After a week of letting Aria run the bar for them. Swords and Sorcery Inc. was well on it's way to becoming a new hang out for the common folk.
Everyone in the group had learned somewhat how to manage their spots, but Zilo was still having trouble keeping his mouth shut and Alaroc still drank so much that he was almost comatose by noon. Today he happen to fall into his ale comma behind the counter.
While everyone goes about their duties a man clad head to toe in plate mail as well as a flowing elegant cape.
Zilo immediately springs to action, "Welcome to the Swords and Sorcery Inc Tavern, are you here for a job, or some grub?"
The man flips up his helmet and scans the bar's patrons, paying Zilo no mind.
Zilo waves and pesters the armored man until he looks to Zilo and bows to apologize.
the man says, "Sorry, I'm on official business, I'm in search of they who traveled to the desert and passed the test of the Pyramid Guardian."
Zilo Smiles and points to a table where a familiar Tiefling is counting the day's current earnings before looking up as Zilo says, "Right over there, or at least he did most of it, it was a team effort."
The knight claps together his hands and says, "Excellent Report to the castle in one hour, my lord wishes to speak with you." the man begins to waltz out before May rounds about the counter toward him.
"Wait what castle? There are like a dozen around here."
The Knight points out the window right at the Main castle, the King's Castle.
Cruxis points along with him and remarks in disbelief, "Wait so then your lord..."
"His majesty, King Deneval."
All the friend's jaws' drop as the Knight walks out. A few moments go by before Maldrek shakes off the shock and stands from his seat.
"Everybody get your good clothes! Now!" Everyone begins to scramble upstairs.
Aria lifts the mumbling Alaroc onto the counter with a bit of a struggle and yells, "What about sleepy!?"
Zilo's voice shouts back, "Leave him!"
Zilo had made sure to fluff out his frills and spent the last 40 minutes talking over and over to himself in the mirror to try and not screw up in front of the king.
May who had always tried to blend into the background took up almost the whole hour trying to coordinate an outfit that did just the opposite.
Maldrek spent his time sketching out designs for a formal regal robe before finally settling on one that he liked then putting it together with a quick cast of Minor Creation.
And Cruxis spent the whole time polishing every square inch of his armor and sword.
The group of 4 arrived at the castle, each looking their absolute best before being lead into the King's throne room. all the friends take a knee and bow, but Zilo walks forward, hand raised.
"Hello there King, a pleasur-" before Zilo can finish, May snaps out at Zilo's leg and yanks him back, making him fall to his knee. Zilo then notices their formation, and mimics it.
The King looks to be in his 50's, but has the build of a former warrior, and a small well groomed beard and hair held in place by his crown along with his outfit of Purple, red, and plate tinted a gold hue to denote his kingdom's three colors.
"You 4 solved the test of Pyramid Guardian?"
Maldrek responds, "Indeed your Highness, we needed the wish that was promised to free our friend Zilo here from a curse."
The king Snaps his fingers and motions his court wizard toward Zilo. The Wizard walks over and casts a spell or two before turning back to the King and nodding.
With that the King Lets out a deep sigh.
"Not what I was expecting, but may you will do, what is your band called?"
Cruxis is the one who chimes in saying, "Swords and Sorcery Inc, your Majesty, we do contract work out of our tavern in the downtown plaza."
The king fingers his chin and motions for them to stand and approach.
"I'm afraid this must be kept secret between you and those you work with, but I have a job you your band."
May remarks, "I assure you, we won't tell a soul. What would you have us do, my King?"
"Royal Assassination."
Zilo and Cruxis immediately open their mouths to refuse, but Maldrek and May intercept them at the mouth and hold back their response. For a moment the King eyes them.
"Um.. They very clearly meant to say something. Why is it that people think that this thing ever works?"
Cruxis moves May's hand and continues, "With all due respect your Grace, Assassination, Royal or no, is something that morally we at SSI would have issues with."
The King leans forward and says, "Then maybe I should let you know that the targets are tyrants who steal from their subjects, and rumor has it they plan to start a war with my kingdom."
Cruxis motions his hand in the more or less motion and Zilo shrugs saying, "Wouldn't hurt, that's for sure."
The king leans back to his chair. "I have two contacts in the capital already, I have instructions here on the details you will need."
The King stands and descends the stairs to hand Zilo the paper the king had in one of his pockets. as the king walks back up.
"I need you to be discreet, your boat will leave port tomorrow and sail for his kingdom, just remember that you can't be associated with the kingdom for this to work."
Zilo raises his hand as he reads the paper as the king sits back down.
"Yes? All the information you need is there."
"Almost, it doesn't say how we kill him."
"It doesn't matter, as long as he and the rest of his line is dead."
"I just want to make sure I get it right, this is my first assassination."
The King looks at Zilo like he is an idiot before looking around the room to the others, who give him a clueless look.
"... Um beat him to death?"
"With what?"
The king puts out his hand toward Zilo, looking at Cruxis. Cruxis simply responds by shrugging and mouthing the words 'I don't know'.
"Some boots, or something who cares."
Zilo gives a deep honorable bow before saying
"Of course, it shall be done your grace!"
Zilo turns and begins to leave. The rest of the group looks at him as he leaves before also bowing and rushing out of the throne room.
As the group walks away from the castle, Cruxis looks to Zilo and asks, "Hey Zilo, weren't you suppose to begin bard lessons with Aria tomorrow."
Zilo smiles and spins about excitedly, nearly falling backwards down the stairs. after spinning his arms a bit to regain his footing he breaths a bit then responds.
"Actually I already thought of a back up plan for when I'm away on jobs, and Maldrek just finished it up this morning." May and Cruxis look at the bard disbelievingly until Maldrek nods in confirmation, before handing two seashells to Zilo.
"A pair of Sending Shells. This wasn't cheap I'll have you know, it's coming out of your pay."
The group returns to the tavern, and Zilo sits at a table with Aria while May watches the bar and explains the job that the group just accepted from the king.
"I don't mean to tell the king no, but You promised we would start tomorrow."
"Its fine, the first lesson doesn't need me to be here, so long as you keep one of these shells, with it I can send you a message from across the world rather than just from in the city with Message."
"And you'll be back before the lesson is done?"
"The lesson's length varies from Person to Person, but you shouldn't finish before I return."
Aria thumbs the Shell and says, "Varies huh? how long did it take you?"
"About 3 years."
"3 YEARS!?" shouts back the woman. "How long is becoming a bard going to take?"
"Like I said, it varies. I was groomed from Age 5 and didn't graduate til I was 22. I'm skipping some steps for you since you can already play well, and seem talented enough, but you still need to go through lesson 1 and 2."
"There are only two lessons?"
"Bards that finish both are given free reign to learn more independently, it's why I came to this plane in the first place. Anyway, let me explain you lesson."
Aria leans in and snatches a paper and pen from nearby as if to take notes.
"Every day at a random time, I will give you a task and a time limit, just perform the task within the time I give you."
Aria looks at Zilo confused. "That's it, what kind of tasks are they?"
"I don't know yet, but that doesn't matter, what matters is that you make sure you do them, every day you only get one use of the shell, so make sure that response you give is telling me that you did it. This may not seem like it's doing anything, but I promise you that every bard needs to learn this lesson."
Aria nervously nods to Zilo before she returns to the counter and Zilo heads upstairs to begin packing for his voyage to another new land.
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