Nate awoke bright and early the next morning, the sun pouring in through the drawn curtains. At first he was surprised by the unfamiliar surroundings of the room until he remembered the events of the day before. Pulling back the covers he stood and stretched, letting his muscles take in the cool air of the room.

  Stepping across the stone floor he crossed over to where the black leggings and tunic he had been provided lay set out on a chair. Dressing he let his mind wander through everything that he had discussed with Lady Dandridge, once more marveling at the impossibility of this situation. It was perplexing to believe that this was all real and that he had indeed been somehow brought into the game.

  He was just pulling on the shoes he had been provided when there was a knock at the door. He quickly crossed over and turned the ornate handle to reveal Sir Bodrick.

  “Good morning Sir.” The Knight said with a polite nod. “Her Ladyship said that you were to be collected early for breakfast.”

  Nate felt his stomach growl at the mention of food. “Good morning Sir Bodrick.” He greeted the man with a smile. “I hope I haven’t been too much of a bother in your normal routine.”

  The old Knight waved his hand in a friendly gesture.

  “Not at all.” He said with a friendly smile of his own. “It’s not often that we get visitors here.”

  Nate pulled the door closed behind him as he exited the room, following along behind him as he was lead once more through the manor. He could hear the distant clopping of hooves from outside as they made their way along the hall, the smell of food wafting from the kitchens below.

  “Are you ready for your departure?” Bodrick asked as he clanked along in his armor.

  “About as well as I can be.” Nate said as he remembered the advice of Lady Dandridge. “Lady Rosnan said that we should go to Theronica and see if we can find work.”

  The older man nodded and half turned as he walked. “Yes, that does indeed sound like a good start. Do you have any ideas of what sort of work you would be interested in?”

  Nate frowned as he though again of the few ideas they had discussed. “Well, I don’t typically go for manual labor.” he said with a sigh. “However, in the - in my world I work at a store as a clerk and cashier.”

  “What is a cashier Sir?” Bodrick asked with a raised eyebrow, the term seeming to be entirely foreign to him.

  “A cashier is the person who handles your purchase and processes and processes the payment.” Nathaniel said, trying to think of a way that he could explain without confusing Sir Bodrick.

  “I see, so closer to a shop assistant or some similar job.” the old Knight said as his brow wrinkled in thought. “Well, my cousin Gerfusta has a small shop up in the Market District, not sure if she’ll have any open positions but I’ll give you a letter to give to her. The name of the shop is ‘The Finest Stitch’, just ask for Gerf and she’ll get you settled.”

  Nathaniel smiled widely at the advice and offer. “Thank you Sir Bodrick, I will definitely look her up.”

  Bodrick nodded and waved a hand as he turned down the stairs and on into the lower hall toward the now stronger smell of breakfast. “I’ll include Miss Emily as well so that if she doesn’t have anything for you, there may be something for her.”

  Nate nodded and they entered into the same dining room as the night before. Looking about he saw that Lady Dandridge was again seated at the table, her demeaner unchanged though her attire was less regal this morning.

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  “Ah, Mr. Jones, I hope that your sleep was pleasant enough.” she said as she stood, motioning for him to join her as she did so. “Miss Carter will be with us shortly, I have my seamstress working with her.”

  Nate smiled as he corssed the room, claiming the seat he had the night before as he pulled it from the table and stood to wait for her to sit. “Good morning Lady Dandridge, yes I did quite well thank you.”

  She smiled, her eyes sparkling in the morning light coming through the window as she settled back into her seat. “I am glad, as I said yesterday I will be providing you and Emily a bag of one hundred gold coins each to help you in your journey. I still advise that you start in Theronica and see what options you may find available.”

  He nodded as he listened, again surprised at the exact amount of money they were going to be provided. “Thank you again, I honestly don’t know how either of us will repay you.”

  Rosnan waved a hand at his words and huffed. “No need to worry about that, truly.” she said with a sigh. “It’s not only my duty to help you, but it’s also the least I can do after all that has happened.”

  “Thank you.” he said with a smile. “I was speaking with Sir Bodrick about ideas for work, he suggested that we speak with his cousin Gerfusta.”

  “Ah yes, Mrs. Bemble, she is a very interesting woman. I am not sure if she will have anything for a man, however she does often employ seamstresses.”

  “I see, well at least there will be a hope for Emily.” Nate said with a frown. “I will see what she has and then start looking around for whatever I can find.”

  “I believe that does sound like the start of a plan.” Lady Dandridge said with a nod of approval. “I also suggest that you find lodgings within the City, it will be an easier commute.”

  ***

  Emily looked at her reflection in the mirror, she was surprised at how well the leggings and tunic fit despite the protests of the seamstress. The leather shoes were a little tougher than she liked, but the stockings at least made some small difference.

  “Will there be anything else Miss?” the younger woman asked as she tucked away the needles and thread she had been working with for the past hour.

  “No, I think this will do quite nicely. Thank you.”

  The woman curtsied and bent to retrieve her basket before leaving the room. Emily sighed as she turned to the bed and settled onto the edge to wait for the Housekeeper who had instructed her to wait after the seamstress was done. It was still strange to think that she, and others, had been brough into the game through some unknown means.

  Thinking back again to the night she had bought the game she reran the evening once more through her head. She had played for several hours, though nothing she had done seemed to indicate any sort of triggering mechanism. She had put on her headset and picked up her controller after launching the game, something that she had always done in that order if only so to have her ears ready the moment the game began.

  The knock on the door surprised her from her thoughts as the Housekeeper called for her. She stood from the bed and crossed to the door joining the older woman in the hall. They walked in silence until reaching the same door to the dining room where they had eaten the night before.

  Emily opened the door and made her way into the room, seeing that once again Lady Dandridge and Nate were at the table before her. She greeted them as Nate stood and moved to pull her chair out for her.

  “Thank you.” she said sliding into the seat and raising an eyebrow slightly in question surprised at the sudden use of formal manners.

  He smiled and shrugged at her unasked question before returning to his seat. Lady Dandridge smiled softly at the two of them as she lifted the tiny bell beside her and rang it three times. Nate turned as a moment later the door opened and two servants walked in carrying trays laden with dishes of food, the smell enveloping the room as they crossed to the table and set the trays down.

  “I will have Bodrick prepare the horses once we have breakfasted, and I must see to the coin purses before you go.” Lady Dandridge said as she began to remove the lids on the dishes, revealing mostly food that she recognized minus a bowl of small round green balls that looked like fruit.

  “Have you any suggestions for places to start looking once we arrive in the City?” Emily asked as she began to pull food from the dishes onto the plate before her with the serving utensils.

  “Sir Bodrick suggested that we speak with his cousin, Gerfusta and is going to write a letter to her.” Nate said as he too began to serve himself.

  “Yes, she’s owns a milliners shop and offers tailoring services as well.” Lady Rosnan said with a gentle smile as she began to eat. “She’s served the Theronica City Guard and the Royal Guard for several years now.”

  Emily was surprised that he had managed to find such an interesting opportunity before they even left. “I see, I knit and sew, though mainly for my own crafts business back home. That and being a gamer are mainly what I do and am known for.”

  Nathaniel raised his own eyebrows in question at her statement, but did not ask as he returned to the plate before him. Emily watched him momentarily before turning her attention back to their hostess.

  “I doubt that a seamstress will have much available for a man though.” Emily said with a frown.

  “Well, no I doubt that she will honestly.” Lady Dandridge said with a sigh before taking a sip of the red juice in her goblet. “Though, I can suggest that you speak with the Guild Hall as well. If you can speak with each of the representatives and see what they offer or advise.”

  Emily nodded, taking mental notes to prepare both herself and Nate once they left. She didn’t know if he would require any assistance in keeping up with their current tasks, but it would ease her mind knowing someone was.

  “I am unsure if the two of you prefer to stay together in the long run, but I would also suggest lodging together when you first arrive. It will be more prudent and less of a financial burden on you both, that and you can as you said yesterday aid each other more quickly if needed.” Lady Rosnan mused as she looked the two of them over again, reminding them of their discussion yesterday. “Whatever your decisions though, I do wish you both success and luck on your journeys.”

  [Inventory Update]

  [Brown Cloth Tunic received]

  [Dark Blue Cloth Leggings received]

  [Brown Wool Stockings received]

  [Old Worn Leather Buckled Shoes received]