The League of Tratta was not kin to your average guild or artisan community. It's members were not counted in individuals, but in cities. 'Sovereign Members' they were deemed, where the local government or lord cooperated with their conglomerate in a relationship that was generally mutually beneficial. The League brought trade, protected trade, to the markets and ensured the money flowed without restraint. Pirates grew scarcer, and information of foreign markets reached the ears of the Masters of the City. Aldrik knew these reasons well, but still some cities were stubborn. Some wanted to control their own guilds within their borders, tax the merchants and charge them annual duties, and believed the League brought foreign spies and unwanted northwestern influences. Some even believed them puppets of the Kings of the North.  

Aldrik had to keep all of these in mind and reacquaint himself with the subtleties of the political sphere if he was even going to gain one charter in four years, much less all of them. He sighed and etched his name on the final document, sealing his fate for the next part of his life. He almost wished he had become an associate of the League, with looser obligations and his own trade to ply. But he had wanted full membership as an agent, with all of the benefits that accompanied it. 

The room he sat in was the yard library, a 'yard' meaning a block of the guild property cordoned off for apprentices and agents from a particular area of the continent, like a loose fraternity organization. Shelves and books and firelight surrounded him, shadows undulating to the pitter patter of the hard rain that coated the city buildings from without. There was a low rumble in the distance, followed by a flicker of light from the window. He hoped it wasn't a portent for things to come as he finalized the agreement. Slowly but neatly and without standing up, he handed the documents to his yardhead, Tortuccio, who stood just before him in the manner befitting one who was about to prime him on his oaths. He wore the floofy, stylish chaperone hat most of the well-to-do men of influence in Argethafen enjoyed. Which meant by now it was worn by ever more common folk and so soon would be out of fashioned. 

"Very good, these all seem to be in order, Aldrik." He said, flipping through the pages with an adroit hand. "You'll be missed, I'll tell you that. Rogier and I, especially. But we'll see you down the way, as they say. You still remember your oaths, do you not?" 

"Of course." Aldrik assured him. 

"They'll be tested here like never before, boy. You'll have men try to bribe you, skim deals, you'll see women more beautiful than you can imagine. But keep your wits in your head and your cock in your pants. No bribes, no falsifications, no taking advantage of guild assets, and no romantic attachments until you have completed your scholarship with the guild. Understand?" 

"I think I can handle it," Aldrik chuckled, giving his winning smile. He always seemed amused when dealing with older gentlemen. They took things far too gravely and always assumed the worst. Though Aldrik was far more anxious about other matters. Tortuccio looked at him intensely, though what he wished to ascertain was a mystery. "It's the miles at sea, the threat of violence, disease, and a halting of my studies that I'm more worried about." 

Tortuccio waved it away, finally smiling back. "The Captain of your ship has been employed with the League for fourteen years, and he'll be under your command in all matters except in the unlikely event your ship is attacked, and in that event, you'll be in Carrack, with the latest swivel mounted cannons and ballista, and a well seasoned crew who have spent many years as privateers. And not only that, but you'll have your own personal bodyguard, under your command as the captain is." 

Aldrik blinked, eyes wide as the implications ran through his head. The descriptions now made it all seem very real. He shook his head. "Sir, I... I don't know if I'm worthy of all of this." 

"Well, too bad." Tortuccio said. "You've already signed the papers." He closed the ledger with the documents he signed with the finality of a guillotine. Somehow even past the storm outside, the book closing was loud. Aldrik got to his feet, knowing this was just the next step in graduating to a level beyond associate. He pulled at his tunic and straightened his garb, beginning to say something clever before his elder cut him off. "Would you like to meet her? She's in the foyer." 

"Ye-Wh-... S-She, sir?"