"Jaakob!" One of the guards shouted, storming his way through the marketplace. Jake flinched. "Oh- uh- S-sorry, I was j-just coming back from my bre-" "Forget about your break. We need you to go to Reshin. The sooner the better" The guard interrupted, shoving a scroll into Jake's hands. "R-reshin?" Jake queried. "That's a good three towns over! I haven't gone that far before! W-why do you need me to go there?"

Jake noticed Cass watching listening to their conversation a few stands ahead of where he was standing. Apparently, she hadn't left the market yet. She started walking towards him. "My brother lives there, and 'e just got a job as a 'scientist' or somethin' nerdy like that. 'e needs an assistant, and I said that you work for cheap. The trip'll take three weeks at most, even without a horse. You'll live" The guard sneered. Jake turned his attention back to the conversation. "Okay... but what if there are theives! Or wolves! I wouldn't last a second against them!".

"That's your prob-" The guard was interrupted by Cass sliding next to him and leaning on his shoulder (or, rather, she tried to lean on his shoulder. She was quite a bit shorter than him). "I was just walking by, and I couldn't help hearin' that you needed someone to help this guy get over to Reshin without gettin' himself killed. My friends and I just so happen to be headin' over there anyway, so we could help ya out". She said. The guard pushed her off, scowling. "Well, you misheard. I'm not paying some ten year old girl to play bodyguard, if that's what you want". Cass frowned for a second. "I'm not ten. I'm fourteen. Also I don't 'play' bodyguard". She grinned before continuing on. "I'll have you know that I am a highly talented swordsman, and I've had more than enough experience defending both myself and others".

"Of course you are" The guard grunted sarcastically. "If you want to babysit him, that's your problem, but I'm not paying you for it". He turned back to Jake and pointed to the scroll that he had handed him. "That's a map of th' kingdom. The safest path to Reshin is marked out for you. When you get here, just ask for Amias Millikan " The guard started to leave. "W- h-hold on!" Jake shouted. "You can't just shove a map into my hands and tell me to go somewhere I've never been before to work with someone I've never met before to take some job I've never even held before! Are you insane?". The guard sighed, before grabbing Jake by the collar of his tunic. "Listen, we were planning on firing you anyway. You were fun to push around at first, but for the most part you're just dead weight. The only reason you're not out on the street right now is 'cause I told my brother about you. I doubt anyone else around here would be willin' t' hire you, so unless you want to be jobless and homeless, I suggest you get going". He let go of Jake before walking away.