Beyond the Thorns: A Novel

I look up at the sign “Artisans of Adonas”, maybe this is my chance to look into the adventurer’s needs and stuff. I open up the door ever so slightly before hearing some dialogue between two guild members.

“Now how do you think a hunka glass is about ta’ defend people during a battle?” A male voice spat.

“At least I don’t put phony runes in my work for the fun of it!” A female retorted.

“Now now Lysa, Thane, unlike you two, some of us need peace of mind to make our works,” another more passive aggressive voice quipped.

“Sara, don’t tick them off further. We all know they can’t help themselves,” a third feminine voice lightly laughed.

A second male voice chuckled, “that’s true. But can’t you see the new arrival? Come on in child, how may we help you?”

My spine turned rigid as I opened the door enough to pass, “I-I was just curious, I was hoping I could have a career in inventing, but I haven’t found a good place to work yet…”

The previously speaking male answered, “welcome then. I’ll go retrieve the guild leader.” The rather calm male walked off. Leaving me with three bickering artisans.

A lean, and very pretty woman walked up to me as the other three quarreled. “So what do you work in? Sculpting? Jewelry?” She questions.

“I work on gadgets for adventurers, or at least designs of gadgets,” I reply fidgety.

“Nice, I’m Elyra by the way. Botanist and painter,” she turns towards the squabbling trio. “The man is Thane, he does metalwork. Lysa works in glass, and Sara does tapestries.” Elyra introduces them, pointing to the designated person.

“Say, whadda’ you think? Is glass or metal better?” The shorter than average (but still taller than me) man jabs at me with a stubby finger.

“Uhm… it depends on its use,” I point out. “If it’s fighting, metal would provide a good weapon, but glass would help with helmets, traps and other things of the sort. To put it simply, they’re on equal footing.”

“See? Glass is more versatile, the kid said it himself,” the large, black haired Lysa quipped proudly.

“No, I said glass can provide ideal traps for the enemy along with protection, but so can metal. They both can achieve the same goals,” I explained before Thane could retort.

“Gotta smart mouth on ‘im,” Sara, the smaller, more daintily featured woman commented. “But how about the arts? Which is better then?”

“Glass can give more variety in colors, but they can’t achieve the same nature towards the art. For example, metal has a more clean, strong look unlike glass, which is more soft and quaint. So it all depends on the person you ask,” I answer.

“What’s your name kid?” Thane asks, forgery tools jangling at his sides.

“R-ross, Ross Smitt.”

“How can an infant such as yourself criticize my art eh?” He advances, slowly speeding up until he is about to reach me.

“Thane! You know better than to scare the poor child-” Elyra hisses, jutting an arm out between the angry blacksmith and me.

The metalworker’s eyes faltered before he started to laugh. “You have to test their confidence somehow!” He turns to me, “pleasure to meet you sport.”

“What’s going on!” A panicked voice bursts through a door, the calm male from before behind.

“Ah, Liora, you’re here,” Thane turns to the newcomer. She had long, dirty blonde hair that was tied loosely in a crisp white cloth that enhanced the brightness of her waves.

“Yup, I heard y’all were fighting again so I- ooh a new person!” So-called Liora answers.

“Yes, this one wants to join the guild,” Elyra blurts. I open my mouth to retaliate but jam it shut as Liora speaks up.

“Ah okay!” She whips out a small notepad, “name?”

“Ross Smitt.”

“Age?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Talent?”

“Social anxiety- er designing gadgets.”

“Don’t we all,” Liora chuckles, “can I see a design?” I show her my idea for my cartridge-handled dagger.

“Alrighty, now are you willing to fight for your work?”

“Yes, I’d sacrifice my soul for them.”

“I’m Liora, the guild leader and this is Milo, my co-leader. Welcome to the Artisans of Adonas!” Liora waves her hands into the sky. “So what do you need for creating your trinkets?”

“For designing? Uhm, just a place to sit I guess,” I rub the back of my neck timidly.

“No no, for creating your designs. You should be able to at least fashion your trinkets if you want to, right?” She asks, turning to me.

“I guess… I’ve never really made them before…”

“Are you- kidding me?! You haven’t made a single design come off that paper of yours?” Liora gapes, astonished. She ushers me to a desk and has me sit in it, after a minute, she plops a bunch of scrap metals, woods, and leathers before me with a tool kit.

“Start with these, try and make that dagger. Tell me how it goes,” Liora pats my shoulder and leaves. Wha-? Okay..?