[center][h3]Nemeia[/h3][/center]
[hr]

"Nem of the Shield Brethren?" a voice loudly asked as the door to the small tea house was thrown wide open, ushering in unwelcome rays of far too bright sunshine.

"Yes, yes," Nem irritably replied with a dismissive wave of a hand. Her red eyes did not leave the small carved figures that lined the painted wooden board that lay on the table in front of her and she made no effort to acknowledge the new arrival, hopeful that he would leave if she just ignored him. 

A well-practiced cough followed, dashing her hopes,"Nem the Adventurer, your presence is requested at the guild hall."

"Can it wait?" Nem tersely asked, unwilling to relinquish the victory she sensed was nearly at hand.

"Afraid not. We're almost late as it stands. It wasn't easy to find you," the guild runner chided, wiping the sweat from his brow with a sleeve of his dust covered shirt.

"I wasn't expecting to be summoned," Nem glowered.

"You and me both, sister," the guild runner began in agreement, his eyes glazing over with fond memories of recent, happier times. "There I was with a half a flagon of mead and a pretty enough girl when–"

Interrupting the guild runner mid monologue with a raised hand and defeated sigh, Nem pushed her chair away from the table. Moving to stand, she grabbed her two handed sword, and offered an apologetic nod towards her puzzled opponent. The arrival of the guild runner had saved the old merchant from a humiliating loss, but Nem would not forget. She would have her victory, one day or another, she could only be distracted for so long.

Stepping into the bright daylight, Nem approached the guild runner, "It's unusual for them to summon adventurers on such short notice, do you know why they asked for me?"

"No, you know they don't tell me much, sister," the guild runner offered apologetically. "Just what I need to know to do my job. Between you and me though, this one seemed important."

"Important? Important, how?"

"Seems the guild master asked for you by name. You and some other adventurers. Don't ask me who, it was hard enough to remember your name. I'm sure you'll be fine."

Following lightly in the footsteps of the man as he lead her towards the guild hall, weaving through crowded streets, Nem made no effort to hide the small smile that took form on her lips. It had been too long since her last proper adventure.