The building the Royal Guard was located in was to the right of that which contained the palace. The ornaments in the artificial bedrock depicted warriors and war machines.

Unchosen was the first to cross the threshold, the interior was largely made from wood and stone, which was quite a contrast to the quartz walls of the Enchanter Guild. The entrance hall slimmed down into a corridor further back. From what Unchosen could see, the corridor was lined with training rooms. Each training room had a glass wall that allowed it to observe the training without having to open the door.

The Guard soldiers were currently training in various different disciplines. In one room Unchosen could see archers shooting at dummies. In another there were soldiers dueling. In a third room several more soldiers practiced unarmed combat. Quite far at the end there was a room where five Mencur-Besh fought in something that could only be described as something like a disciplined tavern brawl, it went so fast that it was hard to make out what was actually happening.

Ambigious asked: "So, what are we supposed to do now?"

As to answer his question, a soldier came out of a door at the end of the corridor, judging by his decorated uniform he was of fairly high rank.

He asked: "Are you looking for something?"

Before anyone could say anything the soldier said: "Wait, I think I know who you are, I have gotten word that you three would show up today, Captain Bedrock would like to speak with you."

Unchosen asked: "That's his name?"

The soldier turned and motioned to follow him. "The only name we know him by."

They followed the soldier through the door at the end of the corridor, went up a staircase and down another corridor. The soldier opened a door and indicated them to go first.

Unchosen assumed the room to be the captain's room or office, the back wall was lined with portraits of people who probably were previous Guard captains. The other walls were lined with bookshelves and weapon racks. In the middle of the room was the desk where a figure clad in full plate armor was currently sat, writing something down on a piece of paper. This had to be Bedrock.

Bedrock was an enormous man, he was one and a half heads taller than Unchosen and much more muscular than Ambigious, the only visible part of his body were his dark eyes that looked out from behind his visor. To their surprise his armor wasn't made from firesteel, it was made from artificial bedrock, explaining the name he went by. Even in his current sitting position the captain's presence filled the entire room. Although he took notice of them, he first finished writing whatever he was working on before talking.

His visor muffled his deep voice. "I have been expecting you."

TehLulz asked: "Why?"

Bedrock laughed. "I have gotten word that a former Guard captain is in town and has brought his apprentices."

Unchosen said: "Yes, Fire is our mentor."

"Fire, is it? I was never told which former captain." Bedrock pointed at the wall behind him, Fire's portrait was about in the middle of all captains. Bedrock continued: "I came here five hundred years ago so I never served under him but I know some who did, only heard good things."

Bedrock rose up from his desk, picked up the piece of paper and handed it to the soldier who had shown Unchosen and his friends the way.

He said: "That's the patrol schedule for the surrounding woods, the treasurer told me that we are expecting a shipment of silver for the Mage Guild, it would be good to clear out any bandits that may lurk out there."

The soldier gave Bedrock a salute and then quickly left the room.

Bedrock turned to Unchosen and said: "I assume that you came here to train."

Unchosen nodded.

Bedrock started walking towards the door and said: "I can spare some time. Let's see what Fire taught you."

Unchosen, TehLulz and Ambigious spent hours training with Bedrock and a couple of other soldiers. The Guard soldiers were naturally way superior due to their many years of experience and they hardly pulled their punches, or slashes and stabs for that matter. The training was hard but rewarding, they started off with their preferred weapons but then had to try all manner of things. In the end Bedrock challenged them to a three on one fight and effortlessly beat them.

After their training was concluded, they went and cleaned themselves, then joined Bedrock and the other soldiers they had trained with at a table in the entrance hall.

Bedrock said: "You did well, for how little experience you have you are quite capable fighters."

Still quite out of breath, Unchosen answered: "Thank you."

They exchanged a couple of tales about their past battles. Unchosen silently admitted that, while impressive in its own right, their ghoul kill was nothing compared to what the soldiers of the Guard had fought over the years. One soldier recounted a tale of fighting an undead giant, which they were only able to kill by pinning it down with countless ropes and then driving a sharpened tree trunk into its skull through its ear.

After a while Bedrock excused himself, having to return to his duties. The other soldiers also left soon after. Unchosen, TehLulz and Ambigious stood up and walked out of the Guard's building. They looked around, no sign of Fire, Shadow or freeZe.

TehLulz suggested: "Let's pay Carol a visit while we have time."

Ambigious gave him thumbs up and they started walking, Unchosen leading the way to the tower. When they arrived they found the door unlocked, laughter coming from inside. He carefully opened it and saw that Carol was currently talking to freeZe, who apparently was talking about something that had happened in the Mage Guild.

"May we come in?" Unchosen asked.

Carol looked to the door in surprise and then said: "Sure, there is enough tea for everyone."

They sat down at Carol's table again, freeZe finished her tale about what had happened during her lesson in the Guild. TehLulz followed right up with what had happened at the Guard.

Carol asked: "So, how is Bedrock? I have only ever seen him at parades or sometimes in the streets."

Ambigious said: "Doesn't talk much about himself or his past or anything else for that matter. He's an amazing fighter, punches like a battering ram."

Carol said: "I once heard from a professor at the Mage Guild that magic doesn't affect him, probably because of his armor, he never takes it off. Nobody ever managed to make usable armor from artificial bedrock."

"Huh, didn't know that. Might have to ask Fire about the exact properties some time." Ambigious said.

Suddenly Carol flinched. freeZe asked: "What was that?"

Carol slowly said: "Nothing, really."

freeZe asked: "Anything to do with you casting an Ender spell right now?"

Carol sighed. "You got me. I always keep watch on the eye with my magic. The eye has a unique magical interference that keeps changing, it's like it's whispering. Usually it's quiet, sometimes it's loud, sometimes it's really loud. I still have to get used to it, the sudden changes often surprise me."

Unchosen saw how freeZe quickly exchanged a glance with TehLulz. He knew neither about enchanting nor about magic but something about this whispering seemed odd to them.

"Anyways," Carol said "anyone want some more tea?"

They sat with Carol for about half an hour before there was a knock on the door. Carol stood up and found Fire and Shadow outside.

"Come in." She said.

Shadow shook her head. "We actually just came to pick up our apprentices, we need to start preparing for our departure since we won't be staying in Rockhaven for too much longer."

They quickly finished their tea and then said goodbye to Carol.

While walking back to Shadow's house, Fire said: "I assume you all had success in your training?"

They just nodded, at this point they were quite tired.

Fire explained: "In two days we'll have the Axe, the king agreed to hand it over during a banquet. The Axe has been in Rockhaven ever since and people won't accept giving it away without a bit of ceremony."

freeZe asked: "Any plans for tomorrow?"

Shadow said: "In fact yes, I thought that we could go to the lower districts and have some fun, you aren't in Rockhaven often and you could probably use some relaxation after our journey and today."

With those words Shadow unlocked the door to her house. Shadow opened the door and went inside, there was the smell of food in the air, the others followed in anticipation.