I had placed my order with the blacksmith before we had taken the last request with the guild. I had requested some new leather boots, whilst they lacked protection, they made walking over longer distances more manageable. I also picked up a dark green cloak, black breeches and a black gambeson with a steel chest plate. The chest plate had a solid v shape in the upper centre. The plate was plain apart from the trims and stitching emerald green.

'Good enough quality for you?' 

'yeah, that will do the job... I'm also in need of a new weapon. Do you have anything special?'

'I heard how you lost your last?' he said with a scowl. 'Do you know how long it takes for me to make a blade like that?'

I shrugged and, for a second, I said nothing. Until I saw a Warhammer, it had a shorted black handle, making it useable for single-hand use or dual. The head was silver with golden runes caved in it, one side was a sharp point, and the other resembled a meat tenderiser.

'How about that.'

'I'm not sure your master would agree to you using that. That hammer has had more than one enchantment.'

'He's not my master. I was adventuring before I met him; I have more than one way of doing things.'

The governor's mansion was the most impressive building in the town; it was more comparable to a palace, similar to what you find in the capital than a countryside town. Swirling metal gates provided admission to a carriageway paved with cobblestones that led straight up to the front door.

We started to walk down the path towards the house. Dhan walked slightly ahead of us, leaving Jasper, his acquaintance and me in a trio.

'We haven't been introduced.' Reaching out a hand to the bald fellow next to Jasper. He was slender framed and seemed better suited to running a library than running in dungeons.

'The names Art, I was told you might need a thief.' He reached out and shook my hand.

A common misconception about thieves where that they were doggy fellows: rather than them being like a robber or a burglar, a thief in adventuring terms is a learned man, a scholar, someone who would stay away from the frontlines. He would be responsible for solving traps, unlocking doors and translating dead languages. Many a brute like me had died after not working out how to get out of a locked room packed with poison gas.

 I turned my attention back to the house; I considered the number of windows. Windows mean rooms. Rooms mean people.

'How big is the governors family?' I asked.

'Regus Caster's close relatives live with him, nine in total,' Art replied, 'Him, his wife, and his son. His son has a wife himself and three children. Then the governor has two more daughters yet to be wed off. he winked at me, 'you could ask for it as a reward? I've heard his daughters are quite the lookers; how do you fancy being a lords son?'

'I've always wanted to meet a lord', said Jasper

'And you'll be left wanting', Dhan shouted back. 'what are his servants for; to cook and clean and, of course, tend to riffraff like us.'

'It will be his housekeeper, Mr Worbal, who will see us. He's a remarkably useful man who tends to matters efficiently. It will be lord Castors money but the long arm of Mr Worbal moving the pieces into position.' remarked Art. 

We walked past the front door as a young girl came bursting out; a young maid was hurrying after her.

She was wearing a white dress with a lilac ribbon tying up her hair.

'Not out there, miss Ingrid; your grandpa wants to start breakfast.' 

The maid scooped up the young lady, who now had a massive grin on her face going from ear to ear.

We carried on, and Dhan took us down the side of the house; it was lined with pink and purple flowers with shrubs and trees to our right until finally, we halted before the servant's entrance. He knocked politely. After we'd been waiting for a minute, he went to knock again, however as his fist went to strike the door, a small mans face with circular spectacles appeared.

'Patience is a virtue, gentlemen. Follow.' He turned and walked down a corridor and then left into a room.

The room was on the smaller side; it had one window, set in front of it was a desk and accompanying chairs. The room was filled with organised clutter, books and jars filled in the bookshelves from all periods. Worbal had removed some shelves to make space for weapons, shields and severed body parts from beast long since defeated, all trinkets of pasted battles none, however, were fought by Mr Worbal, I assumed.

After we filtered into the room, Mr Worbal turned to size us up.

'The southerner who ran from his homeland. A scholar scolded and shunned. A womanising sellsword and you.' His head only came to the V on my breastplate. He gestured his arm to emphasise his point. 'My reports said you were descended from the giants who made the mountains and sea's of this country; seeing you now; I wonder if it was true.'

'What an odd party. But you seem capable, neither the less. Follow.'

He walked towards a door that I hadn't seen up until now. First, he, Dhan and Art walked through. As I  went to join them, Jasper tapped me on the shoulder.

'I thought it was meant to be the long arm of Mr Worbal.'