Barron had been fortunate enough to find a Cullis Gate hidden within the walls of Bowerstone. Using his Will Barron easily sent himself back to the Guild. After he reached his destination he leaned on the Guild's walls for support against the sudden wave of nausea. He blinked and focused his vision on the woman in front of him as she mumbled to herself.

"Ah, now this looks promising…"

Pushing himself off of the wall Barron walked over to the magical table, and subsequently to the red and black clad woman. As he was about to wave his hand above the table she turned towards him.

"Oh, hello. You must be the kid Maze is always talking about. Can't imagine what he sees in you."

Barron repressed an irritated growl as she continued, "Still, I suppose Maze knows best. But where are my manners?"

Barron certainly hadn't a clue.

"I'm Briar Rose. No doubt you've heard of me."

To himself Barron thought, "I have no clue who you are, please leave before I sever your head." The young warrior was certainly trying not to do just that. The last thing he wanted was the Guildmaster breathing down his neck.

Briar Rose continued on obliviously, "No time for autographs, I'm afraid. I have to get to Knothole Glade for an important mission."

As she walked away she noted, "Speaking of which, if you're looking for a Quest Card, all the best ones are gone already."

"I'm sure the Guild can find something for you to do though. I hear the kitchens need cleaning."

Barron scoffed at the woman's retreating back. As she disappeared through the Cullis Gate he couldn't help but imagine what Whisper would have done had she been there. Staff down the throat? Explosives in the pants? Whatever it would have been, Barron knew the result would be as hilarious as it was gruesome. He walked up to the magic table and summoned the only card left. When he read it rage filled him to the brim and he stormed over to the exitway.

The one thing that annoyed Barron about Cullis Gates was that you had to have been to your chosen destination previously. This of course meant that traveling to Greatwood was taking some time. This in itself wouldn't be so bad if everything wasn't so calm. No highwaymen to fight, nor any rabid bears to slay. Just a peaceful path in a forest. At least until Barron ran into a familiar face.

"So you're going to do work down at Orchard Farm, are you? I knew that was your true calling."

Barron smirked as he and Whisper stood stock still on the pathway. Shoulder to shoulder, but facing opposite directions.

"I saw Lady Grey set the opposite Quest in the Guild yesterday. Maybe I should pick it up."

She could practically feel Barron's smirk turn to a thin line as his gravelly voice rang out into the Autumn air, "But… they're bandits…"

"Oh, I'm not betraying you or anything, Farmboy. I just thought this would be fun!"

As she ran off in the direction of the Guild Whisper shouted, "I hope you've been practicing. You'll need all the experience you can get to beat me! See you later, farmboy!"

Barron turned so he could watch her retreat, he suddenly felt very uneasy.

As the warrior walked into Orchard Farm the owner ran up to him, "Thank Avo you're here! I thought no one would answer our Guild request!

Gesturing to a few guards nearby the man continued, "I've arranged some more security to back you up, but there are so many bandits… They'll tear my farm apart!"

Looking towards the barn the farmer muttered, "I wish we'd never found those damn stones. They've brought us nothing but trouble."

"My wife Jenna won't let them anywhere near the house, so we've left them in some crates at the barn."

Barron peered into the barn at the crates within, "Cursed?"

"Only Avo would know, but they must be worth a fortune! They say Lady Grey wants them. I've already lost three farmhands in these raids!"

Suddenly there was a large crash. Realizing what must have been going on Barron pushed the man roughly in the direction of his house, "Go… where it's safe!"

The man stumbled as he tried to regain his balance. Once he was inside Barron could hear faint wailing. For the life of him he couldn't figure out if it was from the man or his wife. Barron stood there with the burly guards, waiting for the bandits to surface. They came from the central entrance first. These bandits were clearly a distraction. They were flailing and hollering as they ran into the line of sight.

"Go," Barron shouted, or at least his version of shouting, to the simpleton guards who just stood there as the bandits closed in.

As the fighting erupted behind him Barron ran towards the barn. Leaping up his hands caught the edge of the roof and he hauled himself up. He walked to the center of the roof crouched down. Scanning the area he saw no more bandits coming yet. As he turned his head to check on the guards he erupted into a small coughing fit. It wasn't unnatural, he had talked far more than he was used to today. His throat was simply strained.

Beating his chest as he looked down at the guards he noticed one of the three bandits had gotten passed them. Barron pulled an arrow out of his quiver and shot it at the bandit as the man neared the barn. The arrow impaled the bandit, and with a scream of pain he fell to the ground. Barron heard war cries coming from the eastern entrance. Barron put his index finger and his thumb to his lips and let out a sharp whistle. The guards looked up from the fallen bandits. Barron made a few hand gestures, they nodded, and charged at the incoming enemy. Barron helped them from above, raining arrows on the bandits.

This continued for some time. Barron eventually ran out of arrows, having to resort to his lightning spell near the end. Everything went silent when the last enemy fell. Barron stood to his full height and looked around, waiting. He was honestly surprised she hadn't appeared. She had said she'd take up the opposing Quest, yet she was nowhere to be seen. He took a moment to consider that maybe she had changed her mind. That is until he heard something hit the roof. Barron just barely managed to leap off of the roof before the small explosive detonated. Whisper descended from the trees, landing in front of Barron. The guards moved to attack, but Barron held up his arm to tell them to back down.

"Oh, so it seems you have gotten better."

Pulling out her staff she continued, "I hope you've learned how to Flourish, because that's the only way you're gonna get close to me."

Barron unsheathed his sword as Whisper took her battle stance. She launched herself into the air but he managed to roll out of the way in time. Bolting up Barron swung at Whisper, hitting her staff several times. No matter how many times he swung his sword Whisper continued to block. She also continued grin. Said grin only grew bigger, and bigger, as Barron continued to swing.

"I really am going to have to Flourish, aren't I," Barron realized internally.

Barron took a deep breath, and focused. Soon his sword was enveloped in a purple aoura. He charged forward, and this time when he swung he almost knocked her off of her feet. After this they were both attacking each other. Blade and staff colliding, and sometimes weapons against skin. Though they never hit one enough to cause any true damage, but they were bound to have a few nasty bruises tomorrow. Barron brought up his sword and hit her in the jaw with it's hilt. She grunted as she fell to the ground.

"Damn it! You beat me! Again."

As the guards readied to apprehend her she grabbed something out of one of her side pouched. Barron knew full well what it was, but made no effort to stop her. After all, she hadn't actually betrayed him like he feared. She just had some fun, played a game, and lost. He watched silently as Whisper threw the small object to the ground. Unlike the guards, who freaked out a little bit, he stood stock still as smoke erupted from the ground.

"Huh? Where'd she go," one of the guards asked. They both jumped when her voice came from the trees.

"I suppose this quest is yours then. But you can't stay lucky forever, farmboy. We're bound to meet again, and I'll be ready."

Barron shook his head at his rivals perceived dramaticness. He was snapped out of his thoughts by whooping and howling. Looking towards the small cottage he saw the farmer and his wife run out and charge him. Before he could do anything they were hugging him. He openly tried to shake them off out of discomfort they remain oblivious to his duress.

The farmer shouted, "You did it! I can't tell you how thankful we are!"

The man let go of Barron and explained that someone would be picking them up, and that they shouldn't be having any more trouble from then on out. Throughout this the farmer had an oblivious grin on his face as his wife all but threw herself on Barron. The young warrior, being as socially inept as he was, wondered if this was the woman's failed attempts at attacking him. The farmer patted Barron on the shoulder and smiled again.

"I'll be sure to tell everyone about you. We need more people like you in this world."

"Like me," Barron wondered to himself.

Before he could work up enough strength in his throat to ask the farmer handed him a small sack of money, and he and his wife returned to their home. Barron looked at the sack for a moment before shrugging, and tossing it into his empty quiver. As he was about to leave something caught his eye. Something small and metallic caught the gleam of the setting sun. Upon further inspection Barron found that it was very familiar indeed. He picked up Whisper's brooch, a small golden thing, and pinned it to his shirt. It must have fallen off his rival during their battle.

Certainly she'd be appreciative if he returned it later.