Tarquin and Lexi were sitting at The Silver Dragon enjoying a mug of Ale when Gideon, the stout, bushy bearded mayor came over to them looking quite concerned.
"You need to help me; I mean you need to help the village." he began quick excitedly.
"Ok," Lexi replied, "just calm down and tell us what you need."
"There are a group of goblins that have been hiding in one of the caves west of here, they are attacking people along the road to the village so no one can get through." he explained.
Tarquin thought for a moment then spoke up. "We will take care of your goblin problem, in exchange, you will owe me a favor to be collected at a later date. Does that work for you?"
The mayor paused for a moment, understanding the significance of the deal. A favor could be more valuable than gold in the right situation. But the village needed this, and he knew Tarquin was an honest man. "Yes, I agree, when could you take care of this?"
Tarquin replied, "we will leave tomorrow at first light."
"Excellent" the mayor clapped his hands as he walked away.
Tarquin and Lexi returned to their drinks.
As they sat there Tarquin couldn't help but notice the young lady dressed as an adventurer sitting in the corner of the tavern. She looked shaken and a little green, like she could vomit at any second. "I wonder what could have happened to make such a fresh-faced adventurer look like she had just seen a ghost... or maybe it was something even worse than a ghost? Tarquin commented.
"Fine, you want to save everyone don't you. Why don't you go over and talk to her." Lexi stated.
Tarquin smiled at her and stood up and walked over and sat down at her table.
She gasps quietly and startles a little as he sits down next to her. She brushes her green hair back from her face and looks up at him with wide eyes. Fear colors her features for a few seconds before recovering and speaking in a shaky voice. "O-oh, I'm so sorry! Please, forgive my rudeness, I... I didn't see you there." She tentatively extends her hand to shake his. "M-my name is Anya Greenwood. It's... it's a pleasure to meet you."
My name is Tarquin, I live in this little village." he began, "I know you're not from around here, but I can tell you are troubled, would you like to talk?"
Anya pauses for a moment, debating the offer. She bites her bottom lip as she considers it, then nods her head slowly. "Y-yeah, I think I would. It would be nice to have someone to talk to, just for a little bit.
"So, tell me a bit of your background, how did you get here?" Tarquin asked.
She takes a deep breath and starts to talk. "I, uh... I grew up in a small village in the mountains. My parents were always there for me, but they had to work long days on the farm to make ends meet. We didn't have much, but they always made sure I was safe and well cared for. A few days ago, when I turned 18, they sent me away on my first real adventure, hoping I could find a better life than the one they had been forced to live."
"So, you went on the adventure?" Tarquin prodded.
Anya chuckled softly, then nodded her head. "Yeah, I did. I packed up my things and set off on my own, determined to make something of myself and prove that I could be an adventurer just as good as any other man." She grins and crosses her arms over her chest. "It's been a bit rough so far, but I'm sure I'll be fine. I just have to keep pushing."
Tarquin looked at her, "You don't look well right now, are you ok?"
Anya sighed and glanced away from him, chewing her lip in thought. "Honestly, I'm not doing so great right now. I think I might be a little out of my element, and this whole adventure thing is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I feel like a little kid in a grown-up world."
"Well, attempting your first adventure solo can be challenging for anyone. I am a sorcerer and adventurer. That lady sitting over there is Lexi, she is a rogue, and a great swordsman. You could join us for a quest to get your feet wet, if you wish?"
Anya glanced over at Lexi and smiled, then nodded her head enthusiastically. "Y-you'd really be okay with me tagging along with you guys?"
"It's not charity, we are going to be clearing a cave full of goblins, I would expect you to help as much as you're able." He explained.
Anya looked at Tarquin with a new sense of hope and determination in her eyes. "T-then of course I will. Just point me in the right direction and let me know what you want me to do, and I'll do my absolute best to be helpful.
"Do you have your gear, and do you have a place to stay tonight?" Tarquin asked.
Anya glanced down at her equipment and sighed. "Not yet, but I can get all of that stuff tomorrow morning. As for a place to stay ... well, I guess I didn't really have a plan for that, actually."
Ok, for tonight, you will stay in my manor, Tarquin offered, "then, my butler will help you pick out all the equipment that you require. We will be leaving at first light. Will you walk with us back to the manor?"
Anya stares at Tarquin, dumbfounded, for a few seconds before speaking. "R-really? You'd do that for me?"
As Tarquin stands and walks toward Lexi Anya smiles widely and follows, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders.
As Tarquin reached Lexi he introduced her to Anya.
As she approached, she held out her hand for a shake. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Anya Greenwood."
The three of them left the Inn and walked down the street toward the manor. Anya follows quietly for a few moments, taking in the scenery and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Her eyes open wide as she takes in the site of the massive manor, clearly intimidated by the size of the place. "You live here?"
Tarquin nodded his head. Anya's eyes widened even more as she glanced at him in disbelief. "You mean to tell me that this entire manor, the servants that come with it, and the huge grounds that are obviously also owned by you...were all purchased by you yourself?"
"As someday you may discover, the life of an adventurer can be quite financially rewarding." Tarquin grinned, "Of course being a sorcerer helps too."
The butler, Mr. Blackwood, meets them at the door. Tarquin explains that Anya will be spending the night and that she needs gear. Mr. Blackwood bows and says it will be taken care of. As he leads her off, she looks back at Tarquin.
"Someone will wake you in the morning," Tarquin said, "we leave at first light."
As Lexi turns to walk away, she laughed at Tarquin, "You keep finding strays to bring home."
Giving her a wink and a smile, "But the best strays are the ones that sneak into my house in the middle of the night."
Lexi walks away laughing.