A NAMING

  The day winds down toward dusk. Shortly after the evening meal, Tanner’s party gets a formal summons from the page corps. Embossed cards delivered on plush pillows, casual dress required. The decuplet report to the dining room as requested. The Imps, Grand Duke Utian, Master Smith Jhaeros, Tanner’s new found family, and Kselia, also in casual dress, hold black hoods. Tanner’s cousin joins Tanner’s group.

  Harold addresses the young students. “If you agree to accompany us you will have to be hooded, the hoods are enchanted. Your senses will be blocked until we remove them. Once you agree, if you remove the hoods except in an emergency you will miss this opportunity, you will not be asked again. Think about it for a few minutes, then decide.”

  Eunice catches Tanner’s eye and gives a subtle wink.

  Tanner steps forward with a smile, his cousin joining him and the rest of his party following. The young students are hooded and led out of the palace into waiting carriages, driven around in circles for a few minutes, then the carriages stop and the passengers step down, still hooded. Then guided up a small flight of stairs, then stopped. Hoods are removed. They stand in a large tavern area. From the crowded stage, they can see many occupied tables with bar staff weaving around carrying trays of drinks and food. A long table sits at the foot of the stage, occupied by three older women and older two men. A Large woman stands on stage with the 20 people crowding the stage. Whispering so only the people on the stage can hear her. “None of you have to participate in this, we are going to have some fun and drinking games if you want to you can bow out at anytime alright?” Everyone on the stage assures the woman that they are fine. She stands straight and looks at the audience. “Supplicants you stand before the council, you stand before the finest, you stand before the Adventurer’s Guild. Some of you are legacies, some of you are the first in your family forging a new path forward. Know all are welcome, for you have all come with the highest of recommendations.”

  Surprise filters across the faces of those on stage. A table is wheeled up to the center stage with a large crystal inset. “One at a time, you will announce your name and place your right hand on the crystal of revelation.” In a quieter voice, she leans in and says with a wink, “It only shows Tier and Levels, You all have to be at least Tier One to join a guild.”

  At the others' hesitant reactions, Claire takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders, and announces in a loud voice. “Claire Contigo.” As she places her hand on the stone, it projects her Tier One, Level 26 status. The crowd roars and a round of drinks are drained. Claire walks down off the stage with a grin. As she is escorted to a table, the next person steps up, and the process is repeated until the stage is empty except for the large woman. Drinks are placed in front of each supplicant. “Congratulations, candidates you are no longer on the stage.”

  As the crowded room roars with laughter and cheers, she orders. “Drink.” Everyone lifts their mugs and drink. Waiters and waitresses hustle around the room, refilling mugs. “Sponsors, please stand behind your candidate. Harold stands behind Claire, Rhys stands behind Connie, Penny behind Mick, Bree behind Milly. Eunice behind Iris, Lark behind Lilli, Kselia behind Dylan, Tolbur behind Karnna, Tanner’s aunt behind Eissa his cousin, Walter behind Jax, and last Tanner's Grandmother takes her place behind him. Sponsors line up behind the rest of the candidates.

  Up on the stage the woman says, “I Eodriel Smith, now pronounce you candidates…” With a nod of her head the sponsors pour pitchers of ale over the seated prospects. “Members of the Adventurers Guild. Baptized in the blessed fluid that flows through all true adventurers. Present the badges.” Guild members bring new badges and pitchers of ale in front of each new member. Holding the badges over the pitchers, Eodriel yells from the stage. “The name of this game is catch em in your teeth. Bottoms up.” The badges drop into the full pitchers and are handed to the new members as they attempt to catch the badges and drink the pitcher, spilling more ale down themselves.

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  Potions are distributed to the new members, “Sober up potions, drink em down folks we have some paper work to do. You can get trashed again later.” As the new members go over registration, they learn they can get placed in temporary parties if they have none. Tanner mentions that the ten of them have a party already.

  The scribe nods his head and says, “Good for you guys. Party name for the paperwork?”

  Milly, looking worried, answers. “We don’t have a name yet.”

  The scribe stops writing, “You don’t have a party name yet?” The decuplet all shake their heads no. The scribe looks over the decuplet sadly, “Oh my this won’t do.” He turns from the party and bellows, “Eodriel, we have a serious issue here.” The large woman swaggers over, and the scribe whispers to her for a few moments. With a glare at the young delvers, she raises her head and asks in her loud voice. “Is this true? You have a party without a name?” Silence spreads across the tavern. As everyone stops what they are doing, and look over at the young people.

  The guild members mutter faintly at first, then louder. Soon the shouts of “A Naming, A Naming.” reverberate around the room. Gathering Tanner’s party, Eodriel drags them all on the stage. “Alright people we have an emergency. These poor lambs have formed a party. But have no name.”

  Cries of mock despair and dismay sound from the audience. “I consider it a fortunate event they came to us unnamed. For we as their elders are obligated to guide and protect our juniors in all things. The floor is now open to names for this brave party of ten.”

  Harold immediately stands and shouts, “Junior Imps” Boos and cat calls erupt from the others.

  Eodriel shouts, “Someone drown that in ale.”

  All laugh as Harold is held down by Rhys and Tolbur as Bree pours a pitcher of ale into her husband’s mouth.

  Other ridiculous names are shouted at the stage, such as ‘Pretty Maids’, ‘Cutting Crew’, ‘The Decuplet’, ‘Ten Person Army’, and other equally poor choices. All are drowned by ale. Eodriel gives a conspiratorial smile and whispers to Tanner and his crew, “Don’t worry they will settle down soon and start with proper suggestions.” After a few minutes, things settle and more thought is put into the suggestions. Until a small, older woman walks up on stage. Everyone quiets as she approaches Tanner. “You are their lead?” Which roles do each of you play?” Tanner clears his throat and answers. “I am the party leader.” As he gestures to each member, he says their name and what role each plays. As the older woman nods along, acting as if he is confirming her conclusions. Pointing out Connie, Mick, and Milly, she says, “You three are not legacies like the rest.”

  Mick rumbles. “No ma’am, we three are the first of our families to Attune.”

  “So you are all legacies or legacies in the making.” The woman walks off the stage back to her seat. An older man covered in scars says. “Callisto is right. ‘Legacy’.” Others stand and repeat. ‘Legacy’. The crowd repeats the name three times as mugs of ale are given to the ten people on stage. Eyes gleaming with unshed tears, Eodriel whispers. “If you accept the name drain your mugs.” The friends look at each other, nodding their heads, as one they lift their mugs and drain them. Eodriel turns to the crowd and announces. “Adventurer's Guild, I present you with ‘Legacy’ Everyone stomps and cheers the decuplet, raising drinks in toast.

  The next morning, hangover potions are on the sideboard, along with a full breakfast spread. Milly looks at the potions and goes from slight green to white. “Those things are dangerous, isn’t there a better way?”

  Harry laughs at her. “You can always drink what bit you, that works.”

  “Really? Wait a minute I’d just be this way tomorrow.”

  “Yes you would.”

  “Well crap,” Milly says as she downs the potion with a full body shudder. “I’m never drinking again.”

  The Imps laugh at her, Penny grins “Says every hung over person in the world.”

  Milly asks, “Are the rest still sleeping?”

  Bree tells her, “Tanner has been up since before sunrise. The rest are still sleeping. Like you should be.”

  “I need to check on Janice Gleason. I want to catch her before class starts.”

  Tolbur asks, “How is the investigation going?”

  “She was at the club the other night with a few people. Jax thinks they mean her harm. He looked them over with his sight. The guy she was dancing with met with the children of the vice leader and the treasurer. It’s a mess. Goddess, save us from overprotective parents.” Milly grabs a few pieces of toast and leaves.

  Harold looks after her for a few seconds, “Maybe we owe Tanner more than we realize, instead of Janice, it could have been Claire.”

  Tolbur shakes his head. “Doubtful, Claire is much smarter. But Tanner has been a blessing.”