The RedCoat Guild

Outskirts of Mingham,
30 minutes later,

Bedivere walked in front of Arthur and Igraine, she held her ax with both hands, looking at it up and down for most of the road.

Arthur “What’s wrong with it?”

Bedivere “I don’t know, something just feels off, maybe it’s the handle? I’m not quite sure,” she spoke as she swung her ax a few times in the air.

Igraine “There should be a forge in town, or at the very least that’s what it said on the board at the entrance.”

Bedivere “Thank you Elfie, then that’s where I’ll go,” she spoke as she still was focused on her ax.

Arthur “Very well, then you will go to the forge, while me and Elfie will go to claim our reward at the Guild.”

Igraine nudges Arthur with her elbow.

Igraine “Not you too….”

Arthur “Queen Elfie,” he whispers in her ear in a joking manner.

She quickly pushes him to the side.

Igraine “Shhhh! Stop that! She could hear us!” She whispers back to him, while blushing and gently moving her index finger to her lascivious lips, moving her head towards Arthur and Bedivere a few times in a fast manner.

Arthur “She’s more focused on her ax, then anything right now, ISN’T THAT RIGHT?”

Bedivere “Stop your babbling! I’m trying to focus on this damn thing!”

Arthur “See?”

Igraine grabs Arthur’s hand, stopping him.

Arthur “What?”

Igraine “Thank you,” She spoke in a soft manner while looking down.

Arthur “What for?”

Igraine “Sparring that woman’s life today, I know the choice wasn’t easy,” she spoke as she raised her head looking at Arthur with a tender smile on her face.

Arthur “It was, for I had you at my side…. Elfie.”

Igraine “You’re not going to stop with that are you?”

Arthur “No.”

Bedivere “Will you two lovebirds stop and get a move on!” She shouted at them from meters away.

Igraine “AHHH! How many times must I tell you! It’s not… *Arthur starts giggling* And you! Aghhhh!”

Arthur “Let’s go lovebird, our companion is starting to get impatient,” he stated, jokingly.

Igraine “Ohhhh! Just you wait until we get home!”

Mingham,
The Guild house of Mingham,
20 minutes later,

Igraine&Arthur POV

???? “Back in one piece! And not a moment too late. But… I’m counting two out of three,” he spoke as he tried to look behind Arthur and Igraine, looking for the third member of the group.

Arthur “She’s at the forge,” Arthur responded as he placed the parchment on the counter, in front of the Guild advisor.

???? “I see… Well, considering that… I trust that you managed to finish the job?”

Arthur “Yes, although there were complications, you didn’t tell me that there were other humans in there.”

???? “What’s life without a few complications? Nothing is truly black and white now, is it?” He replied as he tore the parchment apart.

Arthur “I would like our payment, in silver,” Arthur replied, with a slight disgust of the man in front of him and his constant gazes.

???? “The payment will be processed, once I’ve made sure that you’re true to your words, come back tomorrow morning, and if you’re telling the truth, your payment will be ready for you, but if you do not…. Well… now that’s when things will get interesting…” He spoke in a sadistic tone.

Arthur “And how will you do that?”

???? “Ohhh… I have my ways…” He spoke as his eyes started changing in a manner of different colors.

???? “And before I forget, there’s someone here that wants to meet you,” he stated as he pointed at a tauren that was sitting at the back of the Guild hall.

Arthur turns his look at the tauren.

???? “Gullpp! Gullpp! Gullpp! Gullpp! Ahhhhh! *He smashes the wooden grog mug on the table* So it was one of you….” He spoke as he got up from the chair.

Standing at a towering height of 2 meters (around 6 feet and 7 inches), larger than most of its kin, with a massive frame that is only a testament to his physical strength. Muscular build, evident in every sinew and bulging muscle beneath their rugged, weathered hide. His fur, usually a deep shade of gray, is now bristling with tension, giving them an even more imposing presence.

???? “Small… human… You and your companion dared touch one of my Red coats, how do you intend to pay for the embarrassment you caused?” He spoke as he stood face to face with Arthur, towering over him.

Arthur “Embarrassment? That lies with the inadequacy of your own, not with mine.”

Arthur(Thinking) “Fuck! Fuck! This is Calvar, he used to work in our fields back when grandfather ruled, I didn’t think he would join the Guild after my father threw him out… Arghhhh… I don’t want to deal with one of the dark fur brothers at the moment….”

Calvar “Hahahhaha! You speak truth human! HAhahhaha! Guild assistant Zahar! Drinks! For my new friends! Come sit with me!”

Calvar grabbed the chair with one hand as he moved it for Igraine to sit.

Igraine “Thank you,” she replied as she sat down.

Arthur(Thinking) “My mother definitely recognizes Calvar as well, this is definitely a fight that I would very much like to avoid…. not because of Calvar himself… but…”

Calvar “What are you doing? Come, sit…”

Arthur “Yes…”

They all spend a few more minutes listening to Calvar, babbling about Mingham and how he used to live in the big city before, Igraine also sipped from the grog, even though she didn't particularly wanted to do so, it was a simple gesture so as to not make the tauren feel offended.

Calvar “Ahhhhhh! *Slam! The tauren forcefully strikes the wooden mug on the table, making Igraine snap in place, slightly scared* Now, on more serious business, I believe that you took something from me, and I would like it back…” Calvar spoke as his fumbling look and drunk demeanor changed into a sober and serious one.

Arthur “I’m assuming you mean the ax?”

Calvar “Exactly… those idiots were sent to polish it and bring it back, it was taken from them by one of yours… I expect for you to give it back with a bow of apology, or I too would take something from you… “ Calvar spoke as he turned his grinning look towards Igraine.

Bedivere POV

Bedivere “Is this it?” She asked herself, disappointed, while looking at the Mingham town’s forge.

A ramshackle structure, constructed from weathered timber and uneven stone. Its roof is a patchwork of mismatched thatch, constantly in need of repair, the walls are discolored from years of soot and grime. A rickety wooden sign bearing the image of an anvil and hammer hangs precariously above the entrance, its paint chipped and faded.

Bedivere enters the forge.

The forge itself is a crude but functional setup, with a large stone hearth dominating the center of the room. A roaring fire burns within, tended to by an old weary blacksmith who is dressed in tattered, sweat-stained clothes. The anvil, well-worn and pitted, stands beside the hearth, surrounded by various tools and half-finished weapons and armor. The tools are old and battered, reflecting the blacksmith's struggle to make do with limited resources.

Bedivere “Hello?”

???? “Arghhh…*The hunchback old man struggles to stand right, massaging his lower back with his right hand* Hello… What can old man Buck do for you young lady?”

Bedivere “Trust me old man, I’m not that young,” She replied as she put her ax on the counter.

Equipping an old and tattered brown apron a young man comes from the right side, as he hears the door of the forge opening.

Tristan “Welcome to the…. Ughh… It’s you…”

Old man Buck smacks Tristan.

Buck “What did I tell you to address our clients properly.”

Tristan “I’m sorry… dad…”

Tristan “Welcome to the Bucky forge, how may I be of assistance?” He asked, struggling to hold a smile while grinding his teeth.

Bedivere “Can’t the old man help me? I have absolutely no intention of speaking with you without bashing your head.”

Tristan “The feeling is mutual…” He replied, still struggling to hold a smile, grinding his teeth.

Buck “The boy will help you, I need to go and lie down for a bit.”

Tristan “Dad… don’t forget to…” He replies looking at old man Buck with a melancholic gaze.

Buck “I know… I know boy… you don’t need to remind me every 2 seconds.”

Tristan looks at the ax that was presented to him.

Tristan “How... How did you acquire this?” He asked in a terrified tone.

Bedivere ‘What’s it to you?”

Tristan “I’m not going to touch this, take it away from here.”

Bedivere “Why not?”

Tristan “Why should I tell you?”

Bedivere “At least tell me what’s wrong with it.”

Tristan “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

Bedivere “Something feels off… I can’t quite place it,” She replied as she grabbed the ax with both hands.

Tristan “Of course it does, this is meant to be a one handed ax.”

Bedivere “Ohhhhhhhh! It needs a sister! You were lonely, was that it?” She asked the ax while looking at it with puppy eyes.

Tristan “Ahhh! *Tristan shakes his head in disappointment* Just get that thing out of here…”

Arthur&Igraine POV

Igraine “Me? You want me for the ax?” Igraine shouted at Calvar as she stood up from the chair.

The entire Guild glanced at her for a few seconds, afterwards they went on about their business.

Calvar “Not indefinitely… just for a few nights, and you can have the ax, I think that’s a fair trade, is it not?”

Calvar looked at Arthur.

An eerie silence envelops the room. Sensing an intense moment that amplifies the tension in the room, some of the other Guild members rise up from their chairs, exiting the Guild. The atmosphere is charged with an impending sense of doom, as Arthur’s and Calvar’s aura hang heavily in the air.

Arthur “For both our sakes I will take this only as a simple joke, the ax was taken as a combat prize. If you would like to take something from me as well, it will only be taken if you manage to defeat me, which I would highly advise not to try.”

Calvar “I am not stupid, I can clearly see that there’s little hope for me defeating you, especially since I do not have my weapon, *Calvar gets up from his chair* But make no mistake, I will take back what is mine, and more, LET'S GO!”

Around 20 other individuals, humans, orcs, and tauren get up from their chairs, the moment Calvar shouted, following in lines behind Calvar.

Igraine “Uhhhhh….*She lets out a sigh in relief* That was…”

Arthur “I’ve noticed as well…”

Igraine “What do you think he’s doing here?”

Arthur “I have no idea, but we need to find out and fast… before the other one shows up.”