Verdan and Makk drew some attention as they crossed to the entrance of the Guild, but that was hardly surprising. Makk wore a symbol of Gwyll openly and Verdan’s staff was fairly distinctive.

  A few adventurers that Verdan recognised gave him nods as they passed by, but there weren’t many. He knew that not everyone would be here, of course, but he couldn’t help but feel that there was less of them than there should have been.

  In fact, the interior of the Guild wasn’t as busy as he’d have thought. There was a fair bit of movement of people coming and going, but compared to the last few times he’d been here, it was almost quiet.

  “Boss!” Alden’s voice rang out from off to one side, and Verdan turned to see the guard leaning against a wall next to one of the meeting rooms.

  “Glad we found you so easily, Alden. Where’s Natalia?” Verdan asked as they crossed over to join him.

  Alden hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Meeting with one of the staff to try and understand what the problem is.”

  “There’s a problem?” Verdan asked with a sinking feeling in his gut.

  “Definitely. We’re getting maybe a third of what we used to from the adventurers. Sure, some of the herbs and whatnot will be harvested already, but even the hunting requests aren’t being filled.”

  Verdan’s eyes widened as Alden spoke and he bit back a curse at the end. “How long has this been going on?”

  “The last few days, I think.” Alden paused to give it some thought. “A week at most. Definitely not before you came back.”

  “I was worried you were going to say that.” Verdan eyed the changes to the Adventurer’s Guild with growing concern. “Any luck?”

  “Not yet, and this is the third person she’s spoken to,” Alden said, shrugging again. “I doubt we’re going to get anywhere, if I’m honest.”

  Verdan was about to ask more when the door opened and a frustrated official came out, barely glancing at them as he walked off quickly.

  “Leeches, the lot of them,” Natalia said in a growl as she came stomping out of the room. She was just turning her scowl on Verdan when she realised it was him and the angry expression fell away. “Verdan!”

  “Sorry that I missed you this morning,” Verdan said, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Alden was just telling me about your problem.”

  “Yes, damn administrators. I swear they’re doing something on purpose.” Natalia groaned and rubbed her temples. “I didn’t want to involve you, but things have been getting worse. Then everything happened yesterday and I thought I’d take one last stab at doing it myself.”

  “I’m going to guess that the meeting you just had was like the previous three?” Verdan asked, grimacing as she nodded. “Alright. What details have they actually given?”

  “Essentially none,” Natalia said with a tired smile. “There has been a lot of talking, but nothing of any real substance has actually been said. The most I’ve got from them is that it isn’t their responsibility to ensure jobs are taken. Adventurers pick and choose what they like.”

  “True enough, I suppose. It seems odd for it to have fallen so sharply. I don’t suppose they said why they thought it was happening?” Verdan saw the look on Natalia’s face and chuckled. “I guess not. Well, what’s your next move?”

  “The official I spoke to is going to find the Guild manager. The previous head of the Guild managed it as well as working as a councillor, but this one has separated the positions.”

  “One for policy, one for day to day operations,” Verdan said, wondering who Arber had put in charge of the Guild.

  “That’s my take on it as well,” Natalia said, shrugging one shoulder. “The way I see it, this likely won’t get me anywhere either, but I might as well push things as far as I can.”

  Verdan nodded, and started to ask about something else when he saw someone heading their way. The newcomer looked to be in his late thirties or forties, with short grey hair and a greying goatee. His right hand was missing three fingers, and he wore a expensive-looking glove on his left.

  More importantly, he had the bronzed skintone of someone from the southern reaches, just like Arber. That didn’t mean anything in itself, Hobson’s Point accumulated people of all types, but it suggested a deeper link between the two.

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  “Natalia Crea?” The man asked as he drew closer to them, his gaze resting on Verdan for a moment and seemingly assessing him. “And would I be right in saying that you are Verdan Blacke?”

  “That’s us,” Natalia said, taking a step forward. “I hope your man explained the situation. I want to understand why I’m not receiving any new shipments.”

  “They did, and that is a simple enough matter,” the man said, smiling slightly. “First, let me introduce myself. I’m Dalmat Bardhi, manager of this branch. A pleasure to meet you both.”

  Natalia’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. “I’m sure it is. Now, the explanation?”

  “Of course.” The smile never left Dalmat’s face as he spoke. “The matter is simple. They aren’t being fulfilled because no one is taking them on.”

  “The previous man said much the same, could you explain a little further, please?” Natalia sounded like she was grinding the words out, and Verdan began to get a little worried that she would lose her temper.

  “I’m not sure how I can explain that any further,” Dalmat said, his bland smile unshakeable. “No one is taking on the jobs, so they aren’t being done. If you’d like to hire someone directly, please feel free. I’ll even offer to send a runner to you when your existing jobs are filled, if that would help?”

  “But why the change? Why the sudden drop?” Natalia pressed on, but Verdan could tell that they’d get nowhere with this man.

  “I just run the branch, I’m afraid. The reasons behind why adventurers pick the things they do are beyond my understanding. Now, do you have questions about other matters?”

  “No. Thank you for your time,” Natalia said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. If Darmat picked up on it, however, he said nothing, simply nodding and leaving at a sedate pace.

  “Well, that was singularly uninformative,” Verdan said softly, shaking his head in disbelief. “I refuse to accept that it is something as simple as that. Not when you’ve been paying promptly, and at a good rate, for so long.”

  “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that. After speaking to all these officials, I’d half convinced myself I was wrong.”

  “Have you been over to the jobs board yet to have a look for yourself?”

  “Not yet. Initially, I thought they just weren’t sending things to me, it was only this morning when I pushed for a meeting that I got any answer.”

  “Well, let’s take a look then. See what we’re working with.” Verdan paused and eyed the other two. “Do me a favour, split up and mingle with the adventurers, see what you can get from gossip and the like. I know you won’t get much, but it might shed some light on things.”

  “Sure thing, Boss.” Alden nodded and wandered off with a relaxed air.

  “I’m not sure how well I can mingle, but I’ll do what I can,” Makk said, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a smile. “I imagine I’m a touch more noticeable than your guard.”

  Verdan took in Makk’s prominent holy symbol and well-made armour and shrugged. “You might have a point. It’s worth a try, though.”

  Makk nodded and followed Alden’s lead, though his own attempt to look casual felt somewhat more forced. Suppressing a smile, Verdan turned to Natalia and extended an arm. “Shall we take a look at the job boards?”

  “I think we shall.” The last of Natalia frustration drained away as she took his arm and they made their way through the Guild.

  The job boards were a familiar part of the Guild for Verdan. He’d both accepted and posted work to them in the past, and knew how simple but effective they were. In his experience, there was no way that adventurers, mercenaries or anyone with access wasn’t going to take a job to gather herbs from the nearby woods. It was simple work, not too dangerous and paid well.

  To his surprise though, the boards seemed to be free of any manipulation. The jobs were there, posted as usual. He couldn’t even say that they were put to one side or partially hidden. They were out as usual, they simply hadn’t been picked up.

  “I don’t understand,” Natalia said softly, a sentiment that Verdan agreed with. This made no sense.

  As they watched, a group of adventurers approached one of the boards and selected a job, taking it down and carrying it to the desk to officially mark it as underway.

  “Excuse me,” Verdan said, holding up a hand as they went to walk past them. “We’re considering the harvesting job for herbs, but I’m not sure why no one has picked it already. Is there something wrong with it?”

  “Harvesting?” One of the adventurers echoed before his eyes flicked to Verdan’s staff and something like surprise crossed his face before being quickly suppressed. “I wouldn’t recommend it, no. Nothing wrong with that kind of work, but it’s below the notice of true adventurers. We should be out there making a difference, not picking useless herbs.”

  Verdan could feel Natalia stirring at his side, but he simply thanked the man and walked away, half-dragging her with him. “Just ignore him, we got what we needed. Let’s find Alden and Makk.”

  “I’ll show him useless herbs,” Natalia said, glaring at the adventurers but letting Verdan guide her away. “Is that all this is, some sort of classism about my jobs?”

  “Maybe, but I think there’s more to it.” Verdan shook his head slightly. “Well-equipped and experienced adventurers might turn their nose up, but that doesn’t account for rookies or why it so abruptly dropped off.”

  Alden was talking with a few people off to one side and Verdan caught his eye to call him over, Makk joining them as well.

  “Anything interesting?” Verdan asked, grimacing as the other two shook their heads.

  “I tried to work the conversation that way, but they were a bit evasive,” Alden said with a slight shrug. “A little too evasive by my estimation, but I’m a stranger asking pointed questions, so I can hardly blame them.”

  “Alright, I think you two should head back for now. I’ll stay and offer out my services. Maybe I’ll be able to get some herbs in trade.”

  “And if you don’t?” Natalia asked softly. “I’m almost out. I need ingredients to work.”

  “Then we take more direct action,” Verdan said, already considering a few alternatives.