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Chapter 1
Part 3
Ifan returned back to the guild at around midday, meeting Mari at the cafeteria as promised. Enjoying a bite to eat, Mari passed the completed supply list to Ifan, who stuffed it eagerly into his jacket pocket and took a large bite of his ham sandwich. Ifan made his way back to town to purchase the few things that the guild didn’t already have on hand and, soon after, returned to the guild. Collecting the remaining supplies from the guild’s own magical inventory, Ifan ambled over to Mari’s office, knocking gently on the wooden door with the back of his index finger.
“Come in!” shouted Mari, clasping her novel shut and stuffing it in the drawer beside her. Ifan stepped inside and sat opposite his sister, removing his rucksack and placing it on the desk between them.
“Got everything, if you’d like to check?” Ifan pushed the bag towards Mari, who reached over, pulled it the rest of the way and plopped it on her lap. Rifling half-heartedly through its contents and making a brief mental note of the more important things she’d requested, she closed the bag back up and handed it back over to Ifan.
“All there.” She smiled at her brother as he gently placed the rucksack on his legs.
“Awesome. Sorted our ride?” Ifan tapped idly on the rugged leather of the bag in his hands.
“Yep, should be ready in the guild stables – popped over there after lunch. They should have the horses saddled up and ready to go by now, if you’re all set?” Mari sat upright, her hands clasped on the table, maintaining eye contact with Ifan.
Ifan slouched slightly in his chair, leaning slightly forward on the rucksack in his lap, “I’ll need to go grab the maps, I left them in my room. Need anything from yours?”
“No, but I’m happy to come with.” The siblings shared a smile, and Ifan stood first, swinging the bag onto his shoulders and turning around to exit the room. Mari followed suit, but not before quickly removing the book from her drawer and replacing it on her bookshelf when Ifan turned around, sighing lightly in relief.
After making their way to the dorms, Mari waited patiently outside Ifan’s room as he collected the maps from his desk. As she leant against the wall, she caught sight of a short red-headed woman, with curls so tight they bounced vigorously with every step she made towards Mari.
“Hi Mari, waiting for your brother?” the girl peered past Mari, peeking a look into the small crack in the doorway to Ifan’s bedroom.
“Afternoon, Rhian.” Mari bowed her head slightly, catching herself before she completed a curtsy. Don’t be so formal, Mari, these people are your friends; shaking her head out of the bow, she continued. “Yeah, he should be out any second now, we’re just grabbing stuff for our next mission.”
Rhian’s eyes made their way back to Mari’s, “That obelisk in Fandelran Forest, yeah? Orothar’s an important client, you better not mess up. Although, with Ifan I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Ifan pulled open his door and Rhian jumped back in fright, her face glowing red, sure that Ifan had just heard her remarks. “Oh hi, Rhian.” Betraying nothing, Ifan’s expressionless face bored into Rhian’s consciousness.
“H-hi, Ifan.” Rhian pulled at her curls as her eyes danced between Mari, Ifan and her feet. “I-better-be-going-see-you-both-later.” Rhian sped off, her hair bobbing furiously as she made her way out of the dorms as quickly as her small legs could take her.
Mari smiled at Ifan, as he frowned at Rhian’s back. “She likes you; you know.”
“Duh.” Mari sighed at her brother’s flippant remark and shook her head in mild disbelief. “Got the maps, by the way. Let’s get going.”
“Right. Should we go out the back way? To save Rhian from embarrassing herself?” Mari raised her eyebrows at her brother, hoping to incept a yes in his mind.
“I think it’s only fair. After you.” Ifan waved Mari past him, and the pair found their way to the dorm’s back entrance.