Wyn ripped one of the papers off of the door to the Twilight Blade’s guild house and read it. It wasn’t easy as his heart started to race making his breathing pick up. He had hoped it wouldn’t happen while they were gone, but obviously he had hoped for too much.

  “Faye said she was going to take care of things,” Tasha said, leaning forward and reading the most recent of the notices on the door.

  “Apparently she couldn’t,” Cedric said.

  “Maybe it’s not as bad as we think,” John added.

  “It’s a literal notice of eviction, and it looks like we've been informed several times. That’s pretty bad.”

  Wyn pocketed the paper and entered the guild house. It was quiet. The only sound was the large door opening, echoing through the entrance hall. “Hello?” There was no answer, even after several seconds and calling again, which was strange. Even the staff was gone. What was going on?

  The four of them brought their belongings inside and to their wing to unpack. During the relatively short trip over, the house looked like it had been abandoned. It was dusty and dirty along the floor and pictures in their wing were untouched from when they left. The ambiance was eerie, as though no one had lived there for months.

  They were only gone for a few weeks. Just how bad did it become over such a short time?

  “This is too weird,” Wyn said, putting his pack on his bed. He was so curious with a deep desire to find out what happened that he was too distracted to unpack.

  So, he left to find someone. Cedric obviously felt the same as he joined him.

  Together the pair wondered into the dining hall, where they found the first sign of someone still around. They were sitting by a weak fire in the hearth, their back turned to the entrance. Walking over, Wyn and Cedric pulled up chairs by the fire.

  Faye, the third tier Druid was sitting with a mug in her hand and pitcher by her feet. Wyn couldn’t tell if either one was full or empty, but he had a suspicion. Seeing them sit down, Faye laughed before taking a long gulp of her mug. “I was hoping that by the time you all came back we’d be in a better spot. Sorry.” Her words slurred slightly and her eyes were bloodshot.

  Before they had left the city, the leaders of the guild – Gregory, Caryn, Faye, and Nigel – were fighting amongst themselves pretty regularly. Gregory, the head of the guild, was in a depressive state since the news that the Assembly practically used them as they saw fit, and had only declined in the previous months. Caryn, one of the tier three team leaders and original guild leader was just angry - at others, at himself, and seemingly at the world for the same reasons. Nigel, who was Gregory’s apprentice of sorts and the other tier three team leader recently promoted to guild leader, was constantly consoling Gregory and siding with him on every matter big or small. The final guild leader remaining, Faye, Marcy and Cedric’s long-time friend and member of Gregory’s team, was attempting to play peacemaker and bring everyone together.

  It had obviously not worked out based on her current state and the notices on the door.

  “What happened?” Wyn asked. He had an idea, but wanted to hear the facts. It wouldn’t be good to just assume.

  Faye sighed, not taking her eyes off of the fire. “Payments stopped being made to the remaining sponsors. We stopped climbing, even before you left. The staff left, looking for work elsewhere. I don’t blame them, of course. I’d do the same. But then Gregory finally snapped. And I mean snapped. Caryn kept blaming him for the state of the guild – which wasn’t fair at all – and then he finally fell apart. I knew it would happen eventually, I just… tried to stop it. And failed. Every word out of Caryn’s mouth just kept getting worse. And worse. And worse. Then Nigel did what he’s been doing for months, and then Caryn ripped into him, too. Gregory just walked out and we haven’t heard from him since.”

  “Gods,” Cedric said. “They’re acting like children.”

  Faye chuckled while taking another drink from her mug.

  “They’re not thinking things through,” Wyn said. “Yes, it was terrible what happened. The guild needed to reset. Which could have been done! I hate to say it, but Gregory wasn’t really very productive at all. He’s been like a walking corpse for months.”

  “Don’t do that,” Faye snapped, her voice rising. “It’s not all on him! Don’t pile it on, too!”

  Wyn held her gaze as she stared at him. Then she blinked and looked away while scrunching her face. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

  Wyn reached out and took the mug from Faye. She let him. Obviously she wasn’t in a state to hear much reason, and he didn’t want her getting worse. “You’re right. That’s not my intention. My point is that as our leader, he needed to objectively look at the situation and make a change. Caryn didn’t do that, either. They both let emotions take over at a time when they needed to be more resolute.”

  “What’s done is done,” Cedric said. “You’re not wrong, but we can’t make a difference at this point. We’re the newcomers in the guild and they’re the leaders. Hearing that from us won’t help at all. It hadn’t before and it still won’t.”

  “I know. What do you think will happen, Faye?”

  The Druid shook her head. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to us, but I do know that the guild is pretty much done.”

  Wyn looked at Cedric, who sat back in his chair dejected. That was it, then? They had barely been a part of them. Once Lucy told them about the Assembly the pieces started falling apart, and it had barely held together since. They climbed one solid month together feeling as though they were actually a part of something.

  “John’s going to be devastated,” Wyn said.

  “Devastated about what?” John asked.

  The three of them all turned to see John and Tasha not far behind them. They both looked confused.

  “The guild is pretty much done,” Faye said. She picked up the pitcher at her feet and drained it, spilling a fair amount all over herself. She didn’t react to the mess.

  John's face contorted in confusion. “Surely there’s something we can do. We can pay more! I’ll forfeit all my share for the remainder of the month!”

  Faye wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “That could buy us some time but then what? Can’t you see how dys… dys… dysfunctional we’ve been? What good would it do?”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “What good would it do? It would keep the guild alive! We’re the Twilight Blades! One of the best guilds in the city! We can’t give up just like that!”

  “That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Faye said. She stood up, swaying, then walked over to John and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “You were good, James. I’ll give you that.”

  John looked past her at Wyn and Cedric, who both cringed in second hand embarrassment.

  “I can’t believe the guild is finished,” Tasha said, watching Faye stumble out of the dining hall.

  “We need to have a meeting,” Wyn said. “The five of us. When Marcy gets back tonight, let’s all meet back here. We have some things to discuss.”

  *****

  Marcy came back later than Wyn wanted, but he was adamant they form a plan right away. The others were tired from travel but agreed, especially John. He seemed to be brimming with energy.

  Wyn had some ideas of what he wanted for the five of them but also wouldn’t do anything without everyone in agreement. He may be their team leader but they were all friends. They’d been through thick and thin for a year, and each had their own seat at the table when it came to team decisions.

  “Okay,” Wyn started, leaning forward on the table nearest the fire. It was warm and comfortable, and he appreciated the openness of the room. Plus, they had tea kettles along with food, which was easy to prepare and have being so close to the kitchen. “So obviously the guild is in worse shape than we thought. I was hoping they could work something out while we were gone but it looks like it’s only gotten worse.”

  “I still can’t believe it’s going to dissolve,” Marcy said. “Faye left our previous group for the Twilight Blades and they’ve only gotten stronger. Then one thing happens and it goes to shit?”

  “It wasn’t a small thing,” Cedric said. “They basically realized they were fueling corruption and were compromised by a well-known criminal organization. Gregory likely questioned all of their other sponsors and stopped their progress, thinking the guild itself was all fabricated.”

  Everyone looked at Cedric, who just shrugged. “What? That’s what I would have thought!”

  “Still, none of the others helped, either,” Tasha said. “But it seems like it’s all but a done deal. So where does that leave us?”

  “Exactly what I wanted to discuss,” Wyn said. “We came in together. And now it’s time to leave together. If all of you want to remain a team, at least.”

  “Wyn, come on,” Marcy said. “You know better than that. Of course we do.”

  “Agreed,” John said. He gently sat down a cup of tea on a saucer in a manner that was more akin to Tasha’s manners than his own. “I pushed us to join a guild but I wouldn’t place it over us as a group. I stood by that the first time we had this discussion and I still believe it.”

  Cedric and Tasha both gave their affirmations as well.

  Wyn smiled. “Good. I was hoping you all felt that way. So that leads us to a few possible next steps. And I have some ideas. One of which I think could work out quite well.”

  “Not our own business venture,” John said, exasperation clear in his voice.

  Wyn couldn’t help but chuckle. “No. Not exactly, at least. My first thought was for us to actually start our own guild.”

  John snapped back to attention. “Wait. Seriously?”

  “That’s a big step,” Cedric said. “There’s a lot that goes into starting a new guild. And we don’t even have a full team.”

  Wyn smiled. “For now.”

  “The thought of looking to recruit some random person makes me want to beat my head against the wall,” Marcy said.

  “Well, it’s a good thing it’s someone we know, then!”

  Tasha gave a little excited gasp. “You’re talking about Cal!”

  “That’s right! When we caught up with him back at Rockford he was talking about coming back to Alestead. He pulled me aside and asked if he could climb with us when he came next month. I think it’s a perfect time to have him join!”

  “That’s one problem solved,” Cedric said. “It’ll be great to have him back, but that still leaves a lot on the table.”

  “Think about it, though. Arabelle and her team would join us easily. That’s two groups straight away. Daniel would help too, I’m sure, and we still have our contract with Benedict, not to mention the new partner we just made.”

  “No, the new partner you and your sister just made,” Marcy said. “Let’s be clear on that. She’s not sponsoring a guild - she’s a personal business partner with you two. And Benedict is the same way. We could potentially renegotiate with him but not with her.”

  “Though we don’t necessarily have to,” Cedric added. “Sponsors aren’t technically required for guilds. Just recommended. We could make do without one if we kept the guild small and the rewards large.”

  “Making one our own,” John said. “I can’t believe we’re even discussing it! We can figure out the details later. I’m in! Completely in!”

  Wyn noticed the other’s moods pick up from John’s excitement. He could tell they were interested in the idea, even if there were questions that needed to be answered. That was alright, though. They could figure it out together.

  “Already talking about forming your own guild?” A voice called.

  Everyone turned abruptly to see Nigel standing at the doorway. He was wearing standard clothes as though he just returned from the city rather than his room late at night.

  “Does it matter?” Wyn asked. “No offense, but the Twilight Blades won’t be a guild much longer. We can discuss possibilities about what we want to do next.”

  Nigel walked further into the dining hall before sitting at their table. “Oh, I agree. We’re all but finished, and soon the guild be dispersed. And I don’t blame you at all about talking about your next move. In fact, I’ve been doing the same with my team.”

  “You’re also wanting to start your own guild,” Cedric said.

  Nigel smirked. “Not exactly. As much as I love the Twilight Blades and have been grateful for what they’ve done for me and my team, I still have to think about the future. Though running a guild looks far more stressful than I care to admit.”

  “What’s your plan, then?” Wyn asked.

  “Well, first is getting my team situated. We’re going to rent a place in the residential district for a season or two before we decide. Starting a guild is no small project, and maintaining a successful one is even harder. Apparently. It typically takes sponsors, multiple teams, proof of climbing success, references…”

  “Point taken,” Marcy said. “It’s a lot.”

  “Good thing we already have those things,” John said. “Thanks for letting us know we need them!”

  Nigel’s confident smile waned. He looked between everyone else at the table for any sort of disagreement. “Wait. You all have that already?”

  “We do,” Wyn said, having trouble keeping a smirk from forming on his own face. “If you’re looking to join a guild, maybe you can apply once we have it official?”

  Nigel chuckled nervously while Marcy and John tried and failed to hide a small laugh.

  “Oh, don’t be coarse, Wyn,” Tasha said. “Nigel, we know you’ve been a great guildmate. They’re just messing with you. If you want to join, you just have to ask.”

  “I appreciate that, Tasha. If you really are going to start a new guild, well… we’d be foolish not to join. I would need to talk it over with the others, but I don’t think I’d find anyone against it.”

  “We should consider asking the others, too,” Cedric said. “Despite the past several months they’d still be welcomed additions.”

  Wyn nodded along with the others. Cedric was right. Both Caryn’s and Gregory’s team were strong enough to regularly take on the third tier, which wasn’t something anyone else at the table or even Nigel’s team could say with confidence. Plus, they’d keep their relative strength as a whole intact.

  The only problem would be how the others would take that power shift. But it was certainly worth extending an invitation. Wyn knew that much. Maybe it would be the solution for them to mend bridges, if they hadn’t already been completely burned. If not, and if they gave any headaches, Wyn wouldn't be afraid to retract the invitation. Just because they were good Climbers didn't mean they were completely worth destroying a guild right when it was started.

  “Agreed,” Wyn said after a few seconds of thought. “I think there needs to be some delicacy to that approach, though. Let’s get settled and start the process first and let them cooldown. We can revisit them later.”

  “Then it looks like you all have a plan. That’s good. I truly am sorry for how things ended up here. It was a great guild.”

  “Even though our time in it was short, I’d agree,” Wyn said. “The camaraderie, assistance, and advice was invaluable. Hopefully we can find some of it in the future.”

  Nigel gave a brief farewell before leaving the five alone. They continued to sit and talk briefly before acknowledging they were exhausted and needing sleep. Before they parted, they settled on a brief plan of resting and recovering before climbing the next day. Arabelle, Daniel, and Benedict needed to be included in the new guild discussion, though Wyn had confidence none of them would object to starting one. He figured the two weeks left in the month would be enough time to resettle back into the city and get their affairs in order before hopefully having a guild and new guild house for the next month.

  Walking back to their wing felt hollow, but Wyn didn’t want to dwell on it. His time in the Twilight Blades truly was coming to an end. It was sad and hard to grasp, but change usually was exactly that. Mourning what was and being unsure of what was to come were the hardest parts about life, which was full of constant change. Embracing that understanding helped ease the unexpected, though Wyn felt like he was still learning exactly how to do just that.

  The one part of his current life that remained a constant, though, was climbing. Leading his team and helping his friends and family grounded him. It made him feel needed and integral, like he belonged in a world and in a life where he felt out of place. A part of him hoped the others in the Twilight Blades could join them, too, even if for the same chance at staying together.

  Settling into his bed, he focused on being as efficient of a Climber in the coming weeks as possible. Because even if the others in the guild didn’t want to show up or climb, that didn’t mean he had to stop, too. There was too much to live for. Too much that was precious to him to lose. Continuing to climb meant keeping and protecting what he held dear, and that was his entire focus. Various threats came from different directions now more than ever.

  He was determined to continue his path of growing stronger. So many people relied on him, and he relied on them, too.

  He'd make damn sure he, and his future guild, would be the best.

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