thirty minutes. People were more helpful this time. Guilds were important. Everyone knew where they were.

They found the guild hall near the center of the city. It was a large building. Three stories tall. Made of dark stone. A sign hung above the door. An owl with glowing eyes, perched on a crescent moon.

Daniel looked at the sign. Then at Lyra. Then at Fluffy.

"Well," he said. "Here we are."

Lyra looked at the building. At the sign. At the door.

"The Night Owl Guild," she said. "Do you think they’ll let us join?"

Daniel shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

He pushed open the door.

Then a man stepped in front of them. He was tall. Muscular. His arms were crossed over his chest. A scar ran down the side of his face. He looked at Daniel. Then at Lyra. Then at Fluffy.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Daniel met his eyes. "We want to join the guild."

The man looked at him. At his clothes. At his posture. At the two girls behind him.

"You?" He laughed. "You want to join the Night Owl Guild?"

"Yes."

The man shook his head. "We don’t take just anyone. You have to prove yourself. You have to pass the test."

Daniel smiled. "Then let’s do it."

The man’s laughter stopped. He looked at Daniel. Really looked at him. At his eyes. At the way he stood. At the confidence in his posture.

"Fine," the man said. "Follow me."

Daniel looked at Lyra. She looked at him. He nodded.

They followed the man into the guild hall.