《The Elder Lands》 Maps and Illustrations Maps and Illustrations Hey guys. This post will include illustrations that could help your imagery of some medieval stuff like a motte-and-bailey, in case you''ve never heard of them. But mostly, this page will be for maps, which I''ve created several of. You could check those maps out right away, or wait until theye up in the story. Currently, they contain no spoilers, I''ll post warnings if there''re any future edits that could spoil events. Also, the maps are rough depictions. They''ll give you general idea of what''s there and more details will be written in the story when needed. But don''t take them as gospel when ites to scale or specific shapes. Sir Gn Zesh''s fief, for example, is very small inparison to other fiefs. Here''s an illustration which I do NOT own of what a typical motte-and-bailey looks like. This is not exactly what''s present in the story, but it will give you an idea of what''s there. The next one is a map of Sir Gn Zesh''s territory. This one is the Kingdom''s map. It''s sparse on terrain elements. I''ve only added the parts that could soon be useful. This also includes towns, small/medium sized cities, and viges. And this is the Elder Lands map. Also missing smaller terrain and settlements. Only what''s necessary is shown. Leave yourments and suggestions below if you have any. Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Lucan slid his te forward after inhaling thest of his breakfast. As always, he was the first to finish. His father, Sir Gn Zesh, who was ring at him, was still in the middle of his meal. Thomas, their steward, had even eaten less. The older man had lost thest bit of color in his hair, and what remained of its gray, balding form wasbed back immactely. He¡¯d been his father¡¯s attendant before he had beennded by the King and had continued to serve the family afterwards. His father¡¯s men-at-arms were seated around the rest of the long table. Lucan himself was seated on his father¡¯s right, and Thomas was on the knight¡¯s left. The men-at-arms lined the rest of the table, and they were close to finishing their meals. Good, that meant he didn¡¯t look entirely like a savage. But he had a library to get to, and a rare book to read for the hundredth time. Father had called the wandering collector who¡¯d sold him the book a chatan, but Lucan might as well have been born with a book in his hand. He couldn¡¯t have been fooled so easily, or so at least he hoped. He made to get up from his chair but a voice stopped him in his tracks. His father cleared his throat, his eyes still fixed on him. The King¡¯s knight was closing in on his fortieth winter, and his hair and thick mustache were dark, unlike Lucan who¡¯d gotten his mother¡¯s chestnut hair. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he said. ¡°Have you forgotten what today is?¡± Lucan swallowed thest of his food. ¡°I have not. But there¡¯s still time. I will spend it in the library.¡± It wasn¡¯t much of a library in truth. He¡¯d taken a small chamber, turned it into a study, and stacked all his books on shelves inside. ¡°There¡¯s none,¡± his father said, his countenance oddly severe. He wasn¡¯t a cruel man, but he could be frightening when he thought Lucan was being frivolous, and he often did. ¡°I have brought a ritualist.¡± Lucan¡¯s jaw cked. A ritual¡­for him? How much coin had his father prepared for this? Lucan himself had been anxious about his Elder Blessing for months, even if he¡¯d acted otherwise unconcerned while hiding his nose in one book or another. How many skill slots would his Blessing allow him? His father had been a prodigy, blessed with four skill slots without any assistance, but his passed mother had been amoner with only one. He banished the memories that came when he thought of her. They would only pain him. But the banishment didn¡¯t work. He still remembered her handing him his first book, her warm smile urging him to embrace that which she hadn¡¯t had the luxury to enjoy at his age. Lucan shut his eyes and focused on the present. He¡¯d been hoping to be like his father, or at least to get three slots. Thetter was what was expected among nobles. But hope was something and what the Elder Roots decided for you was something else. If his father had prepared a ritual for him, then Lucan could¨Cif he was fortunate¨Cbe allowed one more skill slot than what he would have gotten otherwise. He daydreamed of what it would be like if he inherited his father¡¯s talent and received the benefits of the ritual above it. Five skill slots. He would be the talk of the kingdom. But the costs¡­ ¡°Father, truly?¡± he said. ¡°How?¡± ¡°That is to be discussedter,¡± his father said with finality. ¡°Now you only need to think of your Blessing.¡± Lucan nodded with vigor. He nced at his empty te and then at all the other tes on the table which were still not empty. Impatience was eating at him already. His father sighed, noting his excitement. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s cause for haste.¡± He stopped eating and stood up. Everyone at the table dropped what they had in hand and got to their feet as well. ¡°The ritualist should be waiting at the sapling. Shall we go?¡± He allowed a bit of mirth to seep through his features. Lucan repaid it with a wide smile. ¡°Yes, father.¡± Soon, his father was leading their party out of their small stone keep. He¡¯d told Lucan that it had cost their family a small fortune just to build one as small as this. The keep was surrounded by a wooden palisade to protect it, not that anyone could easily climb up the man-made hill it was built on withouting through the walkway that connected their keep to the bailey. Their keep was built on the packed dirt at the highest point in the motte-and-bailey. His father led them through the wooden gate of the palisade and down onto the walkway made of rough nks that eased the steep descent of the hill. They soon reached the small moat that surrounded it, and the walkway morphed into a wooden structure that was made to support the hardwood drawbridge that covered the gap. It was already lowered and they promptly passed over it. The rest of the walkway opened up into the bailey, which mostly housed their craftsmen and most prominently contained a stable, a smithy, a small barrack, an even smaller inn, and arge cattleshed. Most of the bailey¡¯s inhabitants were up early as was expected, and they greeted him and his father as they passed, promptly joining their procession at the tail. He received a lot of ¡®Good fortune¡¯ and ¡®May the Roots bless you¡¯ as he walked through the empty t strip that counted as a street between the man-made hill and the bailey¡¯s wooden gatehouse. The bailey itself was surrounded by a high and thick wooden palisade, and its gatehouse supported another hardwood drawbridge that crossed the bailey¡¯s moat. His father, Sir Gn of House Zesh, headed the procession, followed by Lucan, Thomas, and the five men-at-arms. Behind them, came the inhabitants who¡¯d caught onto their passage. Once they got through the gatehouse and over the drawbridge, Lucan gazed at the flowing body of water that was a small distance from the motte-and-bailey. It was too wide to call a stream and too narrow to call a river, though the people called it a river regardless. A boat could float down the river, but a barge wouldn¡¯t be able to evade the few rocky outcroppings or the mud inds. That was why they received no trade through it. On the other side of what Lucan knew was originally an ancient Imperial canal, farnd sprawled into the distance, interspersed with barns and houses. Peasants dotted that farnd, likely having begun working their fields at dawn. Lucan¡¯s household had still been waking up at that time to break their fast. A thickly-built wooden bridge crossed the river from their side of the canal to the other. Their procession crossed it and converged on the sapling near the dirt road that cut through the farnd and shadowed the canal¡¯s direction,ing from the northwest. It was called a sapling, Lucan mused, but it was taller than any tree in the vicinity. Its bark was gray edging on white, and its branches were bare and bony. This was what happened when you took a small piece of the trees dubbed Elder Roots and nted them in fertile soil. The sapling would keep growing until thend could no longer support it, then it would shrivel and die. Then they would bring another piece and nt it at the same spot to grow until its inevitable death. The sapling was given a wide berth by the surrounding farnd, as it often killed anything grown near it. This sapling would be the source of his Blessing. Under the sapling, a man in dark robes pored over arge circle drawn from smaller circles on the dirt. A ritual. As they got closer, Lucan could see that the circles were painted in purple, likely using the blood of a Labyrinth beast. The ritualist greeted his father as he noticed their arrival. ¡°Sir Zesh.¡± ¡°Mage Yurev,¡± his father said. ¡°How goes the preparation?¡± ¡°All¡¯s well. The circle is prepared. With the orbs we can begin,¡± the ritualist said. He was a short man, barely Lucan¡¯s height, and quite a bit shorter than his father. His hair was a dirty brown covered by the hood of his robes. Some of it was matted to his forehead. His father gestured to Thomas who had an unusuallyrge pouch on his belt. Their steward took it off and stepped forward, handing it to the ritualist. Mage Yurev pulled a golden orb out of the pouch. It was metallic and round, except for the part where the frozen impression of a screaming face pushed out against its surface from the inside, as if trying to break out. A God¡¯s Orb, Lucan thought. A fortune no wider than your palm. The Orb would have cost at least two Royals. Many of those who earned them kept them for themselves. You didn¡¯te across a Herald beast every day, and there was nothing to ensure that you would be able to kill it if you did. The ritualist put the orb in one of the smaller circles at the edge of therger one. He took out another orb and put it in another circle. Then he took out another and another and another. Six orbs in total, spread around the circle. He turned back to Lucan¡¯s father and said, ¡°If you will give him thest one, Sir.¡± Lucan¡¯s father nodded. Then he opened his own pouch and took out an orb that widened Lucan¡¯s eyes in spite of him. The orb had the impression of two screaming faces. A Twice-souled Orb. It had to be immeasurably more valuable than the already expensive Orbs that were present. His father handed it to him, and Lucan received it reverently, softening its already slownding into his palm by bobbing his hand down with its weight. It was exactly asrge as his palm, and heavy. The dark gold metal was smooth and cold to the touch. It took a moment for Lucan toe out of his thoughts to see that everyone around was looking at him. A crowd of peasants had formed a circle around the ritual, along with those who¡¯d followed them from the bailey. Closer was the ritualist who was gesturing for him to walk into the ritual circle. Lucan nced at his father, who nodded at him firmly, then stepped into the circle, making sure to avoid trampling any of the lines. The ritualist pointed to the exact middle of the circle and Lucanplied. ¡°Sit.¡± Lucan nodded and sat down cross-legged. ¡°Hold the Orb steady, close your eyes,¡± the ritualist said. Lucan cradled the Orb in two hands and closed his eyes. He heard the murmurs of the crowd. A stiff breeze invaded his clothes, quickly turning into a tempest of wind that buffeted him. His eyes fluttered but the rough voice of the ritualist stopped him from opening them. ¡°Be at ease.¡± Lucan tried to do so, but his flesh was beginning to burn and he felt as if liquid fire was burrowing under his skin, expanding through his body before settling into a hot soreness all over. ¡°Get up,¡± the ritualist said, a hasty note in his voice. ¡°Your body will not bear it for long. You must touch the sapling now.¡± Lucan opened his eyes. The circle that had been drawn with beast blood was gone and so were the Orbs that had been ced on it. He realized that a weight had also disappeared from his hands, and he looked down, seeing that his own Twice-souled Orb was gone as well without him noticing. Something else immediately caught his eye. His skin was glowing with lines of red. His breath caught and he stared at the lines. They were an unintelligible mix of circles and runes, all linked together and extended all over his body, their shine apparent even from below his clothes. ¡°Move,¡± the ritualistmanded, bringing him out of his trance. The cowled man was standing over him and pointing towards the gray tree. Lucan hopped onto his feet, nodding and stumbling towards the Elder Sapling. The tree was left out in the open, but it was still surrounded by a small wooden fence engraved with a simple bronze enchantment to prevent children from ruining their future. He stepped past the open gate and walked under the bare gray arms of the sapling, reaching its trunk andying a hand on the rough bark. It was as if every muscle in his body seized up. He convulsed for a moment, his vision going white, and then he came back to himself panting with his back bent over and his hands on his knees. He heard someonee up behind him and turned to see his father nked by the ritualist. ¡°Well?¡± his father asked. Lucan gulped and called it from within him. The Elder Blessing. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Basic 0/1 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (3) 0/100 He eyed his level first, which didn¡¯t seem askew, thankfully. It happened from time to time, specially if a child touched the sapling too early in their life. They would have no levels and no slots. A premature Blessing could ruin one¡¯s life. Next was the Vital Orbs. They were the true power that would fuel his advancement, and he would gain more and more as he leveled up. If he were to gain his second level soon, he would earn two more Vital Orbs, and three on his third level. The only othermon source of them were the ruinously expensive God¡¯s Orbs he¡¯d just burned through in the ritual, though that wasn¡¯t their most important use. Lucan pressed his lips as he came upon his skill slots. Three. Just three. If this was a sessful ritual, then he¡¯d originally had two slots, and the ritual had supplemented that with one more. If it hadn¡¯t, which was difficult to prove, then he¡¯d had three anyway. But he¡¯d expected more. Unfortunately, if he ever wanted to increase his number of slots to four, he¡¯d have to expend one hundred Vital Orbs to fuel it. Now he didn¡¯t know whether to deal with his disappointment or brace for his father¡¯s. He dismissed the manifestation of his Blessing and looked towards his father, avoiding the knight¡¯s eyes. ¡°Three.¡± His father tried not to look disappointed but Lucan caught the telltale signsing over his face before he got it under control and nodded with a set jaw. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Thank you, father.¡± His father still didn¡¯t favor him with a smile. ¡°Come with me. It is customary for you to be introduced to your duties after your Blessing.¡± He turned around and walked back towards the bailey, naturally expecting Lucan to follow. He did. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Lucan climbed the walkway to the keep behind his father; Thomas and one of the men-at-arms following behind them, the rest having gone to attend to their duties. Once they got through the gate of the upper palisade, his father stopped in the courtyard. Lucan waited as his father turned around and surprisingly drew his sword. There was no anger in his features or his posture, so Lucan calmed himself. ¡°You might as well gain the least of your skills now.¡± Ah. His father meant to have him gain the Swordsmanship skill. Some passive skills like it could be learned through training and practice, not all however. Some of the more profound passive skills had to be learned through costly methods. The most prominent of which was a bestowal by those with enough experience in it, which was rare since they had limited bestowals to give; or a God¡¯s Orb that carried the particr skill you wanted, which could be even rarer depending on the skill. The same applied to active skills, even though they differed in the methods necessary to level them up. Lucan had been trained in the sword since he could walk. It was one of the few things he hadn¡¯t been allowed to avoid in favor of reading books, and now it was supposed to pay off. He noted that Thomas wasn¡¯t staying for the bout and instead was going into the keep. But Cordell, their oldest man-at-arms, fetched him a steel sword to meet his father with. Lucan epted it, tightening and loosening his grip on the hilt to familiarize himself with it. Sir Gn Zesh stood in front of him, his longsword reflecting a yellow sheen of gold, but with savage texture and menacing runes engraved into its length. It was a family heirloom made from goldsteel; as hard as forged steel and as enchantable as gold. This one was enchanted with Durability which made it much, much harder than steel, and it was engraved with another enchantment that provided an ability that Lucan had never seen his father use. Apparently, it sapped the enchantment of some of its power every time it was used, and empowering it again would be costly. Lucan¡¯s own sword feltcking in his hands. It didn¡¯t matter much since his father wouldn¡¯t be pressing him hard enough for the differences between the swords to show themselves, not that a sword would have been the reason his father could win. This would hopefully be a brief bout with the simple purpose of gaining the skill. Lucan circled his father who stood rooted to the ground like a hardwood tree. He stepped in for a probing sh from the right. They weren¡¯t wearing armor, which would make a real strike dangerous, but he had no illusions about being able to hit his father. As expected, his father parried his sh easily and his stance lowered, his knees bending and his posture ready for a lunge. Lucan quickly hopped backwards to make space, keeping his sword in front of him and his eyes alert. His father didn¡¯t attack. So Lucan circled again. This time, his father circled him as well. Lucan grew impatient and feinted a sh to the left then quickly weaved his sword up, turning it into a chop. His father¡¯s sword mirrored his as he feinted, which initially gave him hope, but it didn¡¯tmit to a side block, continuing to follow his sword upwards and meeting it with its width. His father stepped to the right as he blocked his high chop, making the path of Lucan¡¯s sword empty even if he managed to force his way through, which he couldn¡¯t. So Lucan retracted his sword quickly before his father could slip his goldsteel de out of its path which would use Lucan¡¯s weight against him and force him to stumble forward. Lucan realized that he had grown a false sense of safety from not being attacked when his father surprised him with a fast sh from the right. The shrunken distance between them made it difficult to execute a proper parry so Lucan barely managed to catch the golden de on the strong of his sword. He was already imbnced, so instead of trying to push back against it, he leaped backwards. Or rather that was what he¡¯d hoped to do, but he ended up half-leaping half-stumbling and nearly meeting the ground with his back. His father pressed the attack, sliding forward with an uppercut that he pulled back in before it could meet Lucan¡¯s defending sword, turning it into a quick center thrust instead. Lucan had to take a side step, barely evading the tip of his father¡¯s sword and beginning to wonder if he was wrong about how easy he would be on him. No, if his father wanted to overpower him, his Physique alone would have been enough to break his guard during his first strike. He was simply pressuring him to get the best out of this. Lucan created space between them again by taking hasty steps backwards, and his father consumed that space in moments, stepping forward and delivering a diagonal sh. This time Lucan was bnced. He met the sh with a solid parry and countered with a riposte towards his father¡¯s shoulder. His father slid backwards, infuriatingly staying a finger¡¯s width ahead of the tip of his sword. But the backward movement returned the initiative back to Lucan as he lunged forward, following the riposte with a high side sh towards the head. His father pulled his sword closer and parried it easily. Lucan¡¯s next thought was to¨C You have learned Swordsmanship. Consolidate? The words appeared in his vision and he rejoiced, epting the offer, but he soon panicked, looking past the words, expecting a counterstrike to being his way. Thankfully, there was no swording for his face. His father had rxed his posture, obviously having noticed the far look in Lucan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well?¡± his father said. ¡°Is it Journeyman?¡± Lucan called up his Elder Power. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Basic 0/1 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (2) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice He shook his head apologetically at his father. ¡°Level neen, father. Apprentice.¡± His father didn¡¯t look disappointed this time. ¡°It¡¯s near enough to what was expected, I suppose. Don¡¯t let off your training.¡± He turned around meeting Thomas who¡¯de back from the keep with a wrapped bundle of cloth. He unwrapped it to reveal a sword in an intricate leather sheath. He presented it to Lucan, hilt first. ¡°Draw it.¡± Lucan did as he was told, drawing the sword. It was made of bronze, which was normally a bit weaker than steel. But its constituents were enchantable unlike the dead metal that was iron. And indeed, his father had had this one enchanted for him. Lucan could easily guess what enchantment it was, even if he understood nothing of the runes tracing lines on its t sides. It was Durability. This would make it keep an edge better than steel, and it could also endure perhaps twice as much punishment. ¡°A gift I prepared for you,¡± his father said, favoring him with a rare smile. ¡°I intended for you to be a Journeyman when you received it, but with only two levels difference, you might as well be there.¡± Lucan received the sheath next and reced the sword in it reverently. ¡°Thank you, father.¡± He dipped his head. His father nodded back. ¡°Come.¡± He turned around and began walking towards the keep. ¡°We have much to discuss.¡± Lucan trotted to catch up and walked a step behind his father. ¡°Won¡¯t you teach me Wraith Strike yet, father?¡± The skill was what had allowed his father and his grandfather before him to use the sword as a weapon of war. When it mattered, it could be as deadly as any of the heavier weapons. His father was an Expert in the skill, which allowed him to bestow it upon another only once. His father didn¡¯t look back, walking into their small keep. ¡°Not yet. You will need a bit of training before you can use it properly, and there are other things you must learn today.¡± Lucan nodded obediently, even if it could not be seen by his father. He knew where they were going. His father¡¯s study, where he managed and looked over their demesne. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Lucan¡¯s father led him into the study where he saw a map spread over the table, surrounded by some scrolls. His father¡¯s seat behind the table was made of wood and plush leather. Above his seat hung a shield with the colors of House Zesh, blue on the top left, white on the bottom right, and three weapons bundled up and fanned out in the middle, an axe, a mace, and a sword. Before Lucan could walk towards the table, his father gestured towards a side chamber. Its door was thicker than the study¡¯s and was generously banded with steel. Lucan had been in his father¡¯s study before, but he¡¯d never been shown into that chamber. He knew what it was, of course. Yet, his father hadn¡¯t found it necessary before for him to enter what passed for a treasury in their keep, specially with how ¡®irresponsible¡¯ he was. Lucan watched his father take out a bronze key, which might have been enchanted, and use it to unlock the door with multiple clicks. Then he went inside, and Lucan followed him eagerly. There was nothing more curiosity-inducing than the prohibited. Lucan knew that they weren¡¯t one of the entrenched noble houses in the kingdom. In fact, the main House Zesh was on the other side of the kingdom, holding the realnds, while this fiefdom was a small reward his father had received for his service and his father¡¯s service before him. Yet it was still disappointing to find the chamber mostly bare, with a few bronze weapons hung on the walls, and two chests on the ground. His father bent down and opened therger of the two chests, gesturing for him to approach. Lucan stepped up and looked into the open chest to see orderly stacks of coins standing beside each other, mostly gold and silver. Beside them were tworge dark-gold coins stacked on top of each other, each one as wide as his palm. Goldsteel Royals. Those weren¡¯t meant to be held in a pouch or on your person, but in a chest or to be stacked up in treasuries. Each one was worth fifty gold coins, and justly so. Lucan had always found them the currency most immediately useful, though he hadn¡¯t gotten to use them. You couldn¡¯t eat silver or copper. You could perhaps enchant gold for some of your purposes, but you couldn¡¯t do much with it alone. On the other hand, you could melt goldsteel and forge weapons out of it if you ever needed to do so. Goldsteel coins carried their worth with them. Creating them from gold and steel was where the issuey. You needed a truly skilled craftsman, a small amount of mythril dust, and, of course, quite a bit of gold. His father spoke, gesturing at the chest. ¡°This adds up to four hundred gold.¡± Lucan looked at his father quizzically. ¡°We still have all this even after the ritual?¡± His father nced at him, and Lucan could almost see some amusement on his face. ¡°This is only part of it. Your grandfather left us a lot. We wouldn¡¯t be here without him, may he rest in peace.¡± ¡°What about the fief¡¯s ie?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°This is more than we make in a year,¡± his father pointed at the coins. ¡°We get perhaps five hundred gold in taxes every Spring, a lot of whiches in the form of goods or service. We spend what counts for three hundred of it on the estate¡¯s maintenance, including wages and stockpiling foodstuffs.¡± Done talking, he took out another bronze key which he used to open the smaller chest. Lucan gaped when he saw what was inside. There were four God¡¯s Orbs. ¡°All this from grandfather¡¯s service?¡± His father guffawed and shook his head. ¡°No. Your grandfather was the younger of two brothers in the main line of the family. He didn¡¯t get thend, so my grandfather made sure he was well off before he left to enter the service of the King. He received this.¡± He tapped the hilt of his goldsteel sword. ¡°And a remarkable amount of coin and Orbs. Of course, he did earn some things himself. Perhaps the most prominent is this here.¡± His father pulled out one of the four Orbs, showing its three faces. The gap between Lucan¡¯s lips grew further and he struggled to mouth the words. ¡°Tri-souled?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his father said proudly. ¡°Your grandfather slew the Herald that coalesced into this himself.¡± His voice dropped into a whisper as he said the next words. ¡°Dual Casting.¡± Lucan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°This¡­¡± He paused, whispering. ¡°This is priceless.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± his father said. ¡°It could be considered our family treasure, even more so than the sword.¡± Lucan nodded. This Orb could be used by a caster to learn Dual Casting which was a very sought-after skill. Or it could be used to significantly raise the level of the skill for someone who already had it, though that would be a wasteful use considering the rarity of the skill. With a Tri-souled Orb, one could learn the skill and surpass the novice and apprentice levels entirely in one step. Dual Casting was considered a gem in the circles of mages, where the basic skills needed to make a mage themselves were rare. Lucan¡¯s father had briefly talked of a possibility to send him to be a mage, but he hadn¡¯t had enough clout to arrange it. The Royal Academy would have surely epted him, since his father was a reliable knight and vassal to the king, but finding someone willing to teach the skills needed was another thing entirely. The Masters in the Academy itself only had a limited amount of bestowals to give, and getting those proved too hard, even for someone favored by the King like his father. Unfortunately, without Spells Galore to contain the spells for him, Dual Casting would have been useless for Lucan. He wondered whether they could¡¯ve traded the Orb for the bestowal needed for him to be a mage, but he banished the thought. It was selfish. His grandfather and his father had kept this Orb preserved for their lifetimes, hoping someone in the family could make the best use of it. Trading it for anything not of equal value would be a massive loss to their family. Perhaps his own son or a grandson could someday make use of this Orb. And it wasn¡¯t like Lucan had been dying to be a mage. The pursuit was infamously restricting and time-consuming. He would¡¯ve been stuck to the Academy and his teachers for a long time, and he wouldn¡¯t have amounted to much before a dozen years in training, if he was fortunate. His mind returned to the present as his father put the Tri-souled Orb back into the chest and pulled the three other Orbs out in his two hands, gesturing for Lucan to take them. ¡°Use these.¡± Lucan almost showed hesitation, but he quickly pushed it down and received the three Orbs. ¡°Feral?¡± His father nodded. All of the Orbs used today had to have been Feral, carrying skills unfit for human use. The Heralds that had carried them had been using ¡®Feral¡¯ skills, like w strikes. ¡°The Two-soul Orb,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Did grandfather earn that one inbat too?¡± His father shook his head. ¡°No, that one was granted to him by the King near the end of his service.¡± He nodded towards the three orbs in Lucan¡¯s hands. ¡°Go on, use them now. You can ask your questionster.¡± Lucan nodded, bncing two of the Orbs in one hand with difficulty and holding the third one in the other hand. He focused on thetter and tried to reach out with his Elder Power. The Orb responded, shining with golden light for a moment, before melting down into a red haze in the shape of an orb. The red Vital Orb floated above his hand for a moment then it sank into his flesh. You have gained 1 Vital Orb. Lucan repeated his actions two more times. You have gained 1 Vital Orb You have gained 1 Vital Orb Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 4 Mind and Body Physique: Basic 0/1 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (2) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice Lucan eyed his possible progress paths. With four Vital Orbs, he could do a lot. Of course he had to begin with Physique. His father had hammered it into him. In the beginning, it was the most beneficial in rtion to its cost. Wasting his orbs on leveling Active Skills early on would be a crime, not that he had any yet. ¡°Don¡¯t do it here,¡± his father interrupted his thoughts. ¡°It will be painful the first time. Wait until you¡¯re seated.¡± He stood up from his crouch. ¡°Come, let¡¯s return to the study.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Lucan strode into the study after his father. Thomas, their steward, was already waiting for them. He held a few scrolled parchments in his hands and was busy arranging them with the ones on the table beside the map. Sir Gn walked around the table to his chair but didn¡¯t sit down. He gestured for Lucan to join him and Lucanplied. The map spread on the table was that of the small piece ofnd the King had bestowed upon his father. This was what he was expected to inherit someday, though the King could take it away if Lucan wasn¡¯t up to standard as a knight. Unlike a Lord¡¯s fief, theirs came with conditions that must be met. His father¡¯s constant talk of duty and responsibility along with the burden of continuing upon his sess had always been a source of anxiety for Lucan. It didn¡¯t help that he knew things could change when the heir took the throne. It was no secret that the King was aging well beyond an ordinary man¡¯s years. And an heir could decide to invest more effort in the isted Royal territories in the southeast, part of which was this fief and several others. Thomas spread open some of the scrolled parchments, which Lucan realized were the deeds to thend and its borders. Lucan scrutinized the map and tried to match it to what he¡¯d seen since he¡¯d been a child. The stream-cum-river cut from the northwest of the map to the southeast. Lucan knew from his favorite field of reading, history, that this had, in fact, been a canal dug by the old Empire from the Elder Lake to facilitate farming and trade. Thetter purpose was no longer viable as sediment precipitated along the body of water, forming mud inds and narrowing the canal by lining its sides. Before the canal could get far from the northwest of the map, it split into a fork, one branch of which continued on its merry way down to the southeast, cutting between the motte-and-bailey and the farnd on its southwestern side. It then meandered on its path until it reached the eastern forest which it cradled into a crook before flowing off the map. The other branch spread from the main canal to the east cutting through the sparse northern forest, then rubbing against the northern hills and veering down to the southeast to cut into the eastern forest. A road mirrored the main branch of the canal all the way to the southeast of the map, only branching once to lead south towards House Arden¡¯snds, cutting through the forested hills of the noble house known for producing wine. It was perhaps their most important product, though it was one of the worst Lucan had tasted. It wasn¡¯t meant to be drunk in high society, however, but to be the cheapest in the markets. House Arden produced it in abundance, and it kept them afloat as they strived to protect the southern border. Viges dotted the bank of the main branch of the canal opposite the rockynd their motte-and-bailey was built upon. The small fortress had been raised with packed earth, through the hardbor of hundreds of people. His father had picked a slightly depressed piece ofnd to raise it on, allowing them to connect it with the canal and let a natural moat form. A small outlet had been dug to disce the old water and the refuse that was sometimes thrown into the moat. His father pointed at the western edge of the map, far from the canal and the road. ¡°Our borders on this side end right before the forest, as is written here.¡± His hand moved to one of the parchments that Thomas had ced on the table. His father¡¯s forefinger traced a line between theirnds and the forest then continued to extend that line between theirnds and the mountains south of the forest. ¡°The stream that flows off the mountains leads to thiske.¡± He traced the stream to therge saltke east of the forest. Lucan knew that his father had been struggling with it for the past two years. He¡¯d been trying to extract its salt to use and sell, which could provide them with a rich bounty. Unfortunately, theke itself was a patch of lond that was surrounded by hignds, so much that it had looked like a hole in the ground when Lucan had seen it the first time. ttening a reasonable stretch ofnd around it to form salt pans would take an unreasonable amount ofbor. Likewise, relying on firewood would be too steep of an expense, since they¡¯d have to load the wood from the eastern forest. Lucan had once suggested extracting wood from the western forest, but his father had refused the idea as it could offend the King. Falling out of Royal favor for what could be construed as greed would be a tragedy, Lucan understood. The southern forest belonged in its entirety to House Arden which had no reason to be generous with them. Though their interests had recently been hinged on the presence of thended knights who¡¯d been supporting their border duties. His father had left on two long campaigns when Lucan had been but a child. He returned his attention to the map where his father had just finished exining what he already knew about their borders with House Arden. His father¡¯s hand moved to the southeast of the map. ¡°This road cuts through thends of Sir Osmond Wolfe, Sir Emerson Ryder, and Sir Alfred Upton. You are familiar with them.¡± Lucan nodded. They were, like his father, knights sworn to the King directly. Thankfully, their rtionship was cordial. His father had led him on visits to theirnds during his younger years. They had also visited their keep on asion. Next was the northeast. His father pointed beyond the northern branch of the canal and said, ¡°In this direction is Sir Ward¡¯snd. As you know, he¡¯s not very weing.¡± Lucan nodded again. The Wardnds were old, unlike theirs and their other neighboring knights. The current Sir Ward was of the fourth generation to hold thend. They had beennded when the Kingdom in the east had shattered and before the formation of the Union which now ruled over half of its formernds. They took their border duties seriously even in the presence of the much more stable Union, and they considered the newlynded knights lesser in station. The one time Lucan had visited thends of the main House Zesh, the sitting Lord Zesh had mentioned that the Wards might be elevated to Lords soon. His father moved on to the north next. ¡°As you know, beyond the forest is the Royal High Road, and a strip ofnd that belongs to the King.¡± Lucan noted the parchment that Thomas spread open as his father spoke. ¡°But this here doesn¡¯t specify whether the forest is off-limits for us, father.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± his father said. ¡°Though there isn¡¯t much benefit to it. Thend is too dangerous for logging, let alone anything else, as you well know.¡± He stared at him. Lucan blushed and avoided his father¡¯s eyes. Three years ago, he¡¯d broken his arm on his first and only wild venture into the wild alone. He was, embarrassingly, looking for an adventure, one like those annotated in some dubious historical texts. He¡¯d ended up tumbling down the forested incline of the canal¡¯s offshoot branch. That¡¯s when he¡¯d learned that the forested ground north of them was extremely uneven and terribly dangerous even if there were no abhorrent beasts inhabiting it. ¡°We must speak of what¡¯s expected of you now,¡± his father said. ¡°If you are to carry my torch.¡± He picked one of therger parchments on the table and spread it open. Lucan prepared himself for another lecture on duty and responsibility. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°We are bound to protect thend the King has bestowed upon us,¡± Lucan¡¯s father said. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no present danger to fear as we are not on the border itself. However, bandits do sometimese from the Shattered Kingdom and through the eastern forest. With the aid of our neighbors, we always cull them before they be too much of a nuisance.¡± ¡°Do theye often?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°It¡¯s dependent on the ongoings in the Shatterednds. If the warlords are in conflict, or a significant Outbreak happens, bandits and refugeese in droves. And it isn¡¯t so easy to tell them apart.¡± His father gave him a meaningful look. ¡°Unfortunately, hearsay has it that another ring of wars has begun in the east. Those fools never miss the chance whenever the Labyrinth lets off.¡± ¡°To the south,¡± Sir Gn continued, ¡°is the fief of Lord Arden. He protects the southern border of this corner of the Kingdom. We are obligated to assist him whenever the tide rises, whether it¡¯s against beast hordes or Wildermen.¡± He frowned, seemingly troubled. ¡°Are tidings not so good from this side either, father?¡± Lucan said. ¡°No.¡± His father sighed. ¡°The flow of beasts has slowed to a trickle, and it might just dry up soon.¡± ¡°Is that not good?¡± Lucan said. ¡°A reprieve for the border Lords¡¯ men?¡± His father huffed with amusement. ¡°No, son,¡± he said. ¡°When the flow ceases, the Wildermene out of their nooks. They raid and steal, and even try to invade sometimes, as you know.¡± Lucan nodded. He knew, and he also knew why, from his reading. When the people of the Dead Continent had firste here, escaping cmity and forming the Veti Empire, they¡¯d pushed the Wildermen back all the way to the south, or so the Wildermen imed. The records of the Empire itself im that the Wildermen hadn¡¯t had that wide of a presence in thesends. They were supposedly limited to mountains and some of the thickest forests. It was difficult to parse for Lucan, but the Wildermen believed them to be invaders and foreigners, and they wanted it all back. The Kingdoms that had formed after the fall of the Empire believed them to be simple, wild savages. ¡°If you are to be knighted in a timely manner,¡± his father said. ¡°You will have to distinguish yourself in battle, likely against the Wildermen.¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡± ¡°When ites to our own fief,¡± his father continued. ¡°There isn¡¯t much to fear for, though we aren¡¯t as prosperous as I hope for us to be. The King already expects us to recruit and lead more men-at-arms in his service.¡± Lucan¡¯s father had five men-at-arms. By his words, before beingnded, he¡¯d originally had only one man-at-arms¨CCordell¨C along with Thomas as an attendant. Since then, his father had recruited and trained more, though not as many as the King had expected, it seemed. It was no surprise, however, as thend given to his father hadn¡¯t only been a reward, but also a fief upon which he had been expected to raise more men in the King¡¯s service. ¡°How many does he expect, father?¡± Lucan said. ¡°He never did mention a number,¡± his father said. ¡°But he expressed his disappointment thest time he saw me.¡± That left them with little knowledge. His father would have to expand the number of those in his service until the King was appeased, but there was another issue¡­ ¡°The expenses aren¡¯t little,¡± his father said. ¡°Just hiring and training five more would strain us. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been trying to extract as much wealth as possible from thend.¡± He pointed at the saltke in the southwest of the map. It was one of the few legal ways to increase their ie in the short term. Lucan¡¯s father couldn¡¯t increase the taxes, as he was no Lord. In a way, he was receiving taxes in the stead of the King from the peasants here. He had no blood right to thend. That left few avenues for additional ie. ¡°My attempts at digging pans haven¡¯t been bearing fruit,¡± his father said. ¡°Thend is too high and tough for any reasonablebor to bear results.¡± Lucan eyed theke. It was fed by a freshwater stream that came from the mountains. Theke had formed in a spot of lond from both the flow of the stream and a collection of rain. Over many years, it had be saltier than seawater. Lucan put his finger at the edge of theke and drew a line to the east. ¡°Can¡¯t we dig a small canal to more reasonablend where we can create pans?¡± His father shook his head, with a scowl. ¡°Already attempted, nothing gained. The underlying ground is too rocky. We couldn¡¯t even find a small strip of softnd. Not in a reasonable amount of time. If there was an easy way to achieve this, it would have been achieved. Even if your books make you brighter than most, don¡¯t take us for fools.¡± Lucan winced. He didn¡¯t know where he offended his father, but it wasn¡¯t like he was any less sharp under normal circumstances. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t offense, but frustration. It was like a precious mine in hisnds that he couldn¡¯t dig up. He could see it every day, but he couldn¡¯t get a hold of it. Lucan understood the frustration. His father straightened up, wiping the scowl off his face and getting back his bearing. ¡°You should sit,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s about time you pushed your Physique.¡± Lucan nodded, obediently taking a seat and calling up his Elder Power. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 4 Mind and Body Physique: Basic 0/1 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (2) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice ¡°You ought to keep one Orb for Wraith Strike. It won¡¯t be of any use to you now either way.¡± ¡°Yes, father,¡± Lucan said. He eyed his Physique and willed the Vital Orb into it. A shooting pain wracked his body, causing him to spasm, then it was gone as fast as it hade. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 3 Mind and Body Physique: Copper I 0/2 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (2) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice Lucan scrutinized his Blessing. There was nothing he didn¡¯t know there. He¡¯d been taught what to expect long ago, and what he hadn¡¯t been taught, he¡¯d found in books. Physique represented his strength, stamina, endurance to physical harm, and even his overall health. Even mages raised it sometimes to enhance themselves. He pushed two more Vital Orbs into his physique. This time there was less pain and more of an odd tingling sensation in his body that left him quickly. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Copper II 0/3 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (2) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice There it was, his enhanced strength. With sixteen winters under his belt, Lucan was slightly weaker than a fully grown man, but with this Physique, he would be slightly stronger than one. Of course, the average man didn¡¯t walk around with a Basic Physique. A farmer often had a Copper I Physique, which leveled the ground between them again. Lucan felt grateful. Even if his father¡¯s temper was prickly, he had spent a fortune of the family¡¯s savings to give him a better start. In a way, Lucan was sad that he hadn¡¯t been up to expectations when it came to his Skill slots. He would try his best, regardless. There was a rap on the study¡¯s door. His father called for the man-at-arms to enter, thetter panting before he spoke. Lucan remembered that this one was often expected to mount a patrol in the northwest of the territory, mostly the road that came from that direction. ¡°Sir.¡± The man bowed his head slightly. ¡°Lord Zesh, his son, and their retainers are riding their way here.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Lucan, his father, and Thomas were in the bailey when Lord Zesh arrived with his entourage. The middle-aged man rode through the gates, leading a procession of mounted men. What caught Lucan¡¯s eyes was what he rode. It was asrge as the healthiest stallion, with ck scales covering every inch of it, and two curling horns adorning its head. A bulldrake. They were mounts of war, and not many could afford them. His father had one, and perhaps he was to have one someday too. It was a statement of wealth and means to be able to afford a bulldrake for traveling. Behind Lord Zesh, everyone came in with traveling horses, including Winton Zesh, the Lord¡¯s son and Lucan¡¯s second cousin. As the Lord stopped a few steps from them, Lucan¡¯s father offered a slight bow, barely a tilt in his posture. Lucan bowed a little lower, and Thomas gave a proper bow for someone of higher station. ¡°Lord Zesh,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Wee to my fief.¡± Lord Harold Zesh dismounted. ¡°Cousin.¡± He nodded. Winton, his son, came from behind him, smirking as usual. ¡°Sir Gn. A pleasure,¡± he said, keeping his chin up as though his neck was stiff. Lucan¡¯s father only gave him his attention for a moment to nod then returned it to his father. ¡°Your travels must have been wearisome. Please.¡± He gestured towards the keep on their man-made hill. ¡°Yes,¡± Lord Zesh said. He nced at Lucan, and gave him a nod but paused before dismissing him. He then eyed his father quizzically. ¡°The boy has already received his Blessing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°This morning.¡± ¡°A little bit early,¡± Lord Zesh said. ¡°I thought it would be a fortnight away.¡± ¡°Good things early are good things best,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°He can use that time to limate himself to his Blessing.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Lord Zesh nodded. The stableman and some of the bailey¡¯s inhabitants received the mounts as the retinue dismounted and headed towards the keep. Sir Gn, Lucan, and Thomas led them up the walkway and into the keep. Lord Zesh¡¯s men scattered in the courtyard at hismand and were keptpany by a pair of men-at-arms. The three of them reconvened with Lord Zesh and his son in the main study. Lord Zesh stood ramrod straight, mirrored by Sir Gn as they exchanged some more pleasantries. ¡°We must talk,¡± Lord Zesh said, ncing at Lucan and Thomas. Lucan¡¯s father nodded and looked at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you host Winton in your study, son?¡± Lucan nodded obediently before Lord Zesh interrupted him from removing himself with a question. ¡°You have your own study?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Good,¡± Lord Zesh said, ncing at his eldest son. ¡°The strength of a noble isn¡¯t always dependent on his arms.¡± Winton Zesh rolled his eyes. And Lucan saw the disapproving frown from his father that silently retorted the thought. Even if Lucan hadn¡¯t been allowed to miss his weapon training, it didn¡¯t mean that his father had been satisfied with his limited martial aplishments. They were ¡®warriors for the King¡¯ first and foremost, he always said, and warriors needed to be outstanding fighters, not barely proper ones. ¡°Thank you, my Lord,¡± Lucan said, lowering his head before he led Winton out of the study. The Lord¡¯s heir was silent during their walk through the hallway. As soon as they walked into Lucan¡¯s study, Winton walked to the small window that overlooked the bailey. From there, he would be able to barely get an eye on the farnds on the other side of the canal. ¡°Don¡¯t let it misguide you,¡± Winton said. ¡°My father is simply being kind.¡± He turned around, fingering a book thaty on the table beside him, then he flicked it away as if flicking a flea off his body. ¡°This doesn¡¯t merit much. The library in our castle is twenty times asrge.¡± He eyed the corners and the ceiling of the small chamber. Lucan¡¯s mouth twitched, holding back a retort. Winton returned to the window, continuing, ¡°though I doubt you could afford the books even if you had a proper ce for them.¡± Lucan gritted his teeth, not holding himself back any longer. The main house was richer, yes, but he doubted his second cousin had had much to do in building that wealth. He was barely a year older than him. ¡°And how many of those books did you read?¡± The retort seemed to take Winton by surprise, prompting a pause. ¡°Ah,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t need to. I could just ask the caretaker for any knowledge I want.¡± ¡°Spoken like a true fool,¡± Lucan muttered under his breath. Winton seemed to have caught a bit of his voice, because he scowled at him. ¡°My father says that you fancy yourselves bing Lords since the Kingnded you.¡± He then chuckled, looking out of the window again. ¡°This backwater doesn¡¯t seem to have the makings of a proper fief, and I doubt it ever will.¡± Lucan gave his second cousin¡¯s back a nk stare as he took a calming breath and seated himself. ¡°Are you here for the sole purpose of insulting us?¡± Winton turned around, shaking his head. ¡°No, but my father said that you were subordinate to the main family, yet your father does not act as a subordinate should, and neither do you.¡± ¡°We are subordinate only to the King,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Your father isn¡¯t our liege. Perhaps if you picked up a book, you would know what that means.¡± He knew that wasn¡¯t true. An heir like Winton would be educated on such matters from a young age, but Lucan wouldn¡¯t let an opportunity to hurl an insult back at his second cousin pass him by. Winton sneered. ¡°I know, but you are still a branch of the family. Only the rootless and the dishonored forget where they came from. Lucan jumped up from his seat, growling. ¡°Say that again.¡± Winton snorted and gave him his back again. Lucan realized that he¡¯d lost his temper, if only briefly. He sat back down and decided to ignore the presence of his second cousin. He reached out for the book he¡¯d bought from the wanderer who had passed by their home almost a year ago, the man his father had called a chatan. He held the odd book in his hands. Its cover wasn¡¯t brownish leather like most others, but thick, greenish blue. Words were engraved on its cover: ¡®The 7-Star Dance by Seif of 7-Maidens¡¯ The book described a method to increase one¡¯s agility inbat, though his father had announced it a sham when he¡¯d first shown it to him. Lucan had made a fool of himself practicing it in the courtyard, promptingughter out of whoever was his trainer when he did so. He¡¯d draw a seven-pointed star on the ground with a stick, each point of the star had to be as far as his legs could reach from where he stood without taking a step farther. After he was done, he would be in the center of the star, and then he would start hopping between the center and each point of the star and sometimes between the points themselves. The purpose would be to increase his pace in those leaps, to the point that he¡¯d be doing them instinctively fast and without having to look where he was going. Eventually, Lucan had grown out of needing a drawn star on the ground after more than a year of practice, and he had started doing his training properly without it. It still hadn¡¯t stopped theughter. He¡¯d even drawn a smile and a shake of the head from his father once when he¡¯d witnessed his ¡®training¡¯. But perhaps he¡¯d let him continue because that had been one of the few martially inclined pastimes he¡¯d shown in the past years. Lucan had begun to disbelieve the notion himself. A skill from an unknown book, sold by an unknown wandering collector? Only the gullible would believe it. Yet he¡¯d spent all his savings on it when the man had offered him the ¡®rare¡¯ book. Lucan found himself reluctant to surrender the possibility of it being useful. His father¡¯s men-at-arms would be returning to their duties soon, and Lord Zesh¡¯s men would not know what he was doing, not enough tough at least. His father certainly wouldn¡¯t have given him any time to practice what he wanted so soon after his Blessing. He would be set on getting him familiar with his ¡®responsibilities¡¯. Lord Zesh keeping his father busy was an opportunity he was thankful for. He stood up, relishing the thought of abandoning Winton. Then he turned around and headed out of the study without a word. He hated the thought of leaving his precious books in the presence of his second cousin, but it didn¡¯t truly matter. Winton was a guest, even moving something from its ce in the absence of the host was considered a breach of decorum. And so was the host abandoning his guests, but Lucan ignored that fact as he slipped out the door. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Gn sat in his study, hosting his cousin who was seated across the table from him. They were both cradling crystal goblets, two of Gn¡¯s prized possessions. The crystal was made in the remnants of the Veti Empire by an ancient family, and it cost him a generous ransom for a small set. Gn sipped on his wine. It was the best he could find in his cramped cer, where he mostly kept grain stockpiled for a rainy day. He wouldn¡¯t let his people starve if that rainy day came, or so he hoped. He could only store so much. Perhaps it was worth putting some coin into a small granary, though it wouldn¡¯te cheap. Harold Zesh wasn¡¯t a bad man in Gn¡¯s eyes. His Lord father had been much more dismissive, and sometimes cruel. Harold at least kept their rtionship cordial most of the time, though he didn¡¯t remove all formality between them. He kept a certain distance to denote his station. Still, he made Gn feel attached to the family, even if from a distance. When Gn had first received his fief, Harold had offered to assist him in its administration. Of course, Gn had politely refused his offer, as it would have certainlye with strings. Harold sipped his wine and nodded, offering a single word. ¡°Good.¡± Gn nodded. His curiosity, or perhaps his rm, was nudging him to ask, though. His cousin wouldn¡¯te all the way from the other side of the Kingdom for nothing. ¡°It¡¯s a long way you¡¯vee here, cousin,¡± Gnd said. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Harold sipped again on his wine, dying his answer and keeping Gn¡¯s nerves taut. The Lord chuckled. ¡°Am I and mine heavy guests, cousin?¡± A deflection. Harold was attempting to bring an important matter up, but he wanted to have the initiative. Gn had to respond though. ¡°Of course not, Harold. You are always wee. This is your second home.¡± He gave his cousin a stony stare, leaving the rest unsaid. But why are you here? His cousin didn¡¯t waste his efforts and time on pleasantries. He wouldn¡¯te here for a purposeless visit, not that anyone would cross such a distance for no purpose. Harold looked into his cup, then his eyes sharpened as he raised them to meet Gn¡¯s. ¡°The House needs your support,¡± he said. ¡°Can we rely on you?¡± Gn didn¡¯t immediately answer him. That was a trap, not a question. He wouldn¡¯t give his support before he knew what he was supporting. That, in itself, was a responsibility that he must abide by. Though he began thinking about what he was in a position to support. It was unlikely that the main House wanted a mediation with any of the local Houses here in the southeast. That left only two things. House Zesh wanted their assistance with something on the Kingdom''s borders, or they wanted Gn¡¯s word in the King¡¯s ear. Finding his question unanswered, Harold continued. ¡°To answer your question, dear cousin. We didn¡¯t ride here from Locanda. We were in Arpague, and I thought it might be fortuitous to visit family.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Gn said, his face still neutral. If his cousin wasn¡¯t being clear with him, then he wouldn¡¯t spare any more pleasantries. If he wanted his aid, then he at least had to be honest. Harold nodded. ¡°The King will be announcing his heir soon. You should expect a summons perhaps a year or two from now.¡± That got Gn¡¯s attention. By custom, the King¡¯s heir should be his eldest son. Yet that could change if the King saw wisdom in naming another of his sons an heir. If the eldest was named heir, and there was no contention, then the matter would be a formality. Word would get to the vassals of the realm, and one by one they would visit the capital to assure the King of their fealty. Yet a summons meant something else. ¡°What do you know?¡± Gn asked. ¡°The King is favoring the second Prince for his throne,¡± Harold said. He took another sip from his goblet, observing Gn¡¯s surprise. ¡°It is in our House¡¯s interest that tradition be kept. If the King¡¯s closest allies were to remind him of the weight of said tradition, it would prevent a lot of difficulties in court.¡± Gn was as surprised as he was unsurprised. The eldest Prince wasn¡¯t the wisest man he¡¯d met. In fact, some of the King¡¯s two-faced courtiers called him a fool outright, only when they were out of earshot of course. However, a decision like this wouldn¡¯te easy. The King would have to make preparations, including summoning the nobles of the realm and entrapping them with an obligation to their future King, the second Prince. Gn sighed. ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility to serve whichever King ascends the throne. It is not my ce to burden the King with my opinions.¡± Harold nodded, but then gave him a serious look. ¡°And is it not also your responsibility to bear your obligations to the family? This is a dire matter for House Zesh, cousin.¡± ¡°So it isn¡¯t a dire matter for the Duke first and foremost?¡± Gn said. Duke Elmere was the Lord of Arpage, and he had always been at odds with the King. The borders weren¡¯t the only reason so manynded knights had been ced in the south. The King wanted assurances that he had a grip on this end of the Kingdom. A few years ago, the Duke had miraculously managed to secure a marriage with the heir apparent. His daughter had been wed to the first Prince, but it seemed that the King had outyed the Duke. He had never intended for the first Prince to take his throne after him. ¡°There¡¯s no shame in entwining our interest with those of the Duke¡¯s,¡± Harold said. ¡°If it serves the House, then it serves the House. If our interests align with another¡¯s, then we unite. It¡¯s almost a tradition in itself by now.¡± Gn sighed. He eyed his cousin who was poised, even if he was beseeching. He had to admire him. The House had been better for his efforts since he¡¯d taken the seat of Lord. ¡°You know why such a decision weighs heavier on me than you, Harold,¡± Gn said, softening. ¡°If I were to support one Prince and his rival was to ascend the throne, then I would be in an unenviable position with a King that has no trust nor love for me. I would have to pass that onto my son, who¡­has to contend with his own difficulties.¡± ¡°I understand your reservations, Gn,¡± Harold said. ¡°Yet, I would not be here if this wasn¡¯t an important matter for House Zesh. Even if¨CAh, that reminds me, I have secured Lucan a ce in the Trial, at no expense of course.¡± That gave Gn pause. The Trial was mainly for mages. House Elmere had been fortunate generations ago, finding a unique device in the depths of the Labyrinth. Its purpose had been unknown for years, but eventually, it had been discovered. It cost a bounty of mythril dust mined from the dangerous Labyrinth to power it, but it would reward those who distinguished themselves in its Trial, mostly with enhancements to Spirit or with Vital Orbs. It was essential for most mages to get such an opportunity. Yet his cousin had gone and provided it for his son, who wasn¡¯t even a caster. There was no harm, however, as House Elmere itself had administered the Trial to their family members even if they were no mages. The benefits were undebatable, since they came without any risk. The Trial itself wouldn¡¯t take long, just a day. He knew that Harold did this to indebt him, even if such a debt wasn¡¯t of enough weight to change his mind, it was enough to make him rethink matters. Unexpected small gestures of generosity like this were what made his cousin affable to him. They were often unexpected and intermittent so as not to be mistaken for an obligation. ¡°Thank you, Harold,¡± Gn said honestly. He was grateful. Anything that would assist Lucan was valuable now. His son might not be a great warrior, but Gn had faith in him. He would learn, just like he had, even if he wasn¡¯t born with the same amount of talent. ¡°There are no thanks between family,¡± Harold said, then he leaned in, speaking softly. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t a simple matter, Gn. But it could change everything. Your father¡¯s dying wish might not be so far-fetched if the first Prince ascends the throne.¡± Gn¡¯s neck stiffened. His father¡¯s dying wish¡­It was one Gn could understand, even if he didn¡¯t feel as much desire for it as histe father. To join the ranks of higher nobility, to be Lords. ¡®Lord Gn Zesh¡¯ his father had told him, saying the words with passion. Gn himself didn¡¯t care for the title. More titles simply meant more responsibility for him. He wouldn¡¯t neglect such responsibility of course, but the burden was already heavy. Others might only see opportunity in a higher station, but he wasn¡¯t one to enjoy the fruit without caring for the tree. Still, if opportunity presented itself, he wouldn¡¯t deny his passed father his dying wish. Perhaps it would be up to Lucan to reap the rewards by then. And as always, Gn¡¯s cousin cornered him slowly into a decision, as if the man could read his mind. If responsibility to the family, gratitude for a favor, and opportunity to achieve a goal didn¡¯t change his mind, what would? And who in the Kingdom would ept the King tantly ignoring tradition like this? The first Prince might be a fool, but not everyone knew that, and many didn¡¯t care. It was likely that his own objection to the matter would only be one among many in the King¡¯s camp, and that didn¡¯t take into ount the weight the Duke and his allies would bring to bear. Still, it was better to probe his cousin for assurances on that end. ¡°Very well, cousin,¡± Gn said. ¡°I will make sure the King knows what I think of bypassing the heir apparent for the throne. However, a single knight¡¯s opinion can only mean so much to the King...¡± ¡°That is all well, brother,¡± Harold said. ¡°A ho doesn¡¯t build its nest alone.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Lucan¡¯s foot twisted into the dirt as hended after a side leap. He rebnced himself and hopped back into the center of his imagined star. The difficulty of this imaginary skill was mainly in the instructed necessity of doing side and back leaps without turning, making them nearly instant. Lucan had been doing this for a long time, however, and he¡¯d begun to adapt to the athleticmitment needed. The book said that one had to leap to each point of the star once and return to the middle of the star as many times as they wished. So Lucan took to hopping between the points and the middle, and sometimes leaping between the points themselves directly. After another round of hopping within the star, an amused voice spoke up behind him. ¡°If you¡¯re suffering from so much boredom that you¡¯d make a fool of yourself, let me keep youpany.¡± Lucan let out a long-suffering sigh and turned around. ¡°Winton,¡± he said. ¡°What is it you want?¡± Standing there, Winton leaned with his forearm on his sheathed sword. ¡°You have received your Blessing, yes?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°And you seem to be keen on training your¡­flexibility,¡± he said, sorting augh. ¡°Why don¡¯t we test that training? A friendly spar.¡± ¡°A spar?¡± Lucan asked, incredulous. ¡°Yes, your father is supposed to be a great warrior. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve taken to his craft.¡± Lucan winced. If his cousin was looking for the weakest spot to prod him, that was it, at least at the moment. Lucan wasn¡¯t at all confident in his fighting skills. ¡°I¡¯m not certain it would be wise¨C¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Winton waved his worries away with a confident smile, untying his sheathe from his belt. ¡°Come, it will be a friendly one.¡± Lucan sighed, wondering if he could avoid the fight without sounding too frightened. Then he thought better of it. Winton already thought so little of their family and of him. To give him more arrows to loose at him would be foolish. So he decided to head for the training weapons rack. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Winton asked. ¡°I will bring the training weapons.¡± Winton chuckled, loudly. ¡°Fear not, I will not hurt you, little cousin. It will be a fight to subdual. Bring your real sword.¡± Lucan stopped. ¡°That would be dangerous,¡± he said, trying to ignore the ridicule in the title he was given. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in a little thrill,¡± Winton said. ¡°I¡¯m no fool. I know how to master my de. Are you a fool, little cousin?¡± Lucan grit his teeth. ¡°You¡¯re not that much older than me. And no, I¡¯m not a fool.¡± He turned around and walked towards a wooden bench upon which leaned his sheathed sword. He unsheathed its gleaming bronze de, eying the enchanting runes engraved into it. ¡°Quaint,¡± Winton¡¯s voice echoed in their corner of the courtyard. He drew his own weapon and Lucan¡¯s eyes widened. It was made of enchanted Goldsteel, like his father¡¯s. ¡°It was a gift from my father for my Blessing day. Did your father not get you anything?¡± ¡°He did,¡± Lucan said, eying his own sword dubiously. Surprisingly, his second cousin said what was on his mind, even if rather offensively. ¡°I suppose you cannot afford so much,¡± Winton said, his eyes surveying what he, no doubt, considered a shoddy courtyard. ¡°Come, let¡¯s begin.¡± Lucan nodded, stepping forward to stand opposite his opponent, his guard up. Winton stepped forward, aggressively swinging his sword in a diagonal sh. Lucan parried it and felt his muscles strain from taking the strike. How enhanced was his second cousin¡¯s Physique? He didn¡¯t have much time to think about it. Another sh came from the other side as Winton used the momentum of his rebounding sword to swing it around for a different strike. Lucan put all his weight in strong parry, stepping forward for a thrusting riposte, but his cousin recovered quickly, mirroring his movement with a step back while bringing his sword back for a rigid block. Lucan tried to keep his advantage by pressing the attack, but his next strike was pushed aside with a firm parry. Then Winton came at him with a flurry of light shes. There was almost no strength behind them, but Lucan was forced to block them or let them reach him and lose the fight. Soon he found himself on the back foot, losing more and more ground to keep up with the flurry of quick strikes. Winton suddenly changed the rhythm of his attacks, going for slow, deliberate strikes that carried more strength, forcing Lucan to adapt. ¡°Come on, little cousin,¡± Winton shouted between strikes. ¡°Are you not supposed to be a knight? That can¡¯t be all your father taught you.¡± Lucan strained to match his second cousin, and his patience was rewarded when a parry resulted in a moment¡¯s dy from his opponent. He lunged for a decisive strike, only realizing that Winton¡¯s dy was a trick after he¡¯dmitted. His cousin¡¯s de wasing in from his side, faster than his own would reach Winton. rm sprung into Lucan¡¯s heart as he realized that he¡¯d fallen for a childish trap and was about to lose to this idiot. An instinct took hold of him for a brief moment. Leap to the point. Lucan¡¯s feet reacted before his mind could, taking him in a floating leap to the back and right where one point of a seven-pointed star would be. The instant leap caused his cousin¡¯s de to miss by a hair. They both stood stunned for a moment before words tried to take over Lucan¡¯s vision. He let them. You have learned The 7-Point Star Dance. Consolidate? Lucan gaped at the announcement. It was real. He hadn¡¯t been duped. His father had been wrong. The book was authentic. The hand on his sword ckened as he consolidated the Skill and brought up his Elder Power. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Copper II 0/3 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (1) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv19: Apprentice (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv1: Novice (0/1) Lucan scrutinized his new skill. It was a Hybrid. They weren¡¯tmon but they weren¡¯t extremely rare either. Some well-known skills like Analyze and Appraise were Hybrids. Lucan assumed that Lord Zesh had Analyze, as he had easily spotted Lucan¡¯s Blessing upon arrival. As far as Lucan knew, a Hybrid skill was a Passive skill that came with the advantages and drawbacks of an Active one. The advantage being the ability to improve their level with Vital Orbs. And the drawback being the limited amounts of uses per day based upon the level of the skill. By virtue of earning the skill, Lucan knew how it worked, though he¡¯d had an idea from the book anyway. One use of the skill would form an invisible star on the ground around him. He would be able to move incredibly quickly to each point of the star a single time. And he could return to the middle repeatedly as long as the skill was still working. Lucan grinned. He¡¯d learned a skill all on his own, most likely a special and rarely heard-of skill. Today might be a good day after all. As if woken up by his own nagging mind, Lucan came to himself, removing the manifestation of his Elder Blessing to look across from himself at Winton. To his surprise, he didn¡¯t see his second cousin, but saw Thomas¡¯s back instead. The old steward was standing between them. It appeared that he had been observing the fight and had interfered to give Lucan time to peruse his Blessing. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°I was going to stop,¡± Winton told old Thomas. ¡°You needn¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord,¡± Thomas said, stepping out of their way once he¡¯d ascertained that Lucan was lucid. Lucan on his part was excited more than anything. Perhaps he¡¯d finally be able to surprise his father with something good. He now had some hope for this spar as well. ¡°Let¡¯s continue,¡± he said, this time having his own motivation to begin the fight. Winton grinned, stepping forward with his sword extended. ¡°Improved a skill, did you, cousin?¡± he said. ¡°I suppose you should thank me.¡± I¡¯ll thank you in the way you ought to be thanked, Lucan thought, keeping his guard up and circling his opponent slowly. Winton showed surprising wisdom in staying cautious himself, not giving in to the temptation of pressing the attack again. Lucan could see his attention sharply focused on him, waiting for the smallest twitch of a muscle. So Lucan gave it to him, he twitched a muscle and moved a sword. His feint was well-received as Winton moved in appropriate form to defend against an imaginary attack. Lucan stepped in to take advantage, circling the air with his de to turn his feint into a strike from another direction. rmed but not panicked, his opponent retracted his sword and took a step forward of his own, bringing them into close quarters, too close. Lucan¡¯s sword wouldn¡¯t be able to deliver a proper strike, and it gave Winton the ability to move his sword with a turn of his body, taking Lucan¡¯s sh on the strong of his sword. This close,batants would have normally tried to draw their daggers and finish the deed before their opponent could do the same, or perhaps use their heavy gauntlets as a makeshift hammer to disorient their enemy. In this case, both he and his cousin had to do with what was more reasonable. They both took a hand off their hilts, attempting to punch the other. In the end, their hands got entangled in a miniature wrestling match. Seeing no recourse in this, Lucan tried to maneuver his de into a position appropriate for a slicing cut. But Winton surprised him with a kick to the gut, throwing him backwards, barely keeping himself on his feet. Lucan raised his guard even as he felt a ball of pain in his gut. The pain receded quickly as his attention stayed on his cousin, who was looking for an opening to exploit. He tested Lucan¡¯s defenses with a string of light strikes which he deflected with some difficulty. Winton, smelling weakness, took small steps forward as his strikes became heavier and faster. Again, the difference of strength began to show itself as Lucan took the strikes on his de, feeling the reverberations through his arms. There was no threat of his cousin breaking through a block or pushing away a parry, but it was making him wearier and wearier as their fight continued Lucan debated using his new skill but remembered that he only had one use for the whole day. He¡¯d have to use it at a decisive moment, which was probably not that far. In an attempt to make the best use of his strength, Winton stepped a little closer to get better leverage for his superior Physique, delivering heavy strikes easily. Lucan found himself having it worse and worse, so he decided to surprise his cousin at an opportune moment, activating his Star. An imaginary star that he could feel as though he could see it with his eyes came into being on the ground around him. Lucan instantly picked the point of the star closest to his opponent, moving into thetter¡¯s guard in a supernaturally quick lope. His cousin reacted faster than he could¡¯ve expected, liberating one hand from the hilt of his sword and blocking Lucan¡¯s fisted hands which were wrapped around the hilt, stopping him from delivering a winning strike. Knowing that a counter-strike was on its way from Winton¡¯s own sword, Lucan decided to extract himself from this entanglement by moving back to the center of the Star. He leaped backwards with the same speed he¡¯d moved forward. But Winton surprised him by keeping a strong grip on his hand, forcing Lucan to pull his cousin back with him, which nullified the effectiveness of his retreat. The pull had forced one of Winton¡¯s feet to overextend forward to cover the distance, which meant he had to let go of Lucan¡¯s hand to be able to put proper force and speed into his sword for theing decisive strike. As soon as Wintonmitted to the strike, Lucan chose the point of the Star farthest back to leap to, taking himself out of his opponent¡¯s de range. At the same time, he prepared a thrust, pulling his de back into the proper motion. Once Winton had finished his failed sh, Lucan would leap back to the center of the Star instantly, and deliver a quick thrust. Of course, Lucan wouldn¡¯t go through with it. He would stop at thest moment, close enough to prove a victory. At that moment, Lucan saw it in Winton¡¯s eyes, the realization. He knew what was about to happen. He¡¯d probably seen enough of his skill to have an idea of what was possible now. Lucan saw the disbelief in his cousin¡¯s eyes, then the sudden decisiveness that set into them. But it was toote. Before Winton¡¯s sh was halfway through its arc, it lit up, and a de of light extended from the tip of his sword, extending its length, just enough to cut Lucan¡¯s throat. With his own sword prepared for a thrust, Lucan had no time to react to the sudden use of the skill and realized that he was the one that was about to lose. As the de of light cut towards his neck, growing closer and closer, Thomas suddenly appeared between them again, holding Winton¡¯s wrist and stopping the sword¡¯s motion more than a hand¡¯s width away from Lucan¡¯s neck. He let go as soon as Winton lost his momentum. Lucan¡¯s second cousin retracted his sword, rebncing himself. ¡°I would have stopped.¡± He red at Thomas, panting. ¡°Of course, my lord.¡± Winton snorted and sheathed his sword. ¡°It¡¯s my win.¡± He turned around and started walking back towards the keep¡¯s entrance. Then he stopped suddenly, ncing back. ¡°You know, cousin, it¡¯s customary for the host to keep their guestpany. Is that not written in your books?¡± Lucan scowled, sheathing his own sword in shame. He¡¯d lost in mockbat, and now he was being thrashed in mock courtesy too. He hurried to catch up to Winton, stepping up beside him and joining him on his walk. His cousin stopped when they came upon the palisade¡¯s gate. The downward slope from here made the bailey and some of the farnd in the distance visible. Winton chuckled. ¡°Even if you did be Lords. What would you Lord over? Two peasants and a cow?¡± He kept his mirth as he looked at Lucan. ¡°Just something to ponder, cousin.¡± Lucan grudgingly pondered it as he noticed new words in his vision. Your Swordsmanship has leveled up. ¡­ That afternoon, Lucan and his father bid farewell to Lord Zesh and his unpleasant son. The Lord had gratefully refused the offer to spend the night in their keep, ming urgent duties at home. As Lucan stood with his father on the road near the Elder Sapling, seeing their rtives off, he found his eyes roaming over the rtivelycking farnds around him, then his eyes turned to their humble bailey, small and ringed by a simple wooden palisade. Perhaps he could do better than this. His father had been insistent that he begin assuming his responsibilities. Fine, he would. But he wouldn¡¯t be content with his lot. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 In the keep¡¯s study, Lucan stood in front of his father, poring over another map that was spread beside their territory¡¯s, this one of the Kingdom. His father had been surprised to see him arrive before he could be explicitly summoned. Lucan himself was surprised. But deep inside, he knew why. He was excited about more than one thing. He was anxious to tell his father about his new skill, and hopefully get a rare look of approval. He was anxious to take that mantle of responsibility that his father had been trying to throw onto him for a while, but only if his father would let him do what he wished to do. He already had ideas on how to make them richer, bigger. How to make them more. Unlike what those like his second cousin thought. Reading books wasn¡¯t as useless as they thought. And as his father thought, he remembered somewhat painfully; more so because his father knew who had made him fall in love with the written word. It¡¯d been years, every memory of his mother was fleeting but it brought with it as much warmth as pain. Lucan blinked rapidly, pulling his mind back from ancient memories. He focused back on the present. His favorite books were those of history. Perhaps that was one reason his father hadn¡¯t stopped him from reading in favor of more martial pursuits. A noble was expected to know his history, after all. Of course Lucan had long surpassed what was expected of any noble on that front. That knowledge of history would help them now. When their people had first arrived in the Elder Lands from the Dead Continent, they had formed coalitions, City-states, Petty Kingdoms, and even ns that lorded over their own corners of thend. That was until the Veti Empire had risen. Its founder, a military genius named Vetinus Barcid, had fashioned the dreaded Adamant Awl tactic, when all his enemies had known about military tactics at that time was how to maneuver their nks. The tactic had done well to serve generations of the Veti Empire¡¯s hegemony on thesends until, of course, the Mermen had introduced the devastating Wrath counter-tactic in the Battle of Deus which set the field for the eventual copse of the Empire. Lucan knew, however, that their military approach hadn¡¯t been the only thing to guarantee the Empire¡¯s survival for so long. A centralizedmand of most of the Empire¡¯s elite warriors along with a strong web of roads that allowed their armies rapid movement in the field and solid logistics were what had made the Empire long-lived. That web of roads had also served another purpose more than expected, if every historian of that period was to be believed. It had eased trade and strengthened the logistical flow of the Empire so much that the cost expended on them had not gone unrecouped. The roads of the Empire were well-known to this day, even if most of them had been deliberately destroyed by their enemies during the Copse to deprive theirrge armies of their usual high mobility. Lucan intended to build his own roads here in their fief. They only got one or two merchants a year at the time of their harvest. Surely there¡¯d be more if a proper road connected their home to the High Road. ¡°There, father,¡± Lucan pointed at where the makeshift dirt road split from the High Road and meandered through theirnds. ¡°If we build a proper road instead of this dirt one, we could make a merchant¡¯s journey through ournds easier.¡± Then he turned to their territory¡¯s map and pointed at the spot where something less than a road started, a trail that led from their motte-and-bailey to the northeast and eventually back to the High Road farther northeast, beyond Sir Ward¡¯snds. ¡°We will also need to build a good road instead of this trail. I don¡¯t think this one is even made of packed earth.¡± ¡°It is not,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°The trail was trodden into existence by farmers and traders'' carts.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said, holding onto his string of thought. ¡°The merchants need a way into and out of the territory that won¡¯t slow them down.¡± He grinned at his father and gestured to the map. ¡°It¡¯s simple, father. If we bring more trade here, we get more taxes. Sir Upton¡¯s quarry isn¡¯t far. We can buy the gstone from him, and the gravel we can get from around us,¡± he said, thinking of the teau their motte-and-bailey was built on, which was a small, barren stretch ofnd that suffered from the natural urrence of stone or gravel every few steps. After letting him finish, his father finally gazed at him steadily. ¡°And how much do you reckon this would cost, son?¡± Lucan grimaced. ¡°What we have should be more than enough. Perhaps we could build a proper road to Lord Arden¡¯snds, to bring the wine trade¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s not wise to spend all that¡¯s left of our wealth on this venture of yours,¡± his father interrupted him. ¡°And if you want all the trade to be here, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to build a road to the Arden territories. The merchants will simply go there to buy their wine, as they often do.¡± ¡°Father,¡± Lucan said, pointing at their motte-and-bailey on the map. ¡°We can eventually tax more than we¡¯ve spent, a lot more. More trade means more coining through ournds, and that means more coining into our treasury.¡± He gestured towards the door of his father¡¯s improvised treasury as he said thest word. ¡°You¡¯ve wanted me to carry this responsibility for a long time. Now let me. If all I¡¯m to do is wear armor and look imposing, then I¡¯d rather read something useful.¡± His father sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I would forbid it, son. You may begin this venture after harvest, when more of our dues are received and many of the peasants seek to pay their taxes inbor. I will not have you leave us destitute in this pursuit.¡± Lucan nodded in understanding. ¡°I see.¡± Harvest wasn¡¯t too far off. He¡¯d begin turning what he saw in his mind¡¯s eye into reality soon enough. He dreamed of a burgeoning town thriving with trade in ce of their simple bailey. The thought that Winton had nted in his mind wouldn¡¯t go away now. Why couldn¡¯t they be Lords? They were nobles through and through, their blood as old as the Kingdom itself. If what it took to be a knight was to be a severe and prominent warrior while what it took to be a Lord was to be educated and sophisticated like his father¡¯s cousin, Lord Zesh, then Lucan would choose thetter every time. At least there was a chance he could be good at it. His father pointed at the saltke in the southwest of theirnds. ¡°Have you thought more on this one?¡± Lucan trod carefully. Thest time he¡¯d ventured a thought on the matter, he¡¯d received a verbalshing. This matter was making his father taut. And Lucan knew why. In an ind Kingdom like theirs, salt came at a steep price. It would indeed improve their circumstances significantly if they could extract theke¡¯s salt. But they couldn¡¯t, and Lucan¡¯s thoughts were that if they couldn¡¯t do it reasonably easily, then perhaps it wasn¡¯t worth it at all. Many mines cost more to mine than the profit they brought, and the centralized Empire was a prime witness to that. It had often taken their officials too long and their coffers too much until they realized one such mine wasn¡¯t worth the effort. He¡¯d learned of this from an ancient treatise written by one of the Viziers of the Empire itself. Yet Lucan kept his silence and chose something neutral to say instead. ¡°Not yet father. We¡¯ll do it eventually.¡± His father nodded. ¡°Very well. Now to other matters. You must know by now that I have hastened your Blessing day.¡± At Lucan¡¯s nod, he continued. ¡°And for good reason. Sir Wolfe¡¯s hunter recently reported an outbreak in his part of the forest.¡± He paused, giving Lucan a level stare, as though expecting him to infer the rest. Of course, it wasn¡¯t difficult to deduce what his father was thinking. A chance so close to home to undergo his Blood Rite was, in a way, fortunate. It was also less dangerous than doing it on a battlefield. ¡°You want me to join them in the cleanup.¡± His father nodded. ¡°I will send Lee with you.¡± Lee was one of the men-at-arms in his father¡¯s service, and while he wasn¡¯t the first to enter his service, he was the oldest among the men. ¡°You must do our family proud. And to that end, we must prepare you. It¡¯s time you learned Wraith Strike and practiced using it properly.¡± Lucan¡¯s muscles were already twitching with excitement, but he held it in. He was intent on making his 7-Point Star Dance a surprise for his father on the training field. After all, it was always better to show than to tell. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 The dirt and gravel crunched under Lucan as he moved his weight from one foot to the other. His bronze sword was sheathed on his hip and his father was standing in front of him. Thomas, everpresent, was standing far to the side, awaiting any needed request. As was often the case, they were in the training yard made from the space between the keep and the palisade that surrounded it. The noon sun was ring down at them, looking for skin to burn. It was a bad day to practice, but there was no contradicting his father. Sir Gn Zesh nodded, gesturing for Lucan to approach, and as he did, his father put a hand on his shoulder. Without much ceremony, he bestowed the skill upon him. A sudden jolt went through his shoulder then an announcement flitted into his vision. You have been gifted with Wraith Strike. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Copper II 0/3 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv20: Apprentice (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv1: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) Lucan eyed the manifestation of his Blessing, noting the new skill and its level. ¡°It¡¯s level two¡­¡± His father looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded. ¡°It¡¯s dependent on my proficiency with the skill. A Grandmaster could¡¯ve taken you to the peak of Apprentice with the bestowal alone.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°This means I can use it twice a day, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his father said. ¡°But you won¡¯t be using it yet. You watch and learn first.¡± His father walked towards one of the dummies near the palisade, drawing his Goldsteel sword. First, he went to a dummy made from straw. ¡°I won¡¯t be using much strength.¡± He swung his weapon one-handed and Lucan knew he wasn¡¯t putting much weight behind it. The sword cut into the body of the dummy, stopping halfway. ¡°If my Physique was still Basic, that would be the extent of my strength.¡± He gestured toward the dummy. ¡°Come, try it. Give it your all, but don¡¯t use the skill yet.¡± Lucan hurried forward towards the dummy. He¡¯d done his share of training on them in the past, but he hadn¡¯t tested them since he¡¯d improved his Physique. The dummy was made of tightly packed straw that was deceptively durable. It often took several full-strength strikes in a row to hack it apart. His father was overestimating those with a Basic Physique. It made him wonder how light of a touch his father had been giving him when they¡¯d sparred the other day. He must have been caressing his sword back then. Lucan drew his sword and gripped it with two hands as his father stepped back from their straw victim. Lucan pulled the sword back and swung with all his weight at a different spot. The sword cut two-thirds of the way through the dummy before it slowed down, the resistance stopping it. Lucan felt he could try to saw his way through the rest of it, but that wasn¡¯t the purpose of this showing. He pulled his sword free and waited for further instructions. His father walked towards another dummy, this one made from wood. He swung his sword with the same weakness as he did before, one-handed and with no effort behind it. The sword only went a finger¡¯s width into the wood before stopping in its tracks. Sir Gn gestured with his head towards the wooden dummy, signaling Lucan to do the same. Lucan stepped up to the dummy as his father stepped back. He swung his bronze sword with all his strength, its de digging into the wood and going half again as deep as his father¡¯s strike. Huh. It was a bit more than he¡¯d expected if he were to be honest. It was often said that someone at the peak of Iron Physique was twice as strong and durable as someone with a Basic one. Copper had always felt like it would becking. Like anyone who was destined to serve inbat, his eyes were set on Iron and Steel after it. One of the things that made his father so admirable to warriors of his age was that he¡¯d gone even further than that, earning a Bronze Physique. Though Lucan didn¡¯t know if that was the norm among knights. His father stepped forward again, gesturing for him to move back. He then pulled his sword back for a proper sh. ¡°Watch closely,¡± he said before his sword started glowing softly. The glow was a weak, ethereal silver that soon covered the de entirely and hid it from sight. It wasn¡¯t too bright, but it was noticeable if you were looking in the general direction it was in. His father swung his sword at the dummy¡¯s wooden neck, and it went through without the least bit of resistance, continuing on its cleaving motion as if no obstruction had challenged it. The de¡¯s glow disappeared at the same time the head of the dummy unceremoniously hit the ground. ¡°At my stage, Wraith Strike means this wood might as well not be in my sword¡¯s way. It also means that I can cut through steel given enough strength and proper technique. At your stage of the skill, however, you can treat your sword as if it¡¯s twice as sharp, though there¡¯s more to it than that.¡± He tapped the headless dummy with the t of his sword. ¡°Now try it again with the skill. Be cautious, though. The skill¡¯s effect is quite potent even when the de is still. That''s the first thing at which it differs from an ordinary sharpness skill.¡± Lucan nodded seriously as he stepped up to the dummy again. He pulled his sword back, careful not to let the de touch his body. Then he activated the skill. His de began to glow softly and with less intensity than his father¡¯s had, but he felt as if a well of power was held in his tightly wound hands. He savored the feeling and eyed the de appreciatively¡­then the glow disappeared. Lucan gaped for a moment, looking at the de as if he could will it into resummoning its glow, but he stopped himself before he could stupidly reactivate the skill, depleting his attempts for the day. A rare chuckle came from his father who was standing behind him and Lucan flushed in shame. He nced back and saw his father disciplining the smile that had overtaken his face. Lucan also saw Thomas farther back with his own bit of mirth and his face heated up even more. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°The skill¡¯s duration is strictly limited,¡± his father said. ¡°It increases slightly with each stage, but one must still be swift with its use if they don¡¯t want it wasted.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Nothing to be sorry about,¡± his father said. ¡°It¡¯s amon mistake among first-time users. Try it again, but this time be sure to deliver a strike, will you?¡± He gave him an amused nod that worked to further his embarrassment. Lucan prepared his sword again, setting himself into a proper stance, then he activated the skill. Once his sword began to glow, he swung immediately. His de sank into the wood with greater ease than the first time. It went in as far as a hand¡¯s width into the wood before the glow disappeared, and it didn¡¯t feel as if the skill added strength or even sharpness to his sh. It was more as if the wood¡¯s resistance to his strike had lessened significantly. If the skill weakened whatever it was cutting through, then Lucan could see how it would eventually be able to cut through steel. ¡°Good,¡± his father¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°Let¡¯s do it one more time. You still have a Vital Orb, yes?¡± ¡°Yes, father, but¨C¡± ¡°Use it to increase the skill¡¯s level,¡± his father said. ¡°You can attempt it one more time. I¡¯ll show you how to perfect your technique when using it.¡± Lucan sighed nervously. He hadn¡¯t expected to introduce his new skill by contradicting his father. He took a breath and said, ¡°Father, I need to show you something.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°What is it you need to show me?¡± his father asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice. He eyed Lucan as if he¡¯dmitted a crime and had been hiding it. Lucan raised his hands defensively. That was the look his father gave him before discovering and reprimanding him for misconduct. He didn¡¯t want a good asion perceived as a bad one before he¡¯d even made its elements clear. ¡°It¡¯s something good, father.¡± His father crossed his arms, having sheathed his sword. ¡°Well?¡± Lucan decided to do something bold. He leveled his sword at his father, who raised a brow with dark amusement, then activated the Star Dance. He felt the stare into being around him, only perceivable by his mind, and he chose the point of the star closest to his father. His leap forward was faster than anything his normal capabilities could have allowed him, and it came with no indication of movement before it happened, not a twitch of a muscle, not a bend of knees, and not the forward-leaning of weight needed to aid momentum. The skill provided a bounce of energy all on its own to assist his movement once hemanded it. His father¡¯s eyes widened as he witnessed Lucan¡¯s instant leap and the de pointed at his chest. Lucan had chosen to go for the chest instead of the more threatening throat. No need to get too bold. This wasn¡¯t even a spar. It was a demonstration Still staring with disbelieving eyes, his father asked, ¡°was that a skill, Lucan?¡± His crossed arms freed themselves as he leaned forward with the question, ignoring the sword that was a finger¡¯s width from his chest. Lucan nodded, failing to restrain his glee. ¡°Yes, father,¡± he said, proud. ¡°When¡­¡± his father said, tight confusion apparent on his countenance. ¡°Where did you get it?¡± ¡°The book,¡± Lucan said. His father gave him a nk stare. ¡°The one from the wandering collector,¡± Lucan added. ¡°Ah¡­¡± his father, still a bit disbelieving. ¡°The chatan?¡± ¡°I think,¡± Lucan gestured at himself, ¡°this is enough proof that he wasn¡¯t, father.¡± His father nodded with rare amodation. ¡°Yes, yes. Describe it,¡± hemanded. Lucan described the skill, its nature as a Hybrid, what it did, and what he knew to be its limitations. Yet that didn¡¯t seem to satisfy his father. ¡°Is that all you know?¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡± ¡°How long does it take for it to stop working,¡± his father asked, crossing his arms again. ¡°Uhm.¡± Lucan gulped. ¡°I¡¯m not certain.¡± He looked around himself as though he could see it. The Star had ceased to exist as they talked. It didn¡¯t stay for too long, it seemed. His father shook his head. ¡°And how far can you get from this Star before it ceases to be?¡± Lucan bit his lip, taking in a bit of shame. He hadn¡¯t had much time to test it. ¡°And with only one level,¡± his father continued, nodding at Lucan¡¯s attacking stance. ¡°You¡¯ve already wasted your chance at further testing today.¡± A moment of silence passed between them, adding to Lucan¡¯s ungainlyplexion. He cleared his throat to fill the emptiness, as though asking for permission to speak. ¡°I was hoping to use the Vital Orb on it, father.¡± His father sighed, a long, tired expulsion of breath. ¡°You have done well, Lucan.¡± He stepped forward as Lucan lowered his sword, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°It was fortunate that you got the book, but you should have told me once you got the skill. A movement skillplements what you already have very well. I¡¯m happy for you, son, but you must always n when ites to your Elder Blessing. Excitement alone won¡¯t make you formidable.¡± ¡°Yes, father,¡± Lucan said obediently. ¡°Being a Hybrid skill, I doubt you will be able to improve it too much through use,¡± his father said. ¡°It might be worth using a Vital Orb, at least this early. It could save your life, or grant you the enemy¡¯s.¡± Lucan nodded, glee returning to his face. A Hybrid was supposed to be a Passive skill with all the advantages and limitations of an Active one. Both types of skills could be improved through the use of the appropriate God¡¯s Orbs, but finding those was like looking for a needle in a haystack. And said haystack would have to be made of Herald beasts. There was only so much luck one could wish for. To meet a beast that used Wraith Strike, for instance, would be nothing short of a miracle for Lucan. He would already be massively fortunate toe across someone auctioning off an Orb with said skill, after all. The moremon approach to improving skills came with its own set of known rules. A Passive could only be improved by ¡®potent¡¯ use of the skill, meaning that training alone would rarely provide said improvement after a certain point. An Active, on the other hand, required Vital Orbs to improve, with the costs increasing at each stage of the skill. One couldn¡¯t improve Active skills through use, not that it would have been easy with the limited uses per day. Unfortunately, with the drawback of Active skills being the limited use based on skill level, a Hybrid skill¡¯s Passive nature was severely crippled. Lucan would have to rely heavily on Vital Orbs to improve it and hopefully use it fruitfully inbat. ¡°Very well,¡± his father said, approving his request. ¡°Get on with it.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t hold back the grin as he called up his Elder Power and used his final Vital Orb on the Star Dance. Race: Human Level: 1 Vital Orbs: 0 Mind and Body Physique: Copper II 0/3 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv20: Apprentice (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv2: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) With the second level in the skill, he could use it one more time today, hopefully learning what his father wanted him to learn about it. ¡°It¡¯s done, Father.¡± His father nodded. ¡°Use it and show me how fast you can move between these points. Move between any three of them. Don¡¯t waste any time.¡± Lucan obeyed, stepping away from his father to give himself some space. He activated the skill and chose three points in quick session, leaping between them at liberating speeds. He noted that after his third sessive leap, his body began to strain, and he wondered whether the more advanced stages of the skill would require a better Physique or otherwise be limited in application. He turned to speak his pondering out loud to his father but he interrupted him. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time speaking. Return to the middle of the Star and then walk out of it and see if it stays.¡± Lucan did as he was told and found to his chagrin that the Star disappeared as soon as he walked out of its bounds. So he was trapped in its borders as long as he wanted to make use of it. It would have been more convenient if it allowed him to return to its bounds after stepping out. ¡°Now you may talk,¡± his father said after Lucan informed him that the skill had disappeared. Lucan told him about the silent question he¡¯d had on his mind. ¡°It¡¯s only natural,¡± his father said. ¡°The skill is intense in its use of the body. You will have limitations if you don¡¯t improve your Physique to match it. Yet I doubt that will be an issue for you, unless I haven¡¯t taught you well enough.¡± He gave him a look. ¡°You have, father,¡± Lucan quickly said. He knew where most of his early Vital Orbs would be going. Physique. It wasn¡¯t negotiable with his father. ording to him, you could erect as many spires as you wanted, but a storm would tten them like stalks of wheat without the proper foundation. The same applied to your Elder Blessing. Lucan actually agreed, or at least the books he¡¯d read on the matter agreed. If one was abatant, their foremost goal had to be to get to the height of the Iron Physique, and so most resources would have to go to that pursuit, and only a minority of it to others. ¡°There¡¯s not much else for us to do today,¡± his father said. ¡°Continue your daily training and then join me in the study. Tomorrow we continue our skill training before you go to Sir Wolfe¡¯s aid.¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡± And so Lucan settled into a brief pattern in the next few days. He would train his skills with his father, getting more familiar with their uses and limitations. His father had him even begin to limate to the time it took for both skills¡¯ cessation after activation, so that he wouldn¡¯t be cripplingly surprised in the middle ofbat while using them. Unlike in the past, Lucan took to the training with gusto. This time he knew that soon he would be seeing realbat, against real beasts. He had never seen written ounts of easy first encounters, unless the writer was an observer. Lucan intended to be as ready as he could be. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Lucan patted his horse as the stablemaster tightened and tested the straps on the saddle. His mount was ck with a thick mane that streamed down its neck. Even though they wouldn¡¯t use mounts in the incursion into the forest, his father wanted him to take his warmount for appearance¡¯s sake. Lucan donned a badly-sized, steel breastte over mail and padded cloth. The breastte would be his armor until the cksmith was done with a properly sized full te, which would take a while. He was expected to keep growing in theing years, so the te would have to be resized or possibly even reced. They were in the middle of the bailey with Lee, the old man-at-arms, already mounted. Lucan¡¯s father and Thomas were present to see them off. ¡°Do us proud, son,¡± his father said. ¡°This is your Rite.¡± Lucan nodded, even if he found the whole thing nonsensical. The Rite was a tradition that had survived from the old continent. It had supposedly been a custom among warrior ns and families before the Death of the continent. A son must face his first encounter against enemies¨Chuman or beast¨Cwithout his father or family. Once that was done, he would be considered ¡®a man¡¯ of his own right. The stupidity of Rite wasn¡¯t wasted on Lucan, specially considering that the Dead Continent had never had Elder Roots like the ones present in the Elder Lands, which, ording to books, meant that one couldn¡¯t get their Blessing without going intobat first. That made the first encounter all the more dangerous. Nheless, Lucanplied with his father. At least he was sending old Lee with him and not throwing him to Sir Wolfe alone. The intensity of the Rite differed from family to family. Some Houses sent their sons with wholeplements of troops to protect them during their ¡®Rite¡¯. Others made sure that the first encounter was as safe as could be. Of course, some families, like those in the Veti Empire, took the Rite much more seriously. Older ounts of how sons had been thrown into danger to either perish ore out stronger made Lucan shiver. His father got his attention again as he spoke. ¡°Follow Sir Wolfe¡¯smands and listen to Lee¡¯s counsel.¡± ¡°Yes, father,¡± Lucan said. He turned to Thomas who was as presently silent as always. ¡°Any advice, uncle Thomas?¡± The old man had urged him to stop calling him ¡®uncle¡¯ as he came of age, but Lucan found it difficult to do so, even if old Thomas would be his subordinate someday. The steward gave him a kind smile, tinged with something. ¡°I¡¯m certain you will do well, Lucan,¡± he said, a twinkle in his eyes. ¡°Though some would suggest you avoid reading your Blessing¡¯s announcements duringbat.¡± Lucan cringed at the reminder. He¡¯d already done something simr twice. The first time was during his spar with his father, which was understandable since the aim of that had been to gain the skill. Yet the time he¡¯d done it against Winton had been more dangerous. If his second cousin hadn¡¯t stopped and Thomas hadn¡¯t been there, it could¡¯ve ended badly. Lucan decided to answer humorously even as his face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I suppose it could be quite inconvenient when a beast ising for your throat.¡± He nodded sagely. ¡°Thank you, uncle Thomas.¡± The old man nodded with an amused smile. Lucan mounted his horse, preparing to leave. He lowered his head as he bade farewell. ¡°Father.¡± Then he nodded to Thomas. He rode out of the bailey first, old Lee close behind him. The man-at-arms was graying already, though he wasn''t as far along as Thomas. He¡¯d been a man-at-arms to one of his father¡¯s friends before thetter had died and Lee had gone into his father¡¯s service. He was the oldest of those serving under him aside from Thomas. They took the road southeast, towards Sir Wolfe¡¯s territory, which was the closest to their own. The road had originally led to the old Kingdom in the east before it had shattered. Now the extended part of it that led there was ill-maintained and often patrolled to prevent interlopers from getting into Barwalis. It was still dawn, and the trip would only take negligible daylight from them. They rode in silence and soon came by one of his father¡¯s viges but didn¡¯t stop. Lucan saw the vigers working their fields diligently, and he breathed in the fresh air that came from the open. The moats around the motte-and-bailey often produced a stagnant wet smell that Lucan didn¡¯t much like, so he savored the refreshing clean air. Thankfully, he was far enough away from the vige to avoid the smell of manure. Once in Sir Wolfe¡¯s territory, they would join him and his men-at-arms in their cleanup of the outbreak. Though the Elder Roots made anyrge outbreaks rare in thesends, some smaller ones did happen from time to time, and they had to be wiped out before they could scatter or even dig wider passages for their brethren toe out of the Labyrinth. Thankfully, the catastrophe the Rebels in the eastern Kingdom had wrought hadn¡¯t struck Barwalis since they had two Elder Roots of their own, one of which was in the Elder Lake not too far from here. The Roots had always been there, supposedly even predating the Wildermen. Their benefits made thisnd a perfect haven for the Dead Continent¡¯s escapees. The Elder Roots provided early Blessings, whereas back in the Dead Continent one had needed to earn their Blessing inbat. The ones onnd also served as safe entrances to the endless Labyrinth when needed, which, with some luck, allowed humans to hunt beasts and mine rare minerals like adamant and mythril. But most important of all, the Roots protected against major outbreaks from the Labyrinth. That hadn¡¯t prevented the foolish Rebels in the east from tearing down the Elder Roots in desperation once the tides of the war had turned against their forces. It worked. The King had failed to annihte their Houses. Because the whole Kingdom had copsed, and most of the Houses had fallen anyway. The number and size of outbreaks had been disastrous and still was, from time to time. Nowadays, warlords, ouws, and some of the old Houses were fighting over half of the ruined Kingdom, and the other half had formed the Union, which somehow managed to thrive. The sun had only risen slightly by the time Lucan and Lee arrived at Sir Wolfe¡¯s fortified manor. A rider had hailed them at the edge of the knight¡¯s territory, leading them the rest of the way. They were received by Sir Wolfe, a wiry man a bit younger than his father with hawkish features and bronze skin. He was armed and armored, surrounded by six men-at-arms. ¡°Wee, young Lucan,¡± he said, then nodded to Lee who lowered his head. Lucan and Lee dismounted quickly, as it would be disrespectful to greet the knight while they were mounted and he was not. ¡°Sir Wolfe,¡± Lucan said, lowering his head, keeping a rigid and respectful posture. ¡°Ah,e off it, boy,¡± Sir Wolfe said. ¡°I¡¯ve known you since before you could talk.¡± Lucan rxed slightly, though not entirely. After all, Sir Wolfe wasn¡¯t the reason he was anxious in the first ce. The knight gestured for a man who took their horses, leading the mounts into the manor¡¯s walls. ¡°Are you ready to go? I¡¯d rather we don¡¯t waste any more daylight.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said decisively, before he could give himself a chance to think about it. The knight nodded approvingly, then he gestured for his men to begin moving. ¡°My hunter will lead us to where he spotted the beasts. Once there, we¡¯ll spread out until someone finds them and alerts the rest of us. Don¡¯t bog yourself down in a fight without my say-so.¡± He looked at Lucan as though waiting for affirmation. So Lucan gave it to him. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± The manor was on the western side of the canal, with farnds stretching around it much like the farnds in his father¡¯s territory. On the other side of the canal was the forest. A bridge facilitated movement between the two banks. Sir Wolfe¡¯s party crossed it in silent anticipation, plunging into the forest without a word. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Lucan crept between two aging trees, avoiding shrubs that were tall and entangled enough to rustle with noise. His eyes moved constantly from side to side, seeking either oddity or movement. His open-faced helmet was thankfully not impeding his vision. He never used visored helmets as they always made him feel suffocated, no matter how much his father tried to force the feeling out of him through training. A dozen yards to his left, Lee crept just as quietly. And to his right, one of Sir Wolfe¡¯s men-at-arms moved at the same pace. The knight and most of his men were spread farther to the right but Lucan couldn¡¯t see him. The sun wasn¡¯t yet at its zenith, so while there was light, it was sparse and choppy, the thickness of the forest restraining a significant part of it. They had been moving deeper and deeper into the forest for a while now. Their incursion had begun with a more rxed approach until the hunter had pointed out the spot where he¡¯d sighted the monsters. Since then, they¡¯d spread out with the purpose of finding more evidence of their presence before regrouping for an attack. Lucan nced to his right, making sure the man-at-arms was still there and wasn¡¯t signaling him to stop. Then he nced to his left where he saw old Lee watching the forest intently as though the beasts could spawn out of thin air. By happenstance, Lucan also got a glimpse of the man-at-arms that was a dozen yards beyond Lee. The man seemed well enough. Lucan resumed his creeping, a wide grip of tension closing on his heart. It began at his stomach and it felt as if the muscles were perpetually contracting, then it moved up and up, grasping his chest and heart in a strain of exertion and pain. He¡¯d only ever felt like this when he¡¯d managed to achieve some unique disaster so distinct that he hadn¡¯t known what his father would do to him. Except, this time, it was more intense, because at least back then he could see his fathering. After a few steps forward, he and Lee stopped at the same time. There was a burrowing sound like that of a hare tunneling underground. Lucan searched the ground around him, looking for the source of the noise. However, it stopped as fast as it¡¯d started. The pair of them stayed in ce for a few moments, until the spread-out line of men began to get ahead of them, so they moved to catch up. It only took a bit more searching for the noise to return with vengeance. This time it wasing from ahead, loud enough for the others to hear it, and it was getting louder as it approached them. Those Lucan could see all stopped, including him and Lee who raised his shield and braced himself. Lucan had forgone the use of a shield to preserve his mobility specially with the Star, and now feeling exposed with only a sword in his hand, he regretted it. Ahead of them, earth began to explode up and out of the ground. Growls and snarls sounded out of the shrubs where the earth moved. No sooner had they heard them than the beasts stepped out of concealment. Each one was nearly asrge as a bear, though they looked sleeker, their heads and gait like that of hyenas, and their hide sick purple on gray. A whistle went out of the man-at-arms on Lucan¡¯s right, likely to alert those far enough to have missed the urrence. The beasts didn¡¯t give them much time after that, dashing towards them. One of them honed in on Lucan, charging him, the skin on its snout folded in fury and its fangs bared in a bloody promise. Lucan gazed at its eyes, and he felt as if he owed it a blood debt that could never be repaid, because he only saw vicious anger in there. But most important of all, they were the eyes of a creature that knew what it was going to do. Lucan didn¡¯t. The fearful grip that had been confined to his chest spread into his limbs and his body froze. Only his eyes were tracking the amalgamation of death that wasing towards him. Something was painfully stuck in his throat, making his eyes tear up, yet he still watched it as it ate up the distance between them, and he watched it as it leapt at him, and as a studded boot kicked it out of the air and to the side. Lee, the old man-at-arms, came up to him, gripping his shoulder and looking him in the eyes for a brief moment before ncing around them to check for threats. Lucan¡¯s breath came back to him and his limbs unlocked themselves allowing him to move. ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Lee¡¯s voice entered his ears, calm and wise, and experienced. ¡°Everyone freezes up the first time. Focus. Do what you were trained to do for years, Lucan, and let the de do the rest. You don¡¯t have to wrestle the creature, just sink your de into it before it gets close to you. Lucan nodded quickly, even as he imagined it sinking its fangs into him. Another beast was creeping up from the direction Lee hade from, and the man-at-arms turned around to face it, taking out his mace even as he raised his round shield. Lucan turned to his own quarry as it shook itself off after getting up. It eyed Lee¡¯s back before it refocused on him, its spittle flying out, some of it sticking to its teeth as it snarled. Then it charged him again. Lucan stepped forward, securing his footing and quickly eying the terrain around him. The beast was halfway to him when he activated the Star. And it was almost upon him when he prepared his sword for the opportunity he was about to create. It leapt at him once more. At the same moment, Lucan moved to the point of the star to his right, letting the beast tackle thin air. And before it could reorient itself, Lucan had turned around and moved back to the center of his star, now behind it and his sword pulled back for a vicious swing. As soon as he found his bnce, his sh took the monster in the hip while it was turning around. It went through hide, muscle, and¡­stopped, the bony joint in his de¡¯s path cracking but not giving way. The beast tried to free itself of the de and Lucan¡¯s breath caught in panic. Before he could make a wiser decision, he activated his Wraith Strike, slicing through the rest of the creature¡¯s hip sideways. Lucan swallowed through a dry throat, eying the beast. With no back legs, ity on the ground, helpless and bleeding to death. Words came into his vision, but he remembered the rather humiliating warning from Thomas and dismissed them. He nced around. The rest of their party had converged on their position, fighting several of the beasts. He quickly spotted another of the monsters nearby at the same time it spotted him. It growled and loped towards him. Lucan stayed stuck to his Star so as not to lose its limited use even though that forced him to stay inside, making him feel like a diving duck, confined to a smallke as long as it wanted to survive its predators. Lucan waited for the same moment as before. As soon as it leapt at him, he moved to the point on his left. The beast hade from a different angle than the previous one, so it ended up biting thin air and hitting the ground beside its dying brethren. This time, Lucan chose to move to the point of his Star that the beast hadnded on instead of returning to the center. One moment he was a couple of steps away and the next he was on top of the beast, his swording down like an executioner¡¯s axe and striking its neck. The beast buckled as the de cut halfway through its wide, muscr neck. Then Lucan pulled the de free and hacked at it two more times, beheading it. Around him, men were putting down the rest of the beasts. He saw Lee ncing at him while pulping his third victim with his bronze mace. Then he heard Sir Wolfe calling for them to gather as the sounds of fighting died down. Lucan and Lee trotted to the knight and his retainers. They were gathered in a half-circle that did well to keep their surroundings observed. ¡°Where are Reede and Dane?¡± Sir Wolfe said. One of the men-at-arms pointed to the right. ¡°They were farther to that side. I couldn¡¯t see them when the beasts attacked.¡± Sir Wolfe gazed in the indicated direction. ¡°We will find them before we seek out the source of these creatures.¡± Everyone including Lucan nodded. Though his eyes were following the letters he¡¯d recalled. You have in a lv3 S¡¯wa and absorbed its Vital Essence. You have in a lv2 S¡¯wa and absorbed its Vital Essence. You have leveled up. Before Lucan could bring up the manifestation of his Blessing, he heard a familiar noise from the earth nearby. ¡°Oh, gods damn it.¡± Sir Wolfe¡¯s voice rose. ¡°There are more of them?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¡°We were lucky they didn¡¯t corner any of us alone before,¡± Sir Wolfe said, following up with amand. ¡°Let¡¯s not give them another chance. Stay together.¡± Maybe not all of us were lucky, Lucan thought, ncing in the direction of the two missing men-at-arms. But it seemed that the knight didn¡¯t think his two men had perished. They formed up as Sir Wolfemanded, close enough to assist but not close enough to get in each other¡¯s way. The monsters that came galloping out of the bushes were mostly simr to the previous ones. Mostly. These ones had wider shoulders and longer arms that made them look more like apes than hyenas as they charged. They still had the same skin tone, snouts, and most of the other bodily features. Lucan decided to hold back on using his Skills since he only had one more use for each one. He would try to tangle with this new wave of beasts with skill alone. He¡¯d begun to get a feel for how to handle them. The beasts outnumbered them, but not by much. Sir Wolfe stepped forward, ahead of everyone else, to attract the attention of two of them on his own. Lucan gauged the directions of the iing monsters, realizing that two of them wereing for the man-at-arms to his right, while none wereing for him. He reluctantly stepped forward, attracting the attention of one of the two by waving his sword into its path. The beast angled towards him, abandoning its initial target. Lucan stepped back. Making sure not to put too much distance between him and the closest ally, he found a tree and put it between him and the beast. He leaned to the right, tempting it to attack him from that side. The beast epted his invitation, charging towards the right side of the tree. Once it got close enough to leap at him, Lucan hopped to the opposite side of the tree. The beast tried to correct its leaping direction, but the tree was between them, so it ended up grazing it and missing him. As soon as itnded, it turned towards Lucan and met his boot. His kick took it in the face and neck, grounding it. It scampered away from him in an instinctive reaction. Lucan followed it with his sword, lunging forward to catch its neck with the edge of his de. The beast somehow retracted its upper body away from his reach. He heard Sir Wolfe loudly warn someone about something at the same time the beast in front of him pushed itself up onto its back legs and stood up. On two legs and upright, the beast was a bit taller than him, with long arms that nearly reached its knees and the same scowl of fury around its snout. Its wide shoulders along with its height made it more intimidating than any man. Lucan took a step back in spite of himself. The beast caught onto his fear and stepped forward, swiping with its elongated ws. He was the one to scamper backwards this time, evading its ws by a breath. Then his back hit the tree and the beast took another step forward, swiping at him again. He barely ducked in time, hearing its ws taking a chunk out of the tree above him. He rolled to the side and the beast followed him. Lucan eyed its hands, trying to gauge their reach. They seemedparable to his sword¡¯s reach. ¡°Just treat its arms like they¡¯re swords,¡± he told himself as he activated his Star. To hell with saving it forter, he had to survive now. The beast didn¡¯t give him time to do much more. This time it mouthed a deep growl as it swiped its left arm at him diagonally. Lucan met its forearm with the edge of his de, batting it away and delivering a cut in the process. Even without much leverage at the point of contact, the beast¡¯s swing jolted his arm the moment it met his de. He was definitely outmatched when it came to pure strength. The beast¡¯s right arm was already in motion the moment its left was pushed away. Lucan quickly crouched, ducking the strike, and picked the point of the Star between forward and left, so that if the point beneath the beast was north, the point Lucan was going to would be northwest. Before his move couldmence, however, the beast corrected its aim, its arm veering down and catching his shoulder where the breastte ended and the mail began. Two of its ws scraped against the steel te and two sheared off several rings from the mail on his arm. Lucan didn¡¯t stop, immediately moving to his destination. Before the beast could retract its belligerent arm, Lucan was below it. With an underhanded sh, he cut into the beast¡¯s armpit which elicited a pained roar. Lucan prepared himself to move back to another spot in the star, expecting it to whirl and face him. But the creature surprised him with a kick from the leg beside him, throwing him out of the Star. Lucan was mouthing ¡°Fuck¡± before his back had even hit the ground. He got back up as quickly as he could and found that the beast had also fallen on its back and was getting up. It had lost its bnce once it had kicked him. So it was barely bnced while standing on just two feet. That exined why its attacks had been so rigid. The beast got on all fours again, covering the distance between them in a blink. It leapt at him and Lucan threw himself to the side, but its ws caught his arm in the passing strike, tearing several rings out of his mail. He felt pain shooting through the muscle it had struck at the same time he hit the ground. As he rolled, getting back to his feet and turning to face the monster, he found it already standing on its two back feet again and swiping at him with its ws. Lucan hastily swung his sword to meet its arm, but the beast suddenly stopped its attack, folding its arm on his sword even as he cut into the crook of it, cutting through hide and flesh and then stopping. It trapped his sword further by twisting its hand and closing its ws around the de. Movement attracted Lucan¡¯s eyes. Its other arm was heading towards his face, its ws poised to pierce all the way through his skull. The wed hand was already halfway to his face, and he realized that even if he were to use Wraith Strike to free his sword, it¡¯d be toote to interpose it in the attack¡¯s path. He was also too off-bnce to duck. So he leaned back desperately, even though he knew he wouldn¡¯t be out of the attacking arm¡¯s reach, he leaned anyway, instinctively trying to expand the distance between his eyes and the approaching harm. While doing it, he hoped¡­for something. What? He didn¡¯t know. He¡¯d been stupid, letting himself get kicked out of the Star, and then swinging his sword carelessly enough for it to be trapped. His father would be scoffing at him. And now he might just be heading toward an early, stupid death. One moment he was watching the ws slowly making their way to his face and the next¡­he saw a barrier of wood and an arm blocking his vision. The ws scraped against the thinyer of enchanted bronze covering Lee¡¯s shield. The beast freed Lucan¡¯s sword, hoping to use its liberated arm to punish the one who¡¯d dared to interfere. Then Sir Wolfe was behind it. His axe hacked into the back of its knee and the beast buckled, kneeling on the ground, its long torso jerking from the pain. The strike heading towards Lee lost its direction as the beast was forced to kneel. Its head snapped back to re at the one who¡¯d taken it by surprise. Lucan, realizing that he was free, slipped under the shield and into the beast¡¯s guard as it busied itself with his two saviors. Flush with fear and anger, he thrust his de into where its heart should be. The tip of his sword pierced thick hide and thin flesh then got stuck halfway through the bone in its ribcage. Without much thought, he used hisst Wraith Strike, his sword glowing and slipping all the way through. The beast suddenly gurgled, its body jerking then growing rigid just as fast. Lucan pushed it to the side so it wouldn¡¯t fall on him. His sword hadn¡¯t pierced it all the way to the hilt since his Wraith Strike had lost its glow midway through. Now his sword was stuck in the beast¡¯s bones and he had to saw it out. ¡°Are you well, Lucan?¡± Lee¡¯s grave voice came from behind him. He turned halfway as he struggled to free his sword. He looked at Lee and nodded. ¡°My body is well. My pride? I¡¯m not certain.¡± Not that I¡¯d had that much pride in my physical prowess before this. Sir Wolfe¡¯s guffaw caught his attention. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so hard on yourself, boy. This wasn¡¯t easy prey, at least not for you.¡± Lucan nced at the knight and dumbly mouthed, ¡°huh?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± Sir Wolfe tapped a finger under his eye, the sign for checking on one¡¯s blessing. Lucan called up his Elder Blessing. You have in a lv9 Archs¡¯wa and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. Your Swordsmanship has leveled up. You have leveled up. Race: Human Level: 3 Vital Orbs: 5 Mind and Body Physique: Copper II 0/3 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv2: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) Lucan saw his level, then eyed his Swordsmanship proudly. He¡¯d gotten it to Journeyman as his father had wanted. He dismissed the manifestation and finally freed his sword from the beast¡¯s body, hefting it in his hand. He felt as if it was lighter, even though he knew it wasn¡¯t. Perhaps it was more of a familiarity that came to him with the improvement of the Skill. His father had told him that at muchter levels he would feel as if the sword was a mere extension of his arm. He had even told him of sword masters who could actually feel through their swords. Before he could thank Sir Wolfe and Lee then begin cleaning his sword, he heard a yell echoing between the trees,ing from somewhere in the forest. The beasts had all been finished off and everyone¡¯s eyes were attracted to the source of the noise, the two men-at-arms who were running towards them. The two missing men-at-arms. The pair came to a stop in front of Sir Wolfe, panting and bending over with hands on their knees. ¡°Where in the hells have you two been?¡± ¡°Bandits,¡± one of them said, gulping lungfuls of air and pointing behind him. ¡°There are bandits in the forest.¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°Bandits?¡± asked a perplexed Sir Wolfe. ¡°Aye,¡± the younger man-at-arms answered, pointing in the direction they¡¯de from. ¡°That way.¡± ¡°How many?¡± the knight said. ¡°We¡¯re not certain, Sire,¡± the older one said. ¡°We saw tracks and followed them. They had sentries who spotted us, then we had to flee.¡± He looked usingly at his younger partner as he said thest part. ¡°We saw four guarding a camp. They weren¡¯t very well armed.¡± ¡°Gods damn The Shattered Kingdom and all its fools,¡± Sir Wolfe groused. He stood thinking silently for a moment then gestured towards the direction the beasts hade from. ¡°We seal the Break first. Then we handle these bandits. They can¡¯t get very far.¡± His men nodded and followed him as he headed in the direction he¡¯d indicated, Lucan and Lee on their tail. Lucan was cursing much more than the knight under his breath. It wasn¡¯t enough that he had to fight with everything he had today and dodge death by a hair. There were still bandits to fight. As they walked, he gestured for Lee that he was going to quickly check his Blessing. Thetter nodded and kept an eye out. Lucan didn¡¯t intend to jump into the next fight, whatever it may be, without consolidating what he¡¯d earned into real power. He had five Vital Orbs, and to get to Copper III Physique, he only needed three. He should also improve one of his Skills, lest he finds himself in a tight spot without anything in hand. Which one was obvious. While Wraith Strike had many upsides, he needed something that would keep him alive when his enemies favored him dead. So he would improve the Star. Only one level though. He would have to exin himself to his father even with this little going into Skills. His mind decided, he put three Vital Orbs into his Physique. Instantly, a tingling sensation pervaded his body, making him lose his gait and stumble while walking even though they were going through a rtively t area. Lee assisted him, and Lucan persevered, putting one Vital Orb into his Star Skill next. It remained to be seen how much improvement he¡¯d get out of one level aside from the additional daily use. He checked the manifestation of his Blessing after he was done. Race: Human Level: 3 Vital Orbs: 1 Mind and Body Physique: Copper III 0/10 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv3: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) He looked at the significant cost needed to enhance his Physique to Iron. The costs were no secret when it came to the earlier stages. He¡¯d already known that he had a long road ahead of him. The party moved by the area where the beasts had burrowed out of the ground. Light brown dirt was scattered on top of the darker topsoil, with small open craters where the beasts hade out. They had burrowed through the dirt from somewhere deeper in the forest, where their Outbreak had started. That was where their group would be going. It wasn¡¯t long before they came by a sight Lucan had read much about but had never seen. The soil, with all itsyers, had been pushed open in one long line. As the party came up to the mounded dirt on the sides of the Break and looked into the opening, they saw the cracked open bedrock below and an abyssal darkness was greeting them through it. The opening and the crack weren¡¯t very big. They were perhaps three or four yards long, just enough for the beasts to slowly scamper their way up onto the surface. Though the ones they¡¯d fought didn¡¯t seem to enjoy the surface too much as they¡¯d stayed burrowed in the dirt until they¡¯d had to engage them. Sir Wolfe took out a cloth bundle from within his armor. He opened it, taking out a piece of gray bark as big as his hand, a splinter of the Elder Root. He found a spot in the dirt around the crack where it could settle and ced it there. As soon as it touched the ground, roots sprouted out of it, spreading into the surrounding soil and bedrock. The speed at which it spread unsettled Lucan who felt that he was looking at something alive. The roots began hair-thin, then thickened over time until they became as thick as ropes. Soon, they had multiplied and expanded enough to seal most of the break. A small grey sapling grew upward from the roots. The men at arms began burying the roots with the surrounding mounded dirt while Sir Wolfe, Lucan, and Lee watched. In a few days, the sapling would begin killing any trees or vegetation close to it. It was a small price to pay to prevent the Break from spewing out more beasts though. The sapling couldn¡¯t do what its parent tree could, which was suppressing Outbreaks altogether, but it could easily seal these small Breaks when used appropriately. Once the men were done, Sir Wolfe picked out the two that had found the bandit camp andmanded them to lead the rest of them there. The two men-at-arms did as they were told, and the party crept through the forest towards their next fight. The sun was at its zenith when they finally reached the area where the two men had spotted the camp. Sir Wolfemanded everyone to get on the ground as soon as they began hearing noises, then he gestured for one of his more lightly armored men to creep forward, take a look, then report back. The man obliged, creeping through the brush and disappearing He soon came back, informing the knight that there were at least seven sentries standing watch now. He had failed to get a closer look because the bandits had been alert since they¡¯d been roused earlier by the other two men-at-arms. ¡°I see no chance to take them by surprise now,¡± Sir Wolfe whispered. ¡°We spread out and charge them on mymand.¡± He began pointing out where he wanted each pair of them to be. ¡°Charge when you hear my shout.¡± Lucan and Lee were paired up together and put near the center of their wide half-circle. The rest of the men were getting into their positions when Lucan posed a question. ¡°Are we all certain to hear Sir Wolfe when he yells?¡± He¡¯d hate to fall behind or only hear it when the fighting started. He wasn¡¯t eager to go intobat, but none of them could abandon the knight¡¯s nk when he was relying on them to watch it. Old Lee chuckled. ¡°Fear not, Sir Wolfe has his own renown when ites to war cries. You will see.¡± The faint shuffling sounds that came from the positioning men around them died down, and soon a deathly quiet surrounded them. Lucan began hearing the pleasant sounds of singing birds along with some unpleasant ones from pests and insects in their surroundings. Beyond that, some human noise came from the direction they were to attack soon, though none of it was intelligible. Before Lucan could indulge further in the calmness thatmanded the vicinity, he heard an echoing, human roar rocking the forest. It was so loud that Lucan might have imagined it shaking the branches of trees. ¡°IN THE NAME OF THE KING, SURRENDER OR DIE YOU SONS OF WHORES!¡± Lucan was stunned, and before he could make sense of what he¡¯d heard, Lee was pulling him up onto his feet. They charged in the direction where the bandits would be, and as shrubs and trees were overtaken, they finally caught sight of the sentries. They were dressed in in cloth, some holding makeshift spears, others holding axes that didn¡¯t seem made for war, and others were even armed with farming tools like hay forks. The sentries, shocked by the warcry, dropped their weapons in a panic as soon as they saw the properly armed and armored men charging out of the forest. Some of them ran back to their camp and others fell to their knees begging for mercy. It was so unexpected that Lucan stopped, dumbfounded. He couldn¡¯t tell whether he should continue the assault or wait, though Lee had stopped beside him and hadn¡¯t urged him to continue. Lucan searched with his eyes for Sir Wolfe and found him with his axe at a kneeling man¡¯s neck, though he hadn¡¯t killed him. Lucan walked up to the knight to pose an inquiry when he saw the man¡¯s eyes fixed on the distant camp. Lucan followed it and saw men, women, and children gaping at the sight of their attackers, some trying to flee in panic. ¡°What in gods¡¯ names¡­¡± Sir Wolfe mouthed. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Lucan walked among the bedraggled lot that popted the makeshift camp. Refugees, that was what they had turned out to be. After imploring Sir Wolfe to show them mercy, and sessfully receiving it, an older man hade out to speak for all of them. While they spoke, the knight hadmanded his men to go into the camp and make certain that they weren¡¯t hiding any of the more unsavory types, and also to ascertain that they were as impoverished as they pretended to be. So far, it seemed that they were. Lucan observed bony children herded out of his way by stalk-thin mothers, grown men with nary a muscle between skin and bone, and juveniles gnawing on bones of wild game here and there. He nced at Lee who walked a step behind him. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to have much.¡± ¡°Anything,¡± Lee said. ¡°Huh?¡± Lucan raised a brow and looked back at the old man-at-arms. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to have anything,¡± Lee corrected. ¡°Ahh.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Maybe so.¡± He continued, passing between two lean-tos which smelled even less pleasant than the collective camp did. There seemed to be nearly as many males as females. So no great tragedy had struck these people on their way here. It was obvious that they had been subsisting on poaching and scavenging what they could from the forest. He¡¯d seen remains of wild hares, deer, and boar. Here and there, he also saw children biting into nuts and berries. Old and young, they were dressed in what could pass as decent peasant clothing, but it hadn¡¯t gotten much care recently. Some of the other refugees, though, might as well have been wearing rags. When Lucan pointed it out, Lee stated that some of them must have been in more of a hurry than others. After a while, Sir Wolfe called for them to return to him. Lucan, Lee, and his men-at-arms converged on him. Lucan noted that the knight was still conversing with the elder who represented these people. The greying man was heavily built, even if he didn¡¯t have much fat to adorn his thick bones. He was tall and broad-chested with a scar visible under the stubble on his chin. ¡°Edvin here,¡± Sir Wolfe gestured at the elder, ¡°says that theye from several viges in Lord Maztef¡¯s dominion. They¡¯re fleeing war.¡± Lucan sighed. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t have to participate in the obligation of herding them back to their lord. That honor would fall to Sir Wolfe. He didn¡¯t recognize the name, but he didn¡¯t know the names of many nobles from The Shattered Kingdom either. ¡°Where¡¯s Lord Maztef¡¯s fief, Sir Wolfe?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°However should I know?¡± The knight snorted. ¡°Every man and his dog have a noble title on the other side of this forest.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Lucan said, gesturing at therge camp with an unspoken question. There must have been a few hundred of them crammed in there. The camp was actually made of several small camps neighboring each other. Even from here, the ripe smell reached Lucan¡¯s nose. With their numbers, he doubted the refugees would¡¯ve been able to survive very long without exposing themselves or losing a considerable portion of their number to starvation. A small strip of the forest could only support so many people. ¡°We¡¯ll just show them to the border,¡± Sir Wolfe answered his silent question. ¡°They can find their way back.¡± The elder¡¯s face showed distress. ¡°My lord¡­the war. If we go back, we might be executed or¨C¡± ¡°Or levied to fight in your lord¡¯s war, as is your duty,¡± Sir Wolfe interrupted him. ¡°And I¡¯m no lord. ttery will do you no good.¡± ¡°That might as well be an execution too, Sire,¡± the elder said. ¡°Gods know we¡¯ve lost enough of our young and healthy. If we¡¯re not fighting and dying in our lord¡¯s wars, our viges are being piged, their people taken and forced tobor for those who¡¯ve torn down their homes, and that¡¯s the kinder of fates.¡± Sir Wolfe shook his head. ¡°And the gods haven¡¯t raised me to be your savior.¡± He stepped forward into the elder¡¯s guard, his threat clear. Even though the older man towered over him, the menacing presence oozing off the knight was not to be ignored. ¡°Gather your people and prepare them to vacate mynd.¡± ¡°Sire.¡± The elder¡¯s voice took a more imploring tone. ¡°We are hard-working people, men and women. We could do fairbor on yournds. We only need food and shelter.¡± ¡°You think I would turn awaybor if I needed it for the sake of some man iming nobility in a wastnd?¡± Sir Wolfe said. ¡°No, I recognize no sellsword Lord in The Shattered Kingdom. I simply have no ce for you.¡± Lucan, watching the exchange, froze as if a lightning bolt had struck him. Labor. These people had been farmers andborers, obviously. They were no townsmen, and they were no ouws either. If he could take them back with him. He¡¯d have hisborers before the harvest. And they only wanted¨Cno¨Cneeded food. There was plenty of emptynd for them to build shelter in his father¡¯snd. His father had also stored a decent bounty of grain and foodstuffs fromst year, as he always did. This was cheapbor that wouldn¡¯t drain what little coin they had. Before he could think more about it, he found himself hastily speaking. ¡°You¡¯re willing to work?¡± The elder¡¯s eyes turned to him, looking him up and down, then he hunched his back to match his height and fixed his eyes on Lucan¡¯s face, jumping at the opportunity like a drowning man reaching for debris. ¡°Yes, my lord. We¡¯re honest folk. We¡¯ll work, day and night. I swear it.¡± ¡°It will be harsh work, not farming, but heavybor that will take months,¡± Lucan warned. He might have imagined Sir Wolfe mouthing his name questioningly but he was focused on the wide-eyed old man who was wringing his hands together. ¡°We¡¯re hardy folk, my lord,¡± the elder said. ¡°We can bear with it, if you will only feed us.¡± Lucan nodded. Then Sir Wolfe stepped closer to him, whispering. ¡°Lucan, you cannot have consulted your father about this.¡± He shook his head as though to discourage the thought of taking them with him. ¡°We do need the Laborers,¡± Lucan whispered back. ¡°Father would understand. And they don¡¯t seem to be trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still no small chance to take,¡± the knight said. ¡°I could go back and consult with my father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Will you keep them here?¡± The knight shook his head, stepping even closer and lowering his voice further. ¡°They already dangerously outnumber me and my men. Giving them more time might also give them ideas. They must be moved out of mynd now.¡± Lucan had noted that men made up less than half of the refugees¡¯ number, the majority being women and children, as was natural in any healthymunity. Still, there were certainly enough men to mob them. He understood Sir Wolfe¡¯s concern. But he also saw it from another perspective. Those men could be the hardbor for his dream.¡± ¡°Then I will take them right away,¡± Lucan said. Sir Wolfe sighed, stepping back. ¡°Very well, do with them as you wish. But they must gather themselves within the hour.¡± Lucan nodded. The refugees certainly couldn¡¯t gather up that fast, but it wasn¡¯t like the knight had an hourss handy. ¡°Gather your people,¡± Lucan told the elder. ¡°My father¡¯s fief is¡±¨Che paused to look at the bedraggled poption of the camp again¨C¡±a third of a day¡¯s walk from here.¡± Or so he hoped it would be. Many among these people wouldn¡¯t be able to walk very fast. It ended up taking them a third of a day just to make it out of the forest with all the refugees. Sir Wolfe wasn¡¯t very happy about the proceedings but Lucan apologized to him twice and promised that he would get all of them out of the knight¡¯snds promptly. They ended up having to march through the evening to avoid any mishaps with locals. Sir Wolfe had also feared that some of the refugees would scatter in hisnds under the veil of darkness. So, mounted and riding alongside Lee, he led four hundred refugees towards their territory, hoping that his father would see matters as he did. But one often hoped for things they couldn¡¯t have. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Lucan was seated in front of his father¡¯s desk in the study, getting an earful. Even Thomas, who was standing behind his father, had disapproval written all over his face. ¡°Disaster might as well have struck ournds,¡± his father said, his voice deep and tired. He¡¯d exhausted most of his shouting earlier. Most of it. ¡°Father,¡± Lucan said beseechingly. ¡°Why won¡¯t you hear me? They can do the work. The roads can be done by harvest time. Then merchants will flock to us more than ever before. And theborers only need to be fed. We¡¯d only need to spend coin on the stone from Sir Upton¡¯s quarry.¡± ¡°And where do you think that coines from?¡± his father growled. ¡°We sellst year¡¯s stockpile of grains, which you¡¯ll be feeding yourborers. We get most of our taxes in grain, and now we¡¯ll have to store it all in ce of what will be used to carry this weight you¡¯ve burdened us with. We should send them back.¡± ¡°No!¡± Lucan shouted in spite of himself. ¡°We need them if we¡¯re to build the roads swiftly. Relying on localborers to both maintain the estate and build roads will take long, very long. And sooner orter they¡¯d have to go back to their farnd, likely before we¡¯re done. The merchants will make up for the lost coin, Father. And harvest is near. There¡¯s nothing to fear from using our stockpiles thiste in the season. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll starve within two months. Besides, Sir Wolfe was already disconcerted enough by the refugees'' presence by the time I¡¯d taken them off his hands. He won¡¯t allow them to step foot on hisnds again.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be relying on chance too much, son,¡± his father said, sighing. ¡°Four hundred people! Where will they live? What will we do with them after you¡¯re done with this ambitious undertaking of yours?¡± ¡°For now, we can put them in the east, between the two canals, southwest of the fishermen¡¯s hamlet. They can build their own shelters there,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Later, perhaps we could expand the bailey¨C¡± His father scoffed. ¡°More expenses.¡± He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, as though dealing with one of the messes Lucan had created as a child. ¡°Perhaps the bailey will be busier then,¡± Lucan said. ¡°When my venture seeds¨C¡± ¡°Wishful thinking,¡± his father interrupted him again. ¡°You only see what you want to see, son. You forgo everything else, everything you should watch for and guard against, like ruin. What do you know about administering a fief? You ought to wait years, if not decades, before making these decisions on your own.¡± ¡°Well, Father,¡± Lucan said, firming himself, lips pressed and back straight. ¡°Like I said before, if you want me to partake in your responsibilities, I won¡¯t settle for wearing armor and looking imposing.¡± His father¡¯s face hardened, and the way his jaw locked made it seem as though he was gritting his teeth. ¡°Very well, Lucan,¡± he said. ¡°Per your words about responsibility, you ought to know now that these people are your responsibility. They better not starve. They better not break the King¡¯sw. And they certainly better not end up causing a revolt in ournds. I won¡¯t have the Zesh name be aughingstock. Do you understand?¡± Lucan frowned but nodded gravely. He would make it work. His father was content with what he had, and there was nothing to disdain about that. But Lucan didn¡¯t have to be of the same mind. It was noon now. The refugees had arrived with him near the motte-and-baileyst night, taking the hard ground outside as bedding. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t winter yet. Thomas, looking neutral now, finally spoke, his tone soft. ¡°If they are to be moved, it ought to be soon. There has already been a small incident with the locals. If we leave that many people with nothing to do near the farmers, there are likely to be many more.¡± ¡°So be it,¡± Lucan¡¯s father said. ¡°Have them move between the branches of the river, near the fishermen.¡± Lucan had been to the fishermen¡¯s hamlet twice. It was built on the bank of the northern branch of the canal. With thend so rocky and barren there and between the two branches generally, they could only subsist on fishing, and there weren¡¯t many residents there. The refugees would be given thend southwest of the hamlet, wide open, and ample but not arable. He hadn¡¯t brought them here to farm after all. They would also be allowed to cut down hardwood from the eastern forest to build their homes. Thomas soon left the study to heed his father¡¯smand, getting the refugees settled in that stretch ofnd. His father was silent for a while, perhaps thinking, perhaps discreetly observing him. Lucan himself was swimming among a dozen thoughts. A bit of worry had crept into his gut after his father¡¯s warning that there would be consequences he wasn¡¯t aware of. What was he to do, though? Let an opportunity go? He¡¯d made a decision, and so it was made. Hadn¡¯t his father told him once that it was better to make a bad decision than not to make one at all? His father finally broke the silence. ¡°What then will you have them begin with?¡± Lucan cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯ll feed them and let them rest for the day. Then some of them will stay to build shelter for everyone. And some others will beginying the foundation for the road. We ought to begin in the west, where our road splits off from the High Road, so that passersby may notice the change. Hopefully, word will reach those who matter soon after.¡± ¡°I suppose we ought to send for the stone from Sir Upton¡¯snd,¡± his father said, sounding suspiciously helpful. Lucan didn¡¯t immediately reply, and perhaps noting the hesitant look on his face, his father continued: ¡°Even if I don¡¯t agree with your ns, I will seek neither to push you to failure nor to watch you idly while you fail.¡± He sighed, muttering, ¡°gods know you¡¯re doing enough of that yourself.¡± Lucan set his jaw, nodding. ¡°So you will help me see this through, Father?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± His father nodded. ¡°But don¡¯t forget¡­¡± Lucan nodded along. ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility now.¡± ¡°Now then,¡± his father said, his voice loud with exhtion. ¡°You were supposed toe back from Sir Wolfe¡¯snds having improved.¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°I suppose when I saw youing back trailed by four hundred people, I lost that thread of thought,¡± his father said, chuckling ruefully. ¡°I haven¡¯t even asked Lee yet how well you¡¯ve done.¡± Lucan hoped what he did had been enough, because he didn¡¯t know what else he could¡¯ve done to live up to expectations. He¡¯d ended up inadvertently going up against something even a reckless adventurer wouldn¡¯t have gone against at his stages of the Blessing, not that he¡¯d known how dangerous the beast was when he¡¯d faced it. If he had, he¡¯d have probably run to hide behind Sir Wolfe. Thankfully, he¡¯d not shamed himself like that, and had also still kept his life. Lucan smiled. ¡°I believe I have given a good enough ount of myself.¡± ¡°You ought to show me before you tell me then,¡± his father continued. ¡°In the training yard.¡± Lucan sighed. ¡°Of course, Father.¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 During the next month, Lucan¡¯s father tested and evaluated his prowess. There had been a particrly bright moment when his fathermended him for reaching Journeyman in Swordsmanship. After that, he was trained regrly every day. Meanwhile, the new arrivals had sessfully built themselves makeshift shelters on the piece ofnd Lucan had given them. Then those who¡¯d been building those shelters had moved on to working on the road in the west. His father had sent word to Sir Upton earlier in the month, and they¡¯d received their first load of stone a fortnight prior. Thomas had also sent a rider to Arpague, and he¡¯d returned with a man experienced enough in roadying to make certain that they wouldn¡¯t be wastingbor and resources on a ruined venture. Lucan was now riding towards the beginning of the new road they were building. The work was actually beginning onnd outside of their territory. But thankfully, his father had agreed that the King would find no issue with them rebuilding an old road as long as they didn¡¯t interfere with the High Road itself, not that there was much of an opportunity for the King to hear about something this trivial. Thomas was riding beside Lucan, and they¡¯d just passed the bridge that crossed the canal to the north towards the High Road. While the elder, whose name was Graham, was the one acting as a foreman for theborers, Thomas and the expert from Arpague were overseeing them most of the time. Work had progressed steadily since it¡¯d begun, owing to the refugees¡¯ eagerness to prove their worth. Even women and children were helping with the work, carrying dirt and gravel, or, in the case of the younger and weaker, delivering food and water when necessary. As they rode on, Lucan observed the dug-up dirt of the old road. In its ce, a shallow foundation of rocks, gravel, and mortar wasid. Soon, gstone would beid with more mortar to make a rtively t road slightly higher than thend around it. From time to time, a runner would go by them, bowing before moving on to deliver a message or bring whatever he was sent for. Their estate had also had to hire some of the peasants who owned carts and work animals to assist with the undertaking. These carts were often going between the estate and the work site to deliver needed materials. Lucan spotted theborers in the distance. It was a sight to behold. Nearly three hundred people working. It was like watching a beehive in motion. They rode up to the work site, where Lucan saw the expert from Arpague standing on arge rock among theborers, observing their work. Graham, the elder, soon came out to greet them. He jogged to their two horses, bowing. ¡°Sire, a good morn to you.¡± ¡°Graham.¡± Lucan nodded, bringing his horse to a stop. ¡°How goes work?¡± ¡°We began at first light,¡± Graham said. ¡°Every one of us has been putting all our effort into it, and we strive to do so every day, sire.¡± Lucan and Thomas dismounted, handing their horses over to a boy who came out to receive them. They walked along the road¡¯s length, and Lucan spotted where the advance of the stoneying had reached. A stone path, slightly sloped to the sides to drain water and wide enough for arge wagon, was taking form. Their new small road was branched out of the High Road, which Lucan observed to be significantly higher than the surrounding ground, so much that when it branched into their new road, it formed a considerable incline. It was also wider, capable of fitting tworge wagons side by side with some walking breadth to spare. Lucan saw how it stretched into the horizon, disappearing beyond a faint fog without losing any of its grandeur. The Kings of Barwalis had repaired what had remained of the old Imperial roads and called it the High Road. And it was indeed high. One would have to put in quite a bit of effort to climb onto it from the sides. Lucan turned his attention back to the old refugee who managed to observe him without staring too much. ¡°Will you be able to finish the road to the estate by the time the grain is being harvested?¡± Lucan asked, passing by some of the workers and getting bows or confused nces from some of them who were unsure whether to continue working or show their respect. Graham hesitated for a moment, pressing his lips. ¡°We will do it.¡± Lucan nodded. Thomas had told him that it¡¯d be difficult for them to finish that fast. Next month, the harvest would begin, and soon after merchants would hopefully begin to arrive. Most of the western half of the road would be done by then, if not all of it. And that should be enough to get the merchants¡¯ attention. Trekking into the backend of nowhere to trade in some grains would slow down any significant merchant¡¯s journey to or from the Union. Giving them the incentive of saving time with proper roads would change that, encouraging more of them to take the chance. ¡°I¡¯m certain you will try your best,¡± Lucan said, giving the elder a firm nod. Graham set his jaw, making the scar on his chin more prominent, and nodded back. Lucan spent the morning at the work site, overseeing the work along with Thomas. Eventually, they had to return to the keep at noon because Thomas would have to send for more stone from Sir Upton. The pace of work had satisfied Lucan, and Thomas had confirmed that he hadn¡¯t had to do much to encourage¨Cor force¨Cthe refugees to put in the required work, and more. They were encouraged enough as is. If anything, he and the roayer from Arpague had had to curb theborers¡¯ energy from time to time in order to prevent mistakes. He¡¯d pointed out, however, that some of the refugees had been malnourished on their first fortnight of work, owing to their initial journey, which had made work early on slower, specially before the roayer had arrived. ¡°The other knights are already asking about your roads,¡± his father said as he ran an oiled cloth over his sword. They were seated on hardwood blocks in the training yard. He''d let him skip morning training to take a look at the road, but Lucan hadter found out that his father hadn¡¯t forsaken it, but had in fact postponed the training until his return. ¡°Did you tell them?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± his father said. ¡°They¡¯re perplexed.¡± ¡°As much as I¡¯d like for them to understand,¡± Lucan said, ¡°they don¡¯t have to, as long as you can persuade them to send their crops here¡­for their own sake. They¡¯ll get better prices.¡± ¡°I will,¡± his father said. ¡°What about Lord Arden?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°I¡¯ll send word to him when the timees too,¡± his father said, sheathing his sword. ¡°He won¡¯t pass the opportunity to sell his wine for a bit more. He needs every coin his house can get its hands on. But first, merchants will have to arrive. Several merchants, son, if they are topete for the goods.¡± ¡°They will, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°They will.¡± His father sighed deeply and his eyes shifted, his mind seemingly moving to something else. He tapped his sheathed sword. ¡°You¡¯ve stopped improving.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯ve hit the limit of my Skill,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Hopefully I can improve it again soon.¡± His father shook his head with a wry smile. ¡°The Skill is what your body can do with the sword, Lucan. Your mind,¡± he tapped the side of his head with a forefinger,¡± is something else entirely. How you n your next move, how you respond to your opponent¡¯s rhythm. That¡¯s all in here.¡± His finger rested on the side of his head. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Lucan nodded. Then he remembered something that¡¯d happened on his recent outing. ¡°Father, you¡¯ve told me before that intellect is limited to Herald beasts. All the books I¡¯ve read on the matter agreed. Yet when I fought my third beast in Sir Wolfe¡¯snd, it feinted an attack to catch my sword. What is that if not intellect?¡± ¡°Instinct,¡± his father said, giving him a knowing smile. ¡°Some of the beasts have their own fighting instincts. If this beast feinted an attack, then you should remember that for any future encounters with its brethren. They¡¯ll have the same instincts after all. Heralds are something else entirely. They onlyck speech and experience against humans. In everything else pertaining tobat, you might as well be fighting a man.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve fought one before, Father, right?¡± His father nodded. ¡°Thankfully I wasn¡¯t alone. If you ever find yourself alone with one, run. There¡¯s no shame in it, unless you have a duty to protect.¡± Lucan nodded in understanding. His father didn¡¯t like to talk about that experience for some reason, but Lucan would hopefully get it out of him someday. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 In the first week of the harvest, the first merchant arrived at the Zesh estate. The road, as expected, had not been finished by then. But it was close, theborers already visible from the keep,ying the final stretch of it. Once they finished, they¡¯d begin working on the second half of it to the northeast. Though a problem had cropped up on that end, which they were now discussing in Sir Gn¡¯s study. Lucan was leaning on the table on which the map wasid. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He simply refused,¡± his father said, sniffing. ¡°I¡¯m not about to beg for an exnation. The Wards have always been overbearing. I¡¯m not going to feed their vain arrogance.¡± Lucan cursed, getting a subduing nce from his father. Thomas stood to the side, holding the letter that they¡¯d received in response. His father had sent a request to Sir Ward for them to work together on thest third of the road which ran through the Wardnds. Lucan had hoped that the neighboring knight would pay his share to have a proper road run through hisnds, but he¡¯d also been ready for their estate to bear the whole cost in case the Wards proved hard-headed. It turned out he had underestimated how hard-headed they could be. They had refused to even let theborers into theirnds. Now Lucan had to figure out how to make it work without them. He pointed at the northern branch of the canal where a bridge linked its two banks. A trail, trodden through by peasants, travelers, and traders led from their motte-and-bailey to the bridge. Another trail came all the way from the road south of the main canal, crossing another bridge to the southeast then continuing to the bridge he was pointing at. ¡°Is this our formal border with them?¡± Thomas stepped forward. ¡°If I may,¡± he said. ¡°There are no deeds that specify where exactly our borders are on this front. But thend on the other side of the bank has not been used by either side since we¡¯vee here. ¡°Could it be considered neutral?¡± Lucan asked. Before Thomas could answer him, his father spoke. ¡°Yes, and making use of it could count as provocation. It¡¯s all well as long as neither of us uses it, but once either of us does, it bes a problem.¡± Lucan scratched his head, feeling a knot forming in his mind. He gave himself a moment to think. ¡°We¡¯re not really using it though. We could let theborers work on the road a bit beyond the bridge, then stop once Sir Ward reacts.¡± ¡°The moment he reacts, it¡¯s trouble we¡¯re better off without,¡± his father said. ¡°No, you can work your way to the bridge, but not beyond that.¡± Thomas cleared his throat, getting a permissive nod from Lucan¡¯s father. ¡°I¡¯ve spoken with their steward on more than one asion. I happen to know how often their men-at-arms patrol this far west. We can work a bit beyond the bridge, but not for very long. I reckon they won¡¯t mind seeing a bit of new road there, but they would mind seeing hundreds ofborers.¡± Lucan looked at his father, waiting for a decision. Thetter acquiesced, nodding. ¡°Very well. You may have them work early morns under Thomas¡¯s guidance.¡± Then he fixed them both with a heavy gaze. ¡°But¡­no incidents, understood?¡± Thomas nodded easily and Lucan heavily. At least most of the road would still be paved with stone, even if the little bit of it passing through Sir Ward¡¯s territory would stay as packed dirt. It would have to do for now. ¡°Now onto our next matter,¡± Lucan¡¯s father said. ¡°We¡¯ve also received a response from Lord Arden who was all too happy to take us up on our offer. He¡¯ll be sending his stocks of wine to be sold here soon. I see no obstacles with the other knights either. They will likely send what they want to have sold here.¡± ¡°We should let the merchants who arrive know,¡± Lucan said. ¡°We don¡¯t want them to leave in a hurry.¡± Thomas nodded and Lucan knew he¡¯d handle it. ¡­ It was another weekter that two more merchants arrived, one of them with a wagon and one with a simple pack animal. The first cart carrying Arden wine also arrived. It was the cheapest wine Lucan knew of, and it had its own demand among the merchants. After all, not everyone could afford higher quality reds, and the poor were many more than the rich. Theborers had also finished thest stretch of the road leading into the bailey. They¡¯d been given a day¡¯s rest before Thomas had had them begin on the trail heading northeast. Grain had also begun flowing in with most of the peasants having sessfully harvested their crops. Some crops werete in maturity and those would still be harvested sometime in the next fortnight. Any peasants fortunate enough to have a significant surplus after taxation would exchange it for some coin from the merchants. Although they mostly lived on barter among themselves, nobody said no to some coin that could be tucked under the floor nks for a rainy day. Their estate had hardly gotten close to finishing their stored food. It had only been burdened by the refugees for a bit more than two months after all. Still, his father had held off on selling what remained of the old stock, even though the newly taxed crops could overfill their cers. Lucan understood the caution, but he was sanguine about it all. In the past, they¡¯d get one passing merchant or a pair of them at most. Already, they were past that with three so far. Lucan expected even more, as the harvest season was a major one for trade. The third week into the harvest, the first problem urred. Lucan was in his study reading when a heavy fist knocked on his door twice. When he opened it, he found his father nked by Thomas. ¡°Father?¡± His father nced at the booksid on his desk then his eyes shifted to Lucan. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be setting those aside and looking after your duties now.¡± He turned around, sighing exasperatedly. ¡°Follow me,¡± he said, striding down the hallway. Lucan nced at Thomas and whispered grindingly. ¡°Why does he hate books so much?¡± He recognized a suppressed grimace on the old steward¡¯s face. ¡°There¡¯s been an incident.¡± He gestured in the direction his father had gone. Lucan huffed, stepping out of his study and following his father. Eventually, they convened in his father¡¯s study, and Lucan heard about the incident. A traveling merchant had arrived, iming that one of his pack animals had been snatched by monsters from the western forest. ¡°Are we certain it¡¯s true?¡± Lucan asked Thomas. The steward was standing over the table with them. They were eying the spot on the map where the merchant imed to have been attacked. It was west of their border, along the new road. ¡°He didn¡¯t strike me as a fool,¡± Thomas said. ¡°He also doesn¡¯t seem to be new to the trade. Merchants learn the difference between wild predators and Labyrinth monsters, if only to know when to fight and when to run.¡± ¡°Then we have trouble to deal with.¡± Sir Gn¡¯s heavy voice echoed in the study. ¡°Let the men know that we¡¯ll be departing early tomorrow, and send a pair of them to patrol the road until sunset today.¡± He eyed the map for a moment, then his eyes moved to Lucan, resting on him for a while. The knight repeatedly tapped the edge of the table with a finger and pressed his lips together. Lucan could swear his father was anxious, or hesitant. It was a rare enough urrence that both he and Thomas noticed it. All the while, his father¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t left him. Suddenly Thomas perked up, seemingly realizing something. He spoke quickly, surprising Lucan. ¡°Gn, may I suggest dying such thoughts? He¡¯s not ready yet.¡± Lucan had never heard the steward calling his father by bare name, which suggested that he was talking about something serious. He could infer that it was about him, but his mind was still putting together what it was about him. ¡°He¡¯ll have to do it sooner orter.¡± ¡°Yes, but not yet,¡± Thomas insisted. ¡°You¡¯d be relying on your men to watch over him. He wouldn¡¯t truly be assuming the responsibility. The time wille, sooner orter.¡± ¡°But not now?¡± his father said, ncing at the old steward. ¡°But not now,¡± Thomas affirmed. Lucan eyed them both, finally realizing what they were talking about. His father had been thinking of staying back and sending him inmand of the men-at-arms. The thought alone rmed him. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d be supposed to do. He¡¯d been on only one such adventure before, in Sir Wolfe¡¯snds, and it hadn¡¯t been a very smooth affair. ¡°Very well,¡± his father said. ¡°I¡¯ll go, but,¡± he turned to regard Lucan critically, ¡°you¡¯ll be guiding us.¡± Thomas sighed, looking tired. ¡°I have no experience with woodcraft, Father,¡± Lucan said. His father chuckled. ¡°You won¡¯t be doing the tracking, son. You will be leading, nominally at least. I will only assume back the role if you prove ipetent enough.¡± Lucan cursed in his mind. I¡¯m not even certain I can hunt beasts properly as a subordinate yet. His showing in Sir Wolfe¡¯s hunt hadn¡¯t been abysmal, but the venture hadn¡¯t been as easy as breaking his fast either. Yet, what could he say? Thomas had already saved him from the worst of it. Perhaps he should be thankful. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± He surrendered. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Lucan stood on the edge of his newly built road, watching the thick greens of the forest. This was where the merchant had been attacked. He was nked by his father¡¯s men-at-arms, the hunter along with his eldest son, and his father. The hunter was kneeling over the tracks with his son, scrutinizing them to ascertain that they weren¡¯t dealing with forest predators. Lucan nced down at his armor which had been finished a week prior. He now donned itfortably. A perfectly-fitted breastte protected his upper body. Pauldrons made of intecing polished steel covered his shoulders. Gauntlets, soft on the inside, solid steel on the outside, protected his hands and half of his forearms. A tasset, skirt-like and made of leather lined with small tes of steel, covered his upper thighs, flexible enough for movement yet hard enough to protect the vulnerable area. Thick boots and steel greaves protected his feet and shins, leaving little unprotected between thetter and the tasset. Thick, soft leather covered the exposed area from the knee to the thigh, double-woven with metal mesh in between. Under his upper steel armor was mail that provided additional protection and cover for areas like the one between his gauntlets and pauldrons. His open-faced helmet hadn¡¯t changed fromst time though. Lucan still preferred it to anything more intricately crafted. While the armor was somewhat heavy, it was not cumbersome. Its weight was distributed evenly all over his body, which took nothing away from his bnce, even if it took away some of his speed. Training with it in the past week had gotten him used to it enough. It slowed him down slightly when he moved and when he used the Star, but it wasn¡¯t enough to cause him trouble unless he wasn¡¯t prepared for it. The hunter and his son were quietly discussing something, still kneeling over the tracks. Lucan¡¯s father was standing beside him, or rather, over him. Lucan would be making the decisions today, and his father would observe. He had seen the perplexion on the men-at-arms¡¯ faces when they¡¯d been informed. They now stood lined up beside him and his father. Lucan couldn¡¯t help but nce back at his road. It stood slightly higher than the surrounding ground, and the earth immediately neighboring it had been dug up into a thin channel to provide easier drainage. The road was made ofrge gstones,id interspersed by thick mortar that kept the path rtively t and the constituents fixed. He turned back to the hunter as he heard him giving the final word in the whispered argument with his son. They both stood up. The hunter approached Lucan and his father. He was a man of middle age, his hair a light brown and his face had a severe tautness that suggested he scowled a lot. He had a scar cutting through his brow as though it¡¯d missed his eye by a breath. He came up to them and paused, hesitant whether to address Lucan or his father. Sir Gn gestured towards Lucan and the hunter nodded,plying. ¡°They¡¯re no wild animals,¡± he said. ¡°Though the tracks are a bit odd.¡± Lucan, who hadn¡¯t known what he would be supposed to do next, found something to grip onto. ¡°Odd how?¡± ¡°They leave the impression of hooves, not ws.¡± Lucan grew silent, contemting the description. He pretended he wasn¡¯t trying to dy the inevitable. What was he worried about though? It was simple, find the beasts and the Break. Kill the beasts, seal the Break. Perhaps the memory of the Archs¡¯wa nearly ripping his face open was still in the back of his mind, grinding at him, reminding him to think twice before getting into a fight he knew nothing about. Suddenly, he realized why so many nobles favored the Analyze Skill. The unknown was scary, and maybe even horrifying. He finally got himself together as he eyed the men surrounding him and his father, who towered over him like a bulwark. He would be fine. ¡°Well, the Labyrinth can spew out any manner of beast. I¡¯m certain this isn¡¯t the first oddity ever witnessed,¡± he told the hunter. ¡°Do they lead directly into the woods?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± The hunter nodded. Lucan pushed against the resistance that encouraged him to dy further and said, ¡°then we follow them in.¡± The hunter bobbed his head inpliance, beginning to string his bow and telling his son to do the same. They soon strode towards the woods. Lucan was nked by his father on one side and the hunter on the other as they approached the trees and bushes wrestling for territory. The forest here was overgrown and untrodden, which would make their journey more difficult. Two of the men-at-arms stepped forward with des made for woods just like this one, proceeding to cut a path through vegetation. The party followed them closely, wary of ambushes that coulde from the thick greenery. The hunter was foremost after the pair since he¡¯d have to keep an eye on the tracks, then it was Lucan and the hunter¡¯s son followed by Sir Gn. They were barely four or five trees deep into the forest when a surprised shout came out of one of the two men up front. The party halted and Lucan came up to the hunter. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°They think they¡¯ve spotted the Break,¡± the hunched hunter said. The two men-at-arms carefully cut apart some of the shrubs, ncing back at Lucan and gesturing forward. Lucan observed a crack in the ground not unlike the one he¡¯d seen in Sir Wolfe¡¯snd. This one was smaller though, barely big enough to let one beast out at a time. He nced around for danger, but he couldn¡¯t see anything through the thickness of the vegetation. He nced at his father who regarded him neutrally. He was getting no help from him, that was for certain. Once he grew tired of scrutinizing the greenery around the Break, Lucan decided that anything would be better than staying stuck in ce. ¡°Surround it.¡± The menplied, spreading out to surround the Break. Lucan remembered how Sir Wolfe had arranged his men when he¡¯d apanied him. ¡°Stay in pairs at least,¡± he said. The men nodded but he had the impression that they¡¯d have done that either way Lucan nced at the hunter and his son. ¡°Stay in the middle.¡± Then he turned to his father who was still not forting with advice. Lucan felt justified in the next part as his father showed no sympathy for him. ¡°Seal the Break,¡± hemanded. When his father fixed him with a stare, Lucan gulped, continuing, ¡°please?¡± His father moved to the crack, taking out a wrapped piece of Elder bark and proceeding to nt it in the disced earth. Lucan watched their surroundings vigntly as the Elder Sapling began to take root. Then he heard a roaring from a distance, echoed by another and another and another, as though the Elder Sapling¡¯s intrusion was a great offense that they¡¯d just detected. Even if Lucan couldn¡¯t see them, he could feel them bounding through the brush towards them. ¡°Brace,¡± he choked out as he drew his sword, barely loud enough to be heard by all. He saw his father rising and drawing his sword, while the men-at-arms had been ready long before he¡¯d wrestled out themand. The vegetation parted from the direction they¡¯d heard the roars from and a beast stepped out. Striding on four legs and covered in thick brown fur akin to long stringy hair, it looked like something out of a nightmare. Two long fangsing from an upper jaw protruded out of a furious goatlike face which was crowned by two wicked, curling horns ringed with gray circr patterns. Several more beasts soon spawned out of their surroundings, deep, purring growls rumbling out of their throats. By the time they stopped appearing, Lucan could count nearly a dozen of them. He stepped up beside the men along with his father to fill the gaps. As the beasts crept closer, two arrows sprouted out of the side of one of them. The beast that¡¯d been striding forward, stumbled to a stop, though it didn¡¯t fall. Lucan nced back and saw the hunter and his son nocking new arrows. The wounded beast growled, deep enough to make Lucan¡¯s chest tremble. Its growl soon turned into a roar that the others echoed. Then their hooves struck the ground as they suddenly galloped forward towards the waiting party. As they grew closer, Lucan noticed an oddity to their hindquarters. A tail extended behind them, and attached to its end was a bony protrusion in the shape of a scythe, thick in the middle and sharply pointed at the edges. It looked vicious. Lucan found himself pointing at it while ncing at his father who nodded at him. He¡¯d seen it too. That meant that the others knew by now as well. Good. He didn¡¯t have to exin while the obviously infuriated beasts attempted to trample him to death. Three beasts were heading towards him and his father. His father stepped forward, pulling the attention of two of them to himself, and Lucan stepped to the side to face the third with adequate room. Instead of leaping for him with its non-existent ws, this beast charged him with its thick horns. Lucan activated his Star and waited for the beast to enter its territory. Once it did, he chose the northwest point of the Star and moved, surprising the beast by appearing on its nk. Lucan twisted to deliver a sh but was surprised by the beast¡¯s scythed tail swinging for him. He diverted his sword for a parry and bronze met bone. A dull sound came out of the sh and Lucan nearly lost his grip on the sword. The bony scythe at the tail of the beast had turned out to be heavier than expected. Lucan rebnced the hilt in his hand, tightening his hold on it. The beast was turning to face him after failing to maim him with its tail. Thankfully, it had no ws to deliver a quick strike with and it had to reorient itself before attempting to maul him. This time Lucan observed the position of its tail before making a decision. It had swung towards the center of the star and was in the process of being swung back to the other side, which meant it would have no momentum with which to strike him if he were to return to the center again. Lucan moved as the beast¡¯s fangs came for his gut, befuddling the beast once more as he moved faster than he looked capable of. Once his feet settled on the ground, Lucan swung with all he had at the beast¡¯s nk. His sword met its fur, digging into hide and flesh and eventually being stopped by the thickness of the creature¡¯s protection rather than its hardness. He pulled his sword free and instead of waiting for the beast to retaliate, he kicked it outside of his Star. It was the better choice since this time it would have been too centered between the Star¡¯s points once it reoriented on him. The creature rolled on the ground for a couple of yards before getting its bearings and turning on him again. It charged once more, though Lucan noted a bit of caution to its approach this time. It wasing slower. Lucan waited until it entered the Star with its hesitant gait before moving backwards to the point of the star behind him. The beast nearly came to a stop where it had expected to ram him but continued on once it saw he was farther ahead. That gave him plenty of time to move to the point of the star to the right,nding beside the same nk of the beast he¡¯d maimed before. This time too he¡¯d taken the scythed tail into ount and made sure that it was in no position to take him by surprise. He oriented his sword for an angled thrust and put all his weight and strength behind it. The tip of his sword split the air before it met the open wound on the creature¡¯s nk, sliding into the open path before it, cutting into deeper flesh and sliding between bones. The de reached something vital and the beast squealed, jerking away from him with desperate speed. Lucan was surprised by its flinching movement and let his sword slide out of the wound. The beast scurried a few steps out of his Star, giving him a re but not squaring up against him anymore, content to give him its unwounded nk and circle him. Lucan himself preferred to stay in the Star, so he didn¡¯t try to approach it until the Skill¡¯s duration ended. He noted that the sounds of fighting were dying down as the Star ceased to exist. When he approached the beast, it tried to scurry farther away but it slipped and fell on its face, wrestling with the ground in an attempt to get on its feet again. It failed. It had bled too much and its life was already abandoning it. Lucan stood over it, feeling a small measure of pity. It was struggling to survive the same way a head of cattle did during ughter. He supposed there was little difference between animals and Labyrinth beasts aside from thetter¡¯s unadulterated aggression towards anything but their brethren. In one swift motion, he plunged his sword into its neck. It struggled for a few more moments before going still. He turned around, seeing that his father had left his side and was far to the back, standing over the corpses of two of the beasts. The initial two he¡¯d engaged were lying in pools of purple blood a few yards from Lucan. The fight was over, and he¡¯d saved his Wraith Strikes for nothing. Still, it was better to save too many than save too few, as long as one didn¡¯t get themselves killed because of it. He went to his father who gave him a reproachful nce. ¡°Two of the beasts appeared from behind us during the fight. Unnoticed, they would have done considerable damage with their unexpected charge.¡± ¡°I was busy with my adversary,¡± Lucan said, slightly annoyed. ¡°How am I supposed to watch everything that goes on?¡± His father shook his head. ¡°When you¡¯re leading, your responsibility isn¡¯t only to fight. You must create space for yourself to observe andmand. Don¡¯t take on too much. And don¡¯t be ashamed to pass on some of yourbat duties to your subordinates if the need arises.¡± ¡°I thought knights were supposed to fight first and foremost,¡± Lucan muttered, but it was a bit too loud and his father heard him grumbling. ¡°Yes,¡± his father said tly, ¡°we are, when others are inmand. It¡¯s then that we have no responsibilities to look after aside frombat, and it¡¯s then that we give it our all. But now there¡¯s no one else inmand, is there?¡± Lucan nodded sullenly. There had been no chance that he¡¯d impress his father today, and he knew it. Yet, he always felt glum when he failed to live up to his expectations. At least they¡¯d cleared the Outbreak that threatened their budding trade route, if it could be called that. Hopefully, this forest wouldn¡¯t cause them any more trouble. Even though its very existence was trouble. Thick woods that they couldn¡¯t control nor benefit from standing on their border? He couldn¡¯t help but think they were unfortunate to have it near their road andnds. Lucan eyed his surroundings before checking on his Blessing. Several of the beasts were now mere corpses. He noted that Cordell and Lee had taken down five of them together, while the others had faced off against a single beast at a time at most. Regardless, he had announcements to check on. 7-Point Star Dance has leveled up. You have in a lv6 Hesati and absorbed its Vital Essence. You have leveled up. Race: Human Level: 4 Vital Orbs: 5 Mind and Body Physique: Copper III 0/10 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) His Vital Orbs had swelled to a decent number. He¡¯d wait for the next level which would get him enough Orbs to finally enhance his Physique to Iron. Another gain from the day was the improvement of his Star. Each level gained frombat during the Novice stage was a Vital Orb saved. Atter stages, it would be worth even more. He hadn¡¯te here with the intent of empowering his Blessing further, yet he was fortunate enough to take a step further on the path. Still, it was good that the Outbreak had been a minor one and was easy to clean up within a short morning. He was now free to go back to administering his undertaking. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Lucan was interrupted from his trance of reading when someone knocked on his door. He¡¯d been reading about the Ruskai vermin gue which had been caused by the folly of its people and their lord. Mere critters had nearly caused thends stricken by them to sumb to starvation. They¡¯d eaten through crops, stockpiles, and even household goods at a horrifying pace. That the author of the book he was reading had a tendency to lean towards the dramatic helped paint the picture for him. It was precious knowledge. One ought to look out for such mistakes while considering absolute decisions like the one the people of Rukasi had made. Lucan closed the book andid it on the table. He knew who was on the other side of the door from the soft rhythm of knocking. ¡°Come in, Thomas,¡± he said. He¡¯d been getting himself used to calling their steward by name alone and without ¡®uncle¡¯. Mostly because he¡¯d often had to address him in front of theborers and it would undermine him to call an apparent subordinate by a senior¡¯s title. The door opened and the steward came in. His gray hair was tlybed as always, straight back and stuck to his head, though he must have done it not long ago since it was silvery and wet instead of dry gray at the moment. The old man¡¯s face was a little distressed, even though he managed to preserve its neutrality as he always did. Lucan, however, had enough experience with their steward to know when something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Thomas nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve been summoned to Sir Zesh¡¯s study.¡± Summoned? If Thomas was being so formal about delivering his father¡¯smand then it was something serious. Lucan got up and followed him through the hallway. ¡°Do you know what this is about?¡± Lucan asked as they walked toward his father¡¯s study. Everything had been going well. Theborers had finished thest stretch of the road in the northeast, and there hadn¡¯t been any trouble with Sir Ward. It was the second week in the second month since harvest had started. Thest crops had been harvested a fortnight ago, but some of the peasants were still threshing their grain, and so modest traders still came from time to time, hoping to catch an opportune deal. Thomas hesitated for a moment then spoke. ¡°It¡¯s about the estate¡¯s ie. You might not have ounted for everything.¡± Before Lucan could ask for an exnation, they¡¯d reached his father''s study. Thomas knocked and was allowed in. Lucan followed behind him, his eyesnding on his father who was seated and bristling behind his desk. Thomas went to stand to the side while Lucan was pointed to stand in front of his father¡¯s desk. ¡°Yes, Father?¡± His father hadn¡¯t once looked him in the eye since he¡¯de in. Rather, his eyes had been fixed on the empty desk. Now he slowly raised them to look at Lucan with familiar menace. Lucan was in trouble. ¡°I warned you,¡± his father said. ¡°No, I told you.¡± Lucan felt as if ants were crawling under his skin. What had he done wrong? Had the refugees somehowmitted a disaster? Perhaps letting them be idle after finishing the road had been naive of him. Maybe his father saw the perplexion in his eyes, because he answered his questions without being prompted. ¡°The estate can¡¯t make it to the next grain harvest. Some coin has entered the treasury from your merchants, but it isn¡¯t enough. It hasn¡¯t made up for the losses from not selling our surplus grain fromst year.¡± Oh. Lucan dove into thought as the study grew silent. It hadn¡¯t escaped his notice that there was a certain problem with his ambitious undertaking. The merchants indeed hade as predicted, but their estate had little to trade, specially after they¡¯d withheld their grain stockpiles from sale. Thankfully, the arrival of House Arden¡¯s wine and some of the eastern knights¡¯ grain had alleviated that. Still, with little to trade in, the merchants didn¡¯t end up paying as much in taxes as he¡¯d hoped. Some of the passing merchants had even refused to pay anything and had opted to continue on their journey instead of trading in their territory once they¡¯d found how scarce the trade goods were. Lucan and Thomas had both advised that those merchants not be forced to pay any tolls for passing in his father¡¯snds, since it would discourage them and their kind from passing through again. His father had acquiesced. ¡°We can still make it to next year though, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°With the food and coin we have, we can persevere.¡± ¡°No,¡± his father said, jaw set and eyes hard. ¡°We can¡¯t. Not after this.¡± He threw an ornate letter on the desk. Lucan stepped forward and picked up the gold-rimmed white letter. Once he opened it, he nearly cursed out loud. It was a summons from the King. He requested that all his vassals gather in the capital for the summer solstice celebration. His father had told him about his obligation to hire more men-at-arms into his service so that he may live up to the King¡¯s expectations. The King had seen five men as too few for the resources avable to their estate and territory. Lucan didn¡¯t know whether their monarch was right or wrong, but he knew that they would suffer for it now. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent word to some acquaintances,¡± his father continued. ¡°I¡¯ll be hiring at least three more men, regardless of the results. Thest thing we need is to be foundcking at this time.¡± Lucan felt as though something was stuck in his throat as he mouthed the next few words. ¡°How does this leave us?¡± His father nced at Thomas who stepped forward to answer him. ¡°As ismon, the estate will have to arm and provide mounts for the recruited men. This along with the estate¡¯s regr expenses and the new men-at-arms¡¯ wages will strain our treasury. The food fromst year and the new stockpile will onlyst the four hundred refugees for so long, and we might find ourselves forced to buy more before next harvest. We are unlikely¨C¡± ¡°Even if the estate can stay afloat until the next grain harvest,¡± his father interrupted Thomas. ¡°How will you feed your new pets next year? Is the estate to carry the burden of four hundred people who provide no taxes to its treasury forever? How far have you nned, son? Or did you only dream of a grand road mounted by merchants and nothing further?¡± He stood up abruptly, fixing Lucan with a look before storming out of the study, leaving a single phrase behind. ¡°Observe your responsibility.¡± Lucan looked at Thomas who had an odd look on his face. ¡°Has he already decided that I¡¯ve failed?¡± Thomas shook his head. ¡°Your father is furious because he¡¯s had to consider a loan from the main house. And we might indeed be forced to request one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that ominous?¡± Lucan asked. Thomas sighed. ¡°No, we will survive. It¡¯s simply a significant setback considering how stable we had be.¡± Lucan frowned. Had he really ended up burdening his father instead of helping him make something of theirnds? Perhaps he should let him handle it for now, lest he drowns the estate even further. No. If I cause a mess then run away, then I¡¯m simply nothing but¡­a child. If this was a setback, then he had to find his way out of it. Something came to mind for a moment and Lucan jumped out of his seat, finding the map that was rolled up nearby and spreading it on the table. Thomas put small wooden blocks on its corners to prevent it from rolling back up, then he gazed at Lucan quizzically. ¡°The stream,¡± Lucan said, pointing at the stream that fed the saltwaterke in the southwest. The stream itself was fresh water, unlike theke. It was far from the core of theirnds and so there was no one farming there. The prime farmingnd in their territory was all around the main branch of the canal, and no proper road, or even trail, led to theke. It was no wonder no one had tried to farm thends near it. ¡°Can thend near it be farmed?¡± Thomas grew thoughtful for a few moments then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been there on multiple asions. Thend is somewhat arable, though not the best.¡± ¡°How many people can we settle there?¡± Lucan asked, excited. Perhaps he could find his way out of this knot after all. ¡°I¡¯m not certain,¡± Thomas said. ¡°I imagine that such poornd and what little water the stream provides can at most support eighty people, and that would be generous.¡± ¡°Have them move there starting tomorrow and get them working,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Hopefully they can make hay harvest before it¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°I will, but even if they do,¡± Thomas said, not discouraging but instructive, ¡°it won¡¯t be enough to feed them for a whole year.¡± ¡°Nor even half of it,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I know. But at least it relieves some of our burdens, and next year they will feed themselves and even pay us taxes.¡± Thomas nodded approvingly. ¡°That leaves more than three hundred idle though,¡± he said, as though deliberately lowering Lucan¡¯s high spirits down to reality. Lucan bit into his knuckle then shook it off, remembering how infuriated his father got when he saw him do it. It was a nervous habit that he¡¯d gotten used to from childhood. This setback weighed on him more than anything prior. He¡¯d been more anxious before his first blood against the beasts in the forest, but this was more of a subtle weight that would stay with him for days, perhaps months if he didn¡¯t find a solution. He leaned back in his chair, sinking into thought. Thomas kindly let him, providingpanionable silence. He wondered what he could do to at least dy their woes. He needed food, lots of it. Last year''s stockpile which his father had refrained from selling would perhapsst them another month before they¡¯d dip into their new stockpile, which would eventually run out too. Their cer could only hold so much after all, and his father kept the food in case misfortune struck theirnds and they had to keep the people fed until they could buy more. It would be a pittance for the two thousand that lived on theirnd after all, only enough to sate their hunger for a month or two, or a bit longer if rationed properly. Lucan hadn¡¯t rationed the food provided to hisborers, since he¡¯d wanted them healthy enough to actually work. Thomas had agreed for other reasons. He¡¯d worried that if the refugees went too hungry from rationing, they¡¯d rise in revolt, which would be a disaster in its own right. Lucan didn¡¯t agree, but he believed that they wouldn¡¯t be above poaching if they went hung¨C That¡¯s it! He¡¯d been reading about it since the early morning, and it had been floating in the back of his mind till now. ¡°Thomas,¡± he called loudly, nearly startling the steward who was standing next to him. ¡°Summon ke the hunter, and¡­¡± he paused, thinking. ¡°He doesn¡¯t work alone, does he? He has a son that helps him?¡± Thomas nodded. ¡°He has two.¡± ¡°Good, bring them too,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Quickly, please.¡± ¡­ It was a while before the hunter and his two sons arrived since they¡¯d been in the forest attending to their duties for the morning. The hunter provided game meat and furs for the estate to use or sell. Hispensation was the right to hunt game for himself in the estate¡¯s forest, within reason. The scarred hunter stood in front of him, nked by two sons. Lucan recognized one of them as the one who¡¯d apanied them in clearing the Outbreak. He was obviously the older one, looking a bit older than Lucan. The second son was Lucan¡¯s age and his eyes shifted around the study, obviously being here for the first time. Lucan imagined it was the first time for the older son too, but the younger one seemed more inquisitive, and brave too. Lucan was seated in his father¡¯s stead behind the desk. He addressed the hunter. ¡°ke, a good hunt today?¡± The hunter lowered his head in greeting. ¡°Master Lucan,¡± he said, finding a properly ttering address for someone who was neither amoner nor a noble yet. ¡°The gods haven¡¯t interfered with our hunt and it has been thankfully plentiful.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Tell me. What manner of natural predators inhabit the eastern forest?¡± The hunter seemed taken aback by the question but he hastened to answer it. ¡°Wolves, foxes, wild cats, and some bears too. Forgive me, but why do you ask, Master Lucan?¡± ¡°You will know soon, my good man,¡± Lucan said, smiling. ¡°You¡¯ve seen our new guests, the refugees, have you not?¡± Upon receiving a nod from the hunter, Lucan continued. ¡°Among them were poachers and trappers that strived to feed their people while they infested the forest. I want you to take them and your two sons starting tomorrow and begin hunting the forest¡¯s predators for their meat.¡± ¡°The predators, Master?¡± ke asked incredulously. ¡°Yes.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°The refugees won¡¯t be picky with their food as long as they can have it. And I don¡¯t want you to strip the forest of its more edible game yet.¡± ¡°But this¡­¡± the hunter grew silent. ¡°I understand this will mean that for a few years, we might find our strip of the forest bare of the animals with the most valuable furs. But it will be repopted by migrating predators from the other territories of the forest sooner orter.¡± The hunter nodded, though he looked unconvinced. ¡°When¡¯s the mating season for the prey animals in the forest?¡± ¡°Soon,¡± ke answered. ¡°For the bigger game, it will be within a month.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Hunting down most of the predators will provide us with an excess of prey animals eventually. Though we¡¯ll need to warn the hamlets near the forest to increase their feline poption tobat any excess in vermin like rats or mice.¡± He remembered that the most valuable furs were those of foxes, and he also wanted some small predators to stay for other reasons. ¡°Leave the foxes, you can hunt them, but not as intensely as the others.¡± The result would be inevitable, but it would be to their benefit, if handled properly. Once the hunter was assigned his chore, he was sent to gather those who knew how to hunt or trap among the refugees. Lucan was still seated in his father¡¯s chair when Thomas spoke up, pulling him out of his thoughts. ¡°What are you nning?¡± Lucan grinned. He might have found them a way to dy the inevitable. ¡°Have you ever heard of the Ruskai gue?¡± Thomas frowned for a moment then shook his head. ¡°It can¡¯t have been significant, since I¡¯ve never heard of its spread.¡± Lucanughed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a disease, Thomas. Ruskai is a small town in Hamodeus, in the hignds near the Bow Peaks. Their people benefit from raising the sheep which provides the best wool I know of. Their herds are some of thergest there are. Yet, they suffered from a problem. Predators from both the nds and the woonds near them predated upon their flocks. The problem got worse as their herds expanded with the demand for their wool. Eventually, the Ruskari had enough and decided to do away with the worst of their sheep¡¯s predators, the native jackals. A year-round huntmenced, with bounties for any spotted jackal¡¯s head attracting those seeking their fortune even from surroundingnds. The locals themselves were motivated for the task, and they did their part of the hunting with gusto. More than a yearter, the jackals had nearly disappeared from the region. And the locals suffered for it. You see, when you remove the predators, the prey proliferates. That prey included wild hares, mice, rats, and even some snakes in this instance. For years after, the Ruskari suffered from their mistake. Venomous snakes caused injuries and unfortunate deaths. Wild hares ruined what little farnd there was. And mice invaded every stockpile of food in the region. Even rats got so big that they could stand up to cats mustered tobat their poption. The suffering only ended as the spotted jackals¡¯ poption began to expand again, taking over the duty ofbating the pests in the wild and lowering their poptions.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we doing what they did now?¡± Thomas asked. Lucan nodded. ¡°Yes, but we have a n. The foxes will help keep the worst of the small vermin under control as we hunt the wild game, including hares, for food. They are particrly adept at hunting mice, rats, and snakes. The predators¡¯ meat along with our stockpiles willst the refugees for a while, and once that time has passed, we will turn to hunting the erged poption of prey animals that will result from this n. It won¡¯t even affect us for long, since we¡¯ll be prepared.¡± Thomas contemted his exnation without showing any immediate objection, and Lucan bit his knuckle once more, this time in excitement. He¡¯d set in motion what would hopefully be the saving grace of his ambitious venture. Yet it wouldn¡¯t be enough to handle long-term problems like having three hundred idle refugees in theirnds by the end of the year. He¡¯d have to peruse his study¡¯s collection of books for more ideas, since it¡¯d proven to be such a good source already. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Lucan sat with Thomas in his father¡¯s study. His father was absent. His disposition hadn¡¯t been kind recently, even though Lucan had begun to solve the problems he¡¯d created. He had to admit, though, that their woes were far from gone. Considering what Thomas had just told him. ¡°All around it? Even from the direction of the stream?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Thomas said, nodding. Even the patient old man was frustrated. It seemed that the saltwaterke was using every opportunity to make members of their household miserable, one at a time. It had been his father first, now Thomas, and soon himself, he imagined. ¡°Once they reached a certain depth, it was all solid rock,¡± Thomas continued. ¡°No matter how much we circled, the results ended up being the same. The stream itself descends from high ground, but it seems to have carved away some of the rock for its path.¡± Lucan sighed. He¡¯d had high hopes. A month earlier, when he¡¯d thought about the idle hands that he had after thepletion of the road, he had remembered theke. It had been mentioned by his father before that even if it was possible to dig pans near it, it would require an absurd amount ofbor. Lucan happened to possess a decent, if not absurd, amount of unusedbor, and hence he¡¯d attempted to make something of it. In the end, he was left as frustrated as his father, particrly because he knew that the salt could¡¯ve solved their problems and sorted out his mess ¡°I suppose I was too wishful,¡± he said. ¡°Thankfully, I have been preparing other ventures for ourborers.¡± He hadn¡¯t wanted to repeat his mistake and end up with idle hands again. If he hadborers and mouths to feed, then he might as well have constant work for them. ¡°Some of the residents and peasants pay their taxes inbor, right?¡± Thomas nodded. He was seated opposite Lucan, both of them before his father¡¯s desk. ¡°We won¡¯t ept it anymore,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Any maintenance or service needed in the estate will be done by theborers.¡± It would grant them a meager increase in ie, but still an increase. There was no sense in forgiving taxes forbor when they had an excess of thetter. The expectedbor was often a mix of services that were needed to maintain their estate. That included working on the motte-and-bailey¡¯s structures each year, repairing and renewing them so that they wouldn¡¯t deteriorate. It also included working on the keep, repairing what needed to be repaired, and cleaning its grounds. They had one permanent, paid servant in the keep, responsible for cooking and maintaining their household, but he couldn¡¯t keep the whole keep properly clean on his own. Thomas obliged him, obviously in agreement on that front. ¡°Should we have theborers return to their shelters? Living near theke hasn¡¯t been pleasant for their lot.¡± Lucan nodded. It was particrly harsh because his father had still not allowed them to harvest timber from the western forest. The refugees had had to do with using whatever deadwood, lone trees, and shrubbery they could find to create even worse shelters near theke than the ones they had between the canals. The winds of winter were getting harsher every day, and Lucan could imagine how difficult it would be to resist them in the further crippled shelter. ¡°Yes, have them return.¡± ¡°There have been some problems with vermin in their main shelters between the canals,¡± Thomas said. ¡°The hamlets have thankfully followed the advice given and prepared themselves for the increase in the vermin poption. But the refugees haven¡¯t been as well prepared.¡± ¡°Bring them cats, I suppose?¡± Lucan huffed and threw his hands in the air. He¡¯d given clear warnings to everyone about the possibility of an increase in vermin poptions, even the viges farther from the forest. Thomas let out a rare chuckle and nodded. ¡°I am having it handled.¡± Lucan smiled. He could always rely on the old steward, thankfully. Now it was time to move on to his next n. He¡¯d been swimming among his books for the past fortnight, particrly among the books about the Empire and the rare few among them about the canal they¡¯d dug here. He¡¯d been hoping to find further inspiration after the idea he¡¯d gotten from reading about the Ruskai gue. Ironically, he¡¯d ended up with direct advice instead. One of the books had talked about the importance of irrigation canals, and how the Empire¡¯s indentured workers¨Clittle more than ves¨Ccould expand its fortunes further by carving canals through promisingnds. The one cutting through their territory was such a canal, though it was much wider than the norm to allow the passage of trade. It tethered the Long Sea to the Walis river and had been a minor trade route in the past. Lucan got off his chair, bringing their territory¡¯s map and spreading it on the table. Thomas assisted him and soon they were both standing over it. ¡°Onto our next subject,¡± Lucan said. He gestured to the wide stretch ofnd south of the main canal. ¡°How arable do you think thisnd is?¡± Thomas looked at him quizzically before answering. ¡°I can¡¯t say to the quality of all thatnd as a whole. I would have to inspect any particr plots that you wish to be apprised of. Why do you ask?¡± Lucan pointed at where the canals split. ¡°I want to begin digging our own irrigation canals to the south.¡± On seeing the old steward¡¯s browsically rising to nearly rece his balding hairline, Lucan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Not as wide as the existing ones of course. We only need ones wide enough to transport water for farming. If there isn¡¯t enough farnd for the refugees, then we¡¯re going to create it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Thomas said, growing uncharacteristically silent. He fidgeted for a moment. ¡°It would be a significant undertaking, even more significant than the road.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said. ¡°And we¡¯ll need multiple branching canals to create as much farnd as possible. How soon do you reckon we can begin such work?¡± ¡°Not now, that¡¯s for certain,¡± Thomas said, shaking his head and finally regaining his bearings. ¡°Thend will be hard in the winter. We could perhaps begin two months from now, with theing of spring, and even then there will be difficulties.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Lucan said, his excitement tapering down. He hadn¡¯t thought of the difficulty of digging in the winter. Rather, he¡¯d been in a hurry, since he knew such a venture would at least take a year. He¡¯d solved their short-term problems by overhunting the predators and soon hunting the expanded poptions of prey game. And the new canals would hopefully solve their long-term problems. Yet, there were still problems in-between. He still couldn¡¯t guarantee that they wouldn¡¯t be indebted to someone this time next year. Unfortunately, no matter how motivated he was, no one could fight winter itself. As though the world had been listening to them, Lucan and Thomas heard amotion, mostly out of children, from the bailey. When Lucan opened the study¡¯s window, he found it snowing. He chuckled and turned to Thomas who carried his own rueful smile. ¡°Very well,¡± Lucan said. ¡°We¡¯ll wait. Meanwhile, can you send for someone with the needed expertise from Arpague? Also, check on any promising arablends to the south. We will need to know where it will be worth our while to dig canals, and where we shouldn¡¯t bother.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Thomas said. Winter was at its height. It was the best time to n. And if nning was an activity best done in the warmth of the keep, then it was Lucan¡¯s good fortune. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Lucan stood at the window of his father¡¯s study, facing the open air. A Spring breeze caressed his face, carrying dust and pollen with it. The snow was already melting around their territory. People were abandoning the lethargy of winter for the energetic activities of Spring. Already, he could see residents moving in the bailey this early in the morning, and if he could see the fields on the other side of the canal more clearly, he knew he would be able to see the farmers out and about. A burning sensation suddenly bloomed in his eye. ¡°Damn it.¡± He closed it and held it with his hand. It always happened that pollen got in his eyes in the Spring. He heard the door opening behind him and turned around to find Thomas instead of his father. ¡°Thomas,¡± he greeted. ¡°Where¡¯s father? I thought he would be waiting for me.¡± ¡°He should being soon,¡± Thomas said. ¡°I believe he¡¯s in the cers.¡± Lucan nodded and walked to meet Thomas at the table. ¡°Has the work begun?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Thomas nodded sagely. ¡°It¡¯s a little muddy and the work is strenuous for theborers, but it¡¯s underway.¡± ¡°Better to begin now thanter, even if it will take additional effort,¡± Lucan said. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°Longer than expected,¡± Thomas said. ¡°The expert from Mirefield said that it will take at least a year, if we¡¯re fortunate.¡± They¡¯d sent for an expert from Arpague but had eventually had to bring one from Mirefield, since the town was surrounded by marshes and its people had the most experience with digging waterways. ¡°That long?¡± Lucan said, surprised. He¡¯d known it would take longer than the road. But after they¡¯d picked out the plots of arablend that to dig the canals through, he¡¯d thought the undertaking modest enough that it would take less than a year. Particrly, because they¡¯d decided not to expand the canals too much when they only needed arablend for four hundred people. They¡¯d settled on what seemed to be enoughnd for more than six hundred to ward against mistakes in their estimate. Digging more would be a waste of time currently, Lucan had surmised, and they could always expand the canals if needed. Thomas had already told him that some of the second and third sons of farmers in their existing viges were open to the opportunity, and he¡¯d been thinking of hastening with said expansion. But this news would force him to postpone any thoughts of further expansion. Thomas nodded, his countenance as t as ever. ¡°We will need one channel that will split out from the main canal and then lead back into it downstream. Then we will need to branch even narrower channels from it.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I wond¨C¡± He was interrupted by the door opening again, then his father walked into the study. Lucan and Thomas faced and greeted him respectfully. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Master.¡± He¡¯d had a hard time with his father for the past few months, considering the difficulties he¡¯d caused him. His father had been harder than usualtely, sometimes sharp in his retorts and sometimes ignoring his presence entirely. Lucan hoped that he could remedy that by fixing the estate¡¯s problems. His father was, after all, justified in his discontent. Sir Gn nodded and joined them at the table. He eyed Lucan and asked, ¡°the three men-at-arms arrived yesterday from Sir Bourke¡¯s estate. Have you met them?¡± ¡°No, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t dy such matters,¡± his father said. ¡°Your men ought to know, admire, and respect you. An early impression is important. I¡¯ve tested them. They¡¯re good men, as expected of Sir Bourke¡¯s trainees.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± His father turned to Thomas. ¡°How bad is it?¡± ¡°After the expenses of arming the new arrivals,¡± Thomas said, ¡±I expect us to end up with no more than a hundred and fifty gold in the treasury. Thankfully,¡± he nced at Lucan, ¡°there are no imminent expenses of any significance to be expected.¡± Lucan winced. It had been eight months since his Blessing when he¡¯d visited the treasury and it had contained four hundred gold. The expenses since then had mostly been because of him. gstones for the road, refraining from selling the old stockpile; those were the main culprits of their dilemma, and they were both because of his rash venture. He¡¯d fix it though. It was, as his father had put it, his responsibility. Sir Gn nodded. ¡°Very well, it appears we won¡¯t need to go into debt this soon.¡± He nced at Lucan. ¡°At least until we return from the King¡¯s gathering.¡± Lucan nodded. By then, they¡¯d be out of food for hisborers, and it would still be a few months until grain harvest. Unfortunately, that meant that they¡¯d have to spend their coin on getting food or risk starvation and worse striking a portion of their poption. Already, the hunter and his helpers had cleared out most of the predators from the forest, and they¡¯d be hunting prey animals from now on. They couldn¡¯t also drive those into annihtion, since they needed a certain poption of prey animals in their part of the forest if they didn¡¯t want to be entirely bare. Yet, his n had already borne results. Hares were the most affected prey by the absence of predators. Their poption had at least doubled ording to ke the hunter. Therger prey animals took longer to increase their poptions, but there was still a noticeable improvement. Even with the increase, though, it would only fulfill the needs of the refugees for so long. Thomas had estimated that they¡¯d face problems in the early middle of Summer. ¡°Lucan.¡± He was brought out of his thoughts by his father¡¯s voice, and it didn¡¯t sound as though that was the first time he¡¯d called his name. ¡°Yes, Father?¡± Lucan snapped his eyes to his father¡¯s face. His father¡¯s lips pressed together. ¡°There¡¯s a matter that we must discuss before our journey to Eldham.¡± Lucan lowered his head, nodding for his father to continue. ¡°There¡¯s been word that the King intends to make his second son, Prince Dane Baroun, the crown prince,¡± his father said. ¡°I intend to speak to him about the matter. We will support an adherence to customs and traditions. The first son ought to inherit his father¡¯s titles.¡± Lucan raised a brow. All the time he¡¯d heard his father speak of politics, it¡¯d been in solid support of the King. He¡¯d thought that he would support the King¡¯s position in anything, at least within reason. ¡°Do we have grievances with Prince Dane?¡± he asked. It would make sense if his father was worried about having a hostile liege in the future. ¡°No.¡± His father shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re doing this upon Lord Zesh¡¯s request.¡± Then his father proceeded to exin to him the convoluted web of politics between the King and Duke Elmere of Arpague, and how thetter was wing for more influence in the capital. The Duke was a fringe descendant of the Royal Family. Lucan understood why the King was wary of letting him gain more power in the capital. He could someday leverage it to establish a im for the throne for his descendants or even himself. ¡°Why are we getting in the middle of such conflict?¡± Lucan said, perplexed. ¡°We risk getting on the bad side of a lot of people, including the King himself, Father.¡± ¡°I know,¡± his father said, looking at him meaningfully. ¡°However, it¡¯s worth it for us.¡± His voice suddenly became fainter. ¡°There¡¯s an opportunity for our station to rise in theing years if the King sees reason¡­¡± Lucan perked up. Was his father saying what he thought him to be saying? Discussion about possibly bing lords hadn¡¯t happened that long ago. It had happened between Winton and Lucan, and it appeared it had been discussed between his father and Lord Zesh too. Yet his father already had ns for it? He wasn¡¯t surprised that he wanted it. His father wasn¡¯t an ambitious man, but he was a dutiful one, and his grandfather had entrusted him with raising their station to that of a noble house of their own. ¡°We could¡­?¡± Lucan left the question unasked. His father nodded gravely. ¡°Lord Zesh has also provided you an opportunity. We will stop at Arpague on our way, where you are to go through the Trial.¡± Lucan widened his eyes in disbelief. ¡°The Trial?¡± he asked. Its fame was farther reaching than House Elmere itself, and Lucan had always heard of how difficult it was to gain admittance to its novelty. Word had it that it was a brief affair, mostly without risks. But its rewards were significant, for mages more than most, yet it would still be a great boon for him. If what he¡¯d heard was true, then anyone coulde out of it with more Vital Orbs than they¡¯d entered, provided they performed up to par. It seemed that their journey to the capital would carry more excitement than he¡¯d imagined, whether on the way or at their very destination. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Lucan sat on a stump in the bailey, opposite the three new men-at-arms. He¡¯d had time to get to know them in the past few months, which had included a few spars. They weren¡¯t that much older than him, only two or three years at most. Ryder, who sat first on the left, was the most frustrating in a spar. He wielded a long swordbreaker along with a stiletto, and dealing with his fighting style in training was difficult. In realbat, one of them would die within a very short amount of time, but that was difficult to duplicate in a friendly spar. So Lucan had had to struggle to keep up with the young man¡¯s ridiculous speed. He¡¯d found his choice of arms odd at first, until he¡¯d seen how quick on his feet he was. He suspected now that he had a movement Skill, like him. Ryder looked the most nondescript among the three new men. He was a touch shorter than Lucan with dark hair and a in face. On the right sat Heath, with dirty blonde hair that touched his shoulders, a sharp jawline, and a tall, uniform build. Lucan had thought him a noble at first sight, but hadter learned that he was one of the new arrivals. Heath was the kind of prim and proper retainer that any high noble would find excellent for their service. He had the most dignified and formal demeanor among his peers, to the extent that he was often called uptight by the other two. He fought so rigidly that he didn¡¯t even use feints. Lucan would have thought him stupid or incapable if it weren¡¯t for his meticulous technique. He used a bronze greatsword that Lucan believed could even pose a threat to a fully armored knight if used with enough strength. Thest and most unscrupulous of the three sat between them. He had dark, slightly disheveled hair that shaded a naturally scowling face which invited distrust and, under different circumstances, insidious fear. Clifton was the cleverest among them in a fight, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, when to rain a flurry of strikes with his axe, and when to patiently bear a continuous punishment on his shield. If Lucan were to judge natural talent, though, Clifton would be the least among the three. Not that he thought he was the best judge. They¡¯d been chatting after a tiresome spar and a walk through the bailey. As his father had instructed him, he was getting to know their new men. ¡°And where are you from, Heath?¡± The bulky, young man cleared his throat, as though about to mouth an important speech, but Ryder beat him to it. ¡°He¡¯s from Ayza, a vige in the nook between the borders with The Union and The Vincemare, a quaint little ce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Lucan said, nodding reassuringly at the slightly embarrassed blonde. Then he turned on Ryder.¡± But I didn¡¯t ask you, did I?¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit annoyed with him. Ryder wasn¡¯t just fast in a fight. He was the first to speak too¡­always. He¡¯d already told Lucan everything about himself without being prompted. He¡¯d been raised on Sir Bourke¡¯s estate, being the son of one of his peasants. It had made Lucan wonder why he hadn¡¯t been drafted into the knight¡¯s service directly. Perhaps it had something to do with his irritating nature? Lucan mused. It didn¡¯t help that he¡¯d frustrated him to no end during their spar with his speed. Lucan had never struggled so much tond a meaningful strike. He didn¡¯t mind being blocked or even parried, but to have every strike either evaded or turned against him in a series of ridiculous counters was something else. The short, young man rubbed the back of his head with a wince and a forced smile. ¡°Apologies.¡± ¡°And you, Clifton?¡± he asked the man in the middle, throwing a meaningful nce at Ryder to deter any more interruptions. ¡°The capital,¡± Clifton replied curtly. ¡°You¡¯re from Eldham itself?¡± Lucan asked, surprised. Knight-Masters like Sir Bourke often took recruits from the countryside, trained them, and sold their trusted services to other knights. There was never a shortage of third sons with no prospects who found promise in service to nobles. The only other case would be when Sir Bourke was paid to train a son from a family of martial lineage. ¡°What does your family do, then?¡± Lucan continued. Clifton shrugged. ¡°This and that. Nothing important, Sire.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a knight yet,¡± Lucan said, not missing the deliberate ttery. An ambiguous background for an ambiguous man, Lucan thought of the oldest of their new men-at-arms. He was about to continue with his questions for the men when he saw them all looking at something behind him. He turned around and got up as he saw Thomas approaching. ¡°Thomas,¡± he greeted. ¡°Master,¡± Thomas greeted back formally, recognizing the presence of the new arrivals. ¡°How goes the work?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°The work on the canal is proceeding smoothly,¡± Thomas said. ¡°There have been no obstacles so far, thankfully.¡± ¡°May the gods stay out of our way then,¡± Lucan prayed, hoping to banish anytent presence of the abyssal and infernal divines, if there was any truth to them. ¡°What about the vige? Did you take a gander at it?¡± He¡¯d been worried about the new vige popted by refugees at the stream that led to the saltwaterke. The refugees had sessfully cleared thend early enough for sowing, and they¡¯d be expecting a harvest of hay at the beginning of summer. ¡°Aye,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Their fields are hale, and they expect a healthy harvest.¡± ¡°Good. I suppose I can begin the journey to the capital tomorrow with a light heart.¡± ¡°Fear not, master. I will maintain the welfare of the estate in your and Sir Zesh¡¯s absence.¡± ¡°I know you will, Thomas,¡± Lucan said, sighing. The summons from the King hade in quite a bothersome time. Not only had it forced them to recruit new men-at-arms, but it was also forcing them away from their estate, which was in dire need of good and meticulous governing if it was to make it out of its current setback without public embarrassment. His father had decided to leave four of their men-at-arms here with Thomas to look after the estate; while the other four, including the new arrivals, would apany them to the capital to be subtly shown to the King who was sure to notice the fresh faces. Though Lucan imagined it would be his aides who would notice and inform him. Lucan turned to the three men-at-arms, nodding. ¡°I must leave now, gentlemen. We will speak again tomorrow¡­on the road.¡± The men, who were now on their feet, returned his nod before he turned around and apanied Thomas to the keep. He had to prepare properly for such a journey after all. The dawn of the new day saw Lucan and his father on their traveling horses in front of the bailey. Thomas, Lee, and the other three men-at-arms that would be staying were there to see them off. His father and Thomas only nodded to each other heavily, exchanging goodbyes and expectations without a word. In appearance, Lee would be casten in his father¡¯s absence, but there was no doubt as to who would truly be governing while the knight was away. He had already given his instructions and farewells to the men-at-arms, so he turned his horse westward along the road and urged it forward. Lucan smiled at the old steward though, choosing not to mimic his father¡¯s silence. ¡°Soon, Thomas,¡± he said, rying his goodbyes in the most hopeful manner. ¡°Soon, master,¡± Thomas said. Lucan nodded to the men-at-arms who would be staying and turned his horse to follow his father in the lead of their small procession. Cordell, Ryder, Heath, and Clifton drove their horses behind them. ¡­ Once they were off Lucan¡¯s road, their horses trod the High Road at a steady pace. Having an interest in such matters now, Lucan noted the decrease in the road¡¯s quality as they moved northwest. He knew that the easternmost portion of this road was the most recently built, though it seemed that the original was badly maintained. Already, they could spot broken bits at the edges, potholes in the middle, and cracks in the masonry. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t enough to slow them down yet. They stopped multiple times at a vige or a small town to rest, often paying a farmer or an innkeeper for their stay. The road was thankfully ripe with settlements given the amount of trade that flowed to and from Arpague. So they didn¡¯t have to camp in the open. They continued on their journey through the days and rested through the nights, until a fortnight after they¡¯d left their estate, they reached Arpague. The road had gotten worse and worse the farther they¡¯d gone on their journey. Right now some stretches of it werepletely ruined and broken apart, reced by spreads of gravel that made it stable enough to tread. Even with the horrid condition of the road, trade would never abandon the jewel of the Elder Lands¡¯ ind trade. The Lord of Arpague could always rely on the city to provide him with ie better than that of a goldmine in the form of taxes and tariffs. Lucan observed its high, dark gray walls, towering over a sprawl of slums that grew out like mold, and sighed. It was going to smell astounding. Interlude - Bear of The South Interlude - Bear of The South Fulko gazed at the energetic bonfire, a bitter taste in his mouth. He ignored the sight of Ivar dragging a woman he fancied into one of the hide tents, both of them drunk on mead, no doubt nning to seal the night with the final mortal pleasure. No, he didn¡¯t care for any of this. Even though he¡¯d taken pleasure on every Holy Fortnight before battle in the past. He didn¡¯t tonight After all, there was a thief. A whelp who¡¯d returned from a journey thinking he was the wolf. And they believed him. Oh, after everything Fulko had done. After all the effort he¡¯d put into gaining the trust of the nsmen of every n. After decades of fighting and bleeding first in line so that all may know him. So that his name would someday be akin to legend and myth, adored enough to be followed. To finally unite the ns against the usurpers. After all that, the whelp ims that they¡¯d been fighting the usurpers wrong? Oh, and the fools who listened to him never cared to think why he called them ¡®northerners¡¯ instead of the usurpers that they were. Did he intend to relinquish the rights of the ancestors? The rights that extended to them in im and duty? ¡°Fighting them wrong,¡± Fulko growled, sniffing. ¡°What a fool.¡± He would show them. After the whelp had brought the younger nsmen close enough together to form an alliance, Fulko had risen in rage, as was his right, for he had been working, battling, nning for years and years to earn what the whelp hade to so easily im. Thankfully, the Priests of The Mountain had stood with him. They hadn¡¯t been too happy about the whelp returning from the Far East with enough assurance to trample all over their traditions. And if there was one thing the Priests protected as a mother bear protects her cubs, it was tradition. So Fulko caressed his goldsteel greataxe, letting his fingers trace the enchanted runes etched into it. He caressed it and looked forward to the bloodletting that would restore his station, his name as the first and foremost among the ns. The axe he had picked off the corpse of one of their so-called knights. Since then it had served him faithfully. It was a beautiful weapon, wasted on the usurper, and now in much more capable hands. He bent his neck left and right as though preparing for a fight that would begin in moments, for he could not wait. The bells woven into his long, dark beard jingled with the movement, bringing with them the faint song of war. The one their ancestors sure heard as they fought on the battlefields before them. They would honor them, and for that, he needed to lead. Fulko now had the Priests blessing tomence the greatest raids the ns had undertaken since the times of yore. He would make the usurpers quake under thebined strength of the ns that had epted his call. And then the usurpers would break and then they would flee. And by The Mountain itself, he would triumph; for he would not be Fulko The Bear if he did not. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Lucan¡¯s horse trod a muddy path towards Arpague¡¯s gates. The guards kept the roads that led to their gates and their surroundings clear. He¡¯d observed that the closest shack was at bowshot. Yet the protected road couldn¡¯t escape the mud and grime brought on by the squalor in its surroundings. The road was actually made of stone, if the small clear spots of it were any proof, but its condition seemed to have been worsening for some time with it so ill-maintained, if it was maintained at all. Lucan had been right about his expectations for the smell too. Even with distance between them and the outer inhabitants, the wind brought with it the smell of mud, rot, and shit. His nose was already getting used to it. He gazed at his father as thetter approached the guards at the gate and was greeted by them. Their whole retinue was wearing the Zesh colors of course, and while his father wasn¡¯t a hero of great fame, he was adequately renowned and the Zesh colors were recognizable. Lucan noted the merchant ahead of them being hastened by the guards to move aside along with his cart, then they were led in. His father had been nning for them to spend a night or two at an inn until he could be put through the Trial, but the guards surprised them by informing them that while Duke Elmere had already left for the capital, he¡¯d left word for residence to be provided for Sir Gn Zesh in the keep should he arrive at the city. The blessings of being a political ally, for a time at least, Lucan thought. Inside the city¡¯s stone walls, the streets were filled with people and merchants, making movement difficult were it not for their horses and the guards escorting them to the keep. The streets were as filthy as expected, though these ones at least appeared to suffer from some maintenance, being whole and unbroken, built with cobblestone. Buildings lined the sides of the street, some of them new, some of them older than his grandfather would have been had he still been alive. A house here was only two storeys high, and a building there was four or five high, being an establishment of some sort. This city was old¨Cno¨Cancient in a way. When spoken of in court or on formal asions, Eldham, the capital, was thergest city in the Kingdom. But in truth, it was well-known that Arpague was thergest in the realm, even if it was not the prettiest nor the most pleasant-smelling. The imperials had built it centuries ago, to be a center of trade and administration in the region. It was still the former, receiving more trade than any other settlement in Barwalis. Lucan didn¡¯t let the appearance of squalor and filth disillusion him. The residents of Arpague were some of the most prosperous in the realm. An explosion in poption due to migration and a birthing boom was the cause for the eventual growth of slums in and around its walls in thest few decades. That didn¡¯t mean that all those who lived in it were beggars and vagrants. Rather, the craftsmen, tradesmen, and merchants who called Arpague home were some of the wealthiest in thends. When the Kingdom had just formed, King Vikxor Baroun, the founder of Barwalis, was advised to take Arpague as his capital. The Barouns were proud, however, and they didn¡¯t want to empower the Empire¡¯s legacy, so they¡¯d taken over the military encampment around the Elder Root and formed their capital there. Arpague was relegated to the authority of a favored nephew, and the Kingdom was founded. Eldham had continued to expand since then, only failing to overtake one city in size, the very one the Empire had built up to be thergest. Lucan¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by their arrival at the central castle¡¯s walls. Even when he had been near the city¡¯s walls, he¡¯d been able to glimpse the keep from between the packed buildings lining the streets. It had looked majestic beyond the faint fog permeating the high winds. Now he was in front of the castle walls that cradled the keep inside them. Thetter was built on a central hill, the four square towers taking up its corners prominent and daunting. Originally, a Governor¡¯s Hall had been built of white-washed stone at this site by the Empire, but the royal nephew who¡¯d been awarded the city back in the day had ended up recing it with a formidable castle that had since been renovated several times. The gates of the castle were open and its portcullis raised, though two guards stood at its entrance, and several others on its walls. The guards who¡¯d escorted them consulted with the ones at the gates, then they allowed them inside. A man, whose aging condition was only apparent from the graying color of his hair, received them beyond the gate. He was square-jawed, and of a build toplement it. With at least sixty years to his name, he still looked intimidating. Lucan could only imagine him in his prime, giving even the wildermen a scare on the battlefield. As they all dismounted to greet the graying casten who was on foot, Lucan got to see how the man towered over even his father. ¡°Sir Winstone,¡± his father greeted, giving a neutral nod. ¡°Sir Zesh,¡± the casten greeted back in a more pleasant manner, spreading his arms. ¡°Wee to Arpague.¡± He turned to Lucan. ¡°This must be your son.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his father gestured towards him. ¡°This is Lucan, my only son and heir.¡± Sir Winstone eyed him critically, if not without mirth, and said, ¡°Promising. I have faith he will make a knight just as fine as his predecessors.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± his father said. ¡°Thank you, Sir Winstone,¡± Lucan said, dipping his head. The casten nodded, then, Widely smiling, he gestured for them to follow him into the keep. Up close, the keep¡¯s size was apparent, perhaps five times asrge as their own, or evenrger. Lucan could feel a bit of envy creeping into his heart just from the sight. He caught sight of therge banner sprawled on the wall above the entrance as they were led inside. A silver eagle on a blue field. Upon his father¡¯s request, they were led to their chambers right away, forgoing any formalities. His father wanted him to be done with the Trial as soon as possible so that they may continue their journey without dy. Lucan agreed, as taken as he was with the bustle of the big city, he knew that there were more important things to look forward to in the capital, and he was certain that he would grow jaded with the noise and bustle of this city sooner rather thanter. Sir Winstone arranged for them to stay on the same floor midway up in the keep. But when his father addressed the matter of the Trial, the casten showed the first bit of anxiety Lucan had seen from him today. Then he gave them a surprise they hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°You see,¡± Sir Winstone said, ¡°We¡¯ve had an unexpected guest.¡± Lucan raised a brow and his father stated a silent inquiry with his eyes. They were standing in one of the keep¡¯s halls after changing into something appropriate for the city. ¡°Her Highness, Anushka D Baroun, arrived yesterday to go through the Trial herself,¡± the casten continued. Lucan widened his eyes in disbelief. Even his father looked genuinely surprised. ¡°The princess is here?¡± his father asked incredulously. ¡°Aye,¡± Sir Winstone said. ¡°I believe she should¡¯ve arrived at the Sphere Hall already. I¡¯m unaware whether she would be amenable to sharing the Hall with someone during the Trial. Master cke, the duke¡¯s mage, is entrusted with the care of the Hall. You will have to consult with him if you wish to have young Lucan go through the Trial today.¡± His father sighed exasperatedly and nodded. He turned to Lucan. ¡°We ought to head to the Hall promptly. I hear that once the Trial is taken, it takes several days to be ready for use again.¡± ¡°More,¡± Sir Winstone said. When he received quizzical looks from both of them, he amended, ¡°Many more than a few days.¡± ¡°Then we ought to hurry,¡± his father said. Lucan nodded in agreement and they were off. Only Cordell and a servant apanied them through the crowded streets of Arpague, thetter acting as their guide. They headed to one of the more well-off districts of the city where the Sphere Hall had been built. It was no coincidence that this district was the most well-guarded after the keep either. The source of the Trial was a priceless artifact that would onlye second to the duke¡¯s own life. It might even supersede that if the duke was a man bound by duty to his house and itsing generations. Lucan noted the uniform quality of housing in the district immediately, even if the sizes were uneven, some housesrger and grander than others. All the houses were surrounded by thin walls painted white, trees peeking out of the gardens hugged inside them Eventually, and after treading an unreasonably long and straight street, they reached the Sphere Hall, which did justice to its name. The building was mostly made of a squat dome, made of white stone and marble. It seemed as though it was a bit sunken into the ground, its foundations deeper than ordinary. Lucan didn¡¯t know why it gave him the impression of a temple, though he knew that part of it might be because of the glorified way it was built. Small yet grand. Simple yet ruinously expensive. Lucan could only imagine. The building had only one entrance, arge double gate¡­ gold-colored? ¡°Is that¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his father answered him before he could finish the question. ¡°It¡¯s ted with goldsteel. Its enchantments are powerful enough to stop a warmage. The walls are engraved with enchanted gold from the inside, and some mythril too, if the rumors speak true.¡± Lucan looked at the gates as they grew closer and closer, now seeing the runic shapes that ran over the goldsteel ting. He had no doubt that if he had had any kind of arcane senses, the enchantments would have been bearing down on him now. Instead of a reasonable number of guards, nearly three dozen nked the gates. An ornate carriage was also waiting nearby. Lucan caught sight of the bronze gleam of the Royal Guard¡¯s armor among the waiting men. Before they could get closer to the Hall, they were called to a stop. ¡°Halt!¡± A voice came from within the group of guards. Then three men stepped out, approaching them. One of them was in the bronze armor of the Royal Guard, another wore armor that was somewhat simr to the City Watch, and the third wore robes that seemed to change color whenever his body¡¯s movement angled its fabric differently against the sunlight. ¡°Sir Zesh?¡± the one in bronze armor said, recognizing his father. ¡°Aye,¡± his father said. ¡°Greetings, Sir Thorne.¡± He shifted his eyes to the robed man. ¡°Greetings, Master cke.¡± The mage returned the greeting while the royal knight looked perplexed by their presence. The first man, who was obviously one of the original guards of the Hall, wisely chose not to engage with his betters beyond greeting his father appropriately. After a brief few exchanges, the matter of their presence became clear. Master ck looked apologetic but didn¡¯t move on the matter, gesturing towards Sir Thorne who spoke for the princess. ¡°For the safety of the princess and her convenience, we are to make certain that only she has ess to this Trial, however wasteful some people deem it.¡± He threw a re Master cke¡¯s way. ¡°Sir Thorne,¡± his father said. ¡°My son was due to go through the Trial at this time. As you well know, the King has summoned all of the realm¡¯s vassals. We cannot afford a prolonged dy.¡± The royal knight shook his head. ¡°Then I suppose your son will have to wait until after the solstice gathering to partake in the Trial.¡± ¡°I was hoping we could beseech her Highness¡¯s kindness to allow him entry along with her,¡± his father said, ncing at Lucan. ¡°I¡¯m certain he will acquit himself well in her Highness¡¯s presence.¡± Sir Thorne seemed hesitant, perhaps contemting whether to refuse on principle or to avoid making decisions for the princess lest he make trouble for himself. Lucan watched as the knight finally made up his mind, gesturing for one of the other bronze-d knights to go into the Hall. Then he turned and led them after the knight who¡¯d likely been sent to alert the princess. ¡°Follow me,¡± Sir Thorne said, his pace slow as he approached the Hall¡¯s gates. ¡°Sir Zesh, I have no doubt that you know the limits of propriety on such matters, but I must remind you not to disturb the princess more than is necessary if she still refuses to share the Hall upon receiving your request.¡± Lucan¡¯s father dipped his head in acknowledgment as the other knight nced back at him. They were guided into the building, through the ted gate and a hallway that had enchanted carvings on its white stone walls. Once they¡¯d trodden their way through the hallway, it opened it up into an antechamber. The walls it was made of were what first caught Lucan¡¯s attention. They were made of such well-polished, beige marble that he felt as if he was looking at art watching them. His eyes eventually settled on the party standing on the other end of the chamber. Two knights in bronze nked the princess who was trailed by several maids. The princess herself was iner than he¡¯d expected. He might have seen her when he was a child, but he had no vivid memory of it. If he were to be honest with himself, he had expected something more. However, she looked as ordinary as a well-to-domoner if thetter had clothing and jewelry priced in Royals. She had dark red hair long enough to reach her elbows, and it was the prettiest thing about her. Her face was as in as they came, if a bit bony, with some light freckles on the cheeks. She was taller than was preferable for ady, nearly Lucan¡¯s height. He knew that she was older than him, so he might still expand that difference in the years toe, yet it was still odd. One of the knights nking her stepped forward, half-turning with his body to angle towards her. ¡°Her Highness, Anushka D Baroun, the princess and sole daughter to his majesty, the King.¡± Lucan and his father halted their approach as the princess was announced by the knight. They both bowed low, as was appropriate for her royal station, then they straightened once a sufficient amount of time passed without her telling them to rise. The princess stepped forward, the knight moving out of her way. ¡°Sir Zesh,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m told you have a request for me?¡± His father dipped his head. ¡°Yes, your Highness. My son,¡± he gestured towards Lucan, ¡°needs to pass the Trial today if he is to go through with it before the solstice gathering. I was told that you wish to go through the Trial in privacy,¡± he paused at a tilt of her head. ¡°As is your right, of course. Yet I was hoping you would allow Lucan to partake in the Trial along with your esteemed self.¡± The antechamber grew quiet for a while, only interrupted by the soft humminging from the princess who eyed Lucan curiously. She began to speak, and Lucan could swear he saw a faint, udylike shruging from her. ¡°You have served my father and the realm for many years, Sir Zesh. It is only proper for you to be treated with some exception.¡± She smiled. ¡°Your son may partake in the Trial as I do.¡± His father bowed again. ¡°Much obliged, your Highness.¡± She nodded. ¡°Well then, there¡¯s no sense in being tardy.¡± Then she looked at Lucan. ¡°Shall we?¡± Lucan only realized that he had rudely left the princess without an immediate response when her gaze lingered on him for a while. Flustered, he let the words go out of his mouth in a cascade. ¡°Yes, yes¨Cof course, your Highness. Thank y¨Cmany thanks.¡± Smiling again, she gave a nod at his response and turned around, heading towards the end of the chamber she¡¯d been standing at before. There was arge door there. Lucan hurried to follow her, not getting too close and staying behind her guards so as not to rm them. Therge door was opened, and a small room was visible on the other side. There were several open passages in there, each obviously only wide enough for a single man or woman. Master ck soon followed them into the room, guiding the princess to one of the passages, and having Lucan herded to another, with only a pair of phrases to guide him on his ambiguous Trial. Obviously, the princess had been given deeper instruction on the intricacies of the Trial, but he wasn¡¯t being afforded the same courtesy, considering their haste. ¡°You will see each other again inside, but you will not be allowed to assist each other.¡± ¡°The Spirit of the Sphere must not be disrespected or otherwise irritated. It does have the power to expel anyone from the Trial.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The passage was dark and spiraling, but not too lengthy. It only took Lucan a bit of time before he was liberated from its narrow confines, finding himself in arge hall with a t ceiling. At the center of the hall, there was a bronze-colored, metal sphere floating in the air. The sphere wasrger than a head and porous. Through its holes, he could see more metal spheres and small parts spinning quickly. The outer sphere itself spunzily, unaffected by its constituents. There was a table with two opposed chairs in front of him, but Lucan only noted them in passing, his eyes fixed on the spinning, floating, and impossible sphere. Magic. Oh, he¡¯d seen a bit of magic before, but not enough, it seemed. He gaped at the artifact for a while before he got his bearings, and turned his head this way and that, until he caught sight of her Highness. She was on his left, the distance between themrger than when they¡¯d entered the passages, but that wasn¡¯t the first thing to catch Lucan¡¯s eyes. What caught them was the faint fog between them. He could see the princess well enough, but there was a slight blur threatening that rity of vision. He was surprised to find that the princess was as bewildered by the sphere as he was, from what he could see. She was staring at it intently, with a twist of disbelief to her features. It meant that it wasn¡¯t ordinary, after all, even for someone well acquainted with magic. Lucan, like most nobles, knew that she was a mage, but not much more about the intricacies of her practice. Without warning, she swiftly turned her head in his direction, catching his eyes and smiling yfully. ¡°I suppose this will be as wondrous as promised. Already, there¡¯s such a bewildering sight.¡± She gestured towards the sphere. Lucan nodded softly, though he was perplexed by her tone. In the outer hall, she¡¯d been quiet, restrained, and regal. She had only spoken the least amount of words that could deliver her meaning, and she hadn¡¯t seemed amenable to pleasant talk, only what was necessary. Here, she was different. Perhaps having discerned the question in his eyes, she spoke, ¡°Oh, it seems I¡¯ve confounded you. Worry not. You see, there,¡± she gestured backwards, ¡°I must carry myself in a certain manner in front of my retainers. Particrly the knights. They¡¯re quite stuffy. Though¡­¡± she sighed, ¡°I do have some new maids who think they can please me by seeming all prim and proper.¡± Lucan only endorsed her every statement with a small, polite nod, unsure of what to say. ¡°It is quite impolite to let ady speak to herself,¡± she gave him a pointed look. Lucan stammered before quickly steadying himself. He inclined his head and said, ¡°Apologies, Your Highness. I didn¡¯t mean to turn a deaf ear. I just don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°There¡¯s little you could say that would offend me,¡± she said. ¡°Worry not.¡± Lucan realized that those words did somewhat liberate him. He hadn¡¯t thought that he would insult her. He knew how to be polite and proper in the presence of those above his station, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry about offending royalty, even when he didn¡¯t know how it could happen. Her statement now gave him a feeling of true freedom to speak in her presence. ¡°Well, your highness, I¡¯m astonished by¡­¡± He looked at the sphere, words unneeded to convey his meaning. ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°House Elmere¡¯s artifact is quite something. It¡¯s said that the third Lord Elmere, a formidable mage, found it in an ancient ruin.¡± ¡°I thought it was found in the Labyrinth,¡± Lucan said. She huffed. ¡°Perhaps that is true too. No one truly knows. Much is said about the sphere, yet only one thing is for certain, it is priceless.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± She sighed as they continued watching the sphere spin upon itself, its speed climbing, so much that Lucan worried it would burst apart. He shifted his eyes from it to the princess again, still finding her demeanor peculiar. ¡°This will take a while if what I was told is true,¡± the princess said. Her eyes suddenly found his again, catching him as he watched her. ¡°Perhaps you have questions?¡± Lucan hesitated. ¡°Go on,¡± she said, giving him a light smile. ¡°It will keep me entertained.¡± Lucan inadvertently shrugged, going with something safe. ¡°What is it like living in the Royal Pce?¡± His words elicited a long-suffering sigh from the princess. ¡°Now you¡¯re simply trying to bore me to death. I say you can ask me anything, and something duller than whates out of my suitors¡¯ mouthses out of yours.¡± Lucan pressed his lips, unsure what she wanted particrly. He certainly had pointier questions, but would she be as gracious as she imed to be when he asked them? Well, she¡¯d asked¨Cno¨Cdemanded it. And she¡¯d brought up something that many in the Kingdom pondered upon. ¡°Your Highness,¡± he said. ¡°You are nearly twenty years of age¨C¡± ¡°And you are nearly seventeen yourself,¡± she interrupted him. His countenance changed, surprised. ¡°You know about me?¡± She covered her mouth andughed, as though she¡¯d seen the most amusing thing. ¡°I know about Sir Zesh, and his only son. I know when that son was born. But no, I don¡¯t know about you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He flushed, embarrassment overwhelming him. For a moment, he¡¯d thought that she¡¯d heard about him. Suppressing the feeling, he continued, for it was the best way to bypass the difort. ¡°Is it true that you are not married yet because no man with enough valor hase forward to im your hand?¡± The princessughed again, this time for long enough that her chuckles echoed like pleasant bells to his ears. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t true.¡± She dared him with her eyes to continue with this line of questions. He did. She¡¯d given him leave to do so, after all. ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°I simply haven¡¯t found someone I can trust enough with my fate,¡± she said. A sound came from Lucan¡¯s right. The princess suddenly turned towards the sphere. ¡°Ah, it seems that it is finally beginning.¡± Lucan turned towards the artifact too. Then he saw something more wondrous than the presence sphere itself happen. Specks of light flew out of it like fireflies, coalescing together to take the form of something¡­ He turned to the princess, but surprisingly the fog had thickened and he could no longer see her. Once his eyes returned to the forming shape again, he began to recognize the silhouette of an individual. A blinding sh suddenly burst out of the shape, impairing Lucan¡¯s vision. Once the shine faded out of his eyes, he saw a man standing in front of the sphere. Lucan was so taken aback that he failed to speak or demand an exnation. The man beat him to it, raising a hand. ¡°Greetings.¡± Lucan didn¡¯t return the greeting, scrutinizing the man instead. Everything about him was perplexing. His hair was a deep shade of purple, and his skin was so white that one would think he was born sick. He wore in clothes, but on his hands and cheeks, there was azure paint, arrows pointing downwards, and unintelligible runes. The man lowered his hands once Lucan failed to respond, walking towards the table and taking a seat. Meanwhile, Lucan watched incredulously. Soon, the man gestured towards him then towards the empty seat opposing him. Lucan finally realized that he must be the spirit of the Trial. He¡¯d imagined that the spirit would be something detached, guiding him through the demands of the Trial. He¡¯d never thought of it in depth, but he¡¯d never imagined it would be a man either. He wondered if he was real. Eventually, Lucanplied with the gesture of the spirit, fearing that he would irritate it and get expelled. He approached the table cautiously and slowly, very slowly, he took a seat in front of the spirit in man¡¯s form. ¡°Your name?¡± the man asked. ¡°Lucan,¡± he answered through a hoarse throat. ¡°And yours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not important,¡± the man said, his tone soft, slow, and calming. Lucan nodded. But scrutinized the spirit, trying to see if there was something unreal about its presence. ¡°Are you truly a man?¡± The man chuckled, showing teeth as white as his skin. ¡°That depends.¡± ¡°Upon what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not important,¡± the man said. Lucan raised a brow. This was already feeling very odd. He stayed silent, hoping the spirit would continue, but it, or he, didn¡¯t. ¡°Should we not begin?¡± The man sighed. ¡°I thought I would wither and die before you asked. Yes, we shall begin. But what should we begin with?¡± he asked himself, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°Perhaps arithmetic. They did always love it.¡± Lucan tilted his head, still perplexed by the whole demeanor of the spirit. But he caught onto one thing. ¡°They?¡± he asked. ¡°Who?¡± The man gave him an amused look, as though watching a dog chase its tail. Lucan rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not important, I imagine?¡± He reproduced the first part to sound like the spirit. ¡°Precisely,¡± the man said as he flicked his fingers in a loud gesture. ¡°What¡¯s the Trial then? And why are most ounts of it conflicting?¡± The man chuckled, that twinkle of amusement permanent in his eyes, and a bit infuriating to Lucan. ¡°It¡¯s simple. The Trial is a riddle.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose we should begin this riddle then?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the man said. ¡°Arithmetic first then.¡± Lucan raised a brow again. ¡°Can¡¯t we begin with the real Trial right away?¡± This time the man¡¯sughter was explosive, as though he¡¯d heard the most humorous jest in his life. ¡°Oh dear,¡± he said between bouts ofughter. ¡°The Trial is everything, and everything is the trial, dear Lucan. Though, if you wish, we may bypass your first test. But you will miss your opportunity to earn this.¡± He upturned a hand. Then the paint on the back of his hands and face began glowing softly, and a reddish hue began to take to the air above his palm. Soon enough, an orb of red essence was floating above his hand. Once the orb formed, Lucan failed to look anywhere but at it. He didn¡¯t just see it, he felt it in his very being, in his Blessing. ¡°Is that¡­a Vital Orb?¡± The man grinned and nodded, his actions only caught through the corner of Lucan¡¯s eyes which were still fixed on the Orb. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Lucan nodded intensely, bracing himself for whatever it was that would be thrown at him. A Vital Orb. The spirit could gift it like it was nothing, as though it could simply be conjured from emptiness. Madness. He¡¯d never known that there was a way to gain Vital Orbs outside of leveling up or consuming God Orbs. Some of the ounts he¡¯d read of the Trial had hinted at something like this, but Lucan had assumed the meaning to be that they¡¯d earned the Orbs through leveling up in the Trial. His attention was soon attracted to the man¡¯s face as thetter retracted the red Orb back into wherever he¡¯d conjured it from. His voice soon came neutral and t, unlike his previous cheery tone. ¡°There once was a tamer, who would only raise certain beasts; wolves, tigers, and bears. In fact, his animals were all wolves bar three, all tigers bar four, all bears bar five. May you tell me how many of each there are?¡± Lucan was stumped for a moment, finding it incredulous that the vaunted Trial would be about this. But the lure of the blood-red Orb forced his mind into action. In a way, it was simple, if mind-twisting. All wolves bar three, so there are either two tigers and one bear or two bears and one tiger. Either way, no more than two of either. All tigers bar four, so four between wolves and bears. I already know that there can¡¯t be more than two bears, so there are at least two wolves; either that or three at most, if there¡¯s only one bear. All bears bar five, so between the wolves and tigers, there are five. But at most there can only be two tigers, and at most there can only be three wolves, meaning that those were their numbers, since that was the only instance in which there would be five animals aside from the bears. And since there were three wolves, then there must only be one bear. He thought over the riddle and his answer one more time before being assured and mouthing it. ¡°Three wolves, two tigers, and one bear.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± the man eximed. ¡°Right on the mark, my young friend. Right on the mark.¡± He tapped the table. ¡°Shall we push on to the next one then?¡± Lucan looked at the man, aggrieved, but he held himself back from snapping. ¡°Of course, not without imparting your reward first,¡± the man chuckled. Putting his upturned hand forward. Soon, the Vital Orb was conjured once more. ¡°Go on, take it.¡± Lucan reached for the Orb cautiously but eagerly. His fingers crept closer and closer, until they brushed up against the red glow and he felt something hot and fluid flowing through his hand and his arm, and then a sudden jolt went through his whole body. You have been gifted a Vital Orb. Lucan stole a nce at his Blessing¡¯s manifestation to affirm the gain, before quickly dismissing it. The new Orb was there, added to his already existing five. One simple question answered had given him a Vital Orb. Something that would cost at least a hundred gold if purchased with coin in the form of a consumable God Orb, and only when on the market and presented for sale. This Trial was already proving to be as invaluable as was rumored. ¡°On to our next three riddles then,¡± the man said. He tapped on the table and glowing dust was conjured out of nothing, quickly coalescing into a board and pieces. Chess. That was promising. Even though he wasn¡¯t a prodigy in the game, he liked it enough. Perhaps another Vital Orb awaited him at the end of this? But¡­ ¡°Three riddles?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°Do I get an Orb for each?¡± ¡°No, no. For this, you must answer three to be given one. But worry not, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± Lucan nodded in anticipation, watching the board intently. Suddenly, the pieces began to move on their own. Some of them hopped off the board and some took advanced positions as though two yers had paused in the middle of their game. ¡°As you can see, this is quite the bnced position,¡± the man said. ¡°Now kill the King.¡± The words jolted Lucan out of his thoughts, making him steal nces around himself in panic. ¡°Please mind your words,¡± he pleaded. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry, young Lucan,¡± the man said, chuckling again. ¡°No one can hear us here. Now kill the King. Four moves, no more, no less.¡± Lucan nodded, though his neck was stiff as he did so, hesitation still having a hold on him. The spirit spoke such incriminating words without care, but if someone were to pay dearly for them, it would be him. And the princess herself was within earshot of them. Hopefully, the spirit spoke true, and neither she nor anyone could hear them conversing while they were here. He scrutinized the board, trying to find weakness in his opponent¡¯s position. At first, he could only see weakness in his own, but it soon became clear that a sacrifice was necessary. He reached over the table, looking at the spirit in the form of a man for permission, and thetter gave it. He then began moving the pieces. First, he sacrificed his Elephant to crack open the guard of the King, killing a pawn. The opponent would now either greedily take his sacrifice, consigning themselves to a quick death, or avoid it and suffer a slow one. Either way, the next moves were mostly the same. He moved in with his Vizier and Horse for the kill, and he got it. ¡°The next one then,¡± the man said, gesturing at the board, upon which the pieces rearranged themselves into another position, much more open than thest one. The Towers were already vying for the columns in the middle of the board, but his opponent appeared to be in a better position than him. ¡°Cripple your opponent.¡± Lucan nodded. It took him a while longer this time, but he eventually realized that his opponent¡¯s second most threatening piece, a Tower that was dominating an important position, was in fact stuck in ce to defend an apparently fine but actually smothered King. That allowed Lucan to forcefully capture the other side¡¯s Vizier with his own without the retaliation of the Tower to equalize the field. A crippling strike. ¡°Good,¡± the man said. ¡°Next.¡± Lucan eyed the new position with more confidence, and was soon rewarded for it as he spotted a weakness again. This time the spirit didn¡¯t have to tell him what needed to be done. It was obvious after a while that the enemy King could be killed. Lucan assaulted his imaginary opponent, taking advantage of his more advanced and properly positioned pieces, and eventually overwhelming the enemy¡¯s defense. As Lucan finished the King, the man once again reached an upturned hand forward, though the board stayed present below. Then he conjured another Vital Orb, and this time Lucan reached for it hastily, as though it would disappear if left unimed. You have been gifted a Vital Orb. He grinned in satisfaction as the pieces began rearranging themselves on the board again. He looked askance at the man who shrugged. ¡°Win.¡± Lucan bobbed his head and focused on the board once more. Yet this time, he found no weakness, no opening, no opportunity. There were only locked doors and false chances. No matter how he thought of it, there was no solution. After a while, the man¡¯s voice interrupted his knotting thoughts. ¡°Your time hase to an end.¡± Lucan¡¯s head snapped up so he could look him in the eye. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was time! You didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°Precisely!¡± the man guffawed. ¡°Now, onto the next one.¡± Lucan grit his teeth and set himself in for a, now, more pressuring challenge. And as expected, the positions didn¡¯t get any easier, rather they got more difficult, and Lucan couldn¡¯t find any more luck. It had been somewhat entertaining to crack open the riddles of the spirit and be rewarded for it. But it was, without a doubt, a miserable feeling to find himselfcking in thetest ones. Hopefully, there was more to this Trial than damn chess. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 The session of chess riddles continued in different forms and convolutions, with Lucan none the better for it. At some point, he¡¯d even stopped trying with all his effort, tired from all the trying and failing. His frustration must have shown on his face because the spirit gave him a consoling smile. ¡°No more chess, but one more riddle, and you may have some respite.¡± ¡°Respite?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°The riddle first,¡± the man said, still with a smile. ¡°Youe upon and where only heroes and viins live. They live harmoniously, but heroes always tell the truth and viins always lie. On your first day in thisnd, you meet three men. You may choose one of them to ask three questions, either about themselves or theirpanions. From these questions, you must ascertain who is a hero and who is a viin, knowing that there is at least one of each.¡± Lucan thought about it for a moment then looked at the man sitting on the other side of the table incredulously. ¡°No matter who I choose, I cannot be certain whether he lies or tells the truth. I can¡¯t ascertain anything.¡± ¡°Perhaps you ought to think about it more, then.¡± Lucan huffed and leaned back into his seat. If the one I choose turns out to be a hero, then all will be well, and I would only need two questions. But I can¡¯t ascertain that, if I ask the one I choose who he is, he will say he is a hero whether he¡¯s a hero or a viin.If my choice is a viin, he would ruin all my questions. If I ask him about a viin, he¡¯ll say that he is a hero, and if I ask him about a hero he¡¯ll say that he¡¯s a viin. Lucan ground his teeth together as his mind went up in knots. He rubbed his forehead, as though he could scratch the itch that he felt inside somehow. If only I could tell whether the one I was speaking to was a hero or a viin¡­ He spent a considerable amount of time thinking, but with no result. The spirit¡¯s human form was still infuriatingly smiling. Lucan felt that it would be cathartic to reach over the table and p him on the face or grab him by his oddly in clothes and wrestle him into the ground until he submitted. For some reason, though, he suspected that wouldn¡¯t end up with him earning all those Vital Orbs. Frustrated, he inadvertently let a mutter right out of his thoughts. ¡°No one does, for Elders¡¯ sakes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the spirit leaned forward. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lucan waved his hands sideways. ¡°Not an answer to the riddle.¡± ¡°But I¡¯d like to hear it.¡± ¡°My father once told me that no one always tells the truth.¡± The spirit grinned, pearlescent white teeth reflecting the light. ¡°Heroes do.¡± Lucan sighed. ¡°May I get a clue, at least?¡± The spirit shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. And your time has ended.¡± ¡°Cursed gods,¡± Lucan swore. ¡°A respite then,¡± the spirit said. ¡°For the mind, like the body, needs its rest.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°The signs will be clear before a return,¡± the spirit said. Then he pointed in the general direction of the princess. ¡°You may speak to your friend, but you may not ask for or give answers to the past riddles.¡± Lucan nodded, upon which the spirit began to disintegrate into motes of light that flowed back into the sphere. The fog between him and the princess was already thinning, and her form was beginning to be visible. The princess¡¯s face eventually became clear enough. She was looking in his direction too, still seated on her table as he was. ¡°We get to speak again then,¡± the princess began. ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Do you think perhaps we¡¯re done with the easy part of the Trial?¡± ¡°Easy?¡± Lucan said, eying her carefully to see if she was saying so in jest. ¡°You had difficulties?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said with pressed lips, a flush already creeping up his neck. If she found all those riddles easy, then he now looked like a monumental fool. ¡°Ah, I suppose they could be. Perhaps you¡¯vee to the Trial too young. I¡¯ve waited until now, you see?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lucan said, his voice inadvertently subdued. ¡°Which of the riddles was difficult for you?¡± ¡°Everything after the third chess position.¡± ¡°Even the fifth?¡± she said, cocking her head. ¡°It was quite simple.¡± ¡°How was it simple?¡± Lucan nearly growled. The princess gave him a light chuckle while covering her mouth. ¡°You had to make a series of moves that would put you on the path to certain victory. Then your opponent would resign. You didn¡¯t have to gain an immediate win.¡± Lucan nodded, trying to remember the exact shape of the board back then. The princess was obviously going in circles around the answer as the spirit had warned them not to peddle their answers. He shook his head. It mattered not whether he remembered the board. The riddle was gone and passed. But there had been one position that he could still remember, because he¡¯d felt that he was so close to victory but couldn¡¯t find it. ¡°The seventh one,¡± he said. ¡°I felt an answer within reach.¡± ¡°It was,¡± the princess said. ¡°Sometimes in chess, as in politics, it is possible to force your opponents¡¯ hand, even if they are not of a mind to assist you. A forced move is always a delight to implement, whether in this or that.¡± The board was still in Lucan¡¯s mind from the seventh, easy to remember due to how hard he¡¯d stared at it in anger. Anger that¡¯de from feeling so close to an answer, but incapable of touching it. As the princess¡¯s advice echoed in his mind, he saw the moves he should¡¯ve made. An endgame position in chess was often both simple and convoluted, and he¡¯d missed a simple approach that he could now see. He wouldn¡¯t make that mistake again, not that it mattered now. ¡°The riddle about the heroes and the viins,¡± he said. ¡°That I couldn¡¯t parse either.¡± The princess chuckled again. ¡°It seems you have trouble with forced moves. But let me give you a clue.¡± She tapped her lips with a finger a few times. ¡°In my father¡¯s court, it is difficult to hear the truth. Except for when ites from my father, of course, His Royal Majesty never lies.¡± She gave him a look. ¡°But everyone else? They lie and lie, or they don¡¯t speak, or¡­or they tell a truth to confound you and nothing else. So when you need answers, you must find a way to conjure them. Silence in itself can be an answer. Even a lie can serve you. If you know which lie to pick, it can carry an answer¨Ca truth¨Cfor you.¡± Lucan nodded slowly. It was nearly as difficult to parse as the riddle itself, but he could see the beginnings of ritying to him from her words. ¡°I must force the right lie.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°And in knowing that it is a lie, you have gained power over its speaker.¡± They grew silent as Lucan contemted her words. Eventually, he found the way to solving thatst riddle, or at least he believed so. He must¡¯ve been silent for long, however, because the princess huffed and spoke, sounding frustrated or perhaps bored. ¡°The spirit doesn¡¯t seem to being soon, and you¡¯re already deep in your mindscape. One would think you¡¯d repay me by keeping mepany.¡± ¡°Apologies, Your Highness. I didn¡¯t mean to¨C¡± She raised a hand to stop him. ¡°No need to express your regret just yet. If you¡¯re done with your thoughts, then perhaps we can speak of simpler matters once more?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Lucan said, dipping his head. His mind went back to what they¡¯d talked about earlier and he spoke before the silence could drag on for too long again. ¡°May I ask how you haven¡¯t found someone worthy of your trust yet? There have to be some suitors with proper character, and enough prospects to inspire a promising fate.¡± He lingered on thest word since she¡¯d mentioned it in her justification before. ¡°You miss that which is most important,¡± she said. ¡°Trust. I must trust them. And no, none havee that I can trust.¡± ¡°Why is trust important? It¡¯s difficult to nurture such a thing without time. Should trust not be grown between spouses in time?¡± The princess scoffed. ¡°Without trust to begin with, there¡¯s nothing. Marriage doesn¡¯t necessarily build it. It¡¯s like a wager. It might build it. It might reverse what little of it there is. Or it might destroy you.¡± Lucan gulped, slightly taken aback by how tense the princess had suddenly be. For some reason, it felt as though the princess was speaking from some experience or another. He cleared his throat. ¡°I apologize¨C¡± ¡°Enough was the apologies,¡± she huffed. ¡°I allowed you to ask. There¡¯s no harm done. But now that you¡¯ve delved into the privacies of my life, it¡¯s only polite for you to speak a bit about yours.¡± ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Lucan said. Then he found himself lost for words. He didn¡¯t know what to tell her about himself. If anything, life in a backwater territory like his could only prove dullpared to the royal court. He looked at her, expecting to see impatience, but instead he found her patiently waiting for him to speak. ¡°Do you have any questions, Your Highness?¡± She hummed for a moment then nodded. ¡°Do you remember your mother?¡± Again, Lucan was taken aback, but this time by the question. But once he got his bearings he nodded softly, a light smile drawn on his lips. ¡°Yes, I do. I was young when she passed, but I have memories.¡± His smile turned wistful. ¡°She gave me my first book after I learned to read. She barely knew how to read herself, after a lot of trying and learning.¡± Lucan nced at the princess¡¯s face to see if she was finding it tedious to listen to him reminiscing about things long past, but she wasn¡¯t. She was surprisingly smiling too. So he continued. ¡°Sometimes she asked me to read to her. A story. Or history. Thetter was her favorite. She said there were so many stories in history, and the best thing is that they were all true.¡± ¡°You read to her a lot then?¡± the princess said. Lucan shook his head and looked down at his table, rubbing his neck and pretending it had gotten stiff from looking at her which it had, but it wasn¡¯t the reason he turned his eyes away from the princess. ¡°I¡­I was young back then. I always resisted it. I didn¡¯t want to read. It was dull, and I didn¡¯t like it. Perhaps three or four times. Those are the ones I remember, the times I¡¯ve read to her.¡± His eyes conjured tears out of nowhere and his sight was suddenly a blur. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would have¡­¡± ¡°Read to her more?¡± the princess said so softly that he nearly missed it. Lucan bobbed his head. ¡°I read a lot now.¡± ¡°History?¡± ¡°Yes. Sometimes I¡­¡± He didn¡¯t continue, though the princess nodded at him understandingly and said, ¡°I know.¡± Then he remembered something. Something that everyone knew but his mind had somehow neglected. The princess, too, had lost her mother, the first Queen, many years ago. Lucan wiped his eyes as subtly as he could and got a better sight of the princess who was looking at him sympathetically. ¡°Your Highness,¡± Lucan said. ¡°You have lost your mother too. Forgive me for not being more considerate.¡± ¡°I asked you, did I not? There¡¯s nothing to forgive. Do you want to know about my mother?¡± He eyed her carefully, making certain she wouldn¡¯t take offense to the nod he gave next. ¡°You¡¯re fortunatepared to me,¡± she said. ¡°I have little memory of my mother. I can remember her love, somehow. The memory of a feeling is subtle but heavy, you see? I loved her.¡± Her smile widened and showed some of her teeth, as though she¡¯d lost her mastery over decorum and, consequently, her countenance. ¡°She loved me. I know it. I still feel it. But there are so few memories,¡± shemented with a shake of her head. ¡°I remember her holding my hand in the pce gardens once. She held it so tight and I held hers back. I can¡¯t remember what she said, nor can I remember the expression on her face. But I can remember looking at the trees and the flowers, my hand in hers, and feeling whole; as though the future was certain.¡± Lucan nodded sympathetically, at least to return the favor. But it wasn¡¯t just that. ¡°She died of grief,¡± the princess said suddenly, freezing him. ¡°Believe it.¡± She nodded at him. ¡°You must know the story.¡± Lucan didn¡¯t speak or react. He would be treading dangerous territory, even if the princess was the one to bring him there. Oh, he knew the story. Everyone did. The King¡¯s first Queen, the princess¡¯s mother, had been the princess of Pontis herself. She and the King had tried to bring an heir to the world for years, but they¡¯d failed. The Queen wouldn¡¯t be with-child no matter what they tried. Eventually, the King had to marry another, and heirs were ultimately born. In a twist of irony, yearster, the first Queen became with-child, soon giving birth to the princess, Anushka. ¡°She had hope that I would be a boy,¡± Princess Anushka said. ¡°That I would be her proof.¡± She paused. ¡°I wish I was.¡± Lucan saw now why she¡¯d asked him about his mother. She¡¯d been looking to see whether he was someone who could understand. ¡°They¡¯re resting now,¡± Lucan said, though he didn¡¯t feel thefort he wished for from the words. ¡°Yes, they are,¡± the princess said with far more conviction than he did. And he understood, for her mother had led a sadder existence than his, being the neglected and abandoned wife. Being Queen, then losing it all, even if she hadn¡¯t lost her title. ¡°It is nice that you read now in her stead,¡± the princess told him after a brief silence. ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said, nodding. ¡°Though my father doesn¡¯t always approve.¡± The princess cocked her head quizzically. ¡°He feels that I neglect my responsibilities in favor of reading, even though I don¡¯t. Even though he knows¡­he knows that it was her that made me love books as I do today,¡± he said bitterly. Then his voice grew faint as he continued. ¡°Sometimes I feel as though he doesn¡¯t care for her memory as much as I do.¡± Before he could see the princess¡¯s reaction to his words, the fog between them thickened, and motes of light began pouring out of the spherical artifact. The spirit had chosen the worst time to return. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Lucan sat opposite the spirit, thetter wearing his constant smile. The spirit¡¯s interruption of his conversation with the princess had been irritating to say the least, but Lucan held back his irritation, lest it pour through. It wouldn¡¯t do to lose everything after he¡¯d suffered through half of the Trial. Though he didn¡¯t know whether the spirit could take back what it had already given him. ¡°Are you prepared?¡± the spirit in man¡¯s form finally spoke. Lucan nodded and took a breath. He wondered whether this run would be as frustrating as the previous one, and in the ambient light of the hall, he looked upon the colored paint on the spirit¡¯s face and hands. He would¡¯ve thought him a jester, had he not carried such incorporeal weight behind his ever-present smile. ¡°Then we shall begin anew, as foreseen,¡± the spirit said. ¡°Imagine with me.¡± He gestured at the table and motes of light came together to form shapes. A road with a fork at the end. ¡°You are traveling to the great city of Manph when youe upon a fork in the road. One branch of the fork leads to Manph and the other does not. Unfortunately, you don¡¯t know which of them leads to your destination. But you know there¡¯s a shack by the fork in the road where twins live, and they know which branch of the road leads to Manph. The twins look alike, they dress alike, they talk alike, yet they differ in one thing only. One of them always tells the truth. One of them always lies. When you knock on their door, one of the brothers opens it. He allows you one question and one question only to ascertain your direction. You don¡¯t know which brother he is. What question do you ask?¡± Lucan leaned back in his chair. This riddle differed slightly but it was simr to thest one he¡¯d been given before the spirit had allowed him some respite. He remembered the princess¡¯s advice and what he¡¯d drawn from it. I don¡¯t necessarily need the truth, I simply need the right lie. ¡°I would ask him what his brother would say if I were to ask him which path led to Manph,¡± Lucan said. The spirit¡¯s smile turned into a grin. ¡°Rest has given you much wisdom.¡± Then he raised a hand, upon which a red orb formed. ¡°Which road would you take?¡± ¡°The opposite of the answer I get,¡± Lucan said. Through his question, he¡¯d ascertained that the answer he received would be a lie, as his question would pass through both brothers instead of one. If the one at the door was a liar, then he would lie about what his honest brother would say. If the one at the door was honest, then he would honestly tell him the lie his liar brother would say. Either way, he¡¯d ensured that he¡¯d get the right lie, one that would lead him to the truth. The spirit chuckled and extended his hand, giving Lucan the Vital Orb. ¡°You seem to be adapting to my riddle.¡± He stole a nce in the princess¡¯s direction, as though telling him that he knew. Lucan was certain that if the spirit had had any qualms about the princess¡¯s veiled advice, he would¡¯ve prevented it or at least expelled them from the Trial. He wondered whether he was simply trying to unsettle him now. So he leaned forward and allowed some of his irritation through. ¡°Well, I had to, given that all your riddles were only ideal for one of us.¡± He mimicked the spirit¡¯s nce in the princess¡¯s direction. The spirit leaned back putting a hand on his chest, as though affronted. ¡°You could not believe me biased.¡± ¡°I would use you of no such thing,¡± Lucan said as neutrally as he could, hoping the implicit mockery wasn¡¯t lost on his opponent. Instead of being offended, the spirit chuckled. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°Mayhaps we should explore a test more appropriate for one such as yourself.¡± He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand. ¡°You are a warrior, yes?¡± Lucan shrugged. ¡°Somewhat.¡± ¡°Then a test of finesse!¡± the spirit said excitedly. He gestured beside him, where motes of light once again converged, this time taking the form of three new people. Those three, however, weren¡¯t as lively as the spirit. They stood there like sculptures. And surprisingly, one of them looked exactly like Lucan. ¡°Please stand up,¡± the spirit said, pointing in front of the three frozen men. Lucan did as instructed, standing in front of them. ¡°You are presented with three opponents,¡± the spirit said, pointing at the first, a man of middle age with a scar on his face and dark hair. ¡°The first is a man who has more Vital Orbs to his Blessing than you, but he carries a much lesser weapon.¡± Then the spirit gestured at the next one who was a blonde youth perhaps as young as Lucan or a little older. ¡°This one has less Vital Orbs to his Blessing than you but you know nothing else about him.¡± Then the spirit pointed at thest one, the one that looked like Lucan. ¡°This one is everything that you are. You must only defeat one of them to be rewarded. Which do you choose?¡± Without hesitation, Lucan pointed at the one that looked like him. ¡°Huh,¡± the spirit let out nomittally. ¡°Will we fight now then?¡± Lucan said, gesturing at his image. ¡°If you answer my question appropriately, you might not have to,¡± the spirit said. ¡°Will you take the chance?¡± Lucan nodded, walking back to his seat. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± the spirit eximed. ¡°So quick to avoid a fight, yet you were so certain of your choice that it did not take you a moment of thought.¡± Lucan shrugged. ¡°Why bother with a fight if I can win without one?¡± The spirit thought for a moment then nodded back in acknowledgement. ¡°My question is this then, upon what reason did you make your choice?¡± ¡°The stronger one could overwhelm me. I don¡¯t know if I have the Skills to bnce the scales, no matter the difference in armament,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Likewise, I don¡¯t know whether the younger and weaker one has the Skills to bnce his scales against me. Thest one, though. That one I know. Very well too¡± He couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I¡¯d know how to fight him.¡± The spirit nodded along, still showing his meaningless smile. ¡°True.¡± ¡°Is that the appropriate answer?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°It is,¡± the spirit said. ¡°You cannot be victorious without at least knowing your capabilities. It¡¯s better, however, to know both yours and your enemy¡¯s. Then, your victory is a certainty. Or so a wise one once said.¡± He extended his hand with a Vital Orb forming upon it. Lucan happily received it as he took his seat again. The threebatants to the side of the table broke apart into motes of light as Lucan watched. The sight brought a thought to his mind. ¡°There was never going to be a fight, was there?¡± The spirit shook his head serenely. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Lucan didn¡¯t answer. It had still been a test of the mind, not the body. It seemed that the Trial had been made for only that purpose. Even without a response, the spirit continued. ¡°There was once a wealthy man. He knew his end was nigh and embraced his approaching death with grace. Yet his greatest worry was his four sons. There was never harmony between them. On everything they shed. The sight of each other they could not bear. The man had only his home and a grand treasure of mythril to bequeath. Thetter he swore wouldn¡¯t belong to his sons until wisdom did too. His home, however, was a sprawling estate. With two walls, he split it into four, giving each son a quarter to upy. Once the man died, his sons found in his will a single clue. ¡®Only united shall you find your due.¡¯¡± Lucan had leaned forward, listening carefully. Once the spirit finished, he cocked his head. ¡°I presume the question is ¡®Where is the treasure?¡¯¡± The spirit nodded heavily. Lucan was once again lost. He nearly guffawed, because in the first half of the Trial he¡¯d answered the first two riddles, and then had begun failing from the third. It felt as though he was bound to that cycle now, as time crawled on, and he expected the spirit to tell him soon that he was out of time Eventually, he found the answer only when he put himself in the wealthy man¡¯s ce. Where would he have put the treasure had he wanted to ascertain that his sons would only get it only if they bonded together? He looked the spirit in the eye and spoke. ¡°Where the two walls meet. The treasure is buried under there. Only if they tear their walls down shall they find the treasure.¡± The spiritughed heartily. ¡°True. True.¡± Then he extended a hand with a Vital Orb once more. Once Lucan received it, the spirit leaned back and fell silent. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Lucan said. ¡°That is all.¡± Lucan nced to his left where the fog still impeded his vision of the princess. ¡°That is all? The Trial has ended?¡± Watching this, the spirit added, ¡°For you, it has.¡± Lucan noticed that the fog had brightened as though something was shining beyond it. He could only imagine what was happening on the other side. ¡°Must I leave now?¡± ¡°You may wait if you wish. There¡¯s no harm¡± Lucan settled into his seat at the spirit¡¯s reassurance. Soon, the fog began to fade, and Lucan could see the princess again. She was on her feet and looking towards the passages they¡¯de through. When the fog faded, she looked in his direction and waved. She looked brighter for some reason Lucan could not perceive. The princess gestured towards the passages and Lucan nodded, getting up and walking in their direction while drawing closer to her. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°A baptism.¡± ¡°A what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not yet certain what it is myself. But the spirit assured me it was something good.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lucan said. ¡°It was an honor conversing with you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°And it was a pleasure to converse with you, Lucan,¡± the princess said as they drew close to the passages. ¡°But I fear I must disagree with you on something.¡± ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°You might have misjudged your father,¡± she said. ¡°Some people reckon with grief differently than others. Some of them find memories of their loved ones painful, not nostalgic, for their love was too strong and their loss too great.¡± ¡°You believe my father is one of them? That this is why he dislikes seeing me read?¡± ¡°Well, unlike most men of good standing, he only has one son and heir, and he hasn¡¯t remarried to rectify that, has he?¡± With that, the princess stepped into her dark passage, leaving him to dwell on his thoughts. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Lucan came out of the hall to the expectant gaze of his father. With the princess¡¯s words still on his mind, he looked upon his father¡¯s visage differently. ¡°How did you do?¡± his father asked. ¡°Well,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I¡¯ve earned enough Orbs for my Iron body.¡± Sir Gn eximed gleefully ¡°Splendid! Come, there is time for you to see to that before we depart. While you do, I must go offer the princess the courtesy of an escort.¡± Lucan saw that Cordell had arrived at the Hall. The man-at-arms received a gesture from his father, upon which he led Lucan to a nearby street where they found a rtively secluded alley. Cordell procured a wooden box from somewhere and Lucan took a seat. He would elevate his Physique here. He felt it was a bit rushed, but there was a saying, ¡®The best boon is a swift boon.¡¯ He summoned his blessing and took a look. Race: Human Level: 4 Vital Orbs: 10 Mind and Body Physique: Copper III 0/10 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) His next leap in Physique would be significant. The norm among professional soldierly was a Physique between Iron and Steel. While Physique enhancements added to one¡¯s naturally existent strength without discrimination and it was difficult to measure their whole strength after enhancement, it was expected that a man at Iron Physique would be twice as strong as a healthy man. Lucan looked forward to it. He focused on his Physique and willed his Vital Orbs into it. An urgent heat welled up in his chest and passed through his limbs, searing muscle and bone with a pull and twist. It was as painful as his first Physique improvement, though this time he was more familiar with what to expect. Eventually, the pain receded and his body settled down. A renewed feeling of strength was born within him, as though he carried an additional reservoir of power on his person. He stood up and nodded at Cordell who¡¯d watched over him. Then he summoned his blessing once more, a nagging part of him wishing to affirm his achievement. Race: Human Level: 4 Vital Orbs: 0 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) Now he would have some leeway in putting Vital Orbs into his Skills, though he would still have to keep enhancing his Physique at proper times. After checking on his blessing, Lucan along with Cordel headed back to his father near the Hall. The knight was standing at a proper distance from the princess with an excessively rigid posture. When Lucan arrived, he heard his father¡¯s voice. ¡°Thank you for granting me the honor, Your Highness,¡± he said, though the seasoned knight couldn¡¯t hide the signs of surprise on his face. Lucan even spied the astonishment on Sir Thorne¡¯s face, thetter standing a step to the side and behind the princess. After excusing himself, Lucan¡¯s father turned around and gestured for Cordell, who hurried forward. ¡°We will have the honor of escorting the princess back to Eldham as additional guards during her journey. Prepare the greenhorns and make certain they don¡¯t breach the boundaries of propriety in the princess¡¯s presence, and let them know how to conduct themselves with the Royal Guard.¡± Cordell nodded solemnly then stalked his way towards the keep. They would be traveling tomorrow, but the man-at-arms likely wanted to instruct his lessers sooner rather thanter. ¡°The princess has epted our escort?¡± Lucan asked after the man-at-arms left. ¡°Yes,¡± his father said, sparing him an inquiring nce. ¡°Surprisingly so.¡± Lucan shrugged. He didn¡¯t know why the princess epted an empty invitation that was often offered as a traditional courtesy, but he had his suspicions. Perhaps she¡¯d seen in him an adequatepanion who could entertain her along the trip, or perhaps she was convinced of what she¡¯d told him about his father, so much that she wanted to honor the knight by granting him the opportunity. ¡°We depart at first light,¡± his father continued. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the keep. There, we can prepare and you can tell me more about what happened in the Trial.¡± The next day saw their party waiting for the princess at the city¡¯s northern gate. Her retinue¡¯s arrival was prompt, though they didn¡¯t catch sight of her royal highness, what with her ornate giant of a carriage barely visible behind the ten bronze-d knights and the twenty men-at-arms that constituted her procession. Lucan managed to get a better look at the carriage as his father met Sir Thorne and they prepared the arrangement for their march. It was white with lines made of real silver and gold tracing their way in curves and circles on its surface. Its wheels were a shade beyond white and they were muchrger than the average carriage¡¯s. The carriage had small windows on the sides which Lucan could see were closed tight. He also had no doubt that the carriage was enchanted from the inside to provide additional safety. Once the two knights had argued their way into an arrangement, his father arguing against marching at the tail of the procession and Sir Thorne against his father marching closer to the carriage, it was decided that they would march on the outer nk of the princess¡¯s carriage, where the Royal Guard would still be between them and her highness. The royal banner waved in the wind as they began their march, standing significantly higher andrger than the Zeshs¡¯ modest one. The king¡¯s banner was of a four-winged, golden phoenix on a heater shield, and it looked as majestic as its size suggested. Their journey would take a fortnight, particrly because they couldn¡¯t hasten it lest they make it ufortable for her highness. Once they moved out of the city¡¯s vicinity, Lucan spied the princess¡¯s visage through the open window of her carriage. She was watching the wilderness with a serene countenance, her hair blowing with an errant breeze that passed over the road. Lucan believed she would¡¯ve cut a stunning figure had she not looked so in even after being adorned with all the garments, jewelry, and powders of royalty. For most of the day, the princess¡¯s windows stayed open. Lucan sometimes saw her eying his father curiously. Other times she and Lucan would exchange polite smiles or nods. Mostly, she seemed to be thoughtful; while Lucan himself was curious about what had happened at the end of the Trial, when he had had to wait for her to finish. Their first stop came before sunset at a known clearing where caravans often camped. There had been a small caravan camped in it when they¡¯d arrived, but they¡¯d had to move their camp to the other side and down the road once the Royal Guard worked their persuasion on them. Sir Gn¡¯s party had to make their rest at the edge of the royal camp, but still, Lucan saw the princess leave the carriage to stretch her legs, taking a walk through the middle of the camp and receiving a bow whenever she addressed one of her guards. Their journey continued in the same vein for the next few days. Lucan noted that the Royal Guard seemed to grow more rxed with their presence, even allowing them to get closer to the princess at times. On the tenth night of their journey, he finally got a chance to ask her about the Trial when she invited him to converse. ¡°The spirit said that I was to be baptized by the Sphere,¡± she said. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Lucan asked as they walked through the camp, shadowed by two of the princess¡¯s knights. ¡°It¡¯s as ambiguous as it sounds in truth,¡± she said. ¡°Though it was surprising in a pleasant way. I cannot speak much about it. Though few people canpel me to do anything, it turns out that the spirit is one of them after the baptism. It came with its benefits, however.¡± She raised a hand and a faint glow of green came over her skin. ¡°The trade was more than fair.¡± ¡°You must have answered all his riddles,¡± Lucan¡¯s thoughts came out of his mouth. It was more of a pondering than a statement. ¡°I did indeed,¡± the princess said. ¡°Enough about me, though. It¡¯s your turn.¡± She gave him a knowing look. Lucan nodded. He still remembered her rules. He¡¯d inquired about her affairs for a bit, and now he would have to repay her by answering her own inquiries about his affairs. ¡°Tell me about the South,¡± she said. It was a simple question, so Lucan obliged. He told her about their territory, their neighboring estates, the threat of the Wildermen and the warlords of The Shattered Kingdom. The princess listened quietly, nodding at appropriate times and humming thoughtfully at others. Eventually, as the evening grew old, she bade him good night and he returned to his tent. He got the chance to speak with the princess again on briefer asions, and she once even summoned his father to converse. Before the sunset of the thirteenth day since their departure and while they were preparing their camp, they spotted a partying from the direction of the capital. Seeing an unfamiliar noble banner, a few of the princess¡¯s guards rode to inquire while the rest made and secured their camp. Eventually, the Royal Guard affirmed that they were envoys of Bitis leaving the capital and heading east. It was even deemed safe enough for the princess to walk around the camp, since some of the knights recognized one of the envoys and ascertained their allegiance. As they passed by their camp, Lucan watched the delegation with curiosity, upon which, the princess stepped up beside him. ¡°Bitans, they were here to ask for a pittance from my father as usual.¡± ¡°Your Highness?¡± Lucan looked at her quizzically. ¡°They¡¯re here for coin?¡± The princess chuckled but without much emotion in the act. ¡°Of course, what else are they good for?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You said you read history, you must know theirs. You don¡¯t know what they do, what their very Kingdom was born to do?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Mostly, they were meant to keep the old Empire in check. With their mounted archers and their assassins countering the Empire¡¯s army, they have historically seeded.¡± ¡°And you believe they did it for nothing?¡± the princess said. ¡°The Bitans don¡¯t produce much. They¡¯re not mercantile people either. They only know war, and an old form of it at that, one that was fashioned to master the battlefield against the Empire. Centuries ago, when the Empire splintered, there was an unwritten agreement between the young Kingdoms of the Elder Lands to provide Bitis with coin in exchange for them bearing the threat of the slumbering giant alone. Since then, the threat has waned further and further, and some of the Kings don¡¯t see a need to continue with that agreement, including my father. It¡¯s more of a tradition now, an old, costly one. And my father barely abides by it, giving them as little as possible.¡± Lucan was surprised. While some of the books had hinted that Bitis would sometimes receive goods or coins during times of war against the Veti Empire, none of them had mentioned a permanent agreement for a stipend to be paid to the Kingdom. Of course, Lucan knew why the Kingdoms kept such an agreement unwritten. It could be misconstrued as a tribute to a higher power which would have its own political implications. He would have to try to understand the depths of apparently shallow hints like the ones he¡¯d seen in the future, since he¡¯d missed such a significant agreement simply because it had never been explicitly written in one of his books. Or perhaps he should get to know more about history from people like the princess. He was certain to hear things he¡¯d never known before. ¡°They¡¯re heading east now,¡± Lucan said. ¡°They expect the guilds to pay them?¡± The princess nodded regally. ¡°And their expectations will be met. The guilds will pay generously.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Recognition,¡± she said, giving him an excited smile. It was the first time he felt her truly interested in something she spoke of since they¡¯d spoken about her mother and his. ¡°The Union¡¯s political position isn¡¯t enviable. They¡¯re young, without a monarch of appropriate prestige to represent them, and their rtionship with the Mer does them no favors in the Elder Lands. Most of the Kingdoms either ignore them, begrudgingly deal with them, or tolerate them as my father does. By paying Bitis the same amount the old Kingdom of Essia used to, they are trying to cement their position as its sessor instead of the thick alliance of tradesmen they are.¡± Lucan listened aptly. This was an interesting topic for him. Although his books provided an appropriate background for the Elder Lands¡¯ politicking, nothing could match up to someone who had current knowledge and sufficient understanding of regional politics. The princess seemed to possess both. ¡°It seems I have guests,¡± the princess said, looking in the direction of the approaching envoys who were likelying to greet her. She turned to Lucan kindly. ¡°If you will.¡± Understanding, Lucan nodded, lowering his head to the princess before leaving and allowing her to receive the envoys¡¯ respects. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 A little after the sunrise of the fifteenth day since their departure from Arpague, Lucan caught sight of the capital. Eldham was surrounded by white walls that did nothing to hide the grandeur of the city¡¯s interior. Blue-capped spires rose out of the royal pce, guarding between them a grand dome that matched their azure shade. Two ambitious temples on opposite sides of the citypeted with each other in size and splendor, both only a sliver shy of the pce¡¯s size. The infernal and abyssal temples, praying and warning against gods that sought to drag them to their respective oblivions. The first temple was made of rusty reddish stone and the second from dark, depressing blocks of granite. Neither the temples nor the pce were the most prominent feature of the city, however. The most magnificent, most sizable structure of this city wasn¡¯t made of stone but of light gray wood. The Elder Root stood opposite the royal pce, towering over even its tallest spire. Its bare branches spread up like upside-down roots digging into the clouds. A gigantic skeleton of a tree that never had a leaf to its name, yet it was the most living thing one could imagine. Without it, the Elder Lands would be no better than the perished continent beyond the Hearth Sea. It was a sentinel against encroaching danger that was now no more than inconvenience thanks to its protection. And the fools to the East had burned it down in their rebellion. Lucan didn¡¯t even know how they had managed it. It was said that damaging an Elder Root was no easy feat, let alone utterly destroying it. Yet they had, and now they suffered the consequences. The rebels had reveled in the chaos for a while, thinking it an opportunity to turn the tables. Eventually, though, they hade to realize their folly, their ignorance. It was difficult to wrest control of a Kingdom that no longer existed. Rather, it was difficult to survive against the new dangers that prowled the easternnds. The Elder Roots in Barwalis and The Vincemare¡¯snds had still provided a measure of protection even with the long distance, yet it hadn¡¯t been enough. It was difficult to survive a hostile world that you were not familiar with, and even harder to survive a locale where everyone hated you for unleashing the local apocalypse. None of the rebel families still stood today. Their very names were taboo in the east, the few still remembered stood for curses, dark bedtime stories, and insults to one¡¯s intellect. Lucan gazed with awe at the tree. It was no tree, he knew, not in the way others were. The Elders had built¨Cor grown¨Cit. No one knew how the Roots worked, but all benefited from them. It was a wonder of great proportions. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d seen it either. He¡¯d also seen the one in the south from the shore of theke where his father had taken him years ago. It was, however, difficult to restrain that awe when you weren¡¯t used to its presence by living in its vicinity. His father had once told him that on clear days, the Elder Root in the greatke was visible from their keep, yet Lucan had failed to catch sight of it even once. A slight fog had also prevented him from glimpsing it on their journey where the High Road came closest to theke, yet his imagination had conjured a shadow of it beyond the fog when they¡¯de across the fork in the road. Lucan was riding behind his father, deep in his thoughts, when thetter pulled back to ride beside him. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t speak of our intentions to anyone. Don¡¯t make any promises however small. You¡¯re of age now, your words will hold weight, mostly over you, but they can also undermine our estate as a whole.¡± ¡°Yes, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Are we certain of our choice though?¡± His father nodded. ¡°It¡¯s an opportunity, Lucan. Something like this will onlye along once. We might not have the opportunity to rise in standing again until your own childrene of age. Regardless, I¡¯m only advising the King as one of his subordinates, as one of his aides in a way. I cannot demand anything.¡± His father¡¯s voice dropped to a discreet whisper. ¡°And it won¡¯t only be us in opposition to the notion of a new crown prince. Aside from Arpague and its allies, the northern lords won¡¯t find the matter appealing either. They¡¯re the ones that appreciate the Kingdom¡¯s internal solidarity the most. If the Vincemare smell weakness, we¡¯re in for another war, and they would be the ones to pay the price first and foremost.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Then may the gods spare you their intrusions, Father.¡± As he spoke with his father, Lucan spied a ridering from the city to speak with one of the princess¡¯s knights then gallop back with haste. His father spent some more time preparing him for what was toe, and by the time they were done speaking, they¡¯d arrived at the city¡¯s gates. They hadn¡¯t been the only nobles arriving at that time, but the princess¡¯s retinue was of course given precedence of entry to the city. At the gates, an honor guard from the city watch waited for the princess, some standing on the sides of the road to greet her upon her return and others marching alongside her guards. Their procession was squeezed thin as they trotted into the city, forcing Lucan and his father to fall back to the tail. The smell of the city hit Lucan in the face as soon as they passed through the gate. It wasn¡¯t as bad as Arpague, but it was the smell of a city, and it never smelled good in a city. The window of the princess¡¯s carriage was closed. She didn¡¯t open it to wave or greet any of her honor guard. Some of the city¡¯s residents crowded around the road to watch the spectacle, held back from getting closer to her highness¡¯s carriage by the guards. Others were indifferent, continuing to their destinations, as though this was a normal urrence to them. Getting to the pce took longer than expected, what with the honor guard marching on foot all prim and proper. The road being cleared for them didn¡¯t help with their pace. When they did reach the pce, the honor guard delivered the princess and her retinue to the pce¡¯s Royal Guard who took over their duties. The princess¡¯s party and his father¡¯s were separated. Sir Gn and Lucan were guided to proper lodgings where they could prepare themselves for a formal audience with the King where they would deliver their respects and the King his blessings before they were allowed to prowl the outer pce as they wished. The doublet was tight around Lucan¡¯s chest, the feeling of it smothering him. It was nothing real of course, rather it was his rtive unfamiliarity with formal garments. It¡¯d been years since hisst visit to the capital, and since then, he hadn¡¯t had to saddle himself with such clothing. His father had had these made for the asion, and they were as colorful and ostentatious as required, or so he believed. Lucan¡¯s doublet was bright blue over a cream-colored shirt and yellow trousers. To his judgment, he was only two steps away from a court jester, but he wasn¡¯t a judge of these asions or their required dress. He stepped out of his chamber and found his father waiting for him with garments that were only different from his in their darker coloring, which gave him a more equable look. For a moment, Lucan looked at his father usingly, as though he had been sacrificed to the peacock gods. His father pretended he didn¡¯t see the look on his face and nodded in the direction of the approaching servant. The servant, observing all manners of decorum and politeness, guided them toward the hall of the throne. They were led through a series of hallways and corridors until they reached their destination. Instead of a simple chamber door like most of the pce, this one wasrge enough to be dubbed a gate. Double doors made of wood painted gold and carved in the shapes of eagles, phoenixes, and wyrms barred their way into the hall of the throne. Two knights carapaced in the Royal Guard¡¯s te armor and a cloak that was reserved for formal asions nked the doors. The servant bade them wait until the King¡¯s current guests were done with their greetings. The wait didn¡¯tst too long, for soon the doors opened and a man along with his three sons came out. Lucan felt that he was familiar with the faces, but he couldn¡¯t quite name them. He didn¡¯t have to, however, as his father did it for him. ¡°Lord Marquel,¡± his father addressed the man, lowering his head slightly with a nod. ¡°Sir Zesh,¡± the nobleman said. ¡°A pleasure to see you on such a festive asion.¡± He gestured towards the young man and two boys beside him. ¡°You¡¯ve met my sons, though they were quite young back then.¡± The two boys greeted Lucan¡¯s father respectfully with a ¡°Sir Zesh.¡± while the young man gave a more neutral greeting which his father returned. Lucan bowed to Lord Marquel and nodded to his sons. ¡°Greetings, My Lord.¡± ¡°Ah, your son,¡± the lord scrutinized Lucan. ¡°It is good to see you once more, young Lucan.¡± Then he turned his attention back to his father. ¡°We won¡¯t dy you from your audience any longer,¡± Lord Marquel. ¡°We will have more suitable opportunities to converse during the feast, I imagine.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°It will be my pleasure.¡± The lord and his sons departed and Lucan found himself gazing upon therge closed doors. It only took a moment for them to open once again and for another servant to usher them inside. As he and his father stepped into the hall of the throne, they were met with wide, high steps that they were supposed to take position before, and above those steps were closed curtains that hid the King¡¯s throne. Sir Gn gestured for Lucan and they stepped forward together, taking a knee before the steps. As they did, the servant who¡¯d shown them in announced them. ¡°Sir Gn Zesh of Upper Barwalis and his son Lucan Zesh kneel before the King in supplication,¡± he dered, emphasizing the hignds where their estate was founded. His father followed the servant¡¯s words with his own. ¡°I, Gn Zesh, affirm my oath to the King and carry my loyalty to the Crown openly and proudly.¡± The curtains were pulled apart gently by servants and the King was revealed. Lucan¡¯s head was lowered, however, and he couldn¡¯t see him. A wizened voice answered his father. ¡°And I wee you, a faithful vassal, to wall and hearth where you may observe my protection and generosity. Rise.¡± Lucan¡¯s father rose before he followed him and he finally caught sight of the King. His memory of the most powerful man in Barwalis was blurry and this might as well have been the first time he¡¯d seen him. The King had white hair. So white it differed from the natural grey of the elderly. His hair was long, cascading over his shoulders to meet with a smooth narrow beard of the same color. His eyes were difficult to parse since he had them narrowed in a smile, but Lucan believed them blue. He wore light golden robes and had discarded his crowned golden mask on a small table beside him. He was nked by four armored knights of the Royal Guard, all standing straight and still. Behind him stood a servant ready to attend to his every want. ¡°You¡¯ve trekked a considerable journey,¡± the King said. ¡°I would trek a thousand like it at yourmand, Your Majesty,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Yes, I would think so,¡± the king spared a deep, softugh. ¡°Your son?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Lucan, my only son and heir. He hase of age, Your Majesty.¡± The King hummed as he observed him, and Lucan felt like shrinking in on himself. Rigidly, he bent his back in a solid bow and spoke. ¡°I greet Your Royal Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the King said before shifting his gaze back to his father. ¡°Not much poise, but he is still young, he may learn.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± his father said. The King nodded and let out a persistent hum again before speaking. ¡°Well then, may your sojourn be pleasant and all that. You have your leave. If you wish, my scribe may arrange an audience for you on the morrow.¡± Sir Gn nodded deeply and spun on his heel. Lucan mimicked him perfectly before they both marched out of the hall. A breath Lucan hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d been holding found its way out of him once they stepped outside. Their march back to their chambers was silent and Lucan would gaze down at his attire from time to time. Fortunately, he would be liberated from these garments. Unfortunately, he would find himself shackled with them once more on the eve of the feast. But before then, they would have to attend to the matter of session. Of course, it would only be his father who would speak to the King, but that didn¡¯t detract from the weight Lucan felt due to this matter. It would be a significant undertaking for their family, perhaps even more significant than the canals he was having dug back home. Though this undertaking would ur within a simple few words that could carry them up the statusdder or bury them far beneath it. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Lucan stood in the great hall of the royal pce, alone and with a silver goblet in his hand. The goblet was full of wine. He was full of stress. And his formal garments were full enough of him to evoke a feeling of suffocation. Around him was the soft mor of a crowd of politepany. Nobles of many stations but only one allegiance, at least outwardly. The feast wouldn¡¯t formally begin until the morrow¡¯s evening, when the King would be announced and the guests weed, yet it was informally underway. For the night, the noblemen would converse, broker deals, and maybe plot a little as well. And thedies would gossip, giggle in appropriately quiet voices, and perhaps suffer courtship from young men of proper stations. Judging bypany alone, of which he had none, he was neither ady nor a nobleman. The difort of loneliness amidst a crowd surprisingly smothered him more than his doublet. His father had left him, justifiably, for a private audience with the King where the matter of session would be discussed and their estate¡¯s opinion on the matter disclosed. At least hisck of apanion came with a bit offort since no one would poke into their family¡¯s affairs or attempt to invest him into one of theirs. He had given proper greetings to the nobles he recognized, and sometimes to those he didn¡¯t. Among the pairs and groups that had formed, there were several familiar faces. Lord Zesh, his father¡¯s cousin, stood among his fellow noblemen, obviously led by one broad-shouldered man who was certain to be Duke Elmere of Arpague. Lucan regarded the group with interest for a while but couldn¡¯t make out their subject of discussion no matter how much he tried to read their lips, a skill he had to admit he didn¡¯t have. With much less regard, Lucan observed another group, centered around the first prince. The object of his aversion to this group was a certain member of their number that happened to be his second cousin. Winton. The first prince himself appeared well-built with wide shoulders and an inted chest. He looked every bit the warrior-king. Lucan imagined that he could indeed garner some support on the merits of his appearance alone. He hadn¡¯t missed the other princes though. The second prince had his own retinue of nobles, mostly those of the royal faction whose territories either neighbored the capital or spanned the breadth of the kingdom¡¯s middle. He was more modestly built, shorter than his older brother if not narrower at the shoulders. Lucan had exchanged greetings with him briefly at the beginning of the gathering, and the second prince carried himself with such dignity and intellect that Lucan had found himself empathizing with the King¡¯s wish to make him his heir. As for the third prince, his greeting had been fleeting. Lucan had seen him for nary a moment before the young man had walked away amidst a small retinue of unfamiliar people, possibly local persons of influence. The third prince had the least chance of ever sitting on the throne. Lucan imagined that that was why none of the nobles were interested in currying favor with him. Lucan saw the Northern nobles grouped up together in a corner of the hall. They were the neutral parties expected to oppose any change in the traditional order of things, like changing the crown prince. His father hoped to appear as one of many voices that opposed the King¡¯s ns instead of appearingplicit to the Duke¡¯s opposition to royal authority. The Northerners were neighbors to the greatest threat Barwalis had to guard against, The Vincemare, or as many called them, the traitors. From what Lucan had read about their history, he didn¡¯t believe they deserved thetter title. They had, after all, taken the brunt of the Mer¡¯s invasion of the Elder Lands centuries ago, and in the process lost most of their sovereignty. After The Pact, they acted as an informal appendage of the Theocracy in the Elder Lands. And when they weren¡¯t attempting a conquest of Liberferia, they were either contesting territories on the border with Barwalis or with Barwalis¡¯s neighbor and ally, Pontis. Such contests had extended into long and bloody wars in the past, thest of which had ended thirteen years ago. When Lucan¡¯s eyes began to search for thest of the royal children among those present, she surprised him by appearing at his side. ¡°I see you are mingling quite well,¡± the princess said, her tone not quite mocking even though her words cut a little. ¡°The night is still young,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I may yet findpany.¡± He turned and noted the twopanions that trailed behind the princess. They didn¡¯t look like maidservants, considering that one of them was a man. ¡°Toote now,pany has found you,¡± the princess chortled. ¡°May I introduce you to my friends?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said. ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡± ¡°This here is Master Aston Sawyer.¡± The princess gestured towards the man who seemed to be beginning the third decade of his life. ¡°He is quite the masterful engineer. You must see some of his works. Oh, and he prefers to be addressed by his family¡¯s name, Sawyer.¡± The engineer nodded thankfully at the princess¡¯sst statement before nodding a greeting at Lucan. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Master Sawyer,¡± Lucan said. ¡°The pleasure is mine, Master Zesh,¡± the engineer said. ¡°This is Helena,¡± the princess continued. ¡°She is a dear friend of mine and a ledger master of great skill.¡± Helena extended a greeting before Lucan could. ¡°A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Lucan.¡± ¡°The pleasure is mine,¡± Lucan said. Amotion came from the direction of the first prince¡¯s party. Lucan noted the princeughing uproariously. The goblet in his hand sloshed as heughed and some of the wine sshed on the ground. Around him, the younger generation of nobles were sharing in the revelry with their own drinks in hand. ¡°Perhaps we should retreat into one of the side halls,¡± the princess said, eying Lucan. ¡°There are some things of interest to discuss.¡± Lucan didn¡¯t know what manner of discussion the princess wanted to have but he wouldn¡¯t say no considering she¡¯d shown him and his father courtesy on more than one asion. ¡°If you wish, then we may, Your Highness.¡± There was a small entryway nearby, through which they entered one of the side halls. It was smaller and quieter but there were still some servants around, ready to serve food and drink. The four of them took to one corner of the hall for the sake of some privacy from the ears of the servants. ¡°I see your father is absent,¡± the princess said. Lucan hesitated, but there was no reason to hide it when it was no secret to begin with. ¡°He is preparing for a private audience with his majesty, the King.¡± Of course, he had to keep the contents of said audience secret. Thest thing they needed was to fall into a moreplicated mess of politics. The princess seemed to take his words in for a moment, scrutinizing his face briefly, then she nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Helena filled the short silence that followed. ¡°Her Highness has told me that your father has his own estate. For a knight, he must be highly regarded in his majesty¡¯s court. Surely, you intend to be knighted yourself to follow in his footsteps, yes?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Lucan said, noting that he didn¡¯t have the attention of all three of hispanions, as Sawyer no-so-subtly kept stealing nces at Helena. Regardless, Lucan continued with his memorized speech. ¡°I will do my utmost in service of the Kingdom so that I may be found worthy of the title.¡± Helena nodded along while the princess simply gave him a side eye, perhaps recognizing the speech for what it was. ¡°What about you?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°The pce is surely in need of good ledger masters.¡± The question seemed to snuff the light out of Helena¡¯s face, while Sawyer scowled. ¡°Ahem, that is a matter of muchplexity,¡± the princess broke the silence. ¡°I did attempt to get Helena into the pce¡¯s employ, but they are quite stringent.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Helena finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m without a proper family name, and they¡¯re also reluctant to allow a woman into the pce¡¯s employ.¡± Lucan found the reasoningcking. If the princess wanted her in the pce, then those things would matter little. He looked at the princess and she looked back. Her eyes demanded silence. So Lucan nodded along as sympathetically as he could. Then he epted a drink from one of the servants, wine watered down with nectar juice which gave it a fruity, sweet taste. He sipped his wine as the talk veered into more lighthearted matters. Helena spoke of her dealings with some of the Eastern guilds while overseeing ledgers for one of the local merchants. Sawyer made certain to shower her withpliments whenever she spoke of a minor achievement while the princess delivered tamer praise at appropriate moments. Lucan mirrored the princess¡¯s praise out of courtesy. After a while, the princess finally brought about the matter which she wanted to discuss. She waited until Helena was done with her storytelling before softly treading into it. ¡°As everyone well knows, at least if they are not politically illiterate,¡± she said, ¡°the heir apparent is about to change, but that doesn¡¯t diminish other oppor¨C¡± ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. When he received a long stare from the princess, he added, ¡°right?¡± He cleared his throat, nearly choking in the process. ¡°I meant that the King has not made such a decision yet. May he not change his mind?¡± ¡°Change his mind?¡± the princess drawled. ¡°You¨C¡± she paused, giving their twopanions a brief look. ¡°Might you give us a moment, dears?¡± Helena looked conflicted while Sawyer was all too happy to take advantage of the opportunity. He herded Helena away to another corner of the hall. The princess turned back to Lucan, her gaze intense and searching. ¡°What makes you think it is not decided already?¡± ¡°Well there¡¯s¡­¡± Lucan muttered, remembering his father¡¯s warnings, perhaps a bit toote. ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to speak of this, my apologies. It¡¯s not my ce.¡± ¡°No,¡± the princess said. ¡°Please, you may. Worry not, no one will hold you responsible for it. I certainly don¡¯t intend to repeat what you tell me to anyone else.¡± ¡°Well, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said. ¡°There¡¯s the duke, and then there are also the border lords in the North. To my knowledge, there would be many dissidents should such a decree be exercised.¡± ¡°Dissidents that include you? Your family?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lucan nearly yelled. ¡°Of course not, Your Highness. My father¡¯s loyalty to the King is unquestionable.¡± ¡°Ah, of course, Lord Zesh,¡± the princess said, ignoring his statement. ¡°How have I missed that?¡± Then she leveled her gaze on him again, sighing. ¡°You may rx. It isn¡¯t bing of me to tattle on you.¡± She chuckled. For a moment, she eyed him curiously. Then she raised her brows as though she¡¯d realized something. ¡°Unless¡­you¡¯re terrifically doing it yourself. Your father?¡± Lucan pressed his lips. There was no hiding it now. ¡°Your Highness, my father is loyal to the King. As his knight and aide, he is obligated to provide counsel when he sees a need to do so, and should his counsel be set aside, then he intends only to obey.¡± Lucan didn¡¯t know why, perhaps because the moment of highest intensity had passed, but he realized now that the princess¡¯s countenance was in no way using, but rather simr to how he imagined his would be while doing simple arithmetic. ¡°Regretful,¡± the princess said softly. ¡°If I¡¯d known earlier¡­¡± ¡°Your Highness?¡± Lucan said carefully. She gave him a resigned look. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no harm in telling you now.¡± She sighed again. ¡°The duke has a false notion that he is crafty, craftier than this court, perhaps even craftier than the King himself. He is wrong. It is the sort of mistake one makes when they think sitting on the throne is as simple as ruling a big city or gathering an alliance of minor lords with a vested interest in opposing royal authority. It wasn¡¯t good fortune that allowed my father to keep a Kingdom surrounded by the uncertain together, and even stable. You¡¯ve met the first prince?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°How did he strike you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t speak with him for long, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Yes, but you must have made at least the simplest of judgements by what you¡¯ve observed so far.¡± ¡°He is¡­boisterous?¡± The princess tittered. ¡°I suppose one could observe him as such. Let me tell you, then, what all those native to the royal court know. My eldest half-brother is acerbic in his folly. A Bane to any reasonable man.¡± Lucan was shocked into silence. He hadn¡¯t expected such an acidic description of a royal membering from another, and now he struggled to find an appropriate response. The princess, perhaps having not noticed the cast of his countenance or deliberately choosing to ignore it, continued. ¡°What do you suppose happens when you send such a person on a tour of the Northern territories? The border territories.¡± After a brief calm, Lucan balked. His breath came faster. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the princess said. ¡°Those ¡®dissidents¡¯ you spoke of will now be confined to the duke and his closest allies.¡± ¡°And the King¡¯s mind cannot be changed?¡± Lucan said, the wordsing out weak and empty. He didn¡¯t hold much hope for them himself. For the first time, the princess scoffed then shook her head. ¡°Are you so desperate to have a fool on the throne, Lucan Zesh? The second prince might not be a paragon of benevolence. But even apetent viin is always better than a foolish saint, not that my first half-brother is a saint. I thought you read history.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­¡± Lucan found himself without words. But perhaps the look on his face spoke for him. ¡°Ah, of course,¡± the princess said. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re in a rather desperate position. Well, hear this, none of what I¡¯ve told you is much of a secret, or at least it won¡¯t be by the end of this day. But now I will tell you one, and I will expect your discretion on the matter, of course, and your gratitude should I seek itter.¡± Lucan took the words in and nodded. ¡°My father is sick.,¡± she whispered, her wordsing as a deadly hiss. ¡°The court¡¯s healers have found no recourse. Some of them even call it a divine affliction, but the truth is, they simply don¡¯t know what to make of it. They don¡¯t see many years ahead of my father either.¡± She leaned forward, not losing any of her regal bearing while doing so, and she said. ¡°His decision is made. It is not a matter for counsel or politics to contest. I can tell you that even the most persuasive men in this court cannot change the mind of a dying man, and certainly more so if he¡¯s a dying King.¡± Lucan¡¯s eyes rested on the ground, his mind a tempest of thoughts, none of them good. He and his father were about to set themselves against the second prince, no, the crown prince. The man who was certain to be King in a few short years. He had to warn his father. He had to catch him before he met the King. ¡°Your Highness, may I please be excused.¡± The princess gave him a resigned nod even though she was obviously inconvenienced. He didn¡¯t know what matter she had intended to discuss with him, but he had other concerns now. He gave her a hasty bow and walked out of the halls. Then he ran. He had to. Now their estate¡¯s fate may very well depend on how fast he could run in the royal pce without rming the guards enough to stop him. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 His breath came in gasps and pants as he sped through the hallways of the pce. He¡¯d been stopped more than once, by servants or guards. The servants were polite but inquisitive, while the guards were stern and cautious, if not suspicious. Lucan had told them all the same thing. His father had forgotten an important item that was a constituent to his attire, which would be needed for the knight to appear presentable before the King and which Lucan must deliver to him promptly. His lie was enough to get him past the scrutiny for now, considering he seemed harmless, was without a weapon, and was the son of a trusted knight. He knew such an excuse wouldn¡¯tst for long, however. Already, a servant had asked him to let them deliver the item to his father, and Lucan had had toe up with an excuse not to on the spot. When he reached his father¡¯s chamber, he didn¡¯t find him there. And he had to speed through the hallways once more, yet he was stopped more times in a single hallway than he had since he¡¯d left the grand hall, for he was now heading to the King¡¯s study, and he was finally forced to slow himself into an energetic walk instead of a run. After many persuasions, pleadings with guards, and even once being searched by a sergeant of the royal guard at the corner of the hallway that ended with the King¡¯s study, he found himself face to face with his father, who had just stepped out of the study. Perhaps reading that which was written on Lucan¡¯s face, his father hastily herded him back to their chambers. Once the door was shut, he turned to him. ¡°What is the matter?¡± Lucan told him. He told him everything the princess said, and the consequences of it. Though he needn¡¯t have done thetter, as he saw his father¡¯s face falling and losing color with every word he said. He knew full well the reverberations of these new revtions and how they would affect their position. It was the first time he saw his father¡¯s metallic poise copsing. For a fleeting moment, he saw his father¡¯s countenance uncertain, his normally set jaw shuddering, his squared shoulders swaying. But it was only a moment. Again, the jaw settled, the shoulders firmed. Sir Gn nodded slowly. ¡°This is my mistake. I will make certain the King and the prince know that it was mine alone.¡± He looked Lucan in the eye. ¡°I will do my utmost to leave you untouched by this¡­misfortune.¡± Lucan looked at his father, his father who disliked his reading habit not because he didn¡¯t care for Mother¡¯s memory but because it pained him to remember it, because perhaps he loved her even more than Lucan did. Lucan wound himself up to speak but he found nothing to say. ¡°You¡¯ve done well,¡± his father said. ¡°Thank you, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°However, I don¡¯t think the second prince will care whether it was you alone or both of us. I¡¯m the heir of our estate. It¡¯s only natural that I bear the consequences with you. And, Father, I will.¡± ¡°No,¡± his father growled. ¡°I erred. It is my responsibility.¡± A press of his lips along with a grind of his teeth told Lucan that his father was incensed. ¡°I will not have you pay for my mistakes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think either of us have a choice in the matter,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Nowe what maye, we¡¯ll have to bear it together.¡± His father sat down slowly and gave him a rueful smile. ¡°And do you know what maye, Son?¡± He sighed. ¡°You may never be knighted. Thend would go to someone else, and the best you could hope for would be to be a retainer of your second uncle, barely better than amoner.¡± ¡°I know, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I know.¡± Even though he hated to imagine himself bing a retainer to Winton when he became Lord after his father, he still epted it. If it came and he couldn¡¯t live with it, then he would simply leave, perhaps be a retainer to another noble in another Kingdom or even a mercenary, however bitter that would be to swallow. For now, they ought to see what woulde of this. And if there was a solution, then by the Elders, they had to grab it by the throat. ¡°Lucan!¡± a voice called amidst themotion of the feast. Lucan had been sipping wine alone, this time by choice, while taking cover beside arge curtain. He¡¯d been deep in his thoughts about their dilemma, as though he could find a solution hidden somewhere, but he knew he couldn¡¯t. The voice was familiar but not pleasant. Lucan looked in the direction it came from to find his cousin, Winton, looking back at him from among the party of young nobles that apanied the first prince. His cousin waved for him to join them. Lucan grimaced but went anyway. The first prince was towering over most of hispanions. Lucan arrived while he was still in the middle of telling a story. He lowered his head and greeted him even as he spoke. ¡°Your Highness.¡± The prince nodded to him briefly before continuing his story. ¡°So this turnip farmer keeps hearing it every day. And no matter how much he swears he does, his wife says there¡¯s nothing. He nearly believed he was going mad. Some of his peers were even beginning to say he was cursed by the damned gods. Every day, the scratching and wing sounds would not relent. And the farmer would suffer a torturous sleep. And just before he could truly go mad, it happened. The Outbreak happened right underneath his very house. A crack so big I¡¯ve never seen it¡¯s like. I tell you, the Outbreaks in the Union are something else. We went to the Break¡¯s site the morning after it happened. A bloody affair, many of the neighbors died. But the turnip farmer..the turnip farmer lived.¡± The prince paused tough and sip his drink. ¡°He was the first to hear them as they came out. He pulled his disbelieving wife out and ran. Their neighbors weren¡¯t so lucky. I tell you, I¡¯ve never seen so many monstersing from one Break before. I went there along with some of my host¡¯s men and members of an adventurer¡¯s guild.¡± He snorted and his eyes roamed over the faces of those standing around him. ¡°Yes, even filthy adventurers have guilds there.¡± He shook his head with another chuckle. ¡°We culled the beasts. My de alone took two dozen heads, nearly half of what came out of that Break.¡± The prince nodded to himself assuringly. Then he snapped his head towards one of the young nobles in their circle, one who had produced a dubious countenance after hearing what the prince saidst. ¡°What, you don¡¯t believe me, Willian?¡± The young noble was shocked enough to be flustered as he answered. ¡°Of-Of course not, Your Highness. I would never¨C¡± ¡°Do you want to taste my greatsword?¡± the prince interrupted him. ¡°Because she wouldn¡¯t mind tasting you, of that I¡¯m certain. Perhaps we should go out to the training ring. Have a bout.¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± the young man, Willian, bowed hastily and more deeply than he had to. ¡°Please, I meant no offense. Of course I¡¯m no match for your skill.¡± Lucan noted that most of those around them were at a loss for what to say. Then he nced at his second cousin who suddenly spoke. ¡°Your Highness,¡± Winton said. ¡°I believe Willian was simply having a difficult time imagining such arge Break.¡± Then he nced at the others around him for affirmation. The young men all nodded and hummed their affirmations. The prince seemed mollified, though he scoffed before sipping his wine and saying, ¡°Still, to doubt my words.¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± Willian hurriedly said. ¡°I did no such thing. The size of the Outbreak surprised me. I had some difficulty envisioning it. Please excuse the limitations of my imagination.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the prince said, letting the tense atmosphere flow back into normalcy. Then he dove into another story. Lucan made certain he was as invisible as possible among the group before his ears discarded the royal¡¯s voice. His eyes searched the hall they were in. The second prince was conspicuously absent and Lucan could see the tension among the older nobles around Duke Elmere. The third prince was among his retinue of locals, his countenance unchanged since he first saw him. The man gave off an aura of embitterment that Lucan couldn¡¯t disregard. He imagined he might have been bitter too if he was a prince destined to only lose standing as time went on and with no opportunity topete for the throne. His brothers were wrestling for the highest seat in the Kingdom while he had to ept his fate. The princess was entertaining some of the noble guests in the hall. When he looked at her, she nced at him momentarily, catching his eye. Then she looked at a door that led to one of the side halls. She wanted to speak to him again. About what, he didn¡¯t know, but he assumed it was the same matter she had failed to discuss with himst time. Lucan slowly extricated himself from the first prince¡¯s party, earning a quizzical look from Winton. He was grateful for his second cousin¡¯s attempt to include him, though the notion had likely originated from Winton¡¯s father and not Winton himself. Either way, he had to speak to the princess. He wouldn¡¯t scorn the only royal who¡¯d aided them so far. Thest thing he heard before he retreated from hispany was the first prince¡¯s voice: ¡°I tell you, those priests are abominations. Half Mer half Men? I saw them on¡­¡± The prince¡¯s voice faded into the noise of the main hall as Lucan slipped through the crowd in the direction of the side hall indicated by the princess. He entered and found it empty save for servants, likest time. Lucan didn¡¯t have to stand there sipping his drink for long before the princess followed him into the hall in her light blue gown. She came with a personal maid who was instructed to stand near them as they spoke to avoid any suspicions of impropriety. The princess must have trusted this one maid, since she was close enough to really eavesdrop on their conversation. Lucan bowed. ¡°Your Highness,¡± ¡°Lucan,¡± the princess said with an easy nod. Then, without pause, she proceeded to speak of serious matters. ¡°I assume you didn¡¯t catch up to your father in time.¡± Lucan frowned and shook his head. Being reminded of it did nothing to improve his countenance. They were neck-deep in royal politics, and not in a promising way. ¡°We¡¯re stuck with the decision we¡¯ve made now,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we can change how it is perceived even if we change it now.¡± ¡°You cannot,¡± the princess affirmed. ¡°Not in that way at least.¡± Lucan leaned forward in spite of himself. ¡°There are other ways?¡± ¡°Not ones you should concern yourself with.¡± Lucan pressed his lips and assumed the most beseeching posture he could without losing his dignity. ¡°Please, Your Highness, if there¡¯s a way, we¡­need it. I would owe you gratitude once more.¡± ¡°Already piling up your debts, are you?¡± the princess said. He got the impression she wanted to chuckle but was holding herself back. ¡°There¡¯s no love lost between me and my oldest half-brother, not to say that there¡¯s any lost between me and the others either.¡± This time, she did chuckle. ¡°So I wouldn¡¯t mind divulging another secret. But make no mistake, I do keep count of what I¡¯m owed.¡± Lucan nodded deeply. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the princess said. ¡°You¡¯ve stood near Oswin for a whole dozen breaths. That means you¡¯ve already heard stories of his ¡®heroics¡¯.¡± She inclined her head in question. Lucan nodded. The prince hadn¡¯t been too shy to boast, after all. ¡°Yes, of course,¡± the princess nodded, chuckling once more. ¡°He is a great and brave knight as all know, and as our family with all its members would affirm, for it would shame us all if he were a craven, spineless leech.¡± She gave Lucan a pointed look. Lucan sputtered. His perplexion onlysted for a moment before he recovered, yet he was still uncertain where the princess was going with this. ¡°You see,¡± the princess said. ¡°My brother has had little encounters withbat. Truebat, that is. He¡¯s gotten his Blessing, yes. He¡¯s even gone down to the Labyrinth once. Only once, unlike what he would have you believe.¡± She leaned forward and whispered the next few words. ¡°He needed the care of a Ritualist for his¡­mind,¡± she pointed at her head, ¡°after he came back that time. Since then, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of going near the damn tree. I can tell you he doesn¡¯t fare much better on the surface when ites to conflict.¡± Lucan took it all in, his surprise warring with his confusion. For he still didn¡¯t know what that had to do with him. ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± ¡°Let me finish, will you?¡± the princess said, to which Lucan nodded apologetically. ¡°Now,¡± she continued. ¡°Word has certainly reached my second brother, Dane, of your father¡¯s opinion on hising ascension to the throne. You need a way to mend some of what was broken. Your father might be part of a minority, but that minority isn¡¯t small enough to be negligible. My father knows it. I know it. And Dane certainly does too. And I must admit that the middle one of my half-brothers is in possession of some wisdom. Thest thing he wants is to inherit a Kingdom with the stability of a raft in a thunderstorm. He will have to disillusion those who support Oswin of their convictions.¡± The princess stepped closer to Lucan but still kept enough distance for propriety. ¡°And what better way to disillusion men whose ancestors earned their titles by strength of arm than to show them the fragility of their imant? Only, it wouldn¡¯t be wise if Dane did so himself, for it would hurt the reputation of our whole family, and that wouldn¡¯t do, would it? My father wouldn¡¯t approve of him¡­or any of his supporters doing it.¡± She paused for a moment, letting Lucan¡¯s thoughtse together and prepare him for what she would say next, for what he knew she would say next. ¡°I hear your father is a true warrior, a true knight. Someone of adequate skill, certainly adequate to have a friendly spar with my heroic brother. It would be glorious, don¡¯t you think? And if it is done in the presence of many noble onlookers? Well, that would make it a grand spectacle, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± Lucan said, still stupefied. ¡°That would be recing one disaster with another.¡± ¡°Not quite. You would certainly make an enemy of Oswin,¡± she conceded. ¡°But which enemy would you rather have? The one who will be King or the one who won¡¯t? Father won¡¯t be happy with you, but he will be inclined to believe it was a mistake made in good faith, considering your father¡¯s stance on session. And as you well know, Father¡¯s approval of you won¡¯t be important for too long.¡± Lucan was silent for a while, his mind a tempest of shing thoughts. He inadvertently let out part of his uncertainty. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°A necessity for you,¡± the princess finished for him. ¡°One you wouldn¡¯t have even known was possible if it weren¡¯t for me. You mustn¡¯t forget that you owe me a debt of gratitude for it either.¡± Lucan let his thoughts settle and nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± He gulped and took a deep breath. ¡°I suppose I should go speak to my father now. Tomorrow would be a good time for this hazardous adventure, I imagine. I don¡¯t look forward to seeing it, if I¡¯m to be honest.¡± ¡°Then rejoice,¡± the princess said. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± Lucan looked at her quizzically. ¡°It¡¯s only fair that you get started repaying your debts, yes?¡± she continued. ¡°What is it you might need from me, Your Highness?¡± Lucan asked the question with utmost honesty, for he didn¡¯t know what service he could provide for the princess in the royal capital itself, where she could have all that he could not provide. ¡°You live in the hintends of the Kingdom, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± the princess said. Lucan affirmed with a nod. ¡°Would I be right to imagine that you and your father¡¯s men-at-arms have wrestled with Outbreaks on more than one asion?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said, still uncertain what she had in store for him. ¡°You see, Lucan, I have two¡­friends, you might call them. I would like for them to gain some experience and perhaps earn themselves some much-needed Vital Orbs. The Labyrinth is the best choice for something like this around here, as you know. Of course, the truth of it is self-evident. They need experience, so¡­¡± ¡°They have none,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Precisely,¡± the princess said. ¡°You, however, do. You have fought Labyrinth beasts before. Your men must have, too. Perhaps you could assist my two friends with this dive into the unknown.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never experienced the Labyrinth myself, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Well, you can never have everything, can you? You¡¯re the best they can get, and so they shall get you. Perhaps you should think of this as your opportunity to get that Labyrinth experience youck, hmm?¡± she smiled. Lucan nodded. ¡°If it will repay you for the kindness you¡¯ve shown us, I will, Your Highness.¡± ¡°It will. For some of it at least,¡± she said. ¡°One of my servants wille to you with the particrs.¡± She nodded to him and gestured towards the door that led to the grand hall. Lucan bowed slightly and took the leave he¡¯d been given, turning on his heel and walking gingerly towards the door, getting his heavy thoughts in order. At least until one such thought gave him pause. He stopped. He looked back towards the princess who still wore a faint smile. ¡°Your Highness, I hear it is very difficult to be granted entry to the Labyrinth, considering everyone wants it. And now with all of the Kingdom¡¯s nobles here, it must be an even more arduous affair. Are your ¡®friends¡¯, nobles themselves?¡± he asked, certain that the answer would surprise him. ¡°No,¡± the princess said, losing some of her mirth but keeping her easy confidence. ¡°But you are.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t stop his eyes from shifting with his rapid thoughts. ¡°My father once told me that it would be difficult for even us to gain entry on any normal day, let alone now.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± the princess said, regaining her mirth, but this time it wasn¡¯t real. Her smile was no longer one ofplete satisfaction but one of dominance. ¡°I suppose I should rify then. It¡¯s only natural that my family reward one of its faithful vassals for dutifully insisting to escort me all the way to the gates of the capital, all for the sake of my safety. Your father is truly a man to admire, yes?¡± Once more, Lucan was stupefied. He coughed out the next words when he realized he was frozen in an unseemly half-turn. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Then he turned back towards the door, and he walked slowly to where his father would be, wondering all the while whether the princess had nned this since she¡¯d met them in Arpague. Of course, he imagined that originally she¡¯d nned it to seem like a favor to them, the entry to the Labyrinth. Then she would¡¯ve ¡®requested¡¯ that her ¡®friends¡¯ be allowed to apany their party down there. Now, it wasn¡¯t a favor to them, it was the opposite, and Lucan found himself nervously wondering about the ¡®particrs¡¯ the servant would being to him with. Chapter 34: Mantles Chapter 34: Mantles ¡°It¡¯s madness.¡± ¡°If it is the only choice we have left, then perhaps it is, Father,¡± Lucan said. At his request, his father had retreated with him to their chambers in the middle of the feast. ¡°And madness has consequences,¡± his father said. He was pacing the room, back and forth ¡°What do you think the consequences of making a spectacle of the prince could be?¡± ¡°The enmity of a prince that won¡¯t be King, for once?¡± Lucan said. Sir Gn stopped and gave him a sharp re. ¡°It¡¯s not something to be done lightly.¡± He paused. ¡°Or at all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything light about our position, Father. It¡¯s why such a drastic measure is needed to begin with.¡± His father shook his head and went back to his pacing. ¡°I already made one mistake. I don¡¯t want to make another, and so soon after the first. We need time.¡± ¡°I doubt we have it.¡± ¡°So you want me to humiliate a royal,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°And why? Because the princess advised you that it would be wise? Perhaps you don¡¯t understand how deep politics can go in this court. Perhaps you believe she gave you this advice out of the goodness of her heart. Or¡­perhaps you have taken a fancy to her?¡± His eyes fixed themselves on Lucan, searching for a fatal mistake, but he soon found nothing and Lucan could swear he saw relief ovee his face. ¡°Nothing is given for free here, Lucan. Nothing is given out of kindness.¡± ¡°Believe me, Father. I know,¡± Lucan said, remembering thest few words he exchanged with the princess before leaving her. ¡°I¡¯m already on my path to repayment.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his father scoffed. ¡°With this Labyrinth affair.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still an opportunity.¡± ¡°You have not even been told the ¡®particrs¡¯ of what¡¯s required of you yet, and already you¡¯ve passed your judgment?¡± His father gave him a derisive nce. ¡°I¨C¡± Lucan paused. ¡°I know it wille with its own pile of trouble, but I believe there¡¯s still something to gain for me and the men.¡± His father¡¯s rebuttal was interrupted by a knock on the door. Sir Gn strode towards the door and opened it. Lucan heard a few whispered words then his father received something and shut the door. He then turned around, came up to him, and handed him a rolled-up parchment. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± He crossed his arms and waited for him to open it. Lucan received it with a great deal of confusion until he unrolled it. As he read it, his face fell slightly. Still, the contents weren''t too surprising. It wouldn¡¯t be a service for the princess if it didn¡¯te with its own set of conditions. ¡°Well?¡± his father¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s from the princess. I¡¯m to put the interests of the princess¡¯s two ¡®friends¡¯ above our own. I¡¯m also reminded,¡± he raised the letter, ¡°that this venture into the Labyrinth is mainly for their benefit. Their safety ought to be my first concern, kept even above that of my men.¡± His father raised a brow. ¡°I won¡¯t abandon any of our own, Father.¡± ¡°And if it happens that you have to make a choice?¡± ¡°It won¡¯te to that. I¡¯ll be cautious. The princess instructed that I have to get her people what they need. She mentioned nothing about swiftness.¡± His father sighed. ¡°So you¡¯re intent on doing this?¡± ¡°Yes, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I¡¯m still uncertain, though. Why me? Why not someone with experience in the Labyrinth?¡± Of course, there was the little scheme she¡¯d puppeteered them into to get them ess to the Labyrinth. But she couldn¡¯t have nned to meet them in Arpague. She¡¯d simply been given the opportunity by chance, and for some reason, she¡¯d taken it. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s no one else,¡± his father said. Lucan nodded. He gave his father a beseeching nce. ¡°Will you duel him?¡± His father released another sigh, a long-suffering one. ¡°If that is your choice, son. I¡¯m not certain it will help you, but if it could, I will.¡± Lucan bobbed his head. ¡°Thank you, Father,¡± he said, knowing that his father didn¡¯t mind bearing the consequences of his previous conduct by himself but was agonizing over sharing it with him. Now he was simply giving Lucan an opportunity to find his own way free of the mire he¡¯d gotten them into. He could only hope that his methods were better than his father¡¯s. Lucan and his father returned to the great hall soon after finishing their discussion. The servant hadn¡¯t onlye with the letter, but had also told his father that the King would be emerging soon. Everyone had to be there to receive him of course. The great hall was crowded with nobles from all around the Kingdom. Prince Oswin¡¯s party of followers were still grouped up around him, listening to his stale jests and exaggerated stories. Prince Esmond, the youngest of the royal sons, still stood with his own retinue of unknowns, as silent as ever. In a way, he looked as though he was resigned to waiting for his order of execution. Lucan panned his eyes over the hall and saw the princess who gave him a meaningful nce. He nodded at her in acknowledgment and she quirked a smile. Lucan soon noted a re pointed their way. He honed in on the source and saw a tall man, even taller than his father, with wide shoulders and a thick angr face. He had dark hair and a small, deep scar between his cheek and nose. The man kept his re on them for a while then shifted his eyes away. ¡°Sir Ward,¡± his father said softly. ¡°He¡¯s never shown us anything but unwarranted contempt. Perhaps he¡¯s heard of you extending your road a bit too far into contested territory.¡± He nced at Lucan. ¡°Contempt can quickly turn into animosity. We ought to be careful.¡± Lucan nodded, but his mind was elsewhere, worrying about the problems they needed to handle here in the capital. On one end of the great hall, there were three steps up which led torge double doors carved with immacte artistry. All of the other doors into the hall, from which everyone present had entered, were more modest and small. Those grand double doors suddenly opened and a well-dressed servant strode out until he was upon the steps. In an echoing voice, he announced, ¡°His majesty, protector of river and valley, sovereign of Barwalis by pact and blood, King Athelstan Baroun, approaches.¡± In moments, every man and woman in the hall turned fully to face the opened door through which the King was expected to emerge. And he did, the King strode out in full regalia, most prominent of which was the goldsteel Crownmask. Its features were mute but perfectly proportioned in gold grained with ck, giving it a shade of gold bright enough to show its value but dark enough to appear regal. Attached to the mask¡¯s brow was a crown of jeweled leaves that wreathed the King¡¯s gray hair. His beard was nowhere to be seen, somehow tucked into the mask. A mantle hung over the King¡¯s shoulders, a rich purple river flowing down his sides and back. Everyone in the hall lowered themselves into a deep bow, and no one missed it when Prince Dane Baroun stepped up beside the King in the middle of their bow. ¡°Rise.¡± The King¡¯s voice echoed from his position atop the stairs. Lucan rose and listened as the King began his speech. ¡°Honored vassals of the Kingdom,¡± his voice echoed out, soft but deep. ¡°Even though the call was not one of gravity, you have honored me by epting it and being here today. My thanks to all those who have arrived and even those whose health or circumstance have forced them to send representatives. Barwalis is healthier and stronger than ever with you. The bonds of loyalty, the weight of honor, and the mastery of wisdom are what built our strength. Loyalty that binds vassals,¡± he gestured with his hands expansively around the hall, ¡°to their liege. Honor that binds vassal and liege both to act righteously. And Wisdom that one who shoulders the mantle of power must possess.¡± The words of the King were only interrupted by his own brief silence and the concurring nods of most of those listening to him. ¡°For this reason, I have found it my duty to choose from among my children the one who possesses the keenest measures of wisdom and courage, even should they all possess them in abundance as they do, to carry the mantle of this Kingdom after me.¡± The hall erupted in suppressed whispers. The duke and his faction were wearing stony faces, though not surprised ones. But Oswin Baroun, the first prince, was not as unsurprised with this revtion as the rest of them, it seemed. His party had a nervous current passing through them. The hand with which the prince carried his drink was shaking, but fortunately, the goblet was not full this time. The King gave no heed to the obviousmotion and continued. ¡°I have trust in Dane Baroun, my son and, from this day, my heir. I trust that he will rule this Kingdom with wisdom and intellect, that he will lead you with courage and strength, and that he will judge you fairly should you err. In the presence of every family of noble blood in this Kingdom¡¯snd, I name Dane Baroun,¡± he gestured at the prince who stood beside him. A young man of average height, modest build, and sharp eyes, ¡°Crown Prince.¡± Chapter 35: Into The Maw Chapter 35: Into The Maw Lucan walked under the boughs of the Elder Root, close enough to its trunk that he would have to strain his neck to observe the extent of its height under the clouds. The trunk was predictably encircled by a wall. Thin however it was, it served its purpose. Keeping young ones with too little patience away from the tree, and isting it well enough for the guards to oversee the entrance to the Labyrinth. Behind him were the four men-at-arms who had apanied them to the capital, Cordell, Ryder, Clifton, and Heath. They were all fully armed and armored. Walking like that through the capital¡¯s streets had invited some looks and, sometimes, suspicion. But they¡¯d only been approached by the guards once. They arrived at the gate that separated the city proper from the Elder Root. There, the guards looked a lot less suspicious of them considering where they were heading. One of the guards raised a hand to halt their march. Lucan stopped and got the letter out of his armor. It was adorned by the royal seal. He handed it to the guard who swept his eyes over them, perhaps counting their number, then gave the letter to another who disappeared behind the thin walls, presumably to give it to yet another man. Soon enough, two men came back, the one who¡¯d just taken the letter a moment ago and another who was older, better armored, and better dressed. ¡°You are Lucan Zesh?¡± the older man asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan answered. ¡°Son of Sir Gn Zesh?¡± the man said. ¡°Yes.¡± Lucan raised a brow. The man nodded at him respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m Sergeant Lukas. Make certain to deliver my greetings to your father when you return. Tell him, Lukas of the High Right lives well with three fingers.¡± He raised his right hand which only had three fingers, obviously not due to natural causes. Lucan nodded at the sergeant¡¯s hand. ¡°From the war?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± the sergeant said. ¡°And not just any war. The one with the fish-fuckers. I left two fingers on that border. Thanks to your father, that was all I left there.¡± Lucan nodded sagely. ¡°I will deliver your greetings, Sergeant.¡± ¡°Good. Now you seem to be missing two of your number.¡± ¡°Yes, they were supposed to be waiting for us h¨C¡± ¡°Master Zesh! Master Zesh?¡± a woman¡¯s¨Cno¨Ca girl¡¯s voice called. Lucan turned to look where his men were already looking. One young man armored and armed with a longsword was doing his utmost to lookposed and presentable while keeping up with a girl who was tripping over herself in her haste to reach them. And she was wearing a dress. She came to a stop in front of Lucan, gulping down mouthfuls of air. The young man stepped up right beside her with a scowl. She curtsied and Lucan had to close his eyes and open them carefully to make certain that they weren¡¯t tricking him and that she was indeed wearing a dress. Because he knew who she was. ¡°I¡¯m Lilian Saltner,¡± she said. ¡°The princess sent me?¡± ¡°I know who you are.¡± ¡°Good,¡± the young man beside her said. ¡°Then you know who I am too.¡± He looked pointedly at hispanion. ¡°And we didn¡¯t have to run.¡± ¡°Thorley Summers, I presume?¡± Lucan said. ¡°Yes,¡± Thorley said. ¡°We know about your agreement with the princess. This is no charitable favor from you.¡± His scowl returned. ¡°I never imed it was.¡± ¡°As long as everyone knows it,¡± he ran his eyes over Lucan¡¯s men and the guards at the gate. Lucan nodded, holding back a retort. Then he looked at Lilian critically. ¡°I had assumed that you would be ready upon arrival.¡± Lilian perked up and then flushed. ¡°Oh, this¨Cthere¡¯s armor under the dress. Nothing too heavy though.¡± ¡°You¡¯re expected to keep her safe,¡± Thorley said. ¡°And so am I, should you fail.¡± ¡°Will it not impede your movement?¡± Lucan asked the girl, ignoring Thorley¡¯s assertion. The dress was slightly frilly and spread out at the bottom where it reached her ankles, but he didn¡¯t know whether that would make it easier to move in or be its own downside. ¡°No,¡± Lilian said. ¡°I daresay it is easier to move in this dress than in your armor. It was made and fitted for me specifically for this purpose by the Academy.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Mention of the Academy affirmed for him that she was a mage. He didn¡¯t know how the princess¡¯s friend had earned that opportunity but assumed it had something to do with the princess herself, which brought up strong doubts that he¡¯d already had about this ¡®friendship¡¯. For now, though, he¡¯d go along with it. ¡°Shall we, then?¡± The guards allowed them into the walls. Lucan nodded his acknowledgement to the sergeant as they passed him by. And while they were being led by one of the guards through the camp surrounding the Elder Root, he discussed their tactics with their two wards. He wanted them to stay in the middle of the group while he and his men-at-arms protected them. Lilian agreed readily, offering to support them with modest spells when needed, though she didn¡¯t rify what spells she was capable of. Thorley, however, refused to be ¡®coddled¡¯ and insisted on being involved inbat. He demanded to be in the front line that led the way through the Labyrinth¡¯s passages. Lucan had to ept the demand, considering how stubborn the young man was. He chose not to point out that being first inbat meant that if they failed to protect Lilian, then he would be party to that failure, and that he wouldn¡¯t be able to rectify their mistake as he¡¯d initially imed. Their short walk ended with their arrival at the trunk of the Elder Root. It was an oppressive tower of light gray that was wider than Lucan couldprehend for a singr structure. There was a gap in the bark at their level in the shape of a tent¡¯s entrance, several times wider than a castle¡¯s gate at ground level and narrower as it went up, until it eventually tapered to a point about four storeys high. The guard questioned them about their supplies and affirmed that they had brought with them all the necessary items. His men had alle with shields and small backpacks filled with all that they could need in their venture into the passages of oblivion. Lucan himself hade with a shield but with no backpack of his own. All he could need was with his men. As a group, they descended into the Elder Root. The ground was sloped as they passed through the crack in the bark and entered into the earthly passage beyond. Gradually, they dove into the earth. The passage was lit with torches, and it was gated every hundred yards or so, though the gates were neither closed nor guarded. After each gate, the slope became slightly steeper, but never steep enough to be hazardous. The torches began to grow scarcer, but Lucan wasn¡¯t worried. He knew that once they entered the Labyrinth proper, glowing moss would light their way. And ording to the Academy¡¯s books, it would also be the only reason they don¡¯t suffocate. The slope didn¡¯t change direction as they walked, and it took them so long that Lucan was certain they had walked beyond the city limits. Once they reached the Labyrinth, though, he knew it immediately. While the passage they had been walking through was a mix of earth and stone mostly brown in color, the Labyrinth was ck. They stopped at the end of the earthen passage they¡¯d been walking and Lucan observed the new environment. Earlier his men had taken out their own torches once the torches in the passage had grown too scarce, but now they were putting them out as they noticed the glowing moss hanging off the ceiling. The path in front of them opened into several passages made of what looked like pressed gravel and stone. The passages were no mystery, as this shallow level of the Labyrinth had been mapped long ago. Unfortunately, to seek Labyrinth beasts was to go to those ces that weren¡¯t so well-mapped. Lucan chose the second passage from the right. It was the shallowest riskwise. It would gradually lead them down and they would have little chance ofing across something too dangerous early on. Even if it was to be the dullest of the passages, no doubt invoking divine amounts of boredom from any who trod it, Lucan preferred to heed his caution. The passage was wide, so Lucan arranged them into a wide front line and a thin rearguard that he could reach with his natural agility and the assistance of the Star should they be threatened from behind. Upfront there would be four of them, Lucan, Clifton, Cordell, and Thorley, who hadn¡¯t brought a shield. ¡°I prefer to fight freely,¡± Thorley said as he noticed the looks he was getting while Lucan arranged their front line. ¡°So do I,¡± Lucan said. ¡°But the shields will help us hold off whateveres at us and prevent it from breaking into our formation. A chaotic fight is thest thing we need down here.¡± He nced at Lilian meaningfully. Thorley simply grunted in response. Lucan would be lying if he pretended not to understand where Thorley wasing from. He was certainly ready to discard his shield and step forward free of the line should he find the others capable of holding the line without him. Yet he couldn¡¯t tell Thorley that. It would put the young man at too high a risk if he decided to do it too, considering he had no experience in fighting beasts and likely a low Copper Physique. Thest thing he wanted was to return to the princess one ¡®friend¡¯ short. They lined up with Clifton a step up from them on the left to receive the first bit of attention and Cordell beside him and a step behind, ready to support him with his heavy spear. To Cordell¡¯s right was Thorley and to his right was Lucan. Behind them came Lilian. The mage would be cradled by the front line and the rearguard, ready to support them with magic from the safest spot in the formation should they need it. The rearguard wasprised of Heath and Ryder, one strong enough to hold off a dangerous attack and the other fast enough to fend off a surprise one. Heath held his shield with one arm and his greatsword in another. Ryder, however, kept his shield on his back, his two hands upied with his stiletto and the sawtooth sword he¡¯d reced his swordbreaker with for this venture. With this rigid formation, they stepped into the passage warily, the green glow of the moss bathing them from above and the dark walls on their sides bullying them into sticking close to each other. Chapter 36: Thinner Than a Hair Chapter 36: Thinner Than a Hair Their descent was slow but true. The Labyrinth¡¯s slope wasn¡¯t as steep as that of the earthen ramp that¡¯d led them into it, but the Labyrinth never straightened out. The inclination was so slight that Lucan might not have noticed it had he not known it was there. They came upon multiple forks and splitting passages as they traversed the sea of glowing green provided by the moss, treading hard rock cker than pitch with purpose. Lucan had decided that they would pass a few of the forks before branching off to one of the side paths, since that would give them more chance of exploring areas that weren¡¯t thoroughly cleaned of their inhabitants. They would mark their passage of course, so they could find their way back. But even should they lose their way with no markings to guide them, there was one rule to the Labyrinth that none forgot. Go upwards. The slope of the Labyrinth was ever present, and it always led up to the Elder Root. And while the Labyrinth spanned all of the Elder Lands, you were unlikely to get lost unless you traveled so far that you ended up in another Root¡¯s territory. Or if you went down one of the shafts, never to be seen again. Lucan hoped they wouldn¡¯t even see one of those from a distance. When they came upon their fourth fork in the path, Lucan decided to take one of the branching passages. It was a little narrower than the original path but not enough to affect their formation. Ryder left a mark on the wall where they passed and Lucan noted no other marks nearby. ording to what he¡¯d read, such marks faded from the walls of the Labyrinth with time. There was no way to know whether this passage had been traversed before or not, at least not withoutpany. The passage curved to the right and continued to loop in that direction as they went down for a considerable amount of time. Eventually, they came upon their first oddity. The passage straightened out into a patch of darkness ahead, lengthy enough that the light beyond it was a subtle glow that was difficult to parse. There was no moss stuck to the ceiling ahead of them. It seemed that the moss¡¯s growth had ceased¨Cno¨Cwrong. The moss had been eaten, Lucan realized as his eyes adapted to the darkness. Something was flitting in the darkness. ¡°Do you see that thing?¡± he asked. Clifton shifted back a bit, perhaps instinctively. ¡°No, I see many things.¡± Lucan focused and stifled a curse. His man-at-arms was right, there were multiple flying creatures in there. ¡°Step back slowly. We¡¯ll want to fight them in the light.¡± ¡°What if they refuse toe out of the darkness?¡± someone asked. ¡°Then we¡¯ll find another passage,¡± Lucan answered without hesitation. As though intent on disappointing them, the creatures flitted out of the darkness to present themselves in all their glory. Large, thin wings, not unlike those of a dragonfly, carried a serpentine body that grew thicker towards the head. The head itself was reptilian with grooves and ridges, reminding Lucan of an illustration he¡¯d seen of the alligators of Hamodeus. The creature as a whole wasn¡¯t toorge, only as lengthy as an average dog without the legs, yet its ability to fly made it a grave threat. ¡°Careful, it could fly over us and towards Lilian,¡± Lucan yelled. ¡°Cordell?¡± The man-at-arms grunted, discarding his shield to get the best use out of his heavy spear with both hands. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± he stepped back further from their line to skewer any flyer that attempted to dive on their mage. Lucan discarded his own shield as well, happy that the circumstance allowed him to be rid of it. He two-handed his sword, ready to meet a quick and agile enemy. The enemies seemed to have mastery over their flight and he didn¡¯t doubt that they were capable of maneuvering inbat. The shield¡¯s coverage wouldn¡¯t be as important as staying on his toes. Their bodies slithered in the air whilst their wings carried them, creating a smooth, almost natural, movement. More than a dozen of them flew out of the darkness, and Lucan wasn¡¯t certain that there weren¡¯t more. He heard the shifting of feet from their rear. He nced back and saw their two rearguards ncing nervously at the flying adversaries. ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Lucanmanded. ¡°Watch the rear, lest something surprises us. Don¡¯t interfere unless she¡¯s attacked.¡± He nodded at Lilian. Heath, therger of his two men in the rear, pressed his lips and set his jaw, resolving himself and giving Lucan a firm nod. Then he gripped Ryder¡¯s shoulder and twisted him to face the rear once more while doing so himself. Lucan took a deep breath and donned his helmet. He hoped the flying beasts were as weak as their size suggested, considering their numbers were already threatening. As they slithered closer, Lucan heard a feminine voice from behind him. ¡°I can help.¡± Followed by whispered chanting. Soon enough, the creatures'' flight became unsteady, their bodies dipping down and struggling to rise to the zenith of their previous height. At the same time, Lucan felt a chilling from behind him, seemingly focused on the beasts. ¡°Good,¡± he muttered. Then the first of them descended on him. Lucan had to take a quick step back as it snapped its jaws at him. He got a glimpse of innumerable tiny but sharp teeth that he had no doubt could shred through human flesh and bone. He countered with a quick whip of his de, splitting the scales on the beast¡¯s head. Bluish blood gushed out instantly. In response, the beast let loose an infuriated roar that sounded more akin to a scream. Then it pounced on him. Lucan saw another oneing behind it as he tried to parry its head away from his body. By mistake, he clipped its wing, and its flight became more uneven than it was before, making it easy prey for him. Swiftly, he decapitated it with an overhead swing, thanking the Elders that it was as weak as he¡¯d imagined and preparing to face the next one. The next beast slowed down its approach until another joined it, and Lucan had to face both at the same time. The chill made them slower, but they were still a threat. He didn¡¯t know what they could do to his armor and he didn¡¯t want themtching onto the softer bits where there was no te. So he waited until they were too close to slip away from him, then he charged forward, ramming the one on the left with his shoulder. His steel pauldron collided with its maw, driving it back in a painful squeal. As the other one tried to opportunistically bite down on his arm, he mmed it into the passage wall with his gauntlet, nearly crushing one of its wings between the wall and its body. However, the beast had seeded intching onto his forearm. He felt several pinpricks of pain on his skin before he drove his sword into the beast¡¯s upper body. Thankfully, its jaw loosened instead of tightening, letting go of him as he leapt back to meet the one he¡¯d just driven back. The beast was already halfway to him, but Lucan was ready for it, feinting to the right, where it easily followed him, then shifting to the left with his body and de, and slicing halfway through its vulnerable neck. I¡¯m getting used to this, he thought as his third adversary fell from the air. And he had. That was why he lunged forward when a fourth attacked him. He clipped its wing with the tip of his de before recovering backwards as quickly as he¡¯d lunged, avoiding a counterbite from his adversary. The beast lost its bnce in the air and he finished it with two strikes to the head. He was panting, but his lungs weren¡¯t burning. It¡¯d taken effort but not all he had. Lucan nced to his left and saw Thorley finishing thest of their enemies, stabbing his sword through the grounded beast. He¡¯d fared worse than him though. Lucan saw a gash on his right arm, below the shoulder. The mail was torn open as though something had shredded its way through the rings. ¡°Are you well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing but a flesh wound,¡± Thorley ground out, kicking the corpse of the beast away. Lucan said nothing. He was at least grateful that the young man hadn¡¯t failed to cover his nk. ¡°Everyone well?¡± Lucan repeated to the others, and they all yelled back their affirmation, including Lilian who he nced back at to find whole and well. ¡°Very well,¡± he continued. ¡°We ought to retreat farther back, then we may check our Blessings.¡± They fell back in short order, keeping an eye on the retreating patch of darkness. Once they were a sufficient distance away, Lucan let most of them seat themselves. ¡°Cordell, Heath, Ryder, keep watch,¡± hemanded before taking a seat himself and calling up his Blessing. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. Lucan hummed and nced at Lilian who seemed busy with her own Blessing. He assumed that she¡¯d shared in the Vital Essence since she¡¯d assisted by weakening all the beasts with her spell. He had gained neither level nor Skill proficiency from this encounter, though he was nigh-certain that he was close to the former due to a partial feeling of fullness inside him. He sighed, dismissing his Blessing and waiting for the others to be finished with theirs. Soon, they¡¯d have to get up again and traverse their way through that darkness with torches in hand. There were likely no more beasts in it, but if there were, they knew better what they were dealing with now. Chapter 37: A Familiar Embrace Chapter 37: A Familiar Embrace After resting and checking on their equipment and Blessings, Clifton and Lilian helped Thorley dress his wound. It was wide, but thankfully, it hadn¡¯t gone too deep. ¡°Apologies,¡± Lilian addressed Lucan eventually. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do more. My magic is weakened by the Elder Root.¡± She nced upwards. ¡°It was plenty.¡± Lucan gave her a reassuring smile. He¡¯d once read something about the Elder Roots interfering with magic. Apparently, only ritualists were unaffected by it. Cordell got to take a brief nce at his Blessing before Lucan bade them move again. Torches were lit and weapons readied. They crept through the darkened length of the passage slowly and, thankfully, safely. It seemed the Wyrms had alerted each other to their presence and attacked them with all they had. Once the soft glow of the moss bathed them again, Lucan rxed. They¡¯d still have to be alert of course, but at least they could see any would-be assants. The passage branched again and Lucan had to pick a direction randomly. Cordell marked it and they proceeded. Fortunately, the branching passage didn¡¯t get any narrower, keeping all the characteristics of the previous one. It only took them a short while toe upon another patch of darkness. It seemed that the Kewmer Wyrms weremon in this part of the Labyrinth. Lucan nced at Clifton who nodded an affirmation, then he instructed everyone to be ready. He heard Lilian preparing her spell early this time, while the men readied themselves. Thankfully, this encounter passed by easier than thest one. They¡¯d gotten the measure of the beasts, and Lucan was happy to cut a swath through them. He killed the three that pounced on him this time and assisted Thorley with a fourth and a fifth. After thest of the beasts had been put down, Lucan ordered a retreat once more. When they were a safe distance away, he allowed them to summon up their Blessings, with the same watch arrangement asst time. He did note that Heath and Ryder weren¡¯t getting the same chances the rest of them were. So, as he summoned his Blessing, he decided that he¡¯d bring one of them up front when they began moving again. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv1 Kewmer Wyrm and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have leveled up. Race: Human Level: 5 Vital Orbs: 5 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv21: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv2: Novice (0/1) Lucan had some breadth now. He didn¡¯t have to put all his Orbs into Physique, so he put two into Wraith Strike. The limitation of two uses a day was too stringent, and he wanted to use it more freely when needed. With the addition of his two Vital Orbs, Wraith Strike reached its fourth level which added two more uses to his daily capacity. After everyone was done, Lucan had Clifton and Heath trade positions before moving again. Itter seemed that this part of the Labyrinth was a locale for the Kewmer Wyrms; as another, thankfully painless, encounter with the Wyrms was what ended their day. After so much walking and exploring along withbat, Lucan saw it fit for them to set up their modest camp in a rtively straight part of the passage. Considering it was likely evening by now on the surface, nobody seemed averse to hismand. Some cheap baubles were set on the ground in both directions to produce noise should an enemy possessed of enough stealth to attempt to slink into their camp. Along with that, two of them would keep watch at all times. ¡°Cordell and Thorley will stand first watch,¡± Lucan said as they spread their beddings on the ground. ¡°Then it will be Heath and Ryder, then I and Clifton.¡± And so those who weren¡¯t on first watch slept fitfully. Lucan tried to sleep as deeply as possible, and fortunately, there were no incidents to wake him up before his watch, thetter also going peacefully. As they packed up their belongings on the next day, he decided that they ought to be more aggressive in their branching. Though he wanted to be cautious, repeated encounters with Kewmer Wyrms could only be so useful. The beasts were too weak to bring sufficient benefit for their purposes in a reasonable amount of time. They¡¯d established a cohesion to their party that he could now confidently rely on against stronger opponents, or at least he hoped so. The more they trod the passages of the Labyrinth, the more Lucan began to experience something he¡¯d known to expect. Though the Labyrinth was lit with the moss quite adequately, there was a certain kind of darkness that pervaded his own mind the longer he stayed below ground. A capacity for this kind of environment that he didn¡¯t know he had was being tested to its very limits. Lucan persevered, though he knew for certain that the others must be suffering from simr pains. They would all have to adapt to it if they wanted to fulfill their purposes on this venture instead of resurfacing early. Not too long after their departure, Lucan¡¯s strategy for the day led to results. As they traversed a bend in the passage, they heard echoes of a subtle noise. It was difficult to parse, but Lucan believed it to be of beasts either scuffling or digging into something. After Lucan gave his men a nod, their party marched forward cautiously. On and on they crept, through the passages that grew darker and emptier every moment in Lucan¡¯s mind. Perhaps that was why he felt good when they perceived movement ahead. Their party came to a stop when they heard shuffling noises, followed by scratching noises. The noises were subtle and mixed, difficult to parse or understand, and then their eyes joined their ears in observation. He could see them, their brown, hairy heads being their most prominent feature. Like men, they walked on two feet, but they wererger. Like men, they had creamy skin¨Cno¨Chair, fine hair that covered their bodies, inspiring an image of a naked man. They had two arms like a man did. But they did not walk like one. Their loping gait had a patient, coiling quality to it. Heath was the first to step forward. ¡°Good m¨C¡± Lucan and Cordell pulled him back at the same time. ¡°Those are no men,¡± Lucan exined. ¡°They¡¯re Ashkievs.¡± He¡¯d read about them, and had even been warned about them once, long in the past. Alone, the beasts didn¡¯t look different from a man lost to the wild for a season. And by the time you realized that they were in truth much different from a man, it was toote. Many a victim had fallen to even the tamest of Ashkiev Breaks. A cautious farmer would not approach a Labyrinth beast, but they would approach a man lost to the woods, or even a suspected interloper. But no matter how well they armed themselves for thetter, it would never be enough for what they eventually faced. An Ashkiev was dangerous. ¡°Prepare yourselves,¡± Lucanmanded. ¡°Shields up, there could be projectiles.¡± The beasts perked up, what little of their faces not covered by hair darkened by the shadows that it cast. As though they¡¯d understood him, they extended their unthreatening hands forward. Lucan raised his shield with ill-concealed panic and yelled, ¡°Brace!¡± He felt something impact his shield, its thin steel ting taking the brunt of the damage. Still, a sound of creaking and splintering wood came from its wooden parts as more and more impacts peppered it. Braced against his body, the shield was stable, but he still felt every hit as though it was an offending fist dampened by a pillow. There was a definite weight behind every projectile. Lucan risked a nce beside him. Heath was holding out well, his shield braced and covering him. The young man-at-arms winced and Lucan saw him nce down at his leg where a ncing hit punished his shin. It took moments that felt like an eternity for the projectiles to stop. Lucan shifted his eyes away from Heath and lowered his shield, seeing the sharpened bones that were scattered on the ground. A pair were stuck to his shield, but he shook them off. His eyes eventually settled on the beasts, their hands extended forward with their flesh wide open, as though cut by a surgeon¡¯s de. The open cuts where the bones came resealed themselves and the beasts advanced. Their approach was slow but steady and measured. The same loping gait from before guided them forward, their muscr forms ready to pounce. A chant echoed from behind Lucan, then shards of ice whizzed from above them to meet the iing mass of man-like beasts. The shards pierced skin and drew purplish blood out of the beasts, yet they didn¡¯t slow their advance. ¡°Their flesh is full ofpressed bone,¡± Lucan shouted behind him without looking. He heard a whisperedint in response, then a different chant began and he caught something from the corner of his eye, a globule of water forming above them, its size increasing by the moment. Yet he couldn¡¯t give it much attention as the Ashkievs were upon them. Thankfully, the beasts were wider than an ordinary man, which forced them to approach their line of four with three of their own and two more following in their wake. Lucan ended up facing one of them on his own while his threepanions handled the other two. ¡°They can summon bone at a moment¡¯s notice. Be vignt,¡± he said. He kept his shield even as Heath discarded his to properly handle his unwieldy greatsword. The Ashkiev opposite Lucan covered thest yard of distance between them in a much faster step than the norm, forcing Lucan onto the back foot. A fist raced towards him even as he raised his shield to meet it. The impact echoed in his shoulder, but instead of the fist being deflected, he felt it hooked to his shield. Lowering it, he observed three curved bones extended from the beast¡¯s forearm, their sharp tips digging into the steel te on his shield. Lucan pushed his shield to the left while his right hand brought his sword for a heavy cut to the Ashkiev¡¯s joint at the elbow. The shift in his shield forced the beast slightly off bnce and allowed him to deliver the strike. Again, the beast¡¯s skin easily parted but Lucan¡¯s de didn¡¯t make it farther than that, several bent bones barring its way. Feeling as though he was grinding against stone, Lucan retracted his sword before the beast¡¯s free arm descended on him with another strike. He stepped back and wrestled his shield free from the bony hooks. Toote for his shield to intercept, Lucan parried the iing w strike with his sword. The w was deceptively bare, yet once his sword came close, five sharp bones came out where nails would be but longer than any ws he¡¯d seen before. The beast tried to catch his sword with its impromptu ws, but Lucan was vignt to it, sliding his sword free with a slicing motion and grinding metal against bone. Already, the beast was readying another strike with its recently freed hand. Frustrated with being on the back foot, Lucan nced at Heath who was on his left. The man-at-arms had been struggling against his opponent, but a timely intervention from Cordell gifted him the advantage. Seeing that his n could work without him being impaled by a nking attack, Lucan angled his shield to the right and shifted himself to stand sideways instead of squared off against the beast. Meanwhile, the Ashkiev had wound back its originally offending arm and was in the process of trying to skewer him with the bones that now covered its fist in the form of a humongous, twisted spearhead. With the beastmitted to its attack, Lucan seeded in receiving it on his angled shield as he intended. The bone spear sheared off ayer of steel from his shield while Lucan stepped into the beast¡¯s guard. So close, the beast couldn¡¯t leverage its arms for a timely attack, though Lucan saw bone beginning to protrude from the skin on its side to threaten him. He didn¡¯t wait, however, quickly bringing his prepared sword into a weighty thrust through the Ashkiev¡¯s ribs. The stacked bones in its chest would¡¯ve weathered his assault had he not used Wraith Strike. Instead, his de, carried by its momentum and his Skill, broke through a bone and slid between the rest, promptly reaching its destination and piercing the heart. The beast, as though having had its strings cut, copsed. Lucan was frustrated by the limited space he had to move, particrly because he couldn¡¯t use the Star properly. So instead of waiting for another beast toe to him from further back, he stepped forward, free of the formation he¡¯d created but assured by Heath¡¯s advantage over his opponent. Lucan immediately noted that instead of two enemies in the rear, he only met one, the other having stepped in ce of a fallenrade that had been facing Ryder. Before he could sh with their enemies¡¯ reserve of one, arge globe of ice smashed into the beast¡¯s head, driving it to the ground. Lucan didn¡¯t know if it was disoriented or dying, but he wasn¡¯t about to pass the opportunity. He turned on the Ashkiev facing Heath and hamstrung its two legs smoothly. The bones packed in the beast¡¯s legs kept it up, but it still lost most of its maneuverability. It tried to backhand him with a forearm lined with menacingly sharp bones, but he used his Star and moved to the back of the Ashkiev facing Ryder and Cordell. He gave it the same treatment as its peer and only watched briefly as his men-at-arms began to dismantle it. Then he noted that the one smashed down with Lilian¡¯s globe was rising again. The ice globe, cracked and parts of it splintered, was reforming itself under the mage¡¯s chants. Water was forming on it and freezing visibly. Again, as he stepped forward to face the rising enemy, the globe impacted its head with a heavy thump, driving it back down. The globe then rose and descended onto the beast¡¯s skull a third and final time before it could recover. The impact made the beasty down for good, though it also shattered the ice globe. Regardless, Lucan stepped in to ascertain its death, working his de between the packed bones in its torso until he found a proper gap to slide it through and reach its heart. Behind him, his men were finishing Heath¡¯s opponent, thest remaining Ashkiev. As it fell, their narrow battlefield grew quiet except for gasping breaths. Lucan observed the aftermath. Ryder¡¯s stiletto had been a fortunate weapon against the Ashkievs, easily sliding between crowded bones. The quick man-at-arms had made short work of the first beast with assistance from Cordell, thetter having taken it upon himself to keep the two younger men-at-arms on his nks alive instead ofmitting to any single fight. Lucan himself marveled at how much of a difference Wraith Strike had made between him and his men. There was a reason entire lineages sometimes depended on passed-down Skills. Even Kingdoms were somewhat reliant on the Skills passed down among their vassals when it came to their way of war. The mounted men of Bitis, for instance, had most of the Elder Lands¡¯ non-magical ranged Skills passed down from generation to generation. The difficulty of earning a bestowal had made it difficult to spread the most potent Active Skills around, eventually making them a carefully guarded resource. He was brought out of his thoughts by the perplexed voice of Ryder. ¡°I¡¯m certain, yes,¡± Ryder said, addressing Cordell. ¡°The first one I fought was wounded. It wasn¡¯t even walking right.¡± Clifton¡¯s voice came from behind to add to their conversation. ¡°The noise, it didn¡¯t make sense either, though I could barely hear it. There¡¯s¨C¡± Before his man-at-arms could finish, Lucan heard the subtle noise of something scratching through the earth. He was standing sideways to keep an eye on the passage further ahead. But the noise was so quiet and came so swiftly that he only had a blink before it grew more aggressive, more¡­near. A yell from someone coincided with the wall behind him exploding into pieces and peppering him with earth and stone. And then, familiar ck arms wrapped around him from both sides and pulled him in. Chapter 38: The Essence of Steel Chapter 38: The Essence of Steel In the following days, Lucan woulde to contemte things he¡¯d once thought simple but were in truth intricate. A piece of armor, for instance. Beginning from a simple man picking at the earth for a scrap of raw iron mixed with the refuse of the world, it would move on to the hands of a man who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, then perhaps end up on a cart pulled by an eternally weary mule. Then there would be another man who smelts it, and another who shapes it. Then another and another and another. Until it reaches the hands of a man with charred hands, a smith, assisted by a young apprentice, perhaps a son; a portion of his tools birthed from the hands of a masterful woodworker. Then¡­that modest portion of iron would coalesce into a perfectly fitted piece of armor for one man. Him. It was that thinyer of steel, crafted to the epitome of its potential, that stopped ws sharpened to a splitting edge from tearing Lucan¡¯s guts out. After the Archswa emerged from the once-whole wall and embraced him, it had attempted to retreat to where it hade from, only partially seeding before stumbling and fumbling with him then they both fell on top of one another. The beast wrestled and grappled with him, its razor-sharp ws screeching against his steel te and gouging out an rming portion of the armor¡¯s thickness. Lucan wrestled back, trying to break free from its hold and failing, even though he was the one on top. Leveraged within its arms, for the first time he felt how truly strong a beast could be. He wasn¡¯t helpless, but he wouldn¡¯t overpower it any time soon. As their struggle came to a momentary lull, Lucan happened to raise his eyes far enough to notice the tunnel the Archsal¡¯awa had dug through the walls of the Labyrinth, but he also noticed something else. It hadn¡¯te alone. Two pairs of eyes reflected the light that came from the passage behind him, standing a few short yards away from where he and his nemesisy, perhaps as stunned as his ownpanions with what had transpired. Realizing how deep of a mire he¡¯dnded in, Lucan only got through half of his curse before something¨Cno¨Csomeone barrelled into him and the beast. Before Lucan could regain his bearings, another weight hit them all. A mixture of roars, yells, and rings of metal assaulted his ears before he could make sense of his surroundings. Once he did, he found that he was free of the Archsal¡¯awa and that Heath had taken his ce in the wrestling contest with the beast, trying and failing to leverage his Greatsword into a useful weapon in the tight confines of the tunnel. The beast¡¯s ws were tearing rings aplenty out of his mail and gouging paths through his boiled leather. Lucan grit his teeth and pulled his dagger free of its sheath, hastily crawling to the wrestling pair. He reached them as the Archsal¡¯awa swung wildly, tearing Heath¡¯s helmet off his shoulders and cutting a long gash across his cheek. Lucan grabbed the beast by the ck fur on its hyena-like head, pulling it down and providing an opening for his dagger to take it in the neck. A single thrust didn¡¯t do it, as the beast continued thrashing, only prevented from tearing Lucan¡¯s own face off by Heath who still refused to let go of it. So Lucan generously and repeatedly reacquainted its neck with the sharp end of his dagger. It stopped struggling soon after. Panting with exertion, both he and Heath struggled up, eying Cordell¡¯s back as the man-at-arms fended off the beast¡¯srades with his spear. Lucan took in their surroundings, trying toe up with¡­something. The tunnel¡¯s confines were too tight for them to bring their advantages to bear. He pulled back Heath, who was advancing to assist Cordell. ¡°Fall back, it¡¯s too narrow in here,¡± he told him. Then he yelled for Cordell to hear, ¡°Lead them out into the open!¡± He got a barely perceptible nod from the man-at-arms who began retreating as Lucan and Heath stepped out of the freshly-dug tunnel, pushing an anxious Ryder and eager Thorley out of their way. ¡°Prepare yourselves,¡± Lucan said. ¡°There are two of them.¡± His men, Thorley, and Lilian braced themselves, thetter muttering a spell under her breath. It was only moments before Cordell stepped out of the tunnel, his back to them. His shield was up and his spear would suddenly jab out from time to time, forcing the beasts back. The two Archsal¡¯awas soon came upon the precipice of their tunnel, eyeing the celebration awaiting them. Then they stopped, no doubt wary of being outnumbered. After they eyed them for a moment, they managed a cautious but smooth retreat back into their tunnel, disappearing into the darkness before Lucan could stitch together a thought. Thorley grunted in frustration, but Lucan found himself releasing a sigh of relief. He nced at Heath whose face presented a bleak painting, blood soaking a whole half of it. ¡°Fall back,¡± Lucanmanded. ¡°We must tend to our wounds, quickly.¡± Complying, his party retreated in the direction they¡¯de from until they found an appropriate spot to settle down for a time. During their brief walk, Lucan had calmed down enough to take note of injuries he hadn¡¯t noticed on his person before. On his arms, where his armor thinned between gauntlet and pauldron, the Archsal¡¯awa had ripped through and given him many shallow cuts. The burning pain and the blood soaking his clothes were bringing him more difort than agony. The same couldn¡¯t be said for Heath, however. As they settled down, Lucanmanded Clifton and Ryder to stand guard as they checked on the wounded man-at-arms. Besides the gash on his face, it appeared he¡¯d sustained other injuries in separate ces around his body, arms, ribs, back. They weren¡¯t too deep, but with all of them together, Heath might as well have been donating his lifeblood to the earth they stood on. Lucan helped Lilian cut the bandages while Thorley¡¯s attention was split between aiding them and looking out for the return of the beasts he was so eager to fight. Heath ended up with a cloth tied around his head and pressing against the gash to stop the bleeding, along with separate bandaging around his body to address his other wounds. Lucan couldn¡¯t help but be thankful to the man. Apparently, when the beast had absconded with him, Heath and Cordell had charged after them thoughtlessly, and perhaps recklessly, even as everyone else froze or attempted to make sense of what they were seeing. Being nearer, Heath had managed to go in first, charging into Lucan¡¯s scuffle. Following him had been Cordell who had noticed that the Archsal¡¯awa had brought ¡®friends¡¯ as Lucan himself had; he¡¯d then resolved to keep said friends away from them. Lucan wanted to pat Heath¡¯s shoulder and thank him, but the big man was barely awake, showing signs of sleepiness that didn¡¯t appear voluntary. He needed rest, good food, and possibly a medicant or a surgeon. ¡°Handle your Blessings then we will return to the surface,¡± Lucan instructed. Immediately, a noise of protest came from Thorley. ¡°We are not yet done! The princess told us that you would make certain we reach an appropriate threshold.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got wounded,¡± Lucan said, giving him a sharp look. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°We¡¯re already this far down. We could track those beasts down, find their nest if they have one. A lot of Vital Essense to be gained from that.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But the princess¨C¡± ¡°I have made my decision,¡± Lucan said. ¡°You can stay here alone if you want.¡± He nced at Lilian who didn¡¯t seem to share herpanion¡¯s notion of opportunity. ¡°Heath needs his wounds properly tended.¡± The object of his words groaned and mouthed, ¡°I¡¯m¡­well.¡± Then paused. ¡°I will be well.¡± ¡°Yes, you will,¡± Lucan said, peeling the armor off his arms to attend to his own wounds. Once they were bare, Lilian gasped and drew closer to help him. Lucan knew that his wounds looked worse than they were with how soaked in blood everything was. She helped him clean his arms and wounds, dressing them for him as he couldn¡¯t leverage both his hands to do it. Her hands were soft on his skin, and up close, he could see a certain quality to their dainty appearance as though they were neatly carved out of marble and polished to a point at her smooth nails, all with a reddish tint to her flesh that gave them proof life. Her breath tickled his skin from time to time as she busied herself with tying the bandages in ce. While her closeness wasn¡¯t the first unintended intimacy he¡¯d enjoyed in his life, having befriended the butcher¡¯s girl back home in his younger years, he still found it a pleasant experience. Lilian softly held and twisted his arms after she finished, observing them for any wounds she might have missed. ¡°Are you in pain?¡± she asked. ¡°Not enough to be of consequence.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d.¡± She gave him a tender smile which he answered with one of his own. As they all took a breath, resting before even checking their Blessings, he asked her, ¡°You said your father was a merchant?¡± ¡°Yes. He was part of the guild before¡­¡± her voice turned into a light whisper, ¡°Before the King disbanded it.¡± Then her voice returned to normal as she continued proudly, ¡°he has two caravans that travel East and West.¡± ¡°Does either go south?¡± Lilian frowned thoughtfully. ¡°I believe that he sometimes sends them to Arpague? I¡¯m not certain.¡± ¡°What about a little farther south?¡± Lucan said. ¡°There¡¯s a route that eventually leads to the Union passing near ournds.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said apologetically. ¡°Only my father would be able to tell you.¡± She gazed at him for a moment, perhaps reading the eagerness on his face. ¡°I¡¯m certain he would be happy to speak to you.¡± ¡°It would be much appreciated.¡± Lucan gave her a smile. She gave him an eager nod before they separated to look through their Blessings. Even with their condition now, Lucan couldn¡¯t keep his eagerness down for long. He summoned his Blessing. You have in a lv9 Ashkiev and absorbed its Vital Essence. You have in a lv8 Ashkiev and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv10 Ashkiev and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv8 Ashkiev and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv11 Archsal¡¯awa and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. Swordsmanship has leveled up. Race: Human Level: 7 Vital Orbs:16 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv22: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv4: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv4: Novice (0/1) He looked upon his Blessing contentedly. With this many Vital Orbs, he could empower his Physique once more, which he hesitated to do. With sixteen Orbs, he could push his Skills very high, high enough to sustain him in a long engagement. Still, putting fifteen into his Physique would push him along the path towards Steel. After an adequate amount of thought, he decided that he would take the middle path. His next level, which would hopefully not be too far away, would give him another eight Orbs, and so he would need to preserve seven out of the current sixteen to be able to push his Physique along when the timees. The rest, he vested into his Skills, five Orbs into the Star and four into Wraith Strike. Race: Human Level: 7 Vital Orbs:7 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv22: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv9: Novice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv8: Novice (0/1) Done with that, he let Cordell rece Ryder on watch so thetter could handle his Blessing too. He nced at Heath who seemed to be struggling to focus on his Blessing with half-clouded eyes. They would have to move soon. Chapter 39: Perish or Die Chapter 39: Perish or Die Wounds were dressed, Blessings were handled, and armors scrutinized. After that, Lucan prepared them to move again. There was no time to waste, after all, considering Heath¡¯s condition. It took a lot of debate and even a little bit of coercion for Thorley to agree to be Heath¡¯s support. The two of them would walk beside Lilian in the safest ce in their shrinking formation. They got on their feet, Clifton taking the rear, Heath leaning his weight on Thorley, and Lucan leading with Cordell and Ryder. Lilian leveled a concerned nce at a pale Heath before they moved. Lucan nced behind at everyone onest time before he led them up the passage. They moved at a moderate pace, mindful of their exhaustion and injuries but also eager to get out of the Labyrinth sooner rather thanter. They traced their steps back through the passageways they¡¯d taken, trudging along dutifully. It wasn¡¯t long, however, before they all felt something. A thump, perhaps. It came from ahead, beyond a bend in their path. The thumps were heavy but tardy, and came one at a time. Lucan nced back at Clifton who shook his head, apparently as uncertain as everyone else of what it was. Lucan signaled everyone to slow their pace and move quietly, then they all crept forward, rounding the bend cautiously. Until they came upon it. At first, Lucan didn¡¯t truly recognize its existence, because its color and texture matched the gravel under their feet. What got his attention was the sudden darkness in their path, which had him believe that they¡¯de across another one of the Kewmer Wyrm parts of the passage. Yet all feet came to a stop, even before they realized what was ahead of them, as though something instinctive had urged them to halt. It blinked its eyesnguidly, perhaps more unaware of them than they had been unaware of it. Its saurian head stretched from side to side, extending from a reptilian body kept high off the ground by four stout legs. Its scales were the ck of their rocky surroundings. The beast¡¯s size was ideal for their surroundings too, its girth filling the passage just enough to block all light from beyond but not so much as to graze the walls. The beast took them in for a moment, seemingly uncertain of what it perceived. A snake-like tongue flicked out of its mouth and tasted the air, and its head tilted in puzzlement before rearing back and¨C Before it could do more, Lucan had given themand. With a shout loud enough to echo down the passage, they ran the other way. ¡°What in the hells was that?¡± Ryder yelled as they ran. ¡°Something we mustn¡¯t fight,¡± Cordell answered him. Lucan maneuvered his way past Heath and Thorley to run beside Clifton who had his shield ready as he ran, perhaps as wary of the return of Archsal¡¯awas as he was. Lucan yelled back at the others, ¡°the Archsal¡¯awas are still down there. We could be pincered!¡± ¡°And if we are?¡± Thorley said while straining to support Heath with their current pace. ¡°Then we break the weaker of two jaws,¡± Lucan said. ¡°There¡¯s no returning to that thing.¡± Their formation was in shambles as they ran, with no clear line to face any approaching threat. Lucan forwent a rearguard as well, since it would serve no purpose against the thing that was chasing them. They could hear its thumps more frequently now. It didn¡¯t roar or screech. The only herald of its approach was the thumping of its heavy legs. Lucan urged everyone to increase their pace, noting that Thorley wasn¡¯t supporting Heath alone anymore but had Lilian¡¯s help. The rest of them were alert and wary of any threats that might jump at them with their current pace. After a while and as ragged breaths came out of dry mouths, they came upon their first impediment. ¡°They¡¯ve brought their friends,¡± Ryder growled. Lucan observed the group of Archsal¡¯awas that were ahead of them. He couldn¡¯t disagree with Ryder. It seemed that the two that had slipped away from them had returned to wherever the Archsal¡¯awas nested and brought back reinforcements. He couldn¡¯t count them properly with how hectic everything was, but he saw the surprise in the beasts¡¯ posture, perhaps from the pace at which they were approaching them or the echoes of the heavy thumps that followed them. ¡°We don¡¯t stop,¡± Lucan said resolutely. ¡°Cut through them!.¡± He raised his shield high to his shoulder, bracing his pauldron against it and aiming at a gap between two of the beasts. The distance between human and beast shrunk rapidly until they were upon each other. As ws rose to meet him, Lucan, still braced behind his shield, used his Star and moved to its forwardmost point, then he dismissed the star and chained another use of it instantly, moving forward once more. The idea hade to him on the spot, and he¡¯d not given it much thought, hoping that it would work for his purposes. It did. He speared through the clump of beasts, though he heard the wood in his shield finally give in and break, turning into a misshapen mess of wood and steel that could no longer be called a shield. When he came to a stop, he discarded it and immediately saw wsing for his face. He crouched and the ws of multiple Archsal¡¯awas shed against each other instead of against his head. He had his sword in one hand and unsheathed his dagger with the other. When he rose from his crouch, he rose with a storm of des, spinning with sword and dagger, his Wraith Strike lighting up the des and slicing off hands and arms. The rest of his party shed with the beasts and any semnce of understanding was lost to the mayhem. In the chaos of the fight, Lucan parried ws, split open fur and hide, saw Cordell struggling to free his spear from an impaled beast, caught sight of a spike of ice piercing the eye of an Archsal¡¯awa, and admired Ryder¡¯s decraft as he carved through two of the beasts masterfully. Lucan¡¯s reason came back to him when he got a moment to breath. He savored it only for a blink before he shouted, ¡°Move!¡± And turned to ascertain Heath¡¯s safety. Thorley was shouldering his way through the gap they¡¯d cut through the beasts along with the wounded man-at-arms, followed by Lilian who was muttering a spell under her breath. Not all of the beasts were dead, but Lucan wouldn¡¯t stay to finish the deed. They¡¯d wanted a path through, and now they had one. He had no doubt that they had paid for it with wounds of their own. He could feel some on himself already, but the rush of blood and fear was keeping their pain distant and negligible. Soon, they extricated themselves from the mess of blood and fur, continuing down their path and leaving the surviving beasts to their fate, for surely, they would meet the giant lizard¡¯s wrath. They ran and ran, the thumps following and never stopping. They took to branching paths without marking them, heard the dsitant yips of Archsal¡¯awas that were no doubt from the same nest they¡¯d roused, and stumbled to brief stops to treat worsening wounds. Yet they never truly halted their escape. Because the thumps never stopped. They grew distant and times, but they never stopped. Perhaps the beast could smell them. Lucan had read that snakes smelled the air with their tongues, and that they were better than a thousand noses. He had been uncertain about the truthfulness of that, but he was beginning to be a believer. Nothing stopped them for more than a few moments. That was until they heard a new noise. A droning echo that shook the air around them. ¡°Damn the gods,¡± Cordell swore. ¡°That¡¯s a shaft!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Lucan said. He¡¯d read about the shafts thoroughly and the noise wasn¡¯t far from what he¡¯d expected. ¡°Let us hope not to meet it then,¡± Ryder said as they came to a stop. ¡°Fortune hasn¡¯t exactly been our ally today,¡± Clifton said, speaking for the first time since they¡¯d met the lizard. Lucan was inclined to agree. They were at a fork in the passage, and the noise seemed to being from both sides of the fork. He¡¯d have to decide on a path which could possibly end up with them meeting a shaft to the gods below. Or at least that was what they were supposed to be. No one returned from them, and they would swallow any who drew too close. If there was one warning everyone was given before they delved the depths of the Labyrinth, it was to avoid the damned shafts, no matter the cost. But the cost at this time would be their lives if they decided to turn back and face the gigantic lizard. So they would move forward and hope that misfortune didn¡¯t abuse them too thoroughly on this day. ¡°We¡¯ve been veering left for a while,¡± Lucan finally said. ¡°It would be prudent to continue to do so, so we can eventually circle around and go up.¡± ¡°Left then.¡± Cordell nodded, concurring with his reasoning. Seeing support from the most experienced among them, Lucan set his jaw with as much resolve as he could muster and led them forward, wary of the thumps that were once again drawing closer. Not unexpectedly, they found that the shaft¡¯s noise drawing closer as they paced on their chosen path. Misfortune was truly their unwanted friend today. Lucan cursed under his breath as he realized that they would inevitably meet the shaft. Soon, the noise was no longer an echo but an immediate sound of droning wind from ahead. As they rounded thest bend in their path they came upon it, the shaft in all its deathly glory. Chapter 40: Falling Up Chapter 40: Falling Up In front of Lucan¡¯s frozen party, the passage opened up into a circr cavern, lit green by the sparse moss on its ceiling. The cavern was bowl-shaped, its floor unlike the rest of the Labyrinth, for it wasn¡¯t made of rock and packed gravel. Instead, the bowl shape was mostly made of fine, gray dust, packed into a smooth, inclined surface and converging on the central attraction of the cavern, a gigantic hole, the shaft. Beyond the shaft and on the other side of the cavern, there was an opening that led into another passage. Aside from its perfectly circr shape, the hole in the middle of the cavern looked ordinary. Though when Lucan gazed upon it for a prolonged amount of time, it was like he could feel the unimaginable depths its other end reached. A certain level of awe couldn¡¯t help but slip into his heart at the sight. Barely any light could reach the insides of the hole to divulge its secrets since there was a suspiciously circr patch of bald ceiling above it. The thumps of the lizard chasing them never stopped, gradually drawing closer, yet none of them dared move forward. There was no doubt that the packed dust surrounding the hole would easily surrender any trespassers to the endless depths of the shaft, which prevented them from treading carelessly into the cavern. Ryder poked his head in for a moment then pulled back. ¡°The edges seem solid enough.¡± Clifton wriggled his way through their packed bodies to poke his head in and take a look too. ¡°Not very reliable. But more reliable than that.¡± He pointed at the packed, gray dust around the shaft. Lucan got his own nce inside and saw that at the edges of the cavern, there were some broken-up bits of rock and gravel that constituted a ledge. ¡°We have no choice.¡± They all exchanged resigned looks only interrupted by a question. ¡°Who will go first?¡± Thorley said. Again, they exchanged looks, and Lucan saw that Cordell was about to volunteer. Yet, his father wouldn¡¯t have hesitated had he been here. So Lucan grit his teeth and spoke. ¡°I will.¡± And before any of his men-at-arms could protest, he stepped onto the ledge, sticking to the wall that had been on his right. He heard cursing from behind him but ignored it and continued, ¡°Discard all that¡¯s not immediately necessary and follow me. Thorley and Ryder, look after Heath.¡± Soon, all of them began discarding their backpacks, taking only the most essential supplies from them. Then slowly, one by one, they streamed in after him, inching sideways against the wall of the cavern, the tips of their feet overlooking certain doom. They circled the edge of the cavern slowly but with much urgency as they moved towards their destination on the other side, the looming noise of the approaching beast providing ample motivation for them to hasten their crawling pace. Thorley and Ryder each had an arm held out against Heath¡¯s chest, who was looking even worse for wear now, barely keeping his eyes open. Midway through their crossing, Lilian¡¯s dress pushed some air into blowing dust from under their feet into the air, uncovering a glint of metal buried in a sea gray. Suddenly, Thorley gasped and mouthed a word. ¡°Mythril!¡± Then he let go of Heath and dove for treasure. Ryder had to throw himself against heath to keep him from falling forward, while Thorley plunged his hand into the dust, retracting it with something Lucan couldn¡¯t quite see, or rather he didn¡¯t have time to see, as the packed dust Thorley abused decided to seek its fortune elsewhere, its smooth shape copsing and cascading down towards the shaft. Much of the dust stirred into the air, darkening the cavern and driving them all into a coughing fit. As the dust settled again, Lucan saw that the slice of the bowl of dust in front of them had lost its shape and copsed entirely into the shaft, leaving behind a mess of rock and gravel that had apparently been hidden beneath it. Worse yet, the ledge under their feet was noticeably loosening. ¡°Damn you,¡± Ryder growled at Thorley, struggling to hold Heath steady. ¡°Not now,¡± Lucan shouted. ¡°Move!¡± Theyplied, following his hastened pace as he trod the ledge. Lucan was no longer inching forward. Instead, he was eating up as much distance as he could while moving sideways. The thumps of the beast¡¯s feet were getting so close that even the dust in the cavern was beginning to shake at its approach. It took them a while. But once they reached the other side of the cavern, they hopped into the passage one by one. As they did, some of them copsed on the ground panting, while Lucan and the rest turned to look stare back at the predatory pair of eyes watching them from the passage across the cavern. The beast had arrived. Something instinctive seemed to deter it from entering the cavern, but its eyes were locked onto them still. Ryder got up from the ground, where he¡¯d been kneeling beside Heath and gasping for air. ¡°Could we lure it into the shaft?¡± ¡°It depends on how intelligent it is,¡± Lucan said. ¡°If it¡¯s intelligent enough to know what the shaft is, then it¡¯s unlikely. If, however, only instinct is warning it from stepping into the cavern, then perhaps an adequate amount of fury can overwhelm that instinct.¡± Lilian, who¡¯d also been on the ground gulping air, forced herself up and said, ¡°I may be able to help with that.¡± Lucan nodded at her, then she stepped forward, whispering a chant. The form of her spell materialized into familiar spikes of ice floating in the air. The spikes threw themselves forward across the deceptively wide cavern and collided with the beast¡¯s scales with the rings of tinkling bells. The lizard didn¡¯t seem hurt from the effort, but it shook its head irritably when some of the spikes hit it near the eyes. Catching on to the same thing Lucan did, Lilian summoned her spell again and guided all her spikes towards the beast¡¯s head and as close as she could to its eyes. This time, the lizard saw where the spell wasing from and leveled a hostile gaze at Lilian before the spikes collided with its head. When they did, it shook its head aggressively, hitting the walls of the passage, then it stepped forward with a promise of violence. Its front footnded on the packed dust, copsing its side of the bowl. The dust cascaded down that side and into the shaft, closely followed by the beast as it tumbled down the edge of the passage. The shaft swallowed the dust like water into the gullet of a Leviathan. Then therge lizard followed, sliding over the gravel while struggling and failing to hold on to something with its ws. Eventually, it reached the shaft and some manner of force acted upon its humongous body, pushing the panicked creature down into the abyss. The force first plunged its head down into the darkness as soon as it came above the opening, forcing the rest of its body to quickly follow, which ended with the beast smoothly sliding into the shaft with barely any resistance. It was the first time Lucan noticed that there was some kind of unnatural power acting on whatever sunk into the shaft. Perhaps the beast¡¯s attempts to resist made it more apparent, but he hadn¡¯t noticed the same phenomenon with the inanimate dust. ¡°Good riddance,¡± Thorley¡¯s irritating voice rose beside him. Lucan turned to see the young man opening his waterskin for a drink but not before continuing, ¡°The damn thing has be¨C¡± With his gauntlet, Lucan backhanded him across the face with a loud crack, forcing him to the ground. Lilian yelped and the open waterskin flew out of Thorley¡¯s hand, coincidentally, in the direction of the cavern. It hit their side of the bowl, spilling water on the dry grains of dust and tumbling down towards the shaft. Once it reached the hole in the middle of the cavern, the skin was dragged down to the abyss. Surprisingly, though, the water that had spilled out of it while it was falling into the shaft floated, as though the force acting to drag things down was pushing the water up. It floated above the open path to the abyss peacefully, slowly being pushed outwards toward the packed dust around it. Lucan couldn¡¯t watch it anymore, however, as Thorley was picking himself up off the ground with a growl, mouth bloody and face contorted with rage. Before he could retaliate though, Clifton stepped between them, his axe sheathed but his hand kept prominently on its head. Cordell stepped up beside him while Ryder kept Heathpany. ¡°Please,¡± Lilian said, leaning on the wall and her eyes shifting between all of them with an abundant amount of panic. ¡°Please, don¡¯t,¡± she repeated, apparently unable to mouth any more words in her fear, but her meaning was clear. Thorley¡¯s tense body rxed as he eyed his opponents and the reasonable part of his mind realized that he was heavily outnumbered. Lucan stepped around his men-at-arms and faced him, eying the blood seeping from his split lips to flow over and cover his chin. He extended his hand towards him. ¡°Hand it to me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Thorley said. ¡°Hand it.¡± ¡°Thorley,¡± Lilian said as she saw him hesitating. ¡°Please. Enough has happened already.¡± Visibly grinding his teeth after skimming Lucan¡¯s men with his eyes, Thorley palmed his pouch and delicately pulled something out of it, then he reached over and put it in Lucan¡¯s extended hand. Lucan put the grain of mythril between his thumb and forefinger and brought it closer to his face, eying it curiously. It was silver-colored but with a milky, bluish depth that silver didn¡¯t have. It was also perfectly round as though made to be so by human hands. However, Lucan knew that all the literature agreed that the metal was always found in this shape, and always in the Labyrinth. The round grain in his hand was smaller than the nail on his smallest finger, which made him wonder if it was enough to forge a goldsteel sword. After observing it for a while, he gingerly put it into his own pouch. He nced at the cavern where the water had been floating above the shaft and found that it had already fallen on the dust around it, having been pushed away from the round hole by the invisible force. He turned to Lilian. ¡°Did you see that?¡± She was unmoving for a moment, looking at him quizzically, then she nced at the hole, shaking her head slowly. ¡°S-See what?¡± ¡°The water,¡± Lucan said with a moderate amount of exasperation. ¡°It was floating.¡± She shook her head with more certainty this time. Lucan sighed and turned to the most troublesome member of their party, who was still bleeding from the mouth. His face hardened as he remembered Heath nearly falling into oblivion because of him. ¡°From this moment on, you will follow mymands to the letter. You will not foolishly endanger others. And you will be as cautious as a newly-blooded maiden in a court of snakes.¡± After Thorley begrudgingly acquiesced, Lucan took a quick look at this Blessing. You have in a lv9 Archsal¡¯awa and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv10 Archsal¡¯awa and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. You have in a lv10 Archsal¡¯awa and absorbed part of its Vital Essence. 7-Point Star Dance has leveled up. He dismissed his Blessing swiftly after a brief nce, raising his eyes and gazing at his men. ¡°Let¡¯s find our way up.¡± It took them two days to reach the earthen tunnel that led to the surface. Two insufferable days. Having discarded their supplies in favor of surviving a rampaging lizard back near the shaft, they had to bear with rough sleep among other grating conditions that made them all peevish. They also had to contend with a variety of, thankfully, weaker beasts, including more Kewmer Wyrms, on their way up. By the time they reached the tunnel that led to the surface, they were all as exhausted as each other. As their surroundings turned from stale ck to deep brown, Lucan could somehow begin to smell the surface from this deep in the Elder Root¡¯s tunnel. They climbed the rtively steep slope and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep-seated longing to see and feel the sunlight on his skin. He smiled as they walked the final stretch of their return journey. The moss stopped looming above them and its light was reced by a sparse amount of torches up the earthen tunnel. Ryder was still helping Heath along on his right, though thetter had surprisingly gotten better in the past two days, his wounds closing and hisplexion improving. He was still weak, but Lucan had thankfully stopped fearing the worst more than a day ago. On the other side, the rest of the party walked beside Lucan. Lilian¡¯s dress was worse for wear, and the armors of Cordell, Clifton, and Thorley weren¡¯t faring much better. Suddenly, Clifton¡¯s head snapped to the right with rm, his sharp eyes honing in on something across the tunnel. For less than a moment, Lucan was perplexed, thinking that it was impossible for a beast to make it this close to the surface with the Elder Root in ce. But as he turned to the torchless, shaded edge of the tunnel towards which Clifton red with a focus that could cut flesh, he realized that it wasn¡¯t a beast he needed to fear. Chapter 41: The Mark of A Fool Chapter 41: The Mark of A Fool The shape of a man unsheathed itself from the shelter of darkness. An Eastern porcin mask covered his face and his hair was smothered by dark wrappings as tight and dark as his clothing. He didn¡¯t give them more time to observe him before he dashed forward, cutting a straight line that would inevitably lead him to Lucan. Clifton yelled, but even the vignce that had allowed him to spot the assassin didn¡¯t help when it came to cutting him off. He was too slow. Ryder wasn¡¯t. One moment, nothing was between the assassin and Lucan, and the next, Ryder was there, two des in hand and moving. Two long daggers, that might or might not have been in the assassin¡¯s hand all along, met Ryder¡¯s sawtooth de and stiletto in a tempest of metal that onlysted for a moment. Ryder acquitted himself well in the short exchange, but a violent sh of metal had the tip snap off his stiletto and then the assassin stepped into his guard and shouldered him out of the way before resuming his dash. Lucan was only partway through unsheathing his sword, having been embarrassingly frozen for the first half of the attack. As the assassin covered thest stretch of distance between them and Lucan¡¯s sword slid out of its sheath¨Cstill in no position to guard him¨Ca surprise caught the assassin in the side. Having been bought a sliver of time by Ryder, Cordell had thrown his heavy spear straight into the assassin¡¯s ribs. The spear took the ck-d man off his feet and threw him to the side. Before Lucan could step over the still-struggling assassin, Cordell followed his spear, nearly flying through the air andnding on their foe. He gripped his spear with both hands and drove it well into the assassin. A wet gurgle escaped thetter¡¯s masked face before he stopped struggling. Cordell pulled his spear free from flesh and bone, letting blood and bubbles escape the pierced lung. All of them soon gathered around the dying man, who was evidently still fighting for breath through a sea of blood. Clifton knelt down near the assassin¡¯s face while Ryder cursed a storm. Lucan patted thetter on the shoulder and muttered a shaky thanks in his ear before turning to Cordell and speaking in a more discernible voice, ¡°We should¡¯ve kept him alive. We don¡¯t know who sent him.¡± Even though the middle-aged man-at-arms showed a bit of sheepishness at the notion, it couldn¡¯t overwhelm the prevalent relief on his face. Lucan couldn¡¯t help but be grateful to him too but before he mouthed his thanks, a shake of Clifton¡¯s head grabbed his attention. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have helped,¡± Clifton said, the assassin¡¯s mask in his hand and the man¡¯s face bare before him. His face was ordinary, though his skin had a heavy tint of bronze unlike any Lucan had seen before. His mouth was filled with blood and his eyes were wide open as he gurgled air through blood, then his struggles ceased and he stilled. Clifton continued, ¡°He¡¯s a Far Eastern. He wouldn¡¯t have needed to meet the one who hired him. It¡¯s unlikely that we would¡¯ve produced any knowledge of value from him.¡± ¡°An Eastern?¡± Lucan asked. Clifton nodded heavily. ¡°The Union¡¯s routes haven¡¯t only been bringing spices to the Elder Lands. Some, like this one,¡± he tapped the dead man¡¯s head with the mask, e to sell their services to the highest bidder. Eastern assassins have a dreadful reputation, though. This one¡¯s capabilities seemed tamepared to that reputation.¡± He proceeded to search the body thoroughly and ended up finding nothing of note. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t linger,¡± Cordell said after he finished cleaning the bronze tip of his spear. Lucan, having crouched beside the body, nodded his head and rose. ¡°Right you are. Let us make our way to the surface. We ought to hasten up to the pce¡± Subdued, the whole party obliged without much noise. They climbed the slope with a quick pace appropriate for their circumstances and soon made it out of the Elder Root. ¡°Should we talk to the guards?¡± Lilian asked. Lucan hesitated. ¡°We ought not,¡± Clifton said. ¡°Some of them might beplicit.¡± Cordell nodded along with the young man-at-arms. Seeing his most experienced man-at-arms agree, Lucan took a breath and nodded too. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s not make any stops. Straight to the pce.¡± Everyone nodded along but Clifton spoke again before they moved. ¡°I was¡­raised in the capital. I can take us through some back streets and alleys to avoid prying eyes.¡± Lucan looked askance at him but didn¡¯t linger on the matter. ¡°That would be wise.¡± They hastened through the camp and were soon allowed through the gate out into the city proper. Clifton veered them off the arterial street and into a side path. He led them through nooks and back alleys they could have never even perceived without him. At times, they would trickle through paths that could only take one of them at a time. At others, they would creep through paths so well-shaded that they mimicked the darkness of the night. And yet at other times, they would have to cross a lively street in a hurry to reach a nook on the other side before continuing with their subterfuge. With how much they¡¯d walked, Lucan suspected that Clifton had had them go in convoluted circles to avoid or detect any tails. Eventually, they made it as close to the pce as they could without emerging onto any street of significance. But one could only get so close to the King¡¯s dwelling before all streets became of appropriate width. And always patrolled by guards. They emerged into the main street leading to the gates, and there, they were met by suspicious guards who observed their bedraggled appearance and proceeded to question them. Lucan was soon recognized and led inside with his men, while Thorley and Lilian were led to a side barracks to wait for the princess¡¯s affirmation that they were visiting upon her request. Lucan and his men were not-so-subtly guided to wash themselves by the pce servants, which they happily did. All of them, save for Heath and Cordell, took long, hot paths; the former being attended by a surgeon and thetter washing himself hastily before stepping out. Lucan could only rx so much in the baths, a thousand thoughts whirling within his mind. Even here, he kept one eye open, for he was vulnerable enough for a shaded de to slip into his neck or between his ribs. He¡¯de to appreciate Clifton¡¯s keen senses and Ryder¡¯s swift reactions, but he couldn¡¯t wholeheartedly rely on them when such a real and lethal threat was lurking in the shadows for him. Once he stepped out of the bath, he was found by a properly-dressed Cordell who led him to his father¡¯s chamber before the servants could get a word in with him. He reached the white-painted door, opened it, and stepped inside. Then he nced behind him to find that Cordell wasn¡¯t following but was waiting outside. ¡°Come in,¡± his father¡¯smanding voice came from ahead. He acquiesced and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. His father was seated beside a writing table, one of his arms resting on it and the other resting on his thigh. ¡°I know what happened. I warned you there could be consequences, Lucan. Though even I didn¡¯t expect something as overt as this.¡± Lucan froze for a moment, his thoughts coalescing, then he refocused on his father. ¡°You did it, then? And you believe the assassin was Prince Oswin¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°Aye, I did it. I humiliated a prince,¡± his father said, his voice grave and weary. ¡°And it came with a price, moral and material.¡± He gestured towards Lucan as he said thest word. ¡°I can think of no one else who might have a significant enough grudge against our line. And you couldn¡¯t have already made enemies while I was looking the other way, could you?¡± Lucan shook his head. His father continued, ¡°Well, everyone knows he is of the rare breed capable of such folly, and I¡¯m no stranger to such knowledge. Perhaps you were though.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t contradict his father there. He¡¯d expected many things, none of which included an assassining for his life. Now he had to watch for glints in the dark, at least until they returned home. As though reading his mind, his father said, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we will likely be leaving sooner rather thanter.¡± ¡°We will?¡± Lucan asked. His father nodded. ¡°Wildermen raids have begun in earnest back in the South. Word came yesternight. Attacks, too many attacks, have begun guing all the Southern territories. I expect the King to bid us return to ournds soon, tomorrow at thetest.¡± Lucan nodded, attempting to absorb all that he¡¯d missed during his venture into the Labyrinth. It seemed that even back home things weren¡¯t very peaceful. Their territory didn¡¯t border the Wildends, but Lord Arden to their south would be suffering the brunt of the Wildermen raids in that corner of the Kingdom. His father and his fellow knights would be expected to bolster the lord¡¯s forces against the encroaching savages. Lucan had caught brief nces of their three neighboring knights during the gathering for the King¡¯s announcement. They would all have to ride home posthaste once the King gave them leave. His father interrupted his thoughts by taking hold of an item Lucan hadn¡¯t initially noticed was on the table and tapping the wood softly with it. ¡°Cordell brought me this. He said he took it from a tunnel dug by Archsal¡¯awas?¡± Lucan raised an eyebrow. Cordell had shown him no such thing. Had he intentionally kept it from him? The item was made of two intecing rings of gold, their make reminding him of the Trial Orb back in Arpague, severe and ascendant beyond reach. Something that could not be crafted by the people of this era. ¡°He hid it so yourpany wouldn¡¯t get any ideas,¡± his father said, perhaps after reading his face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but a trinket of no real value, I believe. But certain collectors buy anything found in the Labyrinth. Perhaps we could exchange it for some coin, which would be of real value.¡± Lucan nodded, then he paused, remembering something important. ¡°We found this as well,¡± he said, procuring the grain of mythril from his pouch excitedly. ¡°I imagine it can be of much more value.¡± Even his father¡¯s eyes showed a hint of wonder at the sight of the mythril but it was soon suppressed as the knight shook his head. ¡°I know of that as well. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t as well hidden as this.¡± He let out a rare chuckle. ¡°Let us see if the princess will allow you to keep it.¡± Lucan¡¯s excitement died down as he remembered his agreement with the princess. The purpose of this delve into the Labyrinth was to serve her interests. Would she demand the mythril? It only took him a moment to arrive at an answer. Because in her ce, he would certainly demand it. He put the mythril back in his pouch and gave his father a nod of understanding. ¡°Speaking of the princess,¡± his father continued. ¡°She should be expecting you now.¡± Lucan looked askance at his father. ¡°I had Cordell smuggle you here before her servants could deliver you her summons,¡± his father said. Then his eyes sharpened as he continued. ¡°Don¡¯t contend with her, over that,¡± he nodded at the pouch where Lucan had stored the mythril,¡°or any other reason. Don¡¯t let her drag you into anything else, but don¡¯t make us another enemy. Elders know we have made enough for one visit to this damn city.¡± Lucan nodded numbly, his mind whirling with a thousand more thoughts than the ones he¡¯d arrived with. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious,¡± his father¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Even he isn¡¯t foolish enough to bring an assassin into the pce. You¡¯re safe here. Now go. I would be growing impatient if I were the princess.¡± Lucan nodded again, more firmly. Then he turned around and opened the door. Before he could step outside, his father stopped him. ¡°Lucan,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Cordell also told me of how you carried yourself down there. You did well. And you brought all our men back alive, as you promised you would.¡± His father¡¯s approving tone shot a current of new energy through Lucan and he listened as he continued. His father stood up. ¡°I¡¯m proud,¡± he finally said, giving him a firm nod of acknowledgement. Drunk on his father¡¯s rare approval, Lucan could only spill out his gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± The knight only grunted in response, signaling him to be on his way. Chapter 42: Battles Without, Battles Within Chapter 42: Battles Without, Battles Within Lucan stepped out of his father¡¯s chamber to find Cordell still standing by the door. He nodded to the man-at-arms before proceeding down the hallway. Then he stopped and turned around, remembering that it was Cordell¡¯s spear that saved him from an uncertain confrontation with the assassin. ¡°Thank you, Cordell.¡± Cordell gave him a firm nod of eptance. ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡± Lucan went on his way, taking a turn before remembering that he didn¡¯t know where the princess was. He stopped a servant who told him that she was in the pce gardens and how to get there. From hallways to open halls and from open halls to corridors. Lucan had to stop servants two more times to be pointed in the direction of the elusive garden. Yet, the hallways never seemed toe to an end. It was when he found himself walking in apletely empty one that it all crashed into him and he copsed upon himself. He nearly fell, only catching himself on the wall as his knees failed to carry him. He¡¯d been tense since he¡¯d returned from the Labyrinth, but he¡¯d also been keeping everything at bay. The near-death by the Archsal¡¯awas¡¯ ambush. The assassin that hade for his life. His life. What was he? An Emperor of old around which lurked plots, schemes, and murderers? Had he not been a simple knight¡¯s son not more than a month ago? His life was no longer that simple though. Now he schemed against princes, delved depths by royal decree, and fended off assassins. How easy would it be for his life to be snuffed out? He was already lucky that he hadn¡¯t lost any of his men to the Labyrinth, but how long would that luck persevere? He gave his back to the wall and breathed in deeply. Worst of all was that the threats against his life were now hidden within every shadow, every dark corner. It stalked him from nooks and crannies he might not perceive. Even the beasts had ambushed him through a damned wall. Could he trust his father¡¯s words that he was safe here? He stopped himself. This wasn¡¯t the conduct expected of him. This wasn¡¯t what someone his father was proud of would feel. He couldn¡¯t let fear cow him. The heady feeling he¡¯d gotten from his father¡¯s acknowledgement returned to him and his knees resummoned their strength. He took a deep breath and pushed everything back whence it came. He would persevere, at least until they got out of this pit of a city. Lucan pushed off the wall and continued on his way, determination giving surety to his step. He found the garden without further guidance. It had only been two walls away. He emerged into the light of day, letting the rays of the sun bath him in their golden light. The scent of a thousand flowers invaded his nostrils, potent enough to revivify a dying man. Around him, a colorful typhoon spread. Trees trimmed to a point. Flowers arranged in artful patterns. And walkways of marble and stone in between. A maidservant was already waiting for him. ¡°This way, Master Lucan. Her Highness is waiting near the pond.¡± Lucan followed her through the walkways until they reached a small pond where lotus flowers floated near the edges and odd green nts floated in the middle. The princess was standing with her back to the pond, wearing a reddish cream dress that flowed out beneath her. She was watching over a nket of white that Lucan realized was made of countless lilies when he got close enough. She spoke before he came up beside her. ¡°Lucan. Hale and healthy, I hope?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said as he stepped up beside her. She turned towards him, a turbid smile on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m happy for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very happy for me, however.¡± Lucan pressed his lips and stayed quiet. He knew what was sure toe next. ¡°I can understand you mounting a cautious approach to such a risky venture. I can also understand you cutting it short when one of your men was gravely injured,¡± the princess said. A Coldness crept into her features as she spoke and her smile solidified into ice. ¡°What I cannot¨Cno¨Cmay not understand is you treating one of those I patronize roughshod.¡± ¡°He nearly killed one of my men. He acted like a fool for most of our journey through the Labyrinth,¡± Lucan blurted out, nearly cursing himself after, for not mastering himself better. He could¡¯ve done better than let his irritation guide his words. ¡°It had nothing to do with a certain precious metal then? Which you wrested while ¡®punishing¡¯ him for his conduct?¡± ¡°He did deserve it,¡± Lucan snapped, then caught himself this time before continuing. A chuckle nearly escaped his throat and a small smile did betray him. This wasn¡¯t about him walloping one of her subordinates. It was about the mythril. He spoke again, but this time he was calm, measured. ¡°Your Highness, he imed the mythril under our protection. He would never have survived those depths without us.¡± ¡°Which is why I sent you with him,¡± she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t send him and Lilian to be in your care. I sent you to care for them. This whole matter was a repayment, Lucan. One which you are not delivering on very well.¡± ¡°I was to aid your friends in advancing, Your Highness, not in finding treasure.¡± ¡°You were to aid them in anything required,¡± she countered. ¡°I told you in my letter. This venture into the Labyrinth was in the interest of me and mine, before your own. Above your own. Are you one to break your promises, Lucan?¡± Lucan was stumped, uncertain of how to respond. There was no justification for him to keep the invaluable grain of mythril. And he so so wanted to keep it. He could have his own goldsteel sword like his father. Like Winton. He blinked and saw the princess¡¯s hand extended towards him. ¡°Give it,¡± she said, brooking no argument. Lucan grit his teeth and hesitated. ¡°Give it,¡± the princess said again, the color of warning tainting her tone. Lucan put his hand into his pouch and took out the mythril. Before he handed it to her, however, he spoke. ¡°Fine. But my men¡¯s lives were risked for this. My life was risked.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked, her eyes captured by the grain of silvery metal. ¡°You have another friend that I¡¯ve met. Sawyer. I want him toe with me for a time..to our territory. We have a problem that he may or may not be able to solve.¡± The princess let out a ringing titter, then she spoke without hesitation. ¡°You may have him, provided, of course, that he isn¡¯t against it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain you can persuade him,¡± Lucan said, still holding back the grain of mythril. ¡°I will try my best,¡± the princess said. ¡°I promise. I don¡¯t break my promises. Just as you don¡¯t...¡± She gestured at the mythril. Lucan nodded and put it in her hand. She immediately brought it to her eyes just like he¡¯d once done in the Labyrinth. She observed it intently then said, ¡°My mother once had a mythril ring. Can you believe it?¡± Lucan didn¡¯t speak, unsure of what to say. ¡°When she died, my father melted it down to have goldsteel armor forged for Dane,¡± she continued, chuckling ruefully. Her next words came in a thin whisper as though not intended to be mouthed. ¡°And he has the audacity to¨C¡± She cut herself off with an exasperated sigh. She covered the tension of the moment with busyness, signaling for one of the servants, who approached her and leaned in to listen to a whisperedmand. The servant ran off and the princess turned to Lucan once more. ¡°The mythril will serve a needful purpose, Lucan. I¡¯m grateful.¡± Lucan gave her his most incredulous stare. It¡¯s not as though you gave me a choice. ¡°You are most wee, Your Highness.¡± ¡°One of your men was injured,¡± she said. ¡°Is he well?¡± ¡°He¡¯s better, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said with a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m certain he would be honored and grateful for your concern.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d,¡± she said with a mannered smile of her own. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Shallow wounds,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Nothing to concern Your Highness with.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the princess said. ¡°Well, not to¨CAh, Sawyer has arrived.¡± Her gaze was aimed behind Lucan who turned to follow it, catching sight of the approaching young man, who looked evidently older than him. Sawyer had a full head of brown hair that he¡¯d given free rein to, but it was naturally tame and framed his face in a circr crown of soft twists and curls. The engineer stretched a smile as he saw them, quickly bowing to the princess and inclining his head towards Lucan. ¡°Your Highness. Master Lucan.¡± ¡°Sawyer,¡± the princess began. ¡°Thank you for arriving promptly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always at your service, Your Highness,¡± came his practiced response. ¡°Well, then I hope it would be tolerable for you to be at someone else¡¯s service for a modest amount of time.¡± ¡°Your Highness?¡± The smile on Sawyer¡¯s face turned into something quizzical, disguising an anxious mind if Lucan was reading the man right. ¡°Lucan here would like to hire your services for something of import in his father¡¯s territory.¡± Sawyer¡¯s countenance turned t before scrunching into anxiousness. ¡°But¡­Your Highness, the capital. The-the¨C¡± ¡°Be at ease, Sawyer. You will be back shortly,¡± the princess said before turning to Lucan. ¡°Isn¡¯t that so, Lucan?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± Lucan said. He looked at Sawyer with an easy smile. ¡°Just some troubles that need a man of knowledge such as yourself to take a gander at.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Sawyer said, his manner subdued. His eyes darted to the princess beseechingly every other moment, but she either responded to his nces with assuring smiles or ignored them altogether. Lucan had his doubts about why the engineer was so desperate to stay. He¡¯d only seen him and Helena for a brief encounter, but it had been quite evident that he intimately cared about her. ¡°What are these troubles, Master Lucan?¡± Sawyer asked softly. Lucan went on to tell him about the saltwaterke they were struggling with, but he neglected to mention the roads or the canals they were digging, which he would certainly have the engineer take a close look at when he arrived at the territory. The princess didn¡¯t show much curiosity towards what Lucan wanted her man for, but he suspected that she would wring Sawyer dry about everything he saw once he returned. In truth, it would be wise for her not to show any interest in his affairs so that he may not suspect Sawyer of spying on him. Lucan didn¡¯t know if the princess was wise, but he did know that she was cunning. He would have to keep an eye on Sawyer, even if he looked like a frightened deer at the moment. After hearing about theke, Sawyer looked uncertain and perhaps a little resigned. ¡°I would have to see it.¡± ¡°Which is why I¡¯m inviting you to lodge at our keep down south,¡± Lucan said. ¡°The weather is kind this time of the year in ournds. A bit wet at times, but mostly fresh and crisp.¡± Sawyer¡¯s eyes turned shifty for a while, as though he was searching his mind for an ingenious way to slip out of thismitment, but he eventually capitted. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to be of service.¡± ¡°Splendid.¡± Lucan felt his face split into a wide, unfeigned smile. ¡°You will bepensated for said service, naturally.¡± Sawyer forced a smile and nodded to him in what seemed to be his attempt at looking grateful. Lucan turned to the princess and gave her an affirming smile which she returned. Her hands were empty and the mythril was nowhere to be seen. Lucan had to suppress a grimace as the image of the valuable piece of metal emerged in his mind, reminding him of what had been lost. He would live. Besides, there were things of more import than a sword. Doubtless. Chapter 43: Man Plans and Gods Laugh Chapter 43: Man ns and Gods Laugh Lucan walked back to his chamber after his tiring conversation with the princess. While he had gotten something out of the whole debacle, it didn¡¯t mean that it had been easy, nor that a conversation with the cunning royal wasn¡¯t stressful. The more he spoke to her, the more wary he was of her. He hadn¡¯t spoken to the second prince yet, but if he was as wily as she was, then Lucan and his peers would suffer quite the reign. Lucan avoided his father¡¯s chamber and headed directly for his own. He was ambivalent about their state of affairs for now. His father seemed troubled by what he¡¯d had to do to the prince, but he¡¯d also seemed proud of his conduct in the Labyrinth. Now that Lucan thought about it, he had another thing to thank Cordell for. He hadn¡¯t only put himself between Lucan and a threat twice, but he had also ryed what he¡¯d seen of him in the Labyrinth in a good light. After reaching his chamber and closing the door behind him, Lucan wrote a brief letter on a small piece of parchment and rolled it up. Then he left his chamber in search of a servant, which he soon found. He handed him the letter and told him to deliver it to Lilian. He would have to meet her father in the pce. Even if courage possessed him to leave the pce in search of her merchant father, what little wisdom he had wouldn¡¯t allow it. Hopefully, Lilian would seed in bringing him to the pce. There was a lot to be gained from this meeting, if it came to be. Lucan stood at his window, which gave him a slim view of the highest reaches of the infernal temple. He¡¯d wanted to visit it, but it seemed now that there wouldn¡¯t be enough time. The temples were historically the subject of much mystery. Their rise hadmenced during the fall of the Veti Empire, which was likely due to thetter¡¯s prior suppression of the two apocalyptic religions(or cults, ording to the Empire). Lucan did agree that their existence was conducive to disorder. If written history was a viable witness, then people had a tendency to do the unthinkable when they thought the end of times was upon them. And if the infernal and abyssal temples agreed on one thing, it was that the end of times wasing, however long that would take. The infernals believed that the god of the earthen me and hellfire would rise with his army from the bowels of the Labyrinth to consume all and render everything to ash. The abyssals believed that the god of darkness would rise with his army from the depths to envelop the world in the ¡®darkest dark¡¯ and pull it down to the depths. The priests of both beliefs beseeched their followers to pray against and curse their respective god, which would supposedly weaken them enough to keep the end of times at bay. Laughable, when a sane man thought about it. Lucan was uncertain about them if he were to be honest. He didn¡¯t know whether to believe anything of what they proposed or to disbelieve them altogether. Though after seeing the shaft, he couldn¡¯t deny having felt a certain feeling of darkness and doom upon witnessing its horror. His knowledge of the religions¡¯ pasts, though, had disabused him of any notion of true belief. He was certain that they¡¯d had no existence before a certain point in history, but their high priests imed otherwise, basing their spiritual session upon the death of the old continent and the few monuments of the Elders that remained; some of which apparently showed evidence of an organized subterranean enemy, though most schrs agreed that it was a metaphorical or, perhaps even, a mythical notion on the Elders'' part. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and Lucan went to answer it. He opened the door and found the servant there with a small scrolled letter, not unlike the one he¡¯d just given him. ¡°Sir Lucan, Lady Lilian has entrusted me with this letter for you.¡± Lucan epted the letter. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m not a knight though.¡± And she¡¯s not ady. The young servant seemed mortified for a moment before Lucan gave him an easy smile and allowed him to leave. Thankfully, Lilian¡¯s response was cause for satisfaction. She was certain her father wouldn¡¯t be against meeting him. Though she mentioned that the guards likely wouldn¡¯t let him farther than the outer barracks of the pce and Lucan would have to meet him there. So he prepared his attire and made certain that he looked proper enough for the asion before departing his chamber. He thought about letting his father know first but discarded the thought. He certainly wouldn¡¯t be opposed to another merchant out of a dozen visiting their territory, would he? It remained to be seen, however, whether said merchant would ept Lucan¡¯s request. This time Lucan found no difficulty in navigating his way out of the pce, and then reaching the outer barracks. There, he was guided by a guard into the squat building, where he was led to a side room, which upon entry proved to be better furnished than the rest of the building. Lucan thanked the guard and leveled his attention at the man seated across the table before him. He seemed to be his father¡¯s age, though his hair was halfway into bing a sea of utter gray, something to which his father was a stranger. He had a thin mustache and beard that met each other in a circle around his mouth, well-trimmed and on the same graying path as his hair. His skin had a faint tint of bronze and was clean except for small blotches of ck on his cheek, likely birthmarks. He wore colorful robes that didn¡¯t go well with the dark green chair he was seated in, and Lucan could swear he saw the man¡¯s difort at the notion. ¡°Young Master Lucan,¡± the merchant said. ¡°A pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± ¡°Greetings, Master Saltner,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Thank you for epting my invitation.¡± ¡°You humble me, Young Master,¡± Saltner said. ¡°How could a simple man such as myself ignore the requests of his betters?¡± Despite that, the merchant hadn¡¯t stood up upon Lucan¡¯s arrival, though Lucan hadn¡¯t expected such a thing. Still, it showed how empty the man¡¯s words were. ¡°Please,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Let us not stand on ceremony.¡± Then he took his seat. It was a narrow but plush chair, its stuffing covered with forest green velvet. ¡°Well, then,¡± the merchant said. ¡°Whom should I thank for the pleasure of meeting you?¡± ¡°¡®What¡¯ would be more appropriate, I believe,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I¡¯ve requested this meeting with you for a mercantile affair.¡± ¡°Ah, my favorite kind of affair,¡± Master Saltner said, chuckling. His features suddenly looked friendly even if a little sly. ¡°You have something for this humble one to buy? Or perhaps you have unique tastes that require the assistance of a traveled man such as myself?¡± Lucan gave him an apologetic look. ¡°Neither this nor that, unfortunately. Lilian mentioned two caravans of yours that range East and West?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed, my family oversees such ventures,¡± Master Saltner said nomittally. Lucan smiled, diving into the meat of the matter. ¡°I believe it would do us both much good if one of those caravans were to visit my father¡¯s territory at least once a year.¡± The merchant¡¯s countenance sharpened and he straightened up. ¡°I see. ording to what I¡¯ve heard, however, your territory is far to the south, where beasts prowl and Wildermen grind their axes.¡± ¡°Our territory is far from the border,¡± Lucan lied. Though it was true that the Wildermen threat was a distant one to theirnds. ¡°And the beasts are kept in check. I¡¯ve taken part in thest pacification myself. They barely even saw the light of day.¡± Master Saltner nodded, even as he looked dubious. ¡°I see. I see. And since someone of your stature hase to invite me to their territory, a lot must be waiting for me there, yes?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Lucan said. ¡°The harvests of our territory and all those neighboring it gather at our settlement. There¡¯s also the Ardens¡¯ wine.¡± The merchant¡¯s brows rose in recognition of the Ardens¡¯ name, which encouraged Lucan to continue. ¡°Pelts and leathers of varying quality can also be found in our market.¡± ¡°I see, I see,¡± the merchant said, his countenance still friendly, but utterly t to Lucan¡¯s senses. The man seemed unimpressed, which worried him. Lucan perked up, recalling something important. ¡°There¡¯s also a saltke.¡± Master Saltner raised a brow, which further enhanced how false his friendly veneer was. Lucan could feel the man¡¯s intense scrutiny from the sharp eyes that were fixed on him. Still, there was a question in that subtle movement and Lucan intended to answer it. ¡°We¡¯re working on extracting salt from a salt-richke that we were fortunate enough to discover in our territory. It¡¯s only a matter of months until we are producing amounts adequate to garner the attention of yourpetitors.¡± The merchant nodded, releasing a prodigious breath and then leaning back in his chair. ¡°Perhaps worthy of a visit, but not one which could risk dying a whole caravan¡¯s journey. I must be honest with you, Master Lucan. The farthest South our caravans go is Arpague. I imagine it¡¯s quite some distance to reach yournds from there¡­?¡± Lucan pressed his lips and nodded. ¡°Ten days. A fortnight at most. We¡¯ve built a road that will straighten the creases in your journey and allow your caravan to continue on its way East to the Union after passing by our fief.¡± The merchant¡¯s countenance turned thoughtful. ¡°Hmmm. My daughter implied that you are apetent young man. She seems to hold much admiration for you.¡± He gave him a look. ¡°An old man such as myself must wonder if that is mutual.¡± Lucan¡¯s tongue nearly preceded him before he stopped himself, taking in the significance of those words. Was Lilian¡¯s father suggesting something? A courtship? It took him a moment, but Lucan remembered that it wasn¡¯t unheard of for knights to marry into wealthymoner families. Though Lucan¡¯s circumstances were different. His family was branched from a noble house, and his father wasnded. The expectation was that Lucan would be knighted someday too, and his father¡¯snds would pass on to him. He could see the appeal, even for a very wealthy merchant such as Master Saltner. If anything, the man must be now thinking what his father had been thinking for years, how good it would be if they were to be named lords of a house of their own someday, but it came with a small addition, the merchant¡¯s daughter as thedy of that house. Lucan was uncertain. But a decisive part of him pushed him forward. No harm coulde from epting the merchant¡¯s subtle suggestion. Lucan woulde to know Lilian and her father better, and then he could decide from there. Meanwhile, he¡¯d gain something he immediately needed. ¡°I have found nothing to dislike about the youngdy,¡± he said, remembering her fine features. Indeed, she was pleasing to look at, her eyes deep viridian and her smile soft and inviting. Her dress had hidden her figure, but there was no denying that dizzying force that pulled on him when she breathed against his face, like when she¡¯d been bandaging his wounds. He could consider courting her, yes. It wasn¡¯t like he was ascertaining any finalmitment, and Master Saltner certainly understood that too. Lucan would have to speak to his father about the matter. It was a knot to be worked through, that was for certain. A wealthy merchant as hiswfather could be a boon, or it could be against his father¡¯s ns for him. It remained to be seen. There was another problem, however. ¡°Unfortunately, the distance does not allow me to visit the capital frequently, Master Saltner,¡± Lucan said. ¡°It would be difficult for me to see Lilian except on asion.¡± Master Saltner let his teeth show through his smile. ¡°That is nothing to worry about, Young Master. My daughter has been hounding me for an opportunity to see the world for a time now. I suppose it is time to let her join me on one of my journeys. Perhaps one that involves passing by a certain Southern fief?¡± ¡°Ah, certainly, that would serve our convenience,¡± Lucan said, struggling to hide his surprise. ¡°I hope you¨C¡± A loud rap on the door interrupted him. ¡°Who is it?¡± Master Saltner¡¯s booming voice questioned. Instead of answering, the servant opened the door, panting. ¡°Master Lucan, Sir Gn Zesh has called for you. You are to head to his chambers posthaste.¡± The King must have given hismand, and Father is likely preparing to leave. Lucan stood up and nodded firmly to the seated merchant. ¡°Master Saltner. I believe we have reached an agreement?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the merchant said, standing up, ¡°of course. And please, call me Maris. We will be seeing you after the next grain harvest, Lucan.¡± Lucan raised a brow at the sudden sacrifice of titles, but he didn¡¯t want to dally. He gave the older man another firm nod then spun on his heel and walked out of the room. Chapter 44: Departure Chapter 44: Departure Lucan knocked on his father¡¯s door, receiving an immediate response to enter. He opened it and stepped inside, finding his father seated at the table, surprisingly, with a goblet in hand. He had never known his father to drink outside of asion. Gloom clouded the knight¡¯s features as he sipped ruby liquid from the goblet. ¡°I just came back from the King¡¯s study.¡± ¡°Did he give us leave?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°Aye, he did,¡± his father drawled. ¡°After he delivered upon me appropriate admonishment for infringing on the royal family¡¯s dignity.¡± He gave Lucan a look. Then he stood up, leaning with both hands on the table and shaking his head. ¡°This¡­¡± He sighed heavily, and his thick voice came out even, but troubled. ¡°This is unlike me. I don¡¯t conspire in courts. I don¡¯t take part in the schemes of plotters. I don¡¯t humiliate my betters to save myself.¡± He fixed Lucan with a stare then he sighed again and let his head fall forward as though it had been a burden to his shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s a relief that the King has given us our leave. I have had enough of this godsdamned city.¡± Lucan was struck by his father¡¯s forthrightness, which left him speechless for a few moments. He gulped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Father. I didn¡¯t mean to¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your burden to carry,¡± his father interrupted. ¡°The responsibility is mine, and the me is for me to bear. And I will bear it. For now, you need only learn, Son. Perhaps you will fare better than me after I pass.¡± Lucan knocked on his chest. ¡°Elders protect you, Father. And long may you live. Don¡¯t say such things.¡± ¡°Death is inevitable for all of us,¡± his father said. ¡°We must prepare for it just as much as we ept it. All I am doing now is preparation so that you may inherit and live in a state better than mine. Only, I¡¯m not so certain anymore whether I will leave you better or worse, Son.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°You will leave me better, Father. Of that, I¡¯m certain. Let them y their games. Now we only need to ride for our duties. The Kingdom needs us to protect its borders, and so let us.¡± And let me learn to y their games in your ce, Father. So that I may y them in your stead. So that you may not be so pained again. His father¡¯s face lit up and he let go of the goblet, nodding fervently. ¡°Yes. Let us. Let us wade through our true battles, where the sound of metal rises above the sound of man, noble ormon. Where the rot of friend and foe does not hide behind the scent of flowers and the pretense of empty smiles.¡± It only struck Lucan today how thin his father¡¯s tolerance for politics was. They hadn¡¯t maneuvered that much in the deep waters of the court, and yet the knight was already so frustrated. Lucan now understood his initial reluctance. Perhaps the only thing that had persuaded his father to back the first prince in the first ce was the title of nobility dangled in front of him, besides it being the traditional thing to stand for. He imagined that his father would have otherwise never done such a thing, no matter what amount of favors or wealth were offered. Lucan smiled and nodded to his father firmly. The knight grew quiet for a moment, sitting back down and taking a breath, his countenance much healthier. ¡°The princess has appropriated the mythril, I imagine?¡± He surprised Lucan with both the change of subject and the livelier tone. ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said with a sheepish smile. ¡°You were right.¡± He sighed. ¡°I suppose it was to be expected, even by me.¡± His father nodded sympathetically. ¡°It is fair, considering.¡± He grew quiet again. ¡°I have invited an acquaintance of the princess to ournds, well, more of a subordinate really. He is an engineer,¡± Lucan said. His father raised a thick brow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°For the saltke. We ought to find a solution for our troubles on that end.¡± ¡°And this engineer will need to be rpensed, yes?¡± ¡°If he achieves the purpose for which he is brought, then yes. And if he does, then it will more thanpensate for the spent coin.¡± His father hummed, nodding softly. ¡°I suppose the effort is justified.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another matter,¡± Lucan said, his voice growing faint in spite of himself. A rueful smile mastered his father¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m growing used to this, Son. More matters. Always. What is it?¡± Lucan took a deep breath and went on to tell him about his meeting with Maris Saltner. He told him of their agreement for the merchant to visit with one of his caravans. Then he told him of their other understanding. His father looked perplexed for a breath then bobbed his head in surprising eptance. ¡°I suppose this may be a good thing.¡± Lucan¡¯s surprise must have shown on his face because his father continued. ¡°Rising to the ranks of high nobility is now farther from our reach than it has ever been, Lucan. If we can gain the alliance of a wealthy man such as this Saltner, then it will do us much good. You also said that his daughter is a mage. We have no means to hire one now, and I doubt we will manage to do so even with coin at hand.¡± Lucan felt incredulous for a moment. ¡°Father, even should ite to be, I cannot be expected to send my wife to battlefronts, even with her spells to protect her, can I?¡± Sir Gn shook his head. ¡°No, but she may advise you, and aid you in smaller matters than open battle. Is she familiar with ritualism?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe she is.¡± ¡°Pity. But I suppose that would have been too fortunate. So much that it would have roused my suspicion,¡± the knight said, chuckling. ¡°You said she was the one with you in the Labyrinth? So she is also one of the princess¡¯s people?¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Huh¡­our only good tidings seem toe from Her Highness¡¯s coasts. That does rouse my suspicions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as though there is much to wrest from us, Father. Even if I must begrudgingly acknowledge the princess¡¯s craftiness, there¡¯s not much to fear from bringing her allies into ournds.¡± ¡°I suppose not, for now,¡± his father said. ¡°Regardless, we ought to do what brings us the most fortune at this time. Elders know we need it.¡± Lucan was d that they agreed on that front. At least now they were leaving Eldham with something of worth, even if their court aspirations hadn¡¯t panned out. ¡°We should prepare,¡± his father continued. ¡°We are to depart at first light.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°Yes, Father. I will prepare my belongings, and I will send for Sawyer to do the same.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Sir Gn said, giving him leave with a gesture of his hand. Before Lucan turned around to leave, he remembered someone. ¡°Lukas of the High Right. Are you familiar with that name, Father?¡± His father, whose zed-over eyes showed that he¡¯d allowed his mind to wander, snapped out of it. For a moment, he seemed to be thinking deeply, as though recalling something from ages past. ¡°Lukas, from the war with the Vincemare? Thatd?¡± ¡°I believe so,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Though he didn¡¯t tell me much more than what I told you and that you saved his life.¡± ¡°Aye, I did,¡± his father said. ¡°He¡¯s a goodd¨Cman¨Cnow, I suppose. A Vincemare huscarl sliced two of his fingers off during our final battle. I¡¯ve witnessed men respond with surprising variety to having parts of themselves sheared off before their eyes. It¡¯s never good. Lukas was of the breed that froze. I remember him growing still as he watched blood seep out of his stumps, giving the huscarl free rein to do with him what he wished. Fortune favored him, though, as I had just stepped up beside him.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but feel the same swell of pride he¡¯d felt when the sergeant had first talked to him about his father. After the attempt on his life, he had been dubious about the sergeant, since he couldn¡¯t be certain of the guards¡¯ innocence in the matter, yet it seemed that the man had been truthful. ¡°He said he was of the ¡®High Right¡¯.¡± His father let out a light huff. ¡°Yes, that was what we called our mounted right nk. The true nk, that is. It was mayhem back then. Some still call it the War of False Wings in jest.¡± He chuckled, then took a breath before asking him, ¡°Where did you meet him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a sergeant in the encampment around the Elder Root. He said to tell you that ¡®Lukas of High Right lives well with three fingers¡¯¡± His father allowed himself a rare boisterousugh. ¡°It¡¯s good to hear of someone from back in the day doing well for themselves. That one hadn¡¯t been so hopeful after the battle, but I suppose he eventually got back his bearings.¡± After sharing a few merry moments with his father, Lucan was content to have delivered the sergeant¡¯s message and affirmed the truth of it. He soon excused himself and left his father¡¯s chamber with a satisfied smile. They rose with the sun on the next day. Lucan collected Sawyer and delivered their farewells to the princess. And with Sir Gn in the lead, they departed from the East Gate of Eldham. Sawyer proved an abysmal rider, struggling with his horse for most of the day and earning the ridicule of their men-at-arms. Bored and on the cusp of a long journey, they enjoyed many a jest at the engineer¡¯s expense. Before Lucan could veer them off antagonizing the man, his father put an end to it by warning them that assassins might still be after them. Lucan hadn¡¯t missed the tension in his father¡¯s shoulders since they¡¯d left the pce. And even the men-at-arms with their jests hadn¡¯t truly let their guards down, if one were to observe them carefully. Perhaps their rowdiness had only been a front to hide their anxiety, just as Lucan¡¯s calm was a front to hide his fear. Fortunately, his father¡¯s worries proved untrue by the second day, and it looked like they would have a proper boring journey, one Lucan was very thankful for. Chapter 45: Silver Thorns Chapter 45: Silver Thorns The horses clopped rhythmically on Lucan¡¯s new road as the party trotted their way into the territory. It had taken them less than a month to arrive, during which they had only suffered from boredom and the aches of a long journey. The first movement they saw was that of a dozenborers working on the new irrigation channels. Lucan was aggrieved at seeing a miniscule part of his shiny, new road demolished to make way for the main channel. It was negligible, but it still alerted him to the importance of early, good nning. All his ideas were quick in showing themselves and even in being implemented, yet that turned out to have its own downsides. Different ns could, and perhaps always would, contradict each other in parts. They had to cross over the dry channel, one rider at a time, on a makeshift bridge made from nks nailed and roped together. Theborers were working a bit to the south of them. Some of them waved and others bowed as they passed. But before long, they found a lone ridering their way from the motte-and-bailey¡¯s direction. Lucan recognized Lee, the old man-at-arms his father had left behind as casten in his stead. He greeted them with a raised hand, nodding to Sir Gn. ¡°Sire.¡± Then he turned and rode alongside the knight, speaking quickly in a hushed tone. Lucan only caught snippets of their conversation, but it seemed that the old man-at-arms had sent the other three under hismand to Lord Arden¡¯s territory to help in fending off the Wildermen, leaving only him and Thomas to care for the fief. They hastened their trot at Sir Gn¡¯s behest, quickly passing by dozens more workers near the road and in the distance. Most of theborers savored the opportunity to stretch their backs and look upon a new sight, the rest only giving a passing nce to their small procession and continuing with their work. They soon reached the wooden palisade of their fief, and Lucan felt afort that could onlye from the familiarity of home. The weathered logs of the wall were like an old friend he¡¯d not seen for an age, and the keep looming over the bailey was like a mother¡¯s embrace beckoning him forward. They crossed the drawbridge over the first moat and rode through the bailey, dismounting before the second drawbridge that led up to the keep. His father hastened ahead with Lee, eating up the walkway withrge strides. The rest of the men waited as Lucan guided Sawyer forward. The engineer was looking worse for wear, his face toned and his travel clothes dirty, though he¡¯d certainly strived to wash his two sets during the journey with limited sess. Lucan patted the grumbling man on the back and gestured for him to follow him. ¡°Careful while climbing. The nks are steady but you could still slip.¡± The men-at-arms followed them up, and they were soon climbing the stone steps to the keep¡¯s main hall. Lucan had Cordell show Sawyer to his chamber and to where he could have a bath, while he went to find his father and Lee. As expected, Lucan found them in his father¡¯s study. His father was seated behind his desk, and Thomas and Lee were seated across from him, thetter having been interrupted by Lucan¡¯s entrance. ¡°Lucan,¡± his father said. ¡°I was just about to send for you. Come, take a seat. Thomas and Lee have much to tell us.¡± Lucan took a seat beside Thomas and his father gestured for Lee to continue whatever he¡¯d been saying before. ¡°...The raids have let off recently,¡± Lee continued what he¡¯d been saying before the interruption, ¡°which is the only reason Lord Arden¡¯s steward hasn¡¯t sent a grievance to the King.¡± Sir Gn frowned, his eyes shifting between his two aides. ¡°And why does Lord Arden¡¯s steward need to send a grievance to the King? We arrived as soon as we reasonably could.¡± Lee¡¯s countenance turned solemn and he gave a meaningful look to Thomas who, in turn, took a deep breath and began to exin. ¡°Word came from thends of Sir Upton and Sir Wolfe. A mine was found.¡± Sir Gn¡¯s brows rose in surprise, and a silent question came over his face. The steward continued, ¡°A silver mine.¡± He let out a heavy sigh as he answered the knight¡¯s unspoken question. ¡°Regrettably, what should¡¯ve been a good thing turned into a thorny affair.¡± Lucan¡¯s father frowned in thought for a moment then spoke before Thomas could continue. ¡°You said that word came from thends of both Upton and Wolfe. Whosend is the mine on?¡± Thomas¡¯s elderly features squeezed into a rueful smile. ¡°Both. It¡¯s within the ridge that marks the border between their territories by royal decree.¡± ¡°Damned gods,¡± Sir Gn muttered. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°As one might expect,¡± Thomas said. ¡°There was a dispute that soon grew in intensity between the stewards who were backed by their sires¡¯ men-at-arms, and it unfortunately led to some of theming to blows. Thankfully, no blood was drawn that day. But the men-at-arms have stayed in their territories since, to safeguard their sires¡¯ rights to the mine. Naturally, that means that they are not aiding Lord Arden¡¯s troops at the border.¡± ¡°And word didn¡¯t reach Upton or Wolfe in Eldham? They were prompt, but they didn¡¯t seem in too much of a hurry to leave,¡± Sir Gn said. Lucan had to agree. His father¡¯s need to leave had been pressing due to his distaste for the court, and they had ridden a day ahead of the other knights, while old Lord Arden had been given leave even a day before them and had probably ridden to his territory as hard as they had or harder because it was hisnds at risk. Yet the other knights had only taken care to not be tardy but had not been possessed of any sort of haste. ¡°I persuaded the stewards not to send missives to their knights, since if the King got word of it, it would end well for no one. It would be best toe to an agreement once Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton return.¡± His father let out a sound that was somewhere between a snort and a grunt. ¡°An agreement? I doubt it. If the mine is that close to both their territories, then they will both im it. This is indeed a thorny matter.¡± ¡°Perhaps the knights¡¯ friendship might make negotiation more favorable,¡± Thomas said. Sir Gn shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re on good terms, but their friendship isn¡¯t that deep.¡± ¡°Then perhaps their esteem for you can be used to reach an ord,¡± Thomas said. ¡°If you were to mediate¡­¡± Lucan had been holding himself back from interrupting them so far, but once Thomas grew silent, he couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°Yes, Father. We must interfere. This will be good for us. Merchants will be going mad for the silver. Perhaps I should send someone to find us a jeweler in Arpague.¡± He took a breath then rattled on. ¡°Clifton is best used to a big city, and perhaps Ryder to go with him. With only the two of them, the journey shouldn¡¯t¨C¡± ¡°No one is being sent to Arpague,¡± his father interrupted him. ¡°We have duties to observe in the South. Even if the raids have ebbed, the Wildermen are doubtless still nearby.¡± He nced at Thomas and released a sigh of his own. ¡°I will mediate though. Let¡¯s use the time the Wildermen have given us as best as we can, otherwise, this matter will end up being elevated to the royal court, and then it will be a proper mess.¡± Lucan scrunched his face in thought while the old steward and the old man-at-arms nodded in agreement with his father. He couldn¡¯t help but think that they were fortunate this time, but they had to make the best of their fortunes too. It would have been a truly joyous affair if that mine had been found in their territory, but s it was not. It was good enough for Lucan though. Now they only had to entice the merchants toe for the silver and hopefully salt too, soon. It would be best, however, if they invited a jeweler to their fief. The best uses for silver were minting coin and crafting jewelry and silverware. The King had sole authority over the former, and only proper craftsmen could do thetter. His father was right, though. They couldn¡¯t send their men on an errand while the bordends were endangered by such untimely raids. He¡¯d have to wait. Hopefully, the raids would be done and over with before the hay harvest. Since some of the merchants would pass by after the minor harvest to buy meats, skins, and wools. And that would be the best time to spread the word about the silver. It would be best to have a jeweler handy at that time too. The presence of the craftsman would set Lucan¡¯s mind at ease, since he would be certain that he could deliver on promises of jewelry to the merchants. But it would also be apelling reason for the metal to be sent to their fief for trade. The knights were already sending their produce to be sold here, since more merchants at the same ce meant better offers for their goods, but that would do nothing to prevent them from trying to attract trade to their ownnds in time. And with a silver mine in theirnds, the merchants would be happy to oblige. Lucan needed to have his pieces in ce ahead of it all. All he had to do now was wait. Thankfully, he had other matters to keep his mind off what he couldn¡¯t do. On the morrow, their estate would finally see the stubborn saltke defeated. Lucan came out of his thoughts to find his father¡¯s eyes fixed on him, perhaps waiting for his agreement too. So he obliged and nodded along with Lee and Thomas. ¡°Very well,¡± the knight said. ¡°I will try to catch Wolfe and Upton as they pass through. It would be better to get ahold of their ears before their angry stewards do.¡± The next day, Lucan rode with Sawyer to theke. The engineer looked much better today, as reflected in his mood. He was beaming at the expanse of green and brown surrounding them and asionally scowling in disapproval at the work of theborers they passed by. Still, the nearly-polished, clean skin and the fresh clothes seemed to do him much good. His back was straight as opposed to the hunched-over state he¡¯d been in during the second half of their journey, and his hair was brushed instead of being a disheveled, greasy mess. They rode on and eventually arrived at their destination. As they came up on the crater where the saltwater pooled into ake, Lucan spied the new hamlet built by the stream to the west. The smoke from a cooking fire drifted into the sky near the small hovels that had sprouted up to crowd each other. Beside themy the fields where the new inhabitants earnestly grew their crops. Hay harvest was approaching, and soon they would earn their fair reward. Lucan turned his attention to the engineer. While he¡¯d been gazing at his handiwork, Sawyer beside him had been scrutinizing theke with a critical eye. ¡°This is indeed a hurdle in need of a good engineer,¡± the engineer said, still eying theke. Then he turned to Lucan and saw the quizzical look on his face before continuing quickly, ¡°Which I am.¡± Lucan nodded emphatically. ¡°I will need a few days to appraise the soil and work on my ns,¡± Sawyer said, pulling out arge scroll of vellum. ¡°I will also need the aid of someborers.¡± ¡°You shall have both,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I can have the hamlet host you if you wish to stay near theke.¡± He gestured towards the distant group of huts along the stream. Sawyer snorted and nearly choked on a briefugh. ¡°I believe I will be fine riding the short distance from the keep. I''d rather keep myself odorless for more than a day.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°Once I¡¯m done with this undertaking, we ought to talk about the channels.¡± ¡°The channels?¡± ¡°Yes. They are, without a doubt, a tragedy of engineering.¡± Chapter 46: Dreams of Man Chapter 46: Dreams of Man The next day after the sun met its zenith, word reached the keep that the neighboring knights were approaching the territory. There was a brief storm of activity as Lucan, his father, Lee, and Thomas donned proper attire and took their prepared steeds out to meet them. Until they returned, Cordell and the rest of the men-at-arms were to patrol the fief and wait for any word from the South. They rode along Lucan¡¯s road to the northwest, spotting the procession of their three neighboring knights as it crossed the canal. Sir Wolfe, Sir Upton, and Sir Ryder rode together. They were having an amicable conversation, which Lucan found ironic considering what was toe. They spotted them as they made it to the same side of the canal. The three knights came to a halt, forcing their trail of men-at-arms to do the same. Sir Wolfe was the first to speak, raising a hand. ¡°Greetings, Gn. What seems to be the matter? I see you¡¯re still here, so things can¡¯t have turned dire down South.¡± ¡°Brothers,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Elders be praised for your safe return and greetings to you all. If I may, I would speak of a matter of import that concerns you two.¡± He flicked his gaze between Sir Upton and Sir Wolfe. Both knights frowned at the same time, sensing the odd air around Sir Gn. ¡°And what is this matter?¡± Sir Upton said evenly. ¡°Ride with me, will you?¡± Sir Gn said, turning his horse around and riding in the direction of their territories. The three knights followed him, riding ahead and leaving Lucan, Lee, Thomas, and the travel-weary men-at-arms to trail behind them. Lucan watched the foursome of them talk while riding ahead of him. At first, they were calm and quiet enough not to be heard, but soon enough Lucan saw agitation in the postures of Sir Upton and Sir Wolfe, the two knights eventually erupting into an intense argument that died out as his father intervened. They rode in silence even as they passed by Sir Wolfe¡¯s manor without stopping. Lucan heard some whispers exchanged among the knights, echoed by more whispers exchanged among the men-at-arms behind him. Then he saw a ridering out of the manor behind them and urging his horse to reach them. He was an older man, the sides of his hair forsaken to grayness and the top fighting for its life. The man quickly trotted up beside Sir Wolfe, and Lucan realized that he was the knight¡¯s steward. There was a vigorous conversation between them, which Sir Upton not-so-subtly red at, followed by silence again. Lucan let his eyes roam over their surroundings. The forest was on their left across the canal and open ins of green and yellow were on their right; distant hills loomed over the ins, marking the beginning of Lord Arden¡¯s territory. The air was empty from the noise of animals, which further enhanced the foreboding feeling of their party¡¯s quiet. Lucan felt a tension in the air that wasn¡¯t unlike what he felt during a calm before a storm. The tension reached its height when they finally caught sight of the ridge that marked the border between the two knights¡¯ territories. They crossed over the low end of the ridge and circled to the side that faced Sir Upton¡¯s Eastern territory. A rider from Sir Upton¡¯snds soon found them, this time younger and with a full head of ck hair. His face was shaven clean and he swiftly brought his horse to trot beside Sir Upton, affirming that he was the knight¡¯s steward. They were now standing in front of thergest part of the ridge and both stewards were pointing at something ahead of them. Lucan eventually spotted the unnaturally formed cave amidst the dark crags at the foot of the ridge. Someone had dug a decent bit into the side of the ridge and there was a dark hole with unknown depth within sight. Lucan doubted it was very deep, though he knew nothing about mining. And so Perhaps he was wrong and this was a naturally formed crack in the rocky slope. ¡°It¡¯s clear that the vein is on my side of the ridge, Osmond,¡± Sir Upton said with an even tone. ¡°By custom, its bounty belongs to me. Do not fight me over it, my friend.¡± Sir Wolfe turned on his peer with a twitching face, his horse following his body and squaring off against the other knight¡¯s steed. ¡°Ha! Such a daring swindle. I know what¡¯s written on your royal deed, my friend. I was there when the King¡¯s aide inked it. It reads ¡®...and his fief to begin from Sir Ryder¡¯s fief by East and to end by the mapped ridge to the West.¡¯¡± The knight paused for a moment leveling an intense stare at his opponent. ¡°And mine? Mine reads ¡®...and his fief to begin from Sir Upton¡¯s fief by East and to end where the mapped stream twists¡¯. This whole ridge is mynd, and anything within it mine by right.¡± ¡°This ridge has always been a middle ground between our territories, Osmond. Don¡¯t be unreasonable. This side of it is mynd, and the other side is yours.¡± ¡°Only when it was of no consequence did we see the convenience of treating it as a mere barrier,¡± Sir Wolfe said. ¡°Now we must observe the King¡¯sw, Upton. And byw, this ridge is mine.¡± Lucan saw the few men-at-arms that had been in the knights¡¯ territories trickling in from both sides, armed and armored and quick to bring their steeds behind their sires. Lucan tensed, realizing now that perhaps they should¡¯ve brought their own men-at-arms too. Not a moment toote, the men that had been riding behind him began to trickle behind their sires as well. It was now a proper face-off that could lead to something bloody if they couldn¡¯t find their way out of it. When reason failed them, the two knights quickly exchanged angry shouts that were barely understandable. Sir Wolfe was particrly agitated and Lucan knew the man had a quick temper, and he feared this would quickly descend into violence His father finally spoke, interrupting the rapidly heating debate. ¡°My good brothers, we have been neighbors for numerous years and peers for many more. Let us not devolve into baying at each other just yet. Perhaps you could both bring your deeds so we can scrutinize them properly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not bringing a poorly worded instrument for him to abuse into taking what¡¯s mine,¡± Sir Upton said, his tone losing its evenness and turning heated. ¡°This ridge has been a dividing line between our fiefs for more than a decade. I refuse to be robbed here today.¡± He turned towards Sir Wolfe again. ¡°You. You and your men have never even crossed to this side of the ridge before, yet you have the gall to im that what you¡¯ve never seen belongs to you.¡± Sir Wolfe snorted and nodded towards the entrance of the cave. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen the silver in that vein, and yet you have the gall to im it, don¡¯t you?¡± He nced at Lucan¡¯s father and said, ¡°Gn, as you can see, he will not bring his deed. He hides behind obscure matters of convenience and even ims that the King¡¯s decree is wed. This matter should be easy to judge. Stand for what¡¯s right as you always have.¡± He turned to the fourth knight, Sir Emerson Ryder, who¡¯d been silent so far. ¡°And you, Emerson, will you not stand for what¡¯s right?¡± Thetter knight had brought his men to the side, away from the conflict, obviously wishing to stay out of it, though he failed to hide the signs of envy on his face. Lucan couldn¡¯t me him. He was envious of the rich bounty himself. He didn¡¯t know howrge the vein was, but even the most minuscule one would have been of great value to their fief. Perhaps he should have prospectors brought to their territory to properly scrutinize every nook and cranny. It would certainly be prudent. And no doubt expensive. Lucan¡¯s focus soon returned to the addressed knight and he saw his even face scrunch up in thought before he shook his head firmly. ¡°My estate will have no part in this. I know less about your borders with Alfred than I do about the secrets of adamantine. Forgive me, Osmond.¡± Sir Wolfe huffed and shook his head in disgust. Lucan was equally perplexed with Sir Ryder. The man had refused to even attempt a mediation between them like his father. It seemed he didn¡¯t even want to exert any effort to keep the peace between his two peers. Lucan also understood Sir Wolfe¡¯s disappointment. If both his father and Sir Ryder could be persuaded to side with him, then this matter would be much easier to resolve in his favor. Lucan rode up to his father¡¯s side, followed by Lee and Thomas. He wanted to be there to support him should things turn violent, but he also had his own say in the matter. And the only way to deliver it would be through his father. As the two knights returned to growling at each other, Lucan came up beside his father and whispered, ¡°Father, why don¡¯t they split it?¡± His father nced at him and whispered back, ¡°How would they? And look at them, even if your eyes are deceiving you, your ears can¡¯t. Which of them seems amenable to a division of the im?¡± ¡°What happens if they don¡¯t reach an agreement at all?¡± ¡°It could turn bloody until it catches the attention of the King, which it would soon enough, considering the raw state of the Southern border.¡± Thomas chose to enter the conversation now, his whispering tone softer than theirs. ¡°Or one of them could choose to elevate the matter to the royal court presently, likely Sir Wolfe.¡± Lucan turned to the steward who¡¯de up beside him. ¡°And what would happen then?¡± ¡°The King would arbitrate between them,¡± his father said with a heavy voice. ¡°And likely end up iming the mine to himself in contention and passing them a pittance,¡± Thomas added. Sir Gn grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Lucan wasn¡¯t that surprised by Thomas¡¯s words. He would be tempted to do the same in the King¡¯s ce. A silver mine, however small, was still a boon to be appreciated. If Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton coulde to an agreement, then they would both be wealthy men, though the King would still demand a tribute from them, as the mine hadn¡¯t been known to be part of thesends when he¡¯d bestowed them upon his knights. If they¡¯d been lords instead ofnded knights, there¡¯d have been nothing to fear. But considering that thends they dominated were still part of the royal demesne, the King still had much leeway in matters such as these. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Lucan hissed, loud enough to get the attention of Sir Ryder who was standing aside, watching the brewing affair. ¡°There¡¯s something worse than getting half the mine. Getting none of it, or nearly so. If we could use that, perhaps we can impose an agreement.¡± His father hummed and Lucan was surprised to find Thomas nodding. The steward spoke after Sir Gn nced at him for counsel. ¡°If both Sirs could bepelled to think reasonably, then they might find the idea favorable. Though someone of enough strength and presence will need to be witness and enforcer to such an agreement.¡± He gave Sir Gn a meaningful nce. The knight sighed and nodded. The two contending knights were still arguing but he interrupted them. ¡°Enough.¡± It wasn¡¯t a yell or even an admonishing shout, but Sir Gn¡¯s voice echoed in the ears of everyone standing under the looming ridge with firm intensity. The two knights paused for long enough to hear him and he continued, ¡°Upton, to im that the vein is yours simply because it¡¯s on your side of the ridge is incredulous. For all we know, it extends across and beneath the whole ridge. Wolfe would only have to dig however far is needed to reach it from his side.¡± Sir Gn then turned to the other knight. ¡°And Wolfe, you must not deny the truth of Upton¡¯s words. This ridge has been the dividing line between you nigh a generation. Let us find a middle ground.¡± ¡°A middle ground?¡± Sir Wolfe snarled. ¡°By the Elders, Gn. It¡¯s on mynd! If there¡¯s to bew under the sun, then men must heed it. How can you believe that splitting the im is fair or just?¡± ¡°It is the only way either of you will be getting anything out of that hole in the ground,¡± Sir Gn said, his voice harsh and heavy. ¡°What will happen after you finish your bout of shouting and cursing? Neither of you will see gold nor dirt from the damned trove.¡± He gestured at the mine¡¯s entrance. ¡°Elders know that if this matter is not resolved today, it never will be. And what could you hope to achieve after this? Bring it to the King¡¯s court?¡± ¡°Aye, I will!¡± Sir Wolfe growled. ¡°And then what?¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°Do you think you will be granted the mine and all of its bounty? You cannot be that artless.¡± Then he pointed with his head at Thomas. ¡°If my man knows what happens when this matter reaches the throne, then so does yours.¡± He nodded at Sir Wolfe¡¯s steward, whose horse was fidgeting in reflection of its master¡¯s anxiousness. The man rode forward to his knight¡¯s side and whispered something. Sir Wolfe¡¯s face tensed and Lucan could swear he heard the man¡¯s grinding teeth. He eventually huffed in exasperation and turned his horse to the side to confer with the steward. Perhaps out of deeper wisdom, Sir Upton hadn¡¯t gainsaid Lucan¡¯s father. The knight had kept to his silence, his eyes shifting between the other knights and the present stewards. His own steward, the youngest in attendance, had brought his steed up beside him quietly and was whispering in his ear. ¡°A fair split between you both,¡± his father continued. ¡°You ought toe to an agreement before sending word to the King so he may demand his just tribute.¡± Sir Wolfe suddenly barked something at his steward, whose horse reared back in fright before being calmed down by the old man. The knight then turned to his father. ¡°I refuse, Gn,¡± he yelled. ¡°This is not just.¡± ¡°Perhaps not just by letter, my friend,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°But it is fair. And it is the only path to prosperity. Take it or I will send word to the King myself. I will not tolerate this ce bing a battlefield while the Wildermen bear down our necks from the South.¡± Sir Wolfe¡¯s steward rode up to his master once more and began furiously whispering in the knight¡¯s ear. Sir Upton chose this time to speak. ¡°And how would this division be undertaken?¡± Sir Gn grew quiet for a moment, his thoughts ebbing and flowing on his face, then he answered, ¡°Each one of you is to send an equal number of workers to dig up the ore. What your men dig up is yours.¡± Sir Wolfe who was still visibly seething finally acquiesced and entered the discussion. ¡°How would that ascertain any fairness? With the mine on this side of the ridge, it would be easy for silver to be smuggled out without my knowledge.¡± Sir Upton¡¯s own temper finally showed itself as he leveled a re at the other knight. ¡°Mind what you say, Wolfe. We have not even begun to dig the damn metal up and you¡¯re already leveling usations against me.¡± Sir Wolfe scowled then a dismissive snort escaped him. ¡°I¡¯m not using you of anything. It¡¯s a simple matter. What¡¯s to prevent somemon smugglers from availing themselves of this arrangement of ours,¡± he lied. Lucan noted that the knight was venting his anger now, and perhaps enjoying the sight of an incensed Sir Upton. Before thetter man could retort, Lucan found it appropriate to suggest something, hoping his father wouldn¡¯tter admonish him for speaking out of turn. ¡°A foreman from each side,¡± Lucan said softly. The others barely picked up his voice and turned to him curiously. So he cleared his throat and spoke more firmly. ¡°Sirs, each of you could choose a foreman from among your men. Every fortnight, the oversight of the miners and the camp would change between them. This would affirm a certain amount of rity and authority for you both.¡± Lucan¡¯s father nced at him approvingly before nodding at the other knights. ¡°Is this agreeable?¡± The two knights didn¡¯t nod too fervently, but they didn¡¯t show any signs of disapproval either. Sir Wolfe¡¯s steward, perhaps emboldened by Lucan being allowed to speak, said, ¡°Who would arbitrate in case of a dispute?¡± ¡°I will,¡± Sir Gn said without hesitation. ¡°You must both ept me as arbitrator and witness to this matter.¡± The steward nodded, content. ¡°Very well,¡± Sir Upton was the first to provide his agreement. Sir Wolfe chose only to grunt his agreement instead of providing it in words. Lucan had to hold back a chuckle. It was difficult to imagine that this was the same man he¡¯d hunted the Labyrinth beasts with. But while he was amused at this truth, he was not overly surprised. If he¡¯d learned anything from the royal court, it was not to judge people until an ugly matter such as this reared its head. Not too long after, at his father¡¯s behest, the two knights dismounted, stepped forward, and grasped each other''s hands firmly to seal their agreement. Lucan¡¯s father too dismounted, came between them, and put his hand atop theirs to formally be their witness and an upholder of the agreement. What remained of daylight was spent in pleasantries as the three stewards strived to smooth over the disharmony that had taken the two estates, though they could only calm the surface of turbulent waters. Lucan didn¡¯t doubt that this matter would be remembered, but at least now it wouldn¡¯t be a matter of eternal dispute or a festering grievance. He eventually found himself riding home with his father and his two aides as the sun dipped beyond the horizon. The trot was silent as everyone came to terms with the affair, and perhaps because it had been quite the headache too. Lucan couldn¡¯t help but talk though. ¡°I must say. Even though I¡¯m not privy to the utmost depths of their characters, what I saw of Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton today has surprised me.¡± He¡¯d been familiar with the two knights since childhood, yet this affair had shown him more than he¡¯d imagined to be hidden within the two men. Surprisingly it was Lee that responded. ¡°Put enough wealth in front of any man, and you will see a different side to him. Even after this bounty is split and the King¡¯s tribute delivered, both knights will be wealthy enough to provoke the envy of every other knight in the Kingdom. It would not go amiss to say that this mine in its entirety could have evenid bare the greed and hostility of properly wealthy lords if found on theirnds.¡± Lucan¡¯s father nodded in agreement. ¡°How much will the King¡¯s tribute be?¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°It will depend upon many considerations,¡± Thomas said. ¡°But I expect it to be half.¡± ¡°Half?¡± Lucan choked. ¡°Yes,¡± Thomas smiled ruefully. And Lucan heard his father grunt, obviously not disagreeing with his steward. ¡°Half of half for each knight then.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t hold back the frayed chuckle this time. He shook his head and watched as the sky turned a deeper blue by the moment. At least he¡¯d fulfilled his purpose today. Now only the matter of the jewelers remained to seal it. Chapter 47: Foundation Chapter 47: Foundation After the disappearance of their Archmage, followed shortly by their Champion, the Empire faltered. The turns of fate were presenting them with challenges aplenty. Eventually, a formidable enemy, an unwise Emperor, and a rebellion sealed the fate of the formerly dominant power once and for all. It wasn¡¯t long before the Fallen General earned his first victory using the same tactics that had felled him. His victory would go on to light the first spark in the congration that would splinter the Empire. Lucan closed the history book andid it on the table after a persistent round of knocking came from his door. ¡°Enter.¡± Ryder stepped inside. ¡°It¡¯s him again. He¡¯s waiting at theke.¡± Lucan sighed and got to his feet. As he walked out of his small study, he heard Ryder muttering something unintelligible under his breath. ¡°Something the matter?¡± ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Ryder said. ¡°This is the third time he¡¯s called for your presence. Wouldn¡¯t it be more proper for you to summon him?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said. ¡°That would be proper. Only, he can¡¯t bring theke along with him, can he?¡± Ryder huffed and shrugged in one smooth movement, falling into step behind him. They found their way to the stables and rode out to theke. The engineer had certainly taken more than ¡®a few days¡¯ in his venture to find a solution to their dilemma, but he had assured him two days ago that he was close. It had been a while since the silver mine incident, and the two knights had already summoned experienced men from outside of theirnds to oversee the construction of the mine, andborers were already crowding the site. Lucan was reconsidering his decision to wait on the matter of the jeweler. The Wildermen had been awfully quiet, and he didn¡¯t know when they might strike again. And his father was, of course, adamant in his refusal to send any of their men to Arpague. Lucan found himself considering Thomas for the task. The steward was old, but he was wise and shrewd enough to fulfill their purpose. The only worry Lucan had was whether the old man would be capable of suffering the journey and whether he and his father would ept the proposition. They soon reached theke to find Sawyer along with theborers carrying his wooden equipment. Lucan assumed that most of them were tools of measurement, but he couldn¡¯t say for certain. The engineer greeted them with a holler and a wave. Lucan responded with a more level greeting before dismounting. As Sawyer approached him, Lucan said, ¡°Got something good for me to hear?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sawyer said, leading him to the edge of the crater where they looked down on theke. ¡°I¡¯ve found the way.¡± He pointed at the edge of the water. ¡°Theke is too deep and its walls too steep. Any attempts to dry it in the summer for rim harvesting would go amiss since the water goes down instead of receding. I¡¯ve been thinking about something that would take a considerable amount of work, but I believe it would fulfill our purposes.¡± He pointed to a small stony teau a third of the way up from the water. It had been uncovered during previous attempts to clearnd around theke. The rest of the crater¡¯s walls were still covered in soil and loose stone. ¡°There, that will be our height.¡± ¡°Our height for what?¡± ¡°We will gather enough earth to fill up arge part of theke to that height,¡± Sawyer said. Upon seeing Lucan¡¯s incredulous look, he pressed on, ¡°That high, there¡¯s more breadth for us to spread a small, t pan where we can dry theke¡¯s water.¡± Lucan¡¯s countenance was still unmoved as was his mind. He wasn¡¯t truly convinced of this¡­idea. Lucan hadn¡¯t had cause to doubt the engineer¡¯s expertise, but now that he came to think about it, Sawyer was young in a profession where the masters were often old; and this n of his made Lucan wary. When he received no response to his proposal, Sawyer went on to exin: ¡°One would imagine that the foundation will be unstable, and it will be¡­just slightly. Yet, the shape of the structure does not lean towards precariousness. And we will use a reliable technique thates from the West, however uncultured its people may be; by mixing dirt, mortar, and salt, their peasants have built sturdy walls for their homes for generations. We can use the same technique to strengthen this structure.¡± Lucan stayed silent, closing his eyes for a moment. He was uncertain, but he would lose nothing by trying¡ªNo, he would lose something, more time. They¡¯d already wasted a lot of it on this damnedke, and they¡¯d been stymied at every turn. Regardless, he¡¯d already brought an engineer all the way from the capital for this purpose, and he¡¯d prepared himself to give up some of the avablebor for the undertaking. It wouldn¡¯t do to shrink back now. But he had some qualms. ¡°The pan will be too high for the water, won¡¯t it?¡± Sawyer shook his head. ¡°While the pan will be higher than the water¡¯s level, it won¡¯t be by too much. Filling part of theke will increase the water level significantly. It will still be below the pan¡¯s level, but simple bucket mills driven by cattle will easily raise the needed water.¡± Lucan hummed thoughtfully. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have the foresight nor the knowledge on such matters to judge the man¡¯s proposal. Still, he¡¯d made up his mind. He wasn¡¯t against wagering for good reason. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°If you lend me half the men working on that abhorrent undertaking,¡± Sawyer said, gesturing in the direction of the canal and the irrigation channels being dug, ¡°I will finish it before the end of summer, and I have faith that we will have our first produce of salt on hand shortly after your¡­¡± He paused, uncertain. ¡°¡­grassy harvest?¡± ¡°Hay. Hay harvest,¡± Ryder¡¯s bored voice came from behind Lucan. ¡°Yes, after your hay harvest.¡± Lucan sighed. ¡°Very well, you may have yourborers. But first, you have to exin yourself. You seem to detest our waterworks with exaggerated passion.¡± Sawyer, as though he¡¯d been waiting for an excuse, opened up in a deluge. ¡°Aside from its hideous nature? It is also exceedingly wasteful. At least a few days ofbor are wasted every fortnight. I fail to understand why whoever oversees this undertaking insists on digging as though they¡¯re draining a swamp. It¡¯s a tragedy to waste so many resources. I have half a mind to grab him by the throat and wring his neck, henceforth saving all his victims today and in the days toe.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Lucan said softly, a bit surprised by the engineer¡¯s tirade. ¡°The man we hired to oversee it is from Mirefield. He¡¯s been foreman and overseer on simr undertakings there for decades.¡± Sawyer deted, winding down from further prepared condemnation. ¡°Ah, that exins it,¡± he said with a chuckle and a thoughtful nod. ¡°He knows no better then. Most of the year, it¡¯s nothing but marsnds over there.¡± Lucan nodded along. ¡°Since you seem to know better, I assume you can handle this matter if given the authority?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I will have word passed along that you will be overseeing the waterworks too. How much time can you save us?¡± Sawyer shook his head apologetically. ¡°Some of it will be evened out by thebor I will borrow for the saltworks. I can¡¯t be certain until I¡¯m in the thick of it, but I imagine the undertaking will be finished and the fields ready for nting next spring.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Their talk ended soon after, with Sawyer told to hasten with his ns and word sent for half thebor to be diverted to theke. Later, Lucan would have Thomas summon the waterworks overseer to either be relieved of his duties or relegated to be an aide for Sawyer. He preferred thetter choice, since he was still concerned about the engineer¡¯s experience. The older overseer could perhaps ring the rm if the young engineer was leading them to a dead end. They rode back to the keep under the sun of early noon, and Lucan headed to his study upon arrival, sending Ryder to discreetly summon Thomas. When the steward arrived, Lucan apprised him of their new arrangements before he drove into the main matter he wanted to discuss. They were standing together near his desk, looking out of the small window. ¡°Circumstances at the border aren¡¯t clear,¡± Lucan said. ¡°And it won¡¯t be long before the silver mine begins coughing up its bounty. Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton seem to be contending with each other for who can be more hasty.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Thomas said, ncing at him curiously. ¡°It won¡¯t be long.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t send any of our men to Arpague.¡± Lucan gave him a meaningful nce. ¡°And we need that jeweler soon.¡± Thomas gave him a knowing smile. ¡°You want me to go instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I know it would be a tiresome journey for you, but¨C¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be,¡± Thomas interrupted him. ¡°Your reasoning is sound, and I find myself in agreement with you on the matter of the jeweler. We must make the best of our neighbors¡¯ discovery. Since we¡¯ve already begun on the path of attracting trade, then let usmit fully.¡± ¡°You will go?¡± Lucan said, astounded. He had been ready to have a prolonged conversation on the matter. ¡°Yes.¡± A bit of weight fell off his shoulder, but just a bit. ¡°Now I only have to persuade Father.¡± Thomas chuckled. ¡°Leave that to me.¡± Lucan raised a brow. ¡°I will leave in a few days,¡± the steward continued, unperturbed. Lucan nodded slowly, still perplexed, as the old man left him. This had gone easier than expected. Well, he¡¯d been working hard. The coveted saltworks would begin promptly, the waterworks would continue with better oversight, and the hamlet the refugees had built near theke wasing along nicely. The farmers would be¨C Huh. The idea struck him out of nowhere. I wonder if it¡¯s truly feasible. And I hope Father doesn¡¯t imprison me in our empty treasury. Chapter 48: Not Precisely Chapter 48: Not Precisely After years of turmoil, the royal derations began. Generals, nobles, and warlords dered themselves Kings, some by merit of imperial blood, others by merit of ancient lineage, and yet others by the sole merit of military might. As the Empire struggled with the Kingdoms consuming it from within, the fanatical Mer invaders were left to do as they pleased. The people of the province of Faria struggled bravely but would sadly be subsumed by the abominable nature of their oppressors. Only one entity stood vignt to the threat of the defilers. Hamodeus. The Kingdom that never once bowed to either Emperor or Mer. She wasn¡¯t alone, however. Concerned over their Eastern neighbor¡¯s aggressive expansion, allies of circumstance came to her aid from the Warring States, Mer who disdained the Archtheocracy¡¯s Levaiathan and all who worshiped it. It wouldn¡¯t be until yearster that the rest of the peoples of the Elder Lands would grow wisen up to the threat of their one true enemy. A History of The Fall, Moralia Kid Lucan closed the book. This time it was Clifton at his door. After Lucan called for him to enter, the man-at-arms pushed the door open and peered from outside. ¡°It¡¯s the engineer, Master. He says it¡¯s good tidings.¡± Lucan nodded and stood up. The brief ride between the keep and theke was made a blur by the nigh daily repetition of the act. Sometimes while riding, Lucan would be lost in thought for a moment only to find himself already at theke or the keep. Now as he arrived at theke, he found hundreds ofborers, some of them working, some of them resting, around the circr crater that cradled theke. In the middle of them stood his engineer, made prominent by his manner and color of dress. He waved vigorously as Lucan and Clifton approached on their horses, his shaggy, brown hair shaking with the movement. Lucan dismounted and Sawyer quickly invited them to look over his construction. There was a wooden crane overlooking theke, driven by the strongest of theborers. Down below it was the newly earth-filled part of theke, seen from above in the shape of half a circle. It was t, ridged only by a small bump built by the technique Sawyer had once told him about to prevent raised water from spilling back into theke. One hut had sprouted up in the middle of the pan on slightly higher ground, and three bucket mills were spread out along its rim. ¡°What is missing?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± Sawyer grinned like a child with an Isle pear. ¡°I thought it would be a proper surprise. It¡¯s all done.¡± ¡°Done?¡± Lucan gaped. ¡°This early?¡± ¡°It is.¡± The engineer nodded. ¡°I initially wished to fill theke in an orderly manner. Barrels of dirt and gravel would be lowered down below to be spread out evenly by the men. But upon the insistence of some of the olderborers,¡± He gave a mock-annoyed re in the direction of some of the workers, ¡°I allowed a more haphazard but swift method to be used. Fear not, however, I have ascertained the safety of the structure. It¡¯s ready for work. In less than a fortnight, we can have our first produce of salt.¡± Lucan gazed at the young man incredulously. ¡°Do you jest?¡± ¡°While I¡¯ve been known to be daring sometimes,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°There¡¯s such a thing as being too audacious. No, I speak the truth, Master Lucan.¡± Lucan found the engineer¡¯s smile infectious now that he was privy to its cause. He couldn¡¯t help but let out a joyfulugh as he looked down at the salt pan. They¡¯d done it. He hadn¡¯t been reaching, after all. This¡­This could be what makes my father agree to my other proposal. ¡°We¡¯ve been awaiting your arrival,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°I reckoned it would please you tomand its first order of work.¡± Lucan raised his brows. That was thoughtful of the engineer. And if he were to be honest, it was something unexpected too. Sawyer was often absentminded if not outright dismissive when speaking to anyone, including him. Lucan had med it on the engineer¡¯s busy mind, considering the two undertakings he¡¯d been overseeing. But it seemed that he wasn¡¯t as uncaring as he often let on. ¡°Thank you,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to give themand.¡± Sawyer gave a signal which was echoed by several of the more seasoned refugees which led to a quiet spreading over the hundreds of men around them. All of them now watched him, waiting for something. ¡°Give the signal,¡± Sawyer said, his voice a whisper beneath a breath. Lucan smiled and raised his hand up high. Then he cut the air as though his arm was a sword, causing a return noise and movement among the men. Laborers took to stairs carved into the wall of the crater, descending down to the pan. Most of theborers were looking over the crater, cheering their peers on. The work only needed a few of them, after all. They urged the cattle to begin driving the mills. Water was raised and poured onto the t pan, slowly spreading like thin paint at first, but thickening in depth a while after as Lucan allowed his mind into a trance while watching. Sawyer cautiously pointed to a tform that Lucan hadn¡¯t spied before, because it had been right under them. It was slightly raised above the pan, and the crane beside them seemed to lead down to it. ¡°That¡¯s where the salt will be gathered and bagged after drying, to be raised up here and hopefully sold.¡± Lucan nodded along. ¡°Good. Good.¡± ¡°I assume this has been to your satisfaction, Master Lucan?¡± Sawyer said. ¡°It has,¡± Lucan said, nodding vigorously. He softly repeated, ¡°It has.¡± Then he closed his eyes to think. ¡°I must go now. There¡¯s something of import that I must handle. Magnificent work, Sawyer. I imagine you¡¯ll now be diverting your focus fully to the waterworks?¡± Sawyer nodded slowly, apparently disappointed that he wouldn¡¯t be staying longer. But Lucan had other things on his mind. He thanked the engineer again and mounted his steed to ride back to the keep. Before Thomas had left for Arpague, Lucan had gotten an idea that had been immediately torn down by his father. Lucan didn¡¯t me him, since it would have taken a fair amount of coin, particrly if one considered their treasury¡¯s state. Now things would be looking different though. ¡°Truly?¡± Sir Gn said, his eyes wider than Lucan had ever seen them. He was seated behind his desk in the study while Lucan stood across from him. Lucan nodded, failing to hold back his grin. ¡°Yes, Father. We can expect our first load of locally made salt in less than a fortnight.¡± ¡°Auspicious!¡± his father said,ughing heartily. ¡°Bringing the engineer was a wise choice, Lucan. You did well.¡± ¡°Thanks, Father,¡± Lucan said. He then eyed his father carefully, and the knight returned his stare with a hint of suspicion. ¡°You want to discuss that other proposal of yours, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, Father. Apologies, but I believe it would be another wise decision. Though I have something else on my mind too. Thomas iste. He should¡¯ve returned a fortnight ago.¡± His father shook his head and gave him a reassuring look. ¡°Have no worries about Thomas. He¡¯ll handle whatever difficulty is keeping him. Let me hear this proposal of yours again. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t remember much of it.¡± That¡¯s becausest time you interrupted me once I mentioned the coin and before I could exin anything, Lucan quipped to himself. ¡°Yes, Father,¡± he said. ¡°The high cost of salt mostlyes from having to move it across the Elder Lands from wherever it¡¯s made.¡± His father nodded nomittally. Lucan was certain of what he was saying though. Salt was in high demand. And it would be an exaggeration to say that it was cheap where it was made, but it was much cheaper there than it was in the middle of the continent for instance. Merchants had to carry it from whatever coastal settlement had proper saltpans. The Vincemare, the Union, and Hamodeus were particrly capable on that front, their peoples seasoned in the profession, and their old structures expansive. Pontis had attempted to benefit from the salty Dying Sea, but whatever was draining it nowadays wasn¡¯t doing so by evaporating the water, at least not mostly. The water receded continuously, but it left little salt behind, and any pans they dug would have to be moved closer to the shoreline every year. ¡°Our intention is to sell our salt here, from the middle ofnd,¡± Lucan continued. ¡°And it will bring us a considerable amount of wealth for certain. But if we could make use of its presence right here in ournds and make the best of it, we stand to gain even more. We would still sell it of course, but we could also use it for other things, which would be sold for even more. Remember the hamlet we had the refugees build near theke?¡± Again, the knight nodded, this time his countenance serious and focused. His interest emboldened Lucan to continue. ¡°I propose we lend them the possession of a considerable amount of livestock¨Cgoats and cattle. Over the seasons, they would be able to produce enough meat and cure it with the nearby salt for sale. The hamlet would likely need to be expanded innd and popce, but that¡¯s also a good thing. There are expanses of good grassynds near it, particrly under the looming Western mountains. Their livestock will have plenty of ces to graze.¡± ¡°You say ¡®lend¡¯,¡± his father said. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°We will buy the livestock ourselves to hasten our ns, but the costs will be a debt the people of the burgeoning vige must repay us over a reasonable amount of time. We have already given them safety andnd to work, anything more, they will have to pay for fairly.¡± His father bobbed his head slowly, a small smile settling on his face. ¡°And even as they sell their cured goods, we¡¯ll tax it too.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lucan said. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to gain, and hopefully little to lose.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be said for certain. You never know, son. A bad season could kill most of the livestock, or bad herdsmen at that. I suppose it remains to be seen. It¡¯s a good proposal, even if I¡¯m averse to spending what little coin remains in our treasury. Elders know, Thomas has already taken enough for your jeweler.¡± Lucan grimaced. He¡¯d forgotten to take into ount that bringing a craftsman of such skill to the backend of nowhere would likely cost them a fair bit of promise and coin. Thomas had brought the matter to their attention before leaving and had taken enough coin with him to handle it. ¡°It¡¯s worth themitment, Father,¡± Lucan insisted, in case his father began to have second thoughts. ¡°And things are already looking brighter than they used to. The salt will soon be flowing. Ah, and Sawyer even said that he could hasten thepletion of the waterworks.¡± His father¡¯s countenance evidenced more and more that he was for the proposal and not against it, and Lucan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What say you, Father?¡± ¡°Well, son, I don¡¯t see why¨C¡± They were interrupted by several soft knocks on the study¡¯s door. Lucan raised a brow in surprise because the knock sounded familiar. His father beat him to it, standing up. ¡°Come in!¡± The door opened and their old steward stepped in, looking a bit worse for wear from travel, but not unhealthy. ¡°Greetings.¡± ¡°Thomas!¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°You¡¯re back. How was your journey? And did you bring back the jeweler?¡± Thomas nodded to his father first before turning to Lucan with a tight smile. ¡°The journey was swift and easy on my old bones. And regarding the other matter¡­Well, the answer is¡­not precisely.¡± Chapter 49: Seeds Chapter 49: Seeds They were soon made to take seats in front of Sir Gn¡¯s desk. Though Lucan was hurting his neck keeping his eyes fixed on the old steward beside him. His father had interrupted his questioning and insisted on letting the old man rest and take a breath before having him regale them with his experience. In hindsight, Lucan agreed. After enjoying a moment offort, Thomas answered his questions before he could ask them. ¡°I brought an apprentice.¡± Lucan didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. The steward¡¯s ambiguous words from before had forewarned him that something unexpected had happened. But an apprentice was too far off from what he could¡¯ve imagined. Even his father seemed perplexed by the notion, asking incredulously, ¡°An apprentice?¡± ¡°There were no other choices in reach,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Whenever I approached any of the expert silversmiths in the city, I was told politely, and a few times impolitely, to vacate their workshop. No one was willing to make the journey, regardless of what promises and offers I made.¡± ¡°So you brought an apprentice?¡± Sir Gn asked again. ¡°He can fill the need, partially,¡± Thomas said, a touch of exasperation in his voice. ¡°Thed is honest. He¡¯ll be slower at his craft than a journeyman, and he¡¯s not very adroit at making the most delicate of jewelry. But he can handle silverware and such easily though.¡± Lucan nodded, ncing between Thomas and his father. ¡°I suppose it will do, Father. Most jewelry is made of more than just one metal, hence I didn¡¯t expect it to be our main focus. Silverware will be sufficient, as long as he can still fulfill any of the simpler requests for jewelry.¡± Thomas nodded back. ¡°I believe he can.¡± Sir Gn sighed. ¡°At least this means you didn¡¯t spend the coin.¡± A rueful smile came over Thomas¡¯s face. ¡°Sadly, I did. He needed tools, and I bought some silver for him to prove his capability with, though we can sell thetter in its current form. Cutlery.¡± The knight let out another sigh, this time a tired one. ¡°Very well. You two may handle this as you wish. It¡¯s not as though we can stop now.¡± He stood up and headed for the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to warm my body and joust with the men.¡± He nced at Lucan. ¡°Been an age since youst jousted. Don¡¯t neglect your training. Nothing like breaking ance upon your enemies when the opportunity arises.¡± Lucan acknowledged his father¡¯s words with a low nod before the knight left them and shut the door. He turned to Thomas. There was much to apprise the old steward of. He proceeded to tell him what had happened recently and it seemed to animate the man as he heard about his sess with theke. ¡°That is most fortunate,¡± the steward said with a wide smile. ¡°It¡¯s early, but fortunate.¡± He got off his seat, grabbed a map, and spread it on the desk. ¡°Even if there are no merchants to take the salt off our hands nowadays, our neighbors and their subjects will be happy to buy it.¡± Lucan hadn¡¯t thought of that, his mind having been focused on the soon-toe merchants, but Thomas was right. Their neighbors would savor the opportunity to buy salt from a local source. No people could live without its powers of preservation, after all. Meat, fish, cheese, and even vegetables were kept whole for longer than they could ever normally endure through the use of salt. The wealthy used it as a condiment to most of their food and would even stockpile it in anticipation of shortages. ¡°I suppose we should send word to our neighbors then,¡± Lucan said. ¡°And while on this subject, we should send to Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton for the silver.¡± ¡°Was an agreement reached?¡± Thomas asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Father spoke to them soon after you left. The ore will be smelted in their encampment before being sent here. What isn¡¯t used by our silversmith will be sold as it is to the merchants. They will send someone to watch over it and oversee its sale of course. Fortunately, at least this time, we won¡¯t have to hand over coin for the metal that¡¯s to be used by our silversmith until the merchants arrive. We can sell his work then and even the scales.¡± ¡°Brilliant,¡± Thomas said. ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate such prompt eptance. But I suppose the two knights must be quite busy establishing proper mining works.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said. ¡°They were all too happy to have us take the silver off their hands with my father¡¯s word that they wouldn¡¯t be deceived in their dues.¡± ¡°Very well. I will have word sent to them right away.¡± Lucan nodded then he remembered the matter he¡¯d just been discussing with his father. He thought the steward¡¯s opinion on it might prove valuable. ¡°There¡¯s something else, Thomas,¡± he said, stopping the old man before he turned to leave. Then he told him of his idea to loan livestock to the hamlet near theke. After hearing it, Thomas hummed for a while and then spoke. ¡°I reckon it could bear its fruit. But¡­you see, Lucan, even in a year, when these men are ready to salt their cheese and cure their meats, even then, you know that they would still not be able to afford the salt needed to make it, yes? You would have to loan them that too.¡± Lucan was speechless. He hadn¡¯t taken that into consideration. Yes, he¡¯d loaned them the foundation to thrive in the years toe, but he hadn¡¯t considered that they barely had anything today and now, and they were unlikely to be much wealthier within a year. They would find it difficult to make the best of what he¡¯d give. And they would even struggle to feed the livestock during this year, considering grazing could only be relied on for so much. He sighed. ¡°I suppose I will loan them the salt too. At least that won¡¯t cost us coin.¡± ¡°It will when we¡¯re selling the salt,¡± Thomas said with a pitying smile, as though he could read into Lucan¡¯s mind. ¡°Well, it won¡¯t vex Father,¡± Lucan said with a grin. Thomas gave him a knowing smile. ¡°I suppose it won''t. Though if this all goes as you¡¯ve nned, I don¡¯t think your father would distrust your judgment when ites to the treasury anymore.¡± ¡°I suppose not. Not that he has hindered any of my undertakings so far. But I can indeed feel the concern exuding from him over our current state.¡± Soon, their conversation ended with the steward hurrying to handle the discussed affairs. Arrangements were made. Thomas mentioned knowing someone in Lord Arden¡¯s territory who could source a small herd of goats for them, and a few cattle would be bought from local farmers as Lucan had nned. By the afternoon, word had been sent for all three matters, salt, silver, and livestock to be handled. Hopefully, it would all be done within theing few days. A fortnightter, Lucan was riding with Thomas into the hamlet, a cart trailing them slowly. The livestock had preceded them in arriving, and the residents of the surrounding hovels were out to both watch the spectacle and greet them. An elder was leading the vigers, and once he saw Lucan and Thomas approaching, he rushed to meet them from a distance. Lucan was in a favorable mood today, particrly because he¡¯d just tasted their first produce of salt on his morning meal. They¡¯d had salt avable in their estate¡¯s stockpile of course, but it was a different sensation to taste the salt of the stubbornke. Even his father had been beaming during their breakfast. Lucan took the opportunity to observe their surroundings as the elder approached. The hovels were as he¡¯d seen them before, crowding each other, even though there was plenty ofnd to build on. He assumed it created an illusion of safety for the vigers to be so close to each other. Some of the more resourceful of the settlers had built better houses with scavenged wood and stone, likely with the help of others. Perhaps they¡¯d been the ones who seeded in hiding some wealth on themselves during their flight from their previous homes. He spied some of the cattle already guided by the hands of the vigers that would keep them. And far behind the small hamlet, he saw the herd of goats whose ownership would belong to those who epted the debt Lucan offered. The residents of the new hamlet had recruited a few more of their brethren from among theborers, particrly those who knew how to handle the new animals. Two of them were already overseeing the herd along with a lonesome dog. The goats dotted the green in behind the hamlet, which was quickly turning ck and brown as they picked it clean of anything growing from the earth. The shepherds had wisely kept them away from the farnd nearby. The stream cut through the horizon, climbing down the elevatednd, then passing by the hamlet and stretching away from it towards the saltworks at theke¡¯s crater. Lucan could see the workers crowding the crane over there, pulling up a bag of salt. The hamlet¡¯s elder interrupted his thoughts as he reached them. ¡°Sire,¡± he said. ¡°You honor us by your presence.¡± Then he nodded to Thomas. ¡°Master Thomas.¡± The steward nodded back. ¡°Thank you,¡± Lucan said, dismounting. ¡°I trust it has been a pleasant day for you?¡± The elder nodded with a smile nearly splitting his face. ¡°Aye, Sire, thanks to your generosity.¡± He gestured behind him towards the livestock. Lucan nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, though. It¡¯s a debt that is to be repaid.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± the elder said. ¡°It shall be repaid to the copper, Sire. He nced at the cart which wasden with barrels anding up behind Lucan. ¡°That is¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had the fishermen near the canal source some of the smaller fish to be seeded in the stream. If you¡¯re fortunate, it will bear fruit, and you¡¯ll have one more thing to salt and sell.¡± Again, the elder smiled, so wide his skin was stretched apart to its fullest extent. ¡°We cannot repay your care, Sire. Thank you.¡± Lucan had grown tired of amending the titles themoners called him. He¡¯d been called by titles he¡¯d not earned yet, and sometimes ones that were far above his station. But after a certain time, he¡¯de to ignore them. It wasn¡¯t like there were any lords nearby to be offended. So he spoke of the matter at hand right away, even as he grimaced internally at the elder¡¯s address. ¡°When the timees, I will loan you the needed salt to make this venture lucrative. I assume there are those among you that can handle the work?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course,¡± the elder said. ¡°We¡¯ve already weed more of our people to handle the work needed now. We will certainly need to wee more when the timees, but I¡¯m quite certain we will be able to handle it.¡± ¡°It seems you have this in hand then. Good,¡± Lucan said, mounting his horse again. ¡°Because I have other things to do today. Listen to the fishermen when ites to seeding the fish.¡± He nodded to the two men riding on the cart. ¡°And do it right away.¡± Instead of nodding, the elder bowed at the waist. Lucan sighed and turned his horse away, trotting towards theke. He¡¯d watch the salt being extracted, before it was sent to Lord Arden. The elderly lord had been the first to respond with interest to their offer a few days ago. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 The Wildermen areing. It was as the farmers prepared to harvest their crops that word came to their estate. A rider had cut the distance between Lord Arden¡¯s castle and their fief to deliver a message. Rangers had spotted numerous raiding parties crawling north through the forest. The messenger hadn¡¯t lingered after that, cutting east to deliver simr messages to the other knights. A flood of movement broke over the estate. The messenger had arrived while they broke their fast. His father had allowed the man to interrupt them instead of making him wait, considering the circumstances. That had been a stroke of good luck, since everyone was there instead of scattered and attending to their duties. Lucan¡¯s father and Thomas were the first to jump off their seats at the news. Sir Gn barked amand, and all the men-at-arms dropped the food back into their tes and were on their feet. Thomas yelled something, and the sole servant in the keep darted out of their modest feast hall and disappeared into the depths of the hallway. Lucan¡¯s feet took on a life of their own and raised him off his seat to stand alongside everyone else. He had sleptte the previous night, and his mind hadn¡¯t fully awakened yet. Still, he was taken by the tide of movement around him, eventually finding himself in the armory, donning his armor with his father and the men. He was given a hand every now and then by one of the men-at-arms, but his mind was elsewhere even as he roused himself. They had been this close to the harvest. And he had been waiting in anticipation for when it would happen, and for what would happen after it, so much that for a brief time, the threat of the Wildermen had slipped his mind. And that threat had decided to rear its head as soon as he¡¯d forgotten it. The salt had been stockpiled, meager in amount but enough to entice the merchants for another visit; the pan would still produce salt for most of the autumn, after all. Their dubious silversmith had begun his work on the raw metal delivered from the mine in the past month, and he had produced eptable silverware as promised. The farmers¡¯ harvest would have marked the beginning of Lucan¡¯s own harvest of his hard work, which would have happened when the merchants trickled in. Now he had to contend with the Wildermen first. Fine. If that was all, then he would go and fight them. Though he¡¯d never killed a man before. Though he¡¯d never fought a man to the death before. ¡°It¡¯s insidious,¡± his father said as Cordell tightened the straps of his armor for him. He was addressing no one in particr, but Lucan noted that Thomas had just entered when his father spoke. ¡°The time they¡¯ve chosen. Lord Arden vacates the viges closest to the border when he suspects raids areing.¡± Thomas nodded. ¡°No doubt he was forced to let them return for the harvest now. Some of the farmers may even resist attempts to move them away now. It¡¯s a tight time between now and the grain harvest. No one wants to turn that tightness into a noose around their necks.¡± Sir Gn¡¯s sharpened eyes and set jaw posed his dire agreement. ¡°Indeed. Let us hope we can stop the Wildermen in their tracks. We will have to meet them far out.¡± Lucan grimaced. The border lords often relied on dependable methods to handle the raids. Mostly, they established their defenses at depth, abandoning what they called the ¡®bordends¡¯ and vacating their residents. The lords¡¯ soldiers would then man easily defensible positions and watch the movements of the raiders from high ground, often meeting them on prepared fields that provided an edge to the defenders. Such were ces that the Wildermen wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid if they wanted to delve deeper into the Kingdom¡¯s territory. With the farmers and their families still in the bordends, however, the defenders would have to range farther than they were used to and meet the Wildermen before they could wreak havoc on the peasants. ¡°The horses are ready,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Horses?¡± Ryder piped up as he helped Clifton with his armor. ¡°I thought horses were to be kept as far away from Wildermen as one can get them.¡± Lucan remembered that they had three new men-at-arms who¡¯d never seen a Wilderman, not that he had seen one himself. But at least he wasn¡¯t the only one with taut nerves and an ignorance of what was toe. Ryder was right, though his anxiety was clouding his mind to the answer to his question. Indeed, riding against the Wildermen was a death sentence. Their shamans were masters of the wild, their magic wielding unsettling power over every aspect of it, including animals. If one chose to ride while facing the Wildermen, at best they wouldn¡¯t be able to rein in their steed; and at worst, their steed would turn on them. Instead of answering him, Sir Gn nced at Lucan, handing him the privilege of enlightening the man-at-arms to his stupidity. ¡°We¡¯ll ride to Lord Arden¡¯s castle, then we will continue on foot,¡± Lucan said, throwing a meaningful look of his own Ryder¡¯s way. He even noticed Clifton giving his fellow man-at-arms the side-eye. Ryder looked sheepish for a moment, hemming and hawing then burying his head in his work. They were ready in short order, all strapped in their armor and carrying their arms. They marched out of the keep and down to the bailey, mounting their horses there, where Thomas saw them off at the gate. Sir Gn led the party, his weathered te armor gleaming with the early morning sun. He eased his horse into a trot, then pushed it into a gallop. Lucan raced after him, ncing behind to the sight of five men-at-arms and a plume of dust rising after them. They soon passed by theke, where a few workers oversaw the extraction of salt. The ones that weren¡¯t down at the pans gaped at them as their horses ate up the ground, passing them by. After leaving theke far behind, they came upon the rolling hills of House Arden. They spread out in front of them like humps of countless sleeping giants, lit by the rising sun from one side and shaded from the other. It remained an intimidating sight to look at until they plunged into it, following a path that meandered between the hills. His father slowed them down to a reasonable trot until they finally moved past the twisting paths. The ins now opened up in front of them, but they weren¡¯t the first thing to catch their eyes. At the foot of the hilly area they¡¯d just passed stood the vineyards of House Arden¡¯s infamous wine. Vines of grapes were nted in orderly lines, stretching out over thend and surrounding buildings that looked small inparison. Lucan¡¯s attention was attracted to the path ahead of them again as his father pushed his horse into a gallop once more. They cut through the ins like an arrow through smoke, following a well-trodden path. The ground rose ahead of them in a gentle slope, blocking their sight of the horizon. But eventually, their heated gallop took them to its zenith, and they caught sight of The Needles. The highest towers in the Kingdom rose to pierce the sky like needles grown from the earth. They were precariously thin, so much so that one could imagine a mild storm tipping them over. These towers rose from within a modest castle of gray stone to watch over the surrounding hills and ins. Built centuries ago, they still stood strong to this day, a testament to imperial mastery. On a clearer day, one might have been able to see them from the hills they¡¯d just passed. They rode hard towards the castle, soon sighting its gate which was facing their direction. Already, there were dozens of armed men standing around the gate, only one of them mounted on a bulldrake, no doubt Lord Arden. As they drew close, they were hailed by the lord. He turned his mount towards them and raised a hand towards Lucan¡¯s father. Thetter bowed on his horse and Lucan followed his example. ¡°Gn.¡± The lord¡¯s voice was soft, due to age instead of nature. Lord Arden was a man more fit for a sickbed than battle. Wispy hair that could scarcely be called a beard circled his lips, and a visorless helm covered his balding head. His face was creased and spotted, and his eyes were such thin slits that one could hardly see their whites. ¡°Just on the thread. We were about to move out. Those animals could break the treeline any moment now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d I arrived on time,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°The others should follow shortly.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t wait for them,¡± the lord said. ¡°They will be guided to their positions when they arrive. Now we must hasten to ours.¡± Lucan looked at the lord dubiously as his father nodded his eptance. The ancient man was visibly striving to bear the weight of his te armor and stay on his horse. Although his back was straight and it was subtle enough that one couldn¡¯t tell from a distance, Lucan had no doubt that everyone around him knew that the lord would sooner fall off his steed than swing a sword. He was likely on it to avoid showing weakness on foot. Lucan panned his eyes over the crowd of soldiers surrounding them. He spotted two knights in te that wouldpare well to his father¡¯s. They were standing closest to their lord. Two dozen men-at-arms stood behind them in the colors of House Arden, blue with a gray tower piercing a cloud. On the edges of their number stood men-at-arms from the knights that neighbored House Arden, including three of his father¡¯s. Only one of Sir Emerson Ryder¡¯s men-at-arms was present. He would be allowed to bring the least men, since his territory bordered the Shattered Kingdom and would need guarding. As his eyes searched for anyone else, he spotted someoneing out of the castle¡¯s open gate. It was a boy, no older than eleven, riding out carefully. Lucan could smell the timidnessing off him as the boy urged his steed forward. The men opened a path for him to reach his grandfather, for Lucan had no doubts that this boy was Lord Arden¡¯s only grandson and heir. The lord noticed his grandson and turned his steed around. ¡°Where have you been, Ren? You¡¯rete. Come here!¡± After the boy rode up beside his grandfather, Lucan could only hear the severe whispers of the old lord as he castigated his grandchild. After he was finished, the lord turned to one of his knights and gestured towards Lucan¡¯s father with his head. ¡°Hand him one.¡± The knight stepped up to them and exchanged a nod with his father. ¡°Gn.¡± ¡°Sarin.¡± The knight then handed his father a small pouch that was only marked by a purple streak sewn into it. ¡°You know how to use this.¡± Sir Gn nodded and epted the pouch. ¡°Time to head out,¡± Lord Arden yelled, as much as he could yell. ¡°Gn, hand your steeds to the stableboys. Sarin will tell you where you¡¯re needed.¡± ¡°Aye, my lord,¡± Lucan¡¯s father said. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Lucan followed his father down a gentle incline, treading on patches of dry grass and gravel. Their men-at-arms had returned to his father¡¯smand, since their number could bear to be a lone patrol, Lord Arden had let them form one, with Lucan, his father, and eight men-at-arms. They would take part in protecting the approach to thergest vige in the bordends. Their troop would patrol a considerable stretch between the vige and the forest, though they wouldn¡¯t protect that whole stretch ofnd alone. It was split between them and Sir Vicks. If any troop found that it would be overwhelmed, it would signal for aid from the reserve apanying Lord Arden. His father was tying the pouch given to him by Sir Sarin to his belt when Lucan heard Ryder whispering, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s magic?¡± ¡°Not everything from the Isles is magic, Ryder,¡± Clifton¡¯s bored voice responded. Ryder hushed in response to hispanion¡¯s louder voice and continued, ¡°But I heard that even its smoke glows.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything you hear then.¡± ¡°Why would it be so costly if it isn¡¯t magic?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the Isles and ask them?¡± ¡°If we live through this, perhaps I will.¡± ¡°Stop chattering like idle wives, both of you,¡± Cordellmanded. Lucan stifled a chuckle at that. Ryder¡¯s question was a reasonable one. But the answer to it was known to no one but the violetash makers in the Heaven Isles. He was curious about it himself, but as Clifton had said, the only way to know was to go to the Isles and ask them and beughed at. They were already passing the vige by. It was a distance away on their right, empty enough to make the more superstitious souls suspect it being haunted if they didn¡¯t know why it was so empty. If one looked closely, they¡¯d see the signs of habitation though, tended fields and the barricaded windows. They continued their march past the vige until they could see the treeline clearly, and anyone that might emerge from it. Then they began their patrolterally, eyes glued to the barrier of oaks. They all had shields, but Lee and two men-at-arms who had passive Skills for it were made to march on the left side of their patrol, in case of a surprise volley of arrows. They would continue to move in this direction until they met Sir Vicks¡¯s patrol, then they would turn around and march their way back here. While Lucan was anxious at first, both animated and concerned about his first battle, he eventually calmed down. Not due any effort of his own though, but by the insurmountable power of boredom. The patrol turned into an exercise in patience as the sun approached its lowest point. Lucan had lost count of how many times they¡¯d met Sir Vicks as they finished one circuit of the patrol after another. He wasn¡¯t an unpleasant man, with his face that narrowed to a point at the chin. Lucan had alsomitted the faces of all the knight¡¯s men to memory by merit of repetition. The patrol went on and he was beginning to think that Lord Arden¡¯s scouts were wrong when they saw violet smoke rising from one of The Needles, which was the signal of enemies breaking the treeline. The violet smoke was normal except for the spots rising inside it glowing like fireflies and illuminating it for all to easily see. Something caught Lucan¡¯s eye and he turned to the left, seeing a dozen¨Cno¨Ceighteen men emerging from the woods. He¡¯d been taught by his father, in practice, how to count men from a distance, and even told how to estimate the number of a muchrger force. A skill that every scout had and every noble needed. The Wildermen charged them outright. Lucan was surprised that they didn¡¯t open with bowshot, but perhaps they were feeling particrly bloodthirsty today. ¡°Form up!¡± his father¡¯s voice reverberated in their ears. ¡°Two deep. Cordell, Lee, you have the nks. Lucan, you¡¯re behind me.¡± They quickly formed up into a shieldwall two-men deep. His father was in the middle of the front line and Lucan was right behind him. Cordell stood on the right edge of the front line and Lee on the other. Lucan soon found himself squeezed by the anxious bodies of Heath and Clifton from both sides. Shields were raised and tension was mounting on shoulders. Lucan waited and waited¡­and waited, until he could hear the heavy beating of their enemies¡¯ boots on the ground, slowly growing louder and closer. He was keeping his head down and his shield braced, unable to see much beyond the height of his father, but he still glimpsed movement just before he heard the crash and felt the wave of force reverberating into his shield arm and pushing him back a step. There was a momentary glow and blood spewed from somewhere in front of his father and then all order was lost as one of the men-at-arms in the front line tripped and fell on his back from a bash. A melee soon broke out and Lucan was bumped heavily by a shoulder before finding himself squaring up against one of the Wildermen. The Wilderman wore a mismatch of leather armor and was armed with a wooden shield and a purplish bone club, which Lucan assumed was made from a Labyrinth beast. His opponent was older than him, but could still be called young. He had a small beard with only two spherical wooden bells woven into it, signifying only two sessful raids. Amidst the sounds of metal and wood shing, he could hear the rare sound of many more wooden bells ringing around him, but his opponent was unmoving, the tension obviously coiling in his muscles. Lucan¡¯s enemy stepped forward at the same moment he did. They both swung at each other, and they both intercepted with their shields. His opponent¡¯s shield weathered his strike, but his own bent slightly as the bone club hammered it, delivering enough force into his arm to cause concern. Lucan maneuvered to the side, hoping to get a better angle of attack, but the Wilderman kept up with him and stepped in for another swing. Lucan¡¯s first instinct was to step back and avoid another bad exchange, but he forced himself forward and swung with all he had while trying to angle his shield to divert the iing club. He failed in thetter as the club descended with a heavy strike, deforming his shield further. His opponent moved his shield to intercept his cut, but Lucan used Wraith Strike a moment before metal and wood met, his sword glowing and cutting nearly halfway through the edge of the thin shield. Surprised, the Wilderman jerked back, ncing between his shield and Lucan¡¯s now inert sword. It took a moment for him to understand what he was seeing, but eventually, the young man did, narrowing his eyes at Lucan and circling him much more carefully. Lucan heard a yell from the side and barely had a chance to shift his body out of a spear¡¯s path as another Wilderman charged him. He avoided the spear but not the man, who hit him with his whole weight, throwing him to the ground. Lucan rolled twice,ing up in a crouch to find Heath thankfully barring the spearman¡¯s way to him. But not a moment too soon, his own opponent was on him, smelling weakness and raising his club for a heavy overhead strike. Lucan only had time to let go of his shield and use his Star, moving forward while in a crouch. He felt a brief streak of pain in the back of his right leg, likely from the strain of the ufortable starting position, but the Star fulfilled its purpose, slipping him under his opponent¡¯s arm. The Wilderman¡¯s club hit the ground instead of Lucan, and he realized what happened, spinning hastily with his shield at the same time Lucan rose with a sh. The Wilderman seeded in bringing the edge of his shield to bear only to be met with Lucan¡¯s second Wraith Strike, finishing its work by shearing off part of the shield. Lucan followed up with another Wraith Strike which his opponent parried with his club, the bone too thick to receive more than a notch from the Skill. Then the Wilderman surprised him by throwing his broken shield at him. Lucan only got a chance to raise his sword arm, deflecting it with his forearm. It was a painless block but it seeded in blinding him long enough for his adversary to regain his bnce and charge in for an angled strike. Lucan used the Star once more, moving backwards and tripping on his own feet but miraculously shrugging it off and regaining his bnce. Not willing to let go of the edge he¡¯d gained, the Wilderman let his weight carry him forward and wound up for another strike. A vicious swing came from Lucan¡¯s right. He swung his sword hard with both hands, meeting the blow and parrying it, then taking a step to the left to absorb the force that caused his forearm to shiver. He tried to lunge in for a quick thrust, but the Wilderman patted it aside. They exchanged one, two, three more strikes, and Lucan realized they were evenly matched. He caught a nce of his father disemboweling another Wilderman as though it was a farmer¡¯s fieldwork before his eyes returned to his own fight. He got an idea, moving backwards to create distance, and as expected, the bloodthirsty Wilderman threw his weight forward to charge after him. Lucan didn¡¯t wait for the Wilderman to take his first step, immediately using the Star and moving towards him. One moment he was too far to be struck by his opponent¡¯s club and the next he was close enough to smell his breath, with his arms wound back for a proper twisting side thrust. His weight already thrown forward, the Wilderman had no chance to avoid meeting the swiftly approaching de. Lucan added a Wraith Strike to his attack for good measure, and the tip of his sword slid into his opponent¡¯s chest unimpeded. The pace at which they mmed into each other was so great that the sword ended up going through the Wilderman all the way up to the hilt, impaling him. As though the world had slowed down, Lucan saw the young man¡¯s eyes widen in pain, and perhaps disbelief, then a stuttering gasp came out of him. He heard the club hitting the ground as his opponent¡¯s disbelieving eyes stared at¨Cno¨Cthrough him, as though gazing at something leagues away. Another, shorter stuttering attempt at a breath, then the Wilderman¡¯s body jerked and he lost his ability to stand, sliding off Lucan¡¯s sword on his way to the ground. Lucan watched the horror on the wide-eyed man¡¯s face, only nowing to realize that his own eyes were just as wide and his breath was held as though in anticipation of a curse. He took a shuddering breath that caught in his throat and turned towards the sound of yells, feeling relief at being pulled away from the sight in front of him. He saw what remained of the raiding party fleeing, Ryder streaking to follow them and Cordell wounding back to throw his spear into the back of one of the raiders. ¡°Stop!¡± His father¡¯s voice froze the two men-at-arms. He was looking behind them with a severe countenance. They all turned to look in the same direction, seeing the smoke trailing up, most certainly from the vige. ¡°How did they get past Sir Vicks?¡± Lucan asked, aghast. Everyone turned to look in the direction where the other knight¡¯s patrol was supposed to be, and they glimpsed the remnants of violet smoke rising towards the sky. ¡°Damnation,¡± his father growled. ¡°Move!¡± Chapter 52: Knights And Bears Chapter 52: Knights And Bears Their party ran towards the vige in a scattered mess, soon cresting a small hill anding upon a sight of absolute chaos. Houses were burning, men were screaming, and amidst the fog of smoke and noise,batants fought for their lives. Lucan recognized some of Sir Vicks¡¯s men, though he didn¡¯t see the knight himself. He also saw vigers fighting with spear, axe, and pitchfork. Outnumbering them were Wildermen raiders that cut through vigers as easily as thetter would cut through wheat. ¡°To me!¡± Sir Gn yelled, charging the closest group of Wildermen. Lucan and the men-at-arms followed him as close as they could, considering how fast he was. They smashed into a disordered mob of Wildermen¨Cnot that they were orderly themselves¨Cwho were busy either tearing through vigers or looting and burning houses. Amidst the chaotic charge, Lucan rammed a wounded Wilderman with his shoulder, unintentionally impaling him on a viger¡¯s spear. He didn¡¯t let his gaze linger on the dead Wilderman nor the terrorized viger with a now broken spear. Lucan looked around, finding no closeby opponent this time. Then from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed distant movement. Turning in that direction, he saw Lord Arden¡¯s reserveing to relieve the vige. That gave him heart. Things hadn¡¯t been looking good moments ago. As their reinforcements charged into the vige, Lucan found one of Sir Vicks¡¯s men desperately struggling against a raider. The Wilderman had disarmed him and was preparing to swing wide for a killing strike. Even though he knew that he had to be careful with the uses of his Skills, Lucan still used the Star to streak in behind the raider. In one fluid motion, he hamstrung him, ruining his strike along with his bnce. The opposing soldier didn¡¯t waste the opportunity, leaping into the Wilderman¡¯s guard and shoving a dagger into his neck. The dying man croaked something before the soldier kicked him away and nodded to Lucan. Then they both went to look for their next enemy. Lucan saw their reinforcements challenged by a clump of Wildermen led by what he could only assume to be a shaman. The man wore a sleeveless hemp robe, weaved with small bones and leaves. His muscled arms were crowded with bangles of fangs and spiraling horns. He gripped a thick oaken staff with its head wrapped in cured skin. Before the two groups met, he struck the ground with his staff, and the roots of a nearby tree sprang to life, ensnaring two soldiers with malleability and strength that could rival a giant boa. Lucan couldn¡¯t watch for much longer as he saw a viger fighting at the entrance to his home. Keeping a Wilderman at bay with a ragged spear that was soon patted aside with the assant¡¯s axe. The viger received a kick that pushed him through his home¡¯s open door which carried the marks of axe strikes, likely suffered before the viger had armed himself and emerged to defend it. Lucan used another Star, leaving him with only five more, if he remembered right. This time the star only took him half the distance and he paced the rest. The Wilderman noticed him and spun swiftly to parry a probing thrust. Lucan followed up with a quick sh to keep his opponent on the back foot. The Wilderman did indeed take a step back, right into an unexpected attack from the viger. The homeowner had stepped up behind the Wilderman with fevered courage, stealing in a thrust with his spear just as the man stepped back. A pained yell escaped the Wilderman and he was distracted enough that it would have been amiss if Lucan didn¡¯t take advantage. So he stepped in with his sword at the front, pped aside the raider¡¯s axe, and thoroughly shed his throat. The man went down clutching his neck and making noises that Lucan forced himself to ignore. Panting, the viger looked at the dying man with wide eyes, then he gazed at Lucan, a brief light of gratitude appearing on his face. The light soon disappeared, though, reced with a face full of terror as the manic eyes of the viger rose to look beyond him. Without a word, the farmer then turned around and bolted into his home, mming the door behind him. Lucan turned with a severe twist of his waist, some instinct telling him to prepare his Star, to which he thankfully listened. His preparation saved his life, as a greataxe came cleaving down to split him in half. Lucan barely had time to move out of the axe¡¯s path, streaking to the side with the aid of his Skill. Then there was an eerily quiet moment where his eyes met his assant¡¯s. He was thergest man Lucan had ever seen, covered in thick brown furs that made him seem all the more gigantic. He towered over him so high that Lucan had to strain his neck to look at his face. The Wilderman was bald but had a thick beard woven with countless bells¨Cthat had somehow not made any noise as he approached him¨Cand he carried the goldsteel greataxe with such ease that one would have thought him carrying a pine staff. ¡°Gleaming armor and a fancy Skill,¡± the enormous man said in an appropriately thick voice, proving to Lucan for the first time that Wildermen did indeed speak. ¡°You must be a noble usurper¡¯s brat.¡± The raider grinned. ¡°Good.¡± Then his body tensed and he shot off towards him. Lucan only had a moment to throw himself to the side before the Wilderman reached him. Still, his opponent¡¯s axe followed him in a wide sweep. Lucan ducked under it, but it put him in a vulnerable position, as the Wilderman recovered and brought his weapon to bear to descend from above. In a tough spot, Lucan was forced to expend another use of his Star, moving to the side. The axe struck nothing, and the Wilderman snorted, seemingly annoyed. Lucan tried to use the time needed for his opponent to recover to slip in an attack of his own. Holding nothing back, he streaked in towards the Wilderman¡¯s side and shed with his Wraith Strike. Surprisingly, hisrge opponent proved himself limber enough to evade his strike, using the weight of his moving axe to lever himself away from Lucan¡¯s sh. Lucan stepped in, unwilling to let go of his advantage, and followed up with another Wraith Strike. This time, the Wilderman blocked his sword with his axe. Lucan realized a little toote that the Wilderman was using a Skill himself. The goldsteel of his weapon was glowing a hot orange that was cause for rm. The two Skills met, and Lucan¡¯s fizzled out like a candle snuffed out by the wind, a sign that the opposing Skill was much more potent. His sword soon settled in the crook where the axe¡¯s head met its metal shaft, then the Wilderman twisted his weapon and pulled down, dragging Lucan along. Finding himself overextended, Lucan had no choice but to expend yet another use of his Star, streaking forward in the same direction the Wilderman had pulled him, going beyond him and distancing himself enough that the follow-up strike couldn¡¯t reach him. Still, the posture with which he had moved caused him to stumble and fall on his side at a time when he would trade anything for bnce. He rolled to the side as the Wilderman winded up for another strike. The anticipated attack didn¡¯te. Instead, the Wilderman swept the axe through the empty air above Lucan and pulled himself forward with its moving weight. Lucan was just getting to his feet when he found his enemy in front of him. A kick that he couldn¡¯t have anticipated took him in the chest. He flew through the air, hit something and went through it, then was arrested by the grace of a solid wall. His vision was blurry and wheezes instead of breaths escaped his throat. He struggled to squeeze in some air and mostly failed. Had the giant¡¯s kick dented his te? He didn¡¯t know, for he still couldn¡¯t get his bearings. His throat was constricting, his chest wasining, and the relief of sweet air just wouldn¡¯te. Yet his eyes soon cleared,, and he could only see the form of the Wilderman filling his vision. The man¡¯s axe was raised for a finishing strike, and Lucan knew that he couldn¡¯t hope to move, let alone stop it. He saw the de of the axe lighting up with that eerie hot glow once more, preparing to melt its way through his te and pulverize his insides. Then his father was there. The glow of the greataxe was met with the glow of a Wraith Strike, which didn¡¯t fizzle out this time. The Wilderman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise before he hopped back and settled himself in a proper stance forbat. Lucan¡¯s father circled his opponent, no doubt trying to turn the fight away from him. But soon, he had no choice but to sh with the Wilderman. And sh he did. In a daze, Lucan could only describe what he saw as a storm of Skills. Bothbatants used their Active Skills as many times in the span of a few moments as Lucan could use in a day. Then they separated, both breathing evenly. Again, they dashed towards each other and shed, another storm of Skills ensuing. And Lucan realized that the Wilderman had been toying with him. The two men soon reached an impasse as their weapons cinched and the Wilderman tried to pull his father close as he had pulled Lucan moments ago. But Sir Gn Zesh didn¡¯t fall forward. He did something that Lucan couldn¡¯t perceive and his weapon instantly slipped off the axe, then he was behind the Wilderman, a trail of dust flying in his wake. The Wilderman swept his axe around quickly, trying to parry an anticipated strike, which didn¡¯te. Returning the favor that Lucan had just been given, his father delivered a kick to the Wilderman¡¯s gut that carried his whole strength and weight. The raider flew, not as high or fast as Lucan had, but he flew, then he hit the door of the viger¡¯s house, tearing it off its hinges and disappearing inside. Sir Gn Zesh followed him in. Lucan could only hear shes and see the asional sh of light. The yells and grunts of both men echoed in his ears and he couldn¡¯t tell who had the upper hand in there. His body refused to move, and his eyes shifted from side to side, hoping to see something that they couldn¡¯t reach. He saw the wooden beam that he¡¯d hit and snapped through. He saw Cordell barring the path of a shaman who manipted his bone bangles into white armor and spiked armaments. He saw even more reinforcements reaching the vige and shing with Wildermen, half of whom were fleeing with their ill-gotten gains. Loot was hauled away or abandoned when the need arose. Some raiders fought and some raiders absconded with their hauls. The crashes inside the house came to a stop. Lucan¡¯s eyes shifted to the door and remained fixed there until the Wilderman was thrown out like a straw dummy. He rolled on the ground twice before getting to his feet, gasping for air. Blood was covering one side of his face from a deep cut on his bald head, and he was leaning to one side as though suffering from an injured leg or a broken rib. Still, he gripped his greataxe and looked severely at the door from which Lucan¡¯s father soon emerged. ¡°What in the frosts are you?¡± the Wilderman wheezed. ¡°Gn Zesh. By the grace of King Athelstan Baroun, I was made a knight of Barwalis seventeen winters after my birth. I have only one son and heir. You tried to murder him. Allow me to return the favor,¡± Lucan¡¯s father said. ¡°With morepetence.¡± Then a bolt of lightning shed nearby and Lucan only saw white. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Lucan felt as though the white light blinding his eyes was piercing into his skull. He could nearly hear it somehow, he thought, if it weren¡¯t for the noise around him. Someone was struggling, another was choking on something. Then, just as the white shine began to fade from his eyes, he heard another bolt of lightning, closer this time, and the white shine increased in intensity once more, returning him to absolute blindness. Lucan groaned and leaned to the side, forcing his face down, away from any other sources of irritation. He kept blinking, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sh of des he could hear. Something was happening, but he couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Eventually, the painful shine trying to find itself into the middle of his skull began to fade away. He covered the sides of his face with his hands in anticipation of more assaults on his sanity, but none came. When the blur remaining in his eyes finally faded away, he saw his father cleaning blood off his sword, and the giant of a Wilderman was on the ground, unmoving amidst a pool of his own blood. Lucan observed his father¡¯s rxed stance and finally noticed that those who remained of the Wildermen were fleeing, some of them even abandoning their plunder. More aid had arrived, and the defenders had overwhelmed the raiders. He saw Cordell kneeling over the form of a fallen man, and Lucan suddenly recognized him as one of their men-at-arms. He wondered if he was wounded or dead. Lucan knew the man¡¯s name was Henry, but he hadn¡¯t known him too well. He wondered if he would ever get to now. Beside Cordell¡¯s kneeling form, Lucan saw the scorched remains of what looked like the shaman that had been fighting the man-at-arms. His corpse was smoking like a roasted side of beef. His skin and apparel were ckened and cracked and Lucan could no longer see the bone bangles he¡¯d been wearing. Lucan looked past the smoking shaman to where the other shaman had barred the way of the reserve that had beening to relieve them, and he saw another smoking corpse. Lucan realized what had happened just as he saw the purple robes of a mage emerging from among Lord Arden¡¯s soldiers. A lightning mage. Lucan knew that Lord Arden had reserved the services of a mage, though said mage wasn¡¯t sworn to him, but he had never seen said mage himself, until now. He was a short man of mildplexion and features, as far as Lucan could see. He wandered into the vige proper as thest of the Wildermen fled, and Lucan saw two of Lord Arden¡¯s soldiers shadowing him. The mage knelt over the scorched shaman, rummaging among his clothes and items. Lucan lost sight of the mage as his father¡¯s form filled his sight. The knight stood over him, his sword sheathed, his armor stained with the blood of his enemies, not a scratch on his flesh, though he did have a badly dented pauldron that Lucan was quite certain he hadn¡¯t had before following the Wilderman into the house. ¡°Are you well?¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°I¡¯m not certain,¡± Lucan said, before breaking into a coughing fit. ¡°I think I might have a broken rib.¡± ¡°Is breathing painful?¡± his father said. Lucan took a deep breath and felt an ache in the lower right side of his chest. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Keep breathing,¡± his father said. ¡°Does it get better or worse?¡± Lucan took a few more deep breaths, and the pain indeed became milder with each one, though it never left him. ¡°It gets better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a bruise,¡± his father said. ¡°Though we¡¯ll have you looked at by Lord Arden¡¯s surgeon, and that te looked at by his smith.¡± Lucan nodded, taking careful gulps of air that he now realized he sorely needed. His father stretched out a hand for him and Lucan took it, getting up slowly and thankfully finding the pain bearable. He favored one side as his father helped him to a t rock to sit on. Lucan sat down as his father went to look over his men-at-arms. He saw him kneel beside the now obviously fallen Henry, and Lucan found himself bobbing his head in eptance. He hoped none of the others had found their end here, most importantly the ones he¡¯d gotten to know better, for he didn¡¯t want to carry any more weight in his heart today. He realized now that his hands were shaking, cold sweat was coating his skin, and the pain was in the overarching background of his consciousness. He felt sickly. ¡°It¡¯s normal to feel poorly after battle,¡± his father¡¯s voice interrupted his quiet torment. He was standing over him once more, and Lucan realized that it had been a while since he¡¯d left him to look over their men. ¡°Is it because of him?¡± The knight gestured with his head towards the corpse of the giant Wilderman lying motionless in front of the viger¡¯s house. Lucan shook his head but then stopped. ¡°Perhaps, in part, it is. But that is not all.¡± His father bade him move to the side then sat beside him. ¡°What is it, then?¡± ¡°That first Wilderman I killed,¡± Lucan said. ¡°The one near the forest. I killed more after him, but¡­but I didn¡¯t look as closely, I didn¡¯t see their eyes. I didn¡¯t imagine what they were thinking. Him though¡­¡± His father nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s normal to feel guilt after killing for the first time too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the quandary, Father,¡± Lucan said. ¡°It¡¯s not guilt, I feel. It¡¯s fear. I saw it in his eyes, his disbelief. It¡¯s as though he¡¯d believed that he would live for a thousand years, emerge victorious from a hundred battles, birth children countless and have a long line of descendants. It¡¯s as though hehad ns. And it was all snuffed out of him in an instant, Father. For the longest time, I¡¯d thought that the greatness of one¡¯s aspirations or station might be a shield for them somehow. It felt as though death was a distant danger of insignificant consequence. But back there, I saw it, near as ever. And¡­I realized that I would look just like him if ever my life was snuffed out of me.¡± He paused, panting again, feeling a squeeze in his heart and atent heat in his eyes. Then he continued. ¡°I would not believe it, as he didn¡¯t. I would find the look on his face reflected in mine. My eyes would be wide and panicked just as his were. I¡¯d once thought I was brave. But I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m¨C¡± His father interrupted him with a subduedugh which, considering the circumstances and his father¡¯s temperament, could be considered a loud guffaw. ¡°The cause of your distress is that you feel fear? That is all? Tell me, do you think I¡¯m afraid before I march into battle?¡± Lucan shook his head. His father chuckled once more. ¡°But I am, Lucan. I always am. Only madmen and characters of myth feel no fear, Son. If ever a man went into battle without a drop of fear in him, then he was no brave man, but only fortunate that he was born without the curse we were all born with. No, brave men are those who go into battle in spite of their fear. You must not abhor fear, but learn to live with it. When you do, you¡¯ll find it a familiarpanion every time you march into battle. You don¡¯t need to defeat fear, after all. You only need to defeat your enemy.¡± Lucan gaped at his father, having not expected the response. He¡¯d expected something, perhaps admonishment, or even pity encouragement. He had not expected this...understanding. He nodded slowly as his father¡¯s eyes met his with certainty, then he looked down at his feet, absorbing what he could of his father¡¯s words. When he came back from his thoughts, his father was still there beside him, but he had the goldsteel axe of the Wilderman leaning on the rock next to him. ¡°He had a goldsteel weapon with him,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I thought they couldn¡¯t make them.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t,¡± his father said, ncing down at the axe with some mncholy. Then he nodded towards the dead Wilderman ¡°It didn¡¯t belong to him.¡± ¡°Whom, then?¡± Lucan asked. ¡°Someone I once knew,¡± his father said tamely. ¡°Perhaps a friend.¡± Lucan looked at the Wilderman then at the axe again. ¡°Did he kill him?¡± ¡°Most likely. The Wildermen guard their spoils of war dearly. And it would¡¯ve taken a considerable warrior to defeat such a fine knight without subterfuge,¡± Sir Gn said while looking at the Wilderman¡¯s size meaningfully. ¡°A warrior like the Bear himself,¡± a familiar voice joined them. Lucan raised his head to find Sir Sarin, Lord Arden¡¯s right hand. He was approaching them at afortable pace while soldiers fanned out around him to search the vige. Lucan¡¯s father gave the dead Wilderman another meaningful nce. ¡°I suspected as much. Never met him on the battlefield before.¡± Sir Sarin leveled his own meaningful look at the corpse. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°When all else failed, he tried to rely on an enchantment he didn¡¯t know well enough.¡± Sir Gn patted the runed head of the goldsteel greataxe. ¡°It was the end of him.¡± Lucan was about to ask what the enchantment was when he saw the smoke pluming on the horizon above Sir Sarin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Is that¡­?¡± The knight turned his head in the same direction. ¡°Ah, yes. They hit several settlements at the same time. We believe they did it all along the border. Thergest great raid in decades by far. The assault here was thest to be repelled in the territory.¡± Lucan gulped. He¡¯d thought this was the odd raiding party that¡¯d slipped through, not one of dozens if not more, and not that it was led by some ¡®Bear¡¯ he¡¯d never heard of. He¡¯d heard stories from his father about the Wildermen, but none of any ¡®Bears¡¯. Though it stood to reason that his father wouldn¡¯t tell stories about a man he never met. ¡°Come, we ought to have you both looked at,¡± Sir Sarin said, gesturing for them to follow him. The rest of the day was a blur. A surgeon took a look at his ribs, which he judged were neither bruised nor broken but rather suffering from a minor crack that could heal easily if he didn¡¯t make it worse. He was sworn off any hardbor,bat, or training. He was also advised to wear boiled leather during the day to avoid any mishaps. It wouldn¡¯t do to worsen his state because someone carelessly ran into him. Later, he heard of the Bear from whispers among the men. Supposedly one of the greatest names among the Wildermen in the past two decades. He had led some of the bloodiest and most sessful raids against Barwalis and Pontis, and he had the respect of many among his people, even outside of his own tribe. He¡¯d be so renowned that his name had even echoed in the Kingdoms, at least among the border soldierly and nobility. And he¡¯d died. So simply, so swiftly. It proved to Lucan yet again that death could im anyone. No matter how renowned you were, what your status was, what your dreams were, it could reach you in a blink, and you could never anticipate it. The more you tried, the more it would cripple you. One wouldn¡¯t ept death for what it was until thatst breath. And that was what Lucan feared. They stayed in Lord Arden¡¯s territory for a fortnight, but miraculously, the Wildermen halted their raids and retreated into the forest afterwards. It was odd, as though the Wildermen had halted at the death of their marshal, but no one, not even the Bear, could unite the Wildermen so, or else the Kingdoms would have had to face much worse than the odd raid in the past. Yet the scouts and rangers affirmed it. The tribesmen had left the northern part of their forests and were returning home. It was a mystery that no one could solve, or rather, no one cared to solve, since they now got to go back to their peaceful lives, something that even those who lived by their de appreciated. It was time to return home. He had handled his Blessing¡¯s gains a day after the battle. They were plenty, even if they were tainted with pain, fear, and death. You have in an Iron Human and absorbed their Vital Essence. You have in an Iron Human and absorbed part of their Vital Essence. You have in a Steel Human and absorbed part of their Vital Essence. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. Swordsmanship has leveled up. Swordsmanship has leveled up. Swordsmanship has leveled up. Swordsmanship has leveled up. 7-Point Star Dance has leveled up. 7-Point Star Dance has leveled up. Race: Human Level: 9 Vital Orbs: 24 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv26: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv12: Apprentice (0/1) (Active) Wraith Strike lv8: Novice (0/1) Yes, it was time to go home, lick their wounds, tend to their estate, and perhaps, when his mind was more at ease, use those vital Orbs. Chapter 54: Letters in The Night Chapter 54: Letters in The Night It took them a fortnight to ascertain that the raiders weren¡¯t returning for another bout. Scouts and rangers along the length of the southern border had agreed that the Wildermen had retreated well beyond raiding distance, and some had even returned to their tribes, supposedly. Lord Arden only allowed them to leave after he¡¯d affirmed the truth of that. It also turned out that ¡°The Bear¡± had been the one to rouse and lead the Wildermen on this foray, though he had had the support of other strongmen among the ns, or so the captured raiders imed. Lord Arden had had to bestow a nominal reward on Lucan¡¯s father for killing the Bear in the form of a bronze-ted shield made from the finest southern oak. His father had alsoid im to the goldsteel axe he¡¯d won in battle, though he¡¯d told Lucan aside that he¡¯d have it sent to the son of its original owner who¡¯d followed in his father¡¯s footsteps and earned a knighthood. And speaking of fallen knights, Lucan had found out after the battle how the Wildermen had reached the vige. Sir Vicks¡¯s patrol had been attacked like theirs had been but by a muchrger raiding party. They¡¯d used their violetash, but any help would have been toote. The knight had fallen along with several of his men while the rest had scattered and retreated, though they rallied each otherter to fight in the vige. Lucan, his father, and their men-at-arms rode home by the end of hay harvest, which was also the time by which the merchants began to trickle in. They rode through the rolling Arden hills, then continued north until they passed by the saltke. Seeing that everything was as it should be with the men working near the crane, they continued on their way, soon observing theborers who were digging the irrigation channels. Regardless, they didn¡¯t dally, riding straight to their motte-and-bailey, where they found Thomas waiting for them at the gate. Lucan rode behind his father into the bailey, inhaling the smell of the cramped confines of their settlement. And instead of finding it stifling, he found its familiarity warm and weing. The bailey¡¯s inhabitants came out to watch them as they entered, some of them noticing that one was missing from their number and whispering among themselves. They dismounted before Lucan¡¯s father gripped Thomas¡¯s arm in greeting and Lucan embraced the old steward. Wasting no time, they marched up the walkway towards the keep. Once they entered, theyid off their burdens in the armory and each of them went to find a bath, having found the luxury rare in Lord Arden¡¯s crowded castle. After a refreshing cold bath, Lucan met his father and Thomas once again in the former¡¯s study. Sir Gn leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath as though it had been trapped in his chest for months. Then he looked at Thomas with the eyes of the tired old knight he was. ¡°What have you got for us, Thomas?¡± ¡°The farmers have enjoyed a good hay harvest, Master,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Merchants have also begun trickling in.¡± Lucan nodded along with his father. He¡¯d seen the camps and stalls of some merchants as they¡¯d arrived outside the bailey. ¡°They¡¯ve grown enamored with our new goods too,¡± the steward continued. ¡°Some even chose to linger in the territory in wait for a new stock of salt and silver.¡± ¡°What we had was depleted already?¡± Lucan asked, astounded. ¡°All of it sold for good coin.¡± Thomas smiled at him. Lucan nearly whooped in happiness, but he was held back by his father¡¯s still somber mood. While Henry the man-at-arms hadn¡¯t been a close acquaintance of his, that didn¡¯t stand the same with his father. ¡°They took well to the silversmith¡¯s work?¡± The steward gave him a nonmittal bob of the head. ¡°They¡¯re all happy to take the raw silver, but more hesitant to part with coin for the worked metal. Still, we have sold some of what he''s made. Doubtless, we¡¯ll be rid of most if not all of it by the end of the season. ¡° Lucan raised a brow in amusement but nodded along anyway. His father finally spoke as the study grew quiet. ¡°So our coffers fare well again, atst.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Thomas said. ¡°Very well. The merchants have taken well to our salt, even though most of them are heading to the Union. The silver was also well-received, since the guilds are always in need of it to mint their myriad of different coinage.¡± Lucan¡¯s small dream wasing true. Now he wouldn¡¯t have to provide the merchants with everyfort so that they may visit their fief. For now, they would never miss an opportunity to veer off their path to see what they could pick from their territory¡¯s goods. ¡°Is it time then to raise a tariff?¡± his thoughts manifested in his voice even before he willed them. ¡°Not yet, I¡¯d counsel,¡± Thomas answered instantly. His father chuckled briefly, though it came without mirth. ¡°Nothing scares merchants more than that which threatens to part them with their coin. Patience, son. You¡¯ve done well so far, and our treasury is no longer threatened. Wait, for you don¡¯t wish to scare away your catch so soon.¡± Lucan nodded. If both his father and Thomas agreed on this, then there must be good substance to it. After a brief pause, Thomas spoke again, ¡°We do have a tangle that must be mentioned.¡± Both Lucan and his father looked at the steward quizzically. ¡°With the arrival of the silversmith and the trickle of merchants, we seem to be suffering from a shortage of room. A workshop was built for the silversmith, but that has already stretched the bailey to its limit.¡± Lucan nodded in agreement. The bailey was too small for his ns. ¡°Perhaps we should expand it. It would also be good if there was room for travelers and merchants to stay inside.¡± ¡°Perhaps, though I doubt the merchants will risk stepping inside for fear of a toll or a tariff,¡± Thomas remarked. ¡°Again with that?¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve read about them,¡± Sir Gn chimed in. ¡°But merchants guard their wealth as carefully as we guard ournds. Sometimes even more doggedly than us.¡± Lucan gave a resigned nod. ¡°Regardless, more room will be good for what¡¯sing.¡± He turned to Thomas. ¡°That widower who provides drinks for the locals. Could we entice him to build a proper inn?¡± The man in question lived alone with a single son and had turned a portion of his considerable house into a ce to drink for those who paid. Sometimes he would even rent his bed to wealthy travelers and sleep with his son in their establishment instead. ¡°It¡¯s not a question of enticing him as much as it is a question of coin,¡± Thomas said. ¡°It¡¯s unknowable whether he has the wealth necessary, though he is one of our wealthier residents. Even if he does, we can¡¯t be certain he¡¯d be willing to expend all of it on such a venture.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Perhaps we could provide him with a loan?¡± Lucan said. ¡°An inn would be a good boon for our expanding settlement.¡± His father perked up at that, seemingly rmed. He always was when spending coin was mentioned. Lucan mused that perhaps he wasn¡¯t that much different from the merchants he quipped about. No. That wasn¡¯t a fair judgment. His father wasn¡¯t concerned about expending coin so much as he was concerned about the threat of bing impoverished, particrly considering how close Lucan had brought them to that precipice. He couldn¡¯t help but grow a little sheepish at the thought. Still, he¡¯d brought them out of it eventually, hadn¡¯t he? His ns hadn¡¯t gone without a hitch, but they had gone. ¡°I suppose he could be persuaded,¡± Thomas said in answer to his question. When Sir Gn chimed in again, it was with a suggestion instead of a protest. ¡°Why bother with a loan when we can demand ownership?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lucan looked askance at his father. ¡°We¡¯re to provide the coin andbor needed for an inn and he¡¯s to run it, aren¡¯t we?¡± the knight said. ¡°Why don¡¯t we own at least half of said establishment then? It¡¯s better than waiting to be repaid on something we¡¯ll reap no meaningful profit from.¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but be impressed with the idea. His eyes snapped to their steward who shrugged nomittally. ¡°I will see if he¡¯s amicable to the idea.¡± Lucan nodded with an anxious spirit. More streams of wealth were always better than less, however small. Currently, they were benefiting from the sale of their salt and the better prices their farmers got frompeting merchants(which meant more taxes for their estate). There was also the difference in cost after the silversmith worked the raw metal from their neighboring knights¡¯ territories, though the craftsmen was owed a great portion of that difference. Half an inn to add to all that wouldn¡¯t be bad, considering their burgeoning settlement was certain to attract more visitors every season. ¡°To expand the bailey, fill the moat, build new walls, we¡¯ll need considerablebor,¡± Thomas said. Lucan nodded. ¡°No matter, the canals won¡¯t be finished any time soon, let us move a portion of thatbor to the bailey.¡± He hummed to himself. A season ago they had had morebor than they knew what to do with. Now they had more work thanborers. Lucan wondered whether the canals would even be needed by the time they were finished. Could we get moreborers, perhaps? More refugees? He nced at his father. Father might just drop dead if I suggest it. Nheless, they needed to adapt to their own growth without fear. Perhaps he would discuss it with Thomas discreetly first. He wondered whether there were other sources from which they could getborers and farmers. They ended their assembly on that note, but Thomas stopped Lucan just as he got up to leave. ¡°I almost forgot. A letter arrived for you.¡± ¡°A letter?¡± Lucan said, raising a brow. ¡°From whom?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I only know that it bears the royal seal.¡± Thomas gave him a knowing look. Lucan nced at his father who looked just as perplexed. There was only one royal that could have sent him a letter. And he wondered why she would bother. He¡¯d grown ever more wary of the princess since thest time they¡¯d met. For the more he¡¯d thought of what had happened in the capital, the more he¡¯d grown certain of the breadth of her craftiness. Thomas soon handed him the letter which looked suitably regal, with rare dyes used to draw frilly patterns along its length. Lucan then left for his chamber while getting a dubious look from his father. He would read it in seclusion, though he was certain to speak to his father about itter. Lucany on his bed, the parchment spread open in his hands. He¡¯d thought he was done with the princess after he¡¯d left the capital, but it seemed that she intended to keep her shadow over him even from hundreds of leagues away. He wondered whether he¡¯d have to look out for traps in this simple piece of parchment. Rousing himself out of his anxiousness, he began to read. Dear Lucan, my sincere wishes that this missive reaches you and your household in good health. I, myself, am in as eptable health as one can be in Eldham and the royal court. I hope Sawyer is serving you well and that your saltke has borne its fruit. ording to those of loftier expertise, Sawyer is intelligent if a little green. I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll meet your expectations. I hear you also have your eyes on another of my friends. Lilian spoke to me of your understanding with her father. Master Saltner is of good cloth, for one in his profession. My sweet Lilian spoke to me of your understanding with her father. Regardless of my concerns that you¡¯re stripping me of all mypanions, so long as Lilian is happy, I will not object. And though she has brought forth some concerns and worries, I have assuaged them. You may thank me for that in your written response. I thank you again for the gift of mythril that you extracted from the Labyrinth. I have had it made into a band that resembles what my mother used to wear. It¡¯s not as thick or heavy as hers used to be, but one can only wish for so much. Now at least I can pretend that Mother¡¯s most beloved piece of jewelry isn¡¯t molten within Dane¡¯s armor. I have heard that matters on the border are as tense as a string on a Bitian bow. I hope that when theye to a head, you wille out sound. I have also heard that Lord Arden is getting on in his years, and his grandson is to inherit after he dies, Elders forbid. I would be grateful for thetest word on his lordship¡¯s health. And if you¡¯ve met his grandson, I would be interested in your judgment of his character. That is all. My well wishes to you and your father. May the gods give you a wide berth. Lucan folded the letter back into its initial shape and mulled over the contents. He pondered about the real meaning of the letter, now that he knew the princess¡¯s measure, or now that he thought he did. In the first part of the letter, she was, perhaps, reminding him of the favor she had done him by letting Sawyer leave with him; which Lucan had no doubt she could have prevented. In the second part, she was politely lecturing him on the futility of keeping something from her. She knew about his agreement with Master Saltner, and she even imed that Lilian herself confided the matter to her. In truth, Lucan hadn¡¯t been deliberately secretive of the matter, though he¡¯d been wary of divulging any of his affairs to the princess after he¡¯d gotten a potent dose of her character. Regardless, she knew now, and she was letting him know that she did. Not only that, she was letting him know that she had Lilian¡¯s ear, though Lucan doubted she could have any significant power over Master Saltner himself. The merchant was no fool, and the princess¡¯s reach was limited; even if she carried with her the prestige of the royal family, she carried none of the power. But still, she had a weapon none could deny her. Her mind. Now, why was she letting him know all that when there was no need to apprise him of such? She could¡¯ve done with her knowledge what she wished, but she chose to let him know. Her conduct would¡¯ve been a mystery, hadn¡¯t it been for thest part of the letter. She wanted something from him, and she was pulling on all the leashes she could to get him to do it. She wanted word of the current state of House Arden. She hadn¡¯t phrased it as such, but it was clear that she had an interest in knowing their precise circumstances. It didn¡¯t take a mountain of intellect to know that she had some scheme brewing for the inheritance of the Arden estate, though he couldn¡¯t fathom what that would entail. The only part of the letter he hadn¡¯t thought much of was the one about the mythril. He saw it for what it was. The princess knew that thest memory he had of her was when she¡¯d wrested the valuable metal from his hands, and she was mellowing him through an invocation of his sympathy regarding her mother, a mother who had died too early just like his own. Lucan sighed. It seemed like he wouldn¡¯t be enjoying much sleep tonight. He didn¡¯t. He spent half the night agonizing over how to respond to the princess. There were many things to take into consideration. The matter with the Saltners at their forefront. But there was also Sawyer. The princess could send for his return, and the engineer could very well heed her request. Lucan could already tell that he was anxious to return to the familiarity of his home city, and perhaps also to return to throwing timid nces at Helena, the princess¡¯s other ¡®friend¡¯. The only thing keeping the engineer here was his resolve to have the waterworks built properly. Eventually, Lucan surrendered any hope of making any decision tonight, and he shifted his attention to another matter he¡¯d been dying. It woulde with its own agony of memory, but it would alsoe with a taste of satisfaction and perhaps a little aplishment. His Blessing manifested as he summoned it, and heid his eyes on his unused Vital Orbs. At least he would get something done tonight. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Lucany in bed, scrutinizing his Blessing¡¯s manifestation. There was much to decide, and even more to contemte before that. Race: Human Level: 9 Vital Orbs: 24 Mind and Body Physique: Iron I 0/15 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv26: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv12: Apprentice (0/2) (Active) Wraith Strike lv8: Novice (0/1) His Star Dance had gotten past the novice stage, and that marked a significant change. He¡¯d still have only ten uses of the Skill, but every level after ten provided noticeable enhancement to the Skill itself. He¡¯d tried using the Skill once in Lord Arden¡¯s castle and there had been a real if slight increase in the distance between the Star¡¯s points. But while such an improvement was eptable, it wasn¡¯t worth two Vital Orbs yet, not until he¡¯d made certain that the rest of his humble abilities were at as favorable a stage as it. Raising Wraith Strike to level ten was a foregone decision. Two more uses of the Skill a day would provide a considerable edge. That still left him with twenty-two Orbs. Too many to throw into his Skills and leave his Body stagnating. The journey of his Physique would be a long one from here on out, and today he would take the first steps on his path to Steel. Fortunately, he was already in bed, so he went ahead and poured fifteen Orbs into it. A tingling sensation took his body, along with a spreading heat that began at his heart and rippled all the way to his limbs. The mixture of sensations lingered for a short time and then began to recede into a faint tension which soon disappeared into a memory. Lucan let out a sigh of relief, eying the now-improved Iron II Physique. Its effects wouldn¡¯t be too significant, but it was a step forward. He still had seven Orbs to expend, and only two Skills waiting for them. Again, his eyes returned to the Star. It had saved his life more than once, giving him an edge that his enemies hadn¡¯t expected. Yet¡­the Star had an advantage that Wraith Strike didn¡¯t. Its level could improve through his use of it. And as Lucan worked more and more on his Blessing, he grew an appreciation for each Vital Orb, an appreciation that he hadn¡¯t had before, even if he earned more of them with each level he gained. As long as he could improve the Star with skill, it would be a waste to spend Orbs on it. With his mind made up, his eyes settled on the level ten Wrath Strike which now required two Vital Orbs to push into the first level of Apprentice. The Skill was useful, but it had proven limited in hisst battle, mostly because it was still too weak, which going into the Apprentice stage would hopefully remedy, at least to a certain extent. It was a gradual improvement, after all. He couldn¡¯t expect his Skill to be as potent as his father¡¯s overnight. He sank six of the Vital Orbs into the Skill, augmenting it with three more levels and into the Apprentice stage. He smiled at his blessing. It was a considerable improvement that he gained tonight. Race: Human Level: 9 Vital Orbs: 1 This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mind and Body Physique: Iron II 0/20 Spirit: Basic 0/1 Skills (0) 0/100 (Passive) Swordsmanship lv26: Journeyman (Hybrid) 7-Point Star Dance lv12: Apprentice (0/2) (Active) Wraith Strike lv13: Apprentice (0/2) An enhancement to his body and his Skill made him a more capable fighter, no doubt. With both his Skills usable ten times every day, he was more capable of prolongedbat, and by the time he got his Physique to Steel, they would hopefully have be powerful enough to make him a lethalbatant. Once he dismissed his Blessing, the smile slowly slipped off his face. For while the Blessing¡¯s enhancement was cause for joy, it also brought with it memories of the battle from which it hade. The fear he¡¯d seen in the eyes of the first man he¡¯d killed. The fear he¡¯d felt himself once he recognized that desperate need that every man had¡­to live, to be something more than another loss among thousands of thousands before them, to be as every single one of them felt, different. That need, that fiction had been torn away from him on that day. Because no man was different when it came to untimely death. Even Emperors had been in before. But¡­perhaps some men were harder to kill than others. Perhaps he would find out if that was true. As one memory receded, another took its ce unabated. His near death at the hands of the Bear. The overwhelming power of the giant of a man. Power that didn¡¯t onlye from his opponent¡¯s size, but from his Blessing too, from his capability and experience. Power that made Lucan aware of his true ce on that etherealdder ofpetence. Somewhere that wasn¡¯t good enough. But sooner orter, he would find a proper ce. With that thought on the edge of his mind, sleep stealthily and slowly imed him with its soft embrace. ¡°I warned you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± His father sighed, rays of the morning sun prating his study¡¯s window and casting him in its shadow. ¡°Entanglements with people like the princess are not so easily unentangled, Son. If you thought being away from the capital has spared you from that, then there¡¯s your proof that it hasn¡¯t.¡± He gestured at the letter in Lucan¡¯s hands. ¡°I know,¡± Lucan ground the words out again. That the princess was approaching him for more ¡®favors¡¯ was concerning. Perhaps he should refuse her, in order to draw a line. His father¡¯s next words surprised him. ¡°She¡¯s testing you.¡± ¡°She is?¡± Lucan asked, perplexed. ¡°Yes,¡± his father said. ¡°She¡¯s much like her father in that.¡± Lucan chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t believe she would take well to hearing that.¡± His father raised a brow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°She dislikes the King more than any ordinary daughter might dislike a father.¡± His father shook his head. ¡°Regardless of her feelings, she is like him. She¡¯s asking you for a service she can get easily from others, or even without asking. It¡¯s a test to see whether you¡¯d respond, ignore her, or outright refuse.¡± ¡°Then I should refuse,¡± Lucan said. ¡°It may discourage her from bothering with us again.¡± His father shook his head again, ruefully this time, as though having expected his response. ¡°That¡¯s not the whole extent of her test. If you refuse, she will take away any resources she can from you to see whether you¡¯d respond well then. I believe she¡¯s already pointed at that in her letter, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Lucan frowned and nodded. She¡¯d mentioned all those things she could influence, like Lilian and Sawyer whom she could possibly call back. ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°Write her back with what she wants to hear,¡± his father said. ¡°Lord Arden¡¯s health is no secret, and we don¡¯t know much about his grandson¡¯s temperament, or rather, you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°And what do we do when she asks for real favorster?¡± ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll have to reckon with that when wee to it,¡± his father said Lucan nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯d counsel even more caution with the princess,¡± his father said. ¡°But I would think you¡¯re already as guarded as one can be, yes?¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but huff in amusement. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve learned much from this visit to the capital.¡± ¡°And still learning, apparently,¡± his father said with an even chuckle. ¡°Yes.¡± That afternoon, Lucan did as advised by his father, writing to the princess about Lord Arden; how frail he¡¯d looked, and how he¡¯d had to stay far from the fighting. He also mentioned Lord Arden¡¯s grandson, Ren, in passing whilementing that he didn¡¯t know much about the boy to tell her, since he¡¯d only seen him once and they hadn¡¯t spoken. With that done, he had Thomas handle the matter of a courier for the letter andmitted his focus to the betterment of their fief. Thankfully, something good managed to take his mind entirely off the matter. Thomas brought word that the widower who owned the drinking corner had agreed to their offer to assist in building a proper inn in the soon-to-be expanded bailey. In exchange, they wouldy im to half of the inn¡¯s profits and ownership. INTERLUDE - TO WAGE WAR INTERLUDE - TO WAGE WAR INTERLUDE TO WAGE WAR Grim trod the uneven forest floor with caution that was only known to himself. For he wasnt as familiar with these woods as his people. From the corner of his eye, he saw the young nsmen marching around him striding through the roots and undergrowth as though they werent there. Not him though, for he had not seen thisnd for decades. After his rite of passage, hed sailed to the Far East with his father on a doomed trading expedition. Theyd made it to those farnds in the end, but theyd learned enough not to tempt fate and try to sail back. Theyd learned why the Unions trade routes through Mer waters were the only ones to ever exist. Still, being stranded on such a vastnd hade with its own benefits. He doubted he wouldve now been a leader among his people if he hadnt experienced the wars of those distant realms. To be a lieutenant in a renowned mercenarypany, one needs a head for warfare, as his captain had told him before elevating him to the post. In the end, hed still longed for home, and so hed left thepany where hed bled beside brothers he wouldnt trust with a copper. It hadnt taken long to find a Union ship heading to the Elder Lands. Hed bought passage on it and returned home. Perhaps hed been too expectant of his people, for when hed returned, hed found everything quite the same. Seasons and eras changed, but the nsmen were ever unchanging. Seasonal raids had continued unabated, since before hed been born and to this day. Meager gains from piging the border settlements were considered victories when twice as many nsmen as enemy soldiers fell in battle. Years and years of strife repeated in an unending cycle of minuscule but real defeats for his people. Grim didnt want a decisive victory, for he was not unwise enough to believe there was room for one anymore. The Northerners were too powerful, too entrenched, too expansive to defeat. He simply wanted to redraw the battlefield, so that he may find as big of a victory as his people could carve out. And yet, hed found his people set in their ways, unwilling to change their senseless beliefs, unwilling to fight for small victories when, instead, they could daydream of major triumphs. The nsmen had settled into an illusion of aplishment through the trifling scrapes they delivered upon the Northerners every year, much like a man hallucinating grand conquests on moonshine. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. They refused to let go of their grand ambitions of liberating the ancestralnds. It was irony itself that their way of refusing was worthless raids that only gave border nobles reason to exist. So Grim had spent thest two years ranging among the ns for support, studying the enemy, as one ought to. And now he finally had his support, and his study of the enemy was soon to bear its fruit. Hed once hoped to win the veterans to his side with his experience and attainable pursuits. But the world often made a jest out of ones hopes. And in the end, hed earned the support of the younger nsmen. Perhaps they wanted true change, or more likely, this was their rebellion against their elders. He wasnt without support among the veterans, for he didnt think one could seed without it, but his efforts were often hampered by the Priests of the Mountain. Fortunately, the Bears recent failure and fall had won him momentary sway over most of the nsmen. His older rival had supposedly fallen at the de of a renowned Northern knight while foolishly spearheading the raids hed incited. Now the Priests, whod blessed the Bears pursuit, were at a loss, and atst, Grim had his moment. So he now trudged through the forest, pretending that his tardiness was due to his bearing as a leader instead of his unfamiliarity with the terrain. Then as suddenly as his thoughts left him, Grim broke through the treeline to the sound of running water. In front of them was the bend of a mighty river. Realms innds far and near relied on rivers like this one for their survival, as veins from which their lifeblood flowed. Grim walked forward until he came upon the ford in the river and knelt down, cupping the water in his hand. His predecessors knew how to fight, but they knew not how to wage war. For when one decides to wage war, everything is a weapon. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 The Empire was all but defeated by the time the newfound sovereignties turned their sights upon the encroaching danger of the seafolk. A pact was formed and borders drawn after prolonged deliberations that Hamodeus shrewdly aided and encouraged. It was only then that a united effort to drive off the Mer truly began. The chill of a passing breeze invaded Lucans body as he sat reading by the window. The signs of an encroaching winter were showing themselves innd and sky. It had been two months since theyd returned from the border, and autumn had taken summers ce. The winter wheat was sown, and the farmers were hunkering down for the season of sloth. He closed the book and stood up to peer through the window, catching sight of the works down around the bailey. Sawyer had wisely had theborers finish any digging needed before the soil could harden. The engineer had assured him that any trenches not filled in before winter wouldnt be flooded with water. Hed supposedly made certain they could funnel off their water into the canal. Now theborers were working on the buildings requested within the expansion and leaving the trench of the soon-to-be-built palisade forst. They would work into the early winter, but it would eventually get too cold to continue working. Lucan spied movement that he couldnt quite make out near the baileys drawbridge, though he could guess at what it was. He left his study in a hurry, hoping to catch thest merchant to leave their territory and bid the man farewell. He took the stairs down, left the keep, and carefully navigated the walkway between their motte and the bailey. Then, once again, he walked with haste, heading towards the gate. He was surprised to find old Thomas there, he too seeing the merchant off. Beside the steward were Heath, Ryder, and Clifton prepared to offer an escort to the tradesman. Lucan had arranged for that more than a month ago, when one of the traveling merchants had been waid by brigands from the eastern forest. It appeared that matters in the Shattered Kingdom were getting worse with the cold instead of better. Deserters and refugees were leaking into the forest despite Sir Ryder and Sir Uptons best efforts. Ainsley, departing already? Lucan asked the slight man who was loading up his goods onto a cart pulled by a lone but healthy mule. Ah, Master Lucan! the merchant hauled hisst sack onto the cart and turned around with a jovial smile. His skin was toned from days spent working under the sun, and he had a small notch under his eye that could nary be called a scar. A pleasure to see you on such a fine day. It has been a fruitful visit, but yes, I must leave, for one shouldnt tempt winter. Lucan mimed a regretful sigh and nodded. I suppose it is a must. Hopefully, we will see you again soon. Ainsleyughed. You will hardly miss me, Master. Before the skies fully clear, youll find me here once more. Im not one to stay still for long. My men would be happy to escort you, Lucan said, side-eyeing his three men-at-arms who looked anything but happy in this chilly weather. No need. I will be taking the road west then north. The way is safe in that direction. Much gratitude for the offer. Lucan raised a quizzical brow. The merchant was the first to reject his offer, though he was also one of the few due west instead of east in their travels. Lucan had also heard Ryder once speaking of receiving coin in gratitude from one of the lone merchants theyd escorted, before Clifton had shushed him. Perhaps Ainsley was concerned about such an expectation from him? Lucan shrugged. As you wish. Safe travels, my friend. The merchant bowed slightly. Its an undeserved honor to be considered your friend, Master Lucan. Lucan had only said it in passing, but it wouldnt hurt to be remembered fondly by the merchant. He nodded to the man and said, Farewell. Farewell, Ainsley said before hopping onto his cart and urging his mule onward. As the cart trudged forward then farther and farther away, Lucan couldnt help but sigh. There would be no more merchants until spring. He had begun to get used to their presence, and more of them was always better than less. They were no fools, nor were they kind, but they were useful to those who knew their worth. Cities like Arpague valued them little, since too many of them to count visited there. But the Duke would be wise to remember that they were the true source of his wealth. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. What do you suppose merchants spend their coin on? Lucan asked no one in particr. There was a brief pause before he heard Ryders voice. More trading? He turned to give the man-at-arms a level look only to find him already being stared down by an exasperated Clifton. Another voice distracted him, Heaths. Home? A family? The tall man-at-arms said with uncertainty. Thomas hummed in agreement. I suppose, Lucan said. Wouldnt it be good if they spent that coin here? He nced at the expanding bailey. What would it take for them to bring that home and family here though? Thomas hummed again, this time voicing the answer himself, Safety. Certainty that they wont be stripped of their wealth. Merchants spend their lives under the ethereal threat of their coin being appropriated by nobles, for war or just for greeds sake. It doesnt happen often, but it does happen. Lucan found himself astonished at the thought. He knew that merchants were often guarded about their wealth, but in all the histories hed read, hed never heard of merchants having their wealth seized, unless it was for treason, which would have had anyones wealth seized for that matter. But when he thought about it, it was certain to have happened, only it was not likely to have been inked down in written history when it happened. And they take this in silence? Lucan couldnt help but ask. They used to have their guilds to protect their interests. There was even one in Eldham, Thomas said. But after the rise of the Union, the throne had it disbanded. So all it takes is a promise of safety for themselves and their possessions and they wille, Lucan said. The steward shook his head with a wry smile. Its not so simple, Im afraid. A nobles promise means little when the only one to hold them to it is themselves. The merchants are well aware that your promise would only carry them as long as youre pleased with them. And there are other considerations. Lucan deted. He shouldve known it wouldnt be that easy. There seemed to be even moreplications if he ever wished to permanently host the merchants here. What other considerations? The merchants rely on word of mouth in their work. A good deal of it. A web of friendships, partnerships, rtions, and even marriages tie them together in the bigger cities. To leave that ande here would be tantamount to sacrificing all that, and for what? The frigid winds of winter? A settlement that is close to both the threat of the Wildermen and the instability of the Shattered Kingdom? The old steward shook his head, letting Lucan know his stance on the matter. Then he nced meaningfully at the three men-at-arms who were still present. They seemed to understand, marching away promptly. I dont mean to discourage you, Thomas said. If you wish to try it, I dont see much harm. But you will have to provide a worthy incentive. Lucan gave him an understanding nod. At least I now have something to think about through the winter, he said with a chuckle. Thomas hummed agreeably. Were doing well. You are doing well. Even with the expenses of theboring refugees and their families, I expect us to gain a respectable amount of coine spring. Lucan nodded again with more cheer. They had a barely eptable amount of coin in their coffers now, though it was worthy of satisfaction since they had been sliding into ruin before the end of summer. Spring woulde with its own bounty. Aside from the grain harvest, they had also stockpiled some of their salt for Master Saltners arrival. Lucan didnt want the mans caravan toe and find nothing to buy but grain. There would be salt, wine, and hopefully enough silver to satisfy them. Does father still insist on building a granary? he asked. Yes, Thomas said. It will take some effort And coin, Lucan interrupted. Its the first time Ive seen him eager to expend it on something. He sees it as a worthy venture, Thomas said. As do I. You can never be too safe, I believe. Famine often strikes without warning. Lucan couldnt disagree. I suppose it wouldnt be famine if men could expect it. Indeed. Lucan gazed at the canal, its waters still having not risen. It often rose with the advent of winter, but the rains must have not begun in the south yet. You ought to get to a hearth, Lucan said. The chill must be crawling through your bones by now. Thomas chuckled. Im not so old yet. But I do have work to do. Lucan turned and gave him a sincere smile. Both he and his father knew how much the mans old bones worked for their betterment. His father hadnt told him much about their history aside from implying that Thomass loyalty came from a profound sense of gratitude. Still, Lucan wasnt the owner of whatever debt Thomas was grateful for, so he had to appreciate the old mans selfless efforts. Thomas returned his smile before turning around and marching towards the keep. Lucan turned back towards the south. From there, the frigid winds would soone, and everyone would have to shelter themselves from its might. It would be a slow and quiet season, but at least his father would let him read in peace. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 With the reliable Bitians keeping what remained of the Empire in check, the young Kingdoms of the Elder Lands could finally devote themselves to fighting the malevolent Mer incursion. And thus, after years of it, the Elder Lands were consigned to even more bloodshed. Winter was the loudest, yet also the quietest. Lucan hadnt been told this contradicting wisdom by a hermit of the mountains or a wise schr, but rather by his own sense of the hard season. Its winds were wild and vocal, yet its frigiditypelled silence and dreadful anticipation. Its snows, however umon, descended in serenity that none attempted to interrupt. Throughout the season, farmers huddled around the warmth of their hearths, dipping into their stores; and in the case of theboring refugees, dipping into the estates stores. Nevertheless, the winter months passed by without anything of note happening. And Lucan got to read in peace, when he was not perusing their ledgers with Thomas. On the better days of the season, his father would force everyone out for training, making certain that they all stayed sharp. Lucan didnt mind it. After theirst battle, he was more appreciative of any improvement in his skills. By the time spring impudently encroached on winters domain, every man in the territory was rearing to get up and do something. For even though days of rest and lethargy were a boon to any man, months of it resulted in a restlessness like no other. The advent of spring was as bright as one would expect, the snows of the south melting and the hardness of the soil mellowing, though it came with the oddity of the canals water not rising as much as Lucan would have expected it. But regardless, he had other things to expect. Spring hade. Harvest woulde. And the merchants would soon follow. The warm feeling of the sun bearing down on Lucan without interruption was a wee one as he waited on his horse. His father was beside him. Hed mounted his bulldrake for the asion. The animal was sleek, somewhat thinner than a horse, but higher, stronger, and more durable. Its scales were like purple ridges swept backwards, thick and oiled. It had two gray horns curved over its skull, which it could put to good use in battle. It was a majestic beast, that was for certain. No one, including Lucan himself, didnt wish for one. Three of their men-at-arms apanied them in a weing party. Thomas had even persuaded his father to wear something proper for the asion. They waited along the road west of the estate until they caught sight of their anticipated guests. A train of wagons snaked over a hill and down, guarded by both mounted men and others on foot. At their head, Lucan recognized Master Saltner, mounted on a steed more majestic than his own. They were spotted by the caravan at the same time, and Lucan saw Master Saltner raising a hand in greeting from a distance. His father and he raised a hand in response. The caravan advanced at a snails pace, or rather, that was what Lucan felt considering hed never traveled with such arge baggage train. Eventually, though, the caravan made it to them and came to a halt. Master Saltner urged his steed forward alone, until he was only a few trots away from them, then he lowered his head slightly to his father, though he didnt dismount. Sir Zesh. A pleasure to make your acquaintance atst. The pleasure is mine, Sir Gn nodded at the merchant amicably. Wee to our estate. My thanks, Master Saltner said. Forgive my daughter for not being able to greet you herself. I insisted that she ride in a closed carriage while we were on the road. No harm done, his father said. You must be weary from your journey. You are wee to rest in our keep where we can break bread together. Master Saltner readily epted their invitation, and the caravan was led to camp outside the bailey, but their people were free to venture inside. Though a great portion of the caravan belonged to Master Saltner, a lot of lesser merchants apanied and contributed to it. Lucan was curious about how it was arranged and decided that he would ask the merchantter. For now, he watched briefly as the small army of caravaneers began to raise their tents The weing party, apanied by Master Saltner and followed by Lilians carriage, rode into the bailey. Labor had rmenced, and men were working on the expansion. Not long ago, Sawyer had imed that he would be done within two months at thetest. After that, they would only have to wait for the mortar to dry on the foundations of the new buildings, but the workers would be free to continue their work on the canals until they were needed again. If youe across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Lilians carriage came to a stop before the walkway that led up to the keep. Lucan, his father, and Master Saltner stood by to receive her. The carriages door opened and a maid descended first, curtsying to them then turning to help her mistress down, even though she didnt seem to need it. Lilian wore a sky-blue dress with frills thatplemented her delicate features. She stepped down from the carriage, then curtsied properly towards his father first, A pleasure to meet you Sir Zesh. His father gave her a pleasant nod. She then turned to Lucan and gave him a smaller curtsy. Lilian, he greeted her. Master Lucan, she smiled sweetly. After a brief pause, his father spoke, Shall we? He gestured towards the keep and looked at Master Saltner who was throwing an eager look at their modest keep. If Lucan didnt know the man could build one twice as sizable, he wouldve thought him a well-dressed pauper. His father led the way, with Lucan behind him and then their guests. They led them to the main hall where his father had had a sumptuous meal prepared for the asion. Sir Gn soon seated himself at the head of the table and invited their guests to be seated on his left while Lucan took a seat to his right. His father soon took the first bite, which was a gesture that invited everyone else to follow. Their guests dug into their meal and there were a few moments of silence before his father started polite conversation. Your caravan is cause for pride, Master Saltner. Only a skilled man can keep such an undertaking together. You tter me, sir, Master Saltner said with a smile that stretched his hawkish features. Its only hard work and some good fortune. What is to be admired is the state of your fief. It is thriving, and that is proof of a wise and prosperous rule indeed. His father gestured at him. Lucans contribution to this prosperity wasnt a small one. Ah, to be at such a young age and possessed of good intellect, Master Saltner said. Im more and more reassured. He turned to Lucan. I assume with the Wildermen incursion, you have seen battle too? Yes, Lucan said, nodding with pressed lips. It was a bloody affair, but sometimes we must reckon with unpleasant things to protect that which is pleasant. Wise words, the merchant said, ncing subtly at his father. Words worthy of someone of high stature, wouldnt you say, Sir Zesh? The implication wasnt lost on Lucan. The merchant seemed eager to discuss aspirations, perhaps to ascertain if they were of the same mind on such matters. Lucans father was silent for a moment, chewing on his meat, then after some thought he said, One can only fulfill their duties with honest effort and appropriate zeal, only then might they be justly rewarded. Might? the merchant asked softly. Might, his fathers firm voice answered. The meal was reaching its end as they spoke and the servants'' removal of their tes was all that filled the silence that followed. His father had had a pair of the baileys residents brought to the keep to help the lone servant they had in preparation, cooking, and serving. Soon, fruits; nuts zed with honey; and citrus juice were served on the table, thankfully keeping everyone busy. Master Saltner seemed to be deep in thought before he spoke next. Well, if one were to put great wealth atop all of that, then sir, perhaps that may lead to surer results? Lucans father took a moment then nodded nomittally. Though Master Saltner continued. He seemed to rearrange his thoughts and then began again, Word has it that your stay in the capital wasnt without its excitement. One might find cause for concern in such a thing, considering the Kings decree. Of course, Im only a simple merchant, uneducated in matters of court. Perhaps you could enlighten me? Lucan''s father hummed, not the smooth sound of any other man, but a subtle growl that only those familiar with him knew to be of annoyance. The King has made his decree. We will abide by it, as any loyal servant ought to do. Theres nothing more to say on the matter, for his majestys word is one and all. Master Saltner raised a drink to his lips before letting his whispered words slip out into the quiet of the hall. No trouble with his highness then? Sir Gn sighed. Master Saltner, Im a man who prefers potent words over twists and loops. If you were to indulge my preference, you would find it appreciated. Very well, the merchant said, his tone solidifying and his posture straightening. I must say that if you have made enmities in the capital that are above a man of much wealth but little stature such as myself, then this affair may prove disastrous for my household. For instance, if he who is to be King after his majesty, long may he reign, was to harbor animosity towards you, then that animosity would extend to me and mine once we are tied with matrimony. And that I cannot bear, forgive me. Lucans father shook his head. No such enmities were made. His highness, the crown prince by the Kings decree, is no adversary of mine; rather, he is to be my King, and when the timees, I shall swear fealty as any loyal vassal should. Any misapprehensions that might have muddied the waters during ourst visit have been cleared for all to see. Thank you, sir, Master Saltner said with a cordial smile, for giving me peace of mind. Im certain of your honesty, for word of your honor precedes you. Sir Gn nodded. Well, on to more pleasant matters, shall we? The merchants jovial tone broke the chill that had seeped into the hall. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 I understand that theres more to be had here than just farmers grain? Maris Saltner said. Indeed, Lucan said, taking the reins of their side of the conversation now. He liked to think of himself as more adept at matters ofmerce, when in truth, he knew that he was simply more concerned and immersed in them than his father. We have a stockpile of salt, and fortune blessed our neighbors with a vein of silver which is streaming into our burgeoning town. He knew thatst bit was an embellishment, but he needed to raise the worth of their estate for what he would requestter in their talks. Youll also find plenty of Arden wine offered up. The merchant nodded with appreciation. Good. Good, he said. Unfortunately, we cannot yet take your salt. Were headed east after our stop here, to the Union. Plenty of salt there and were not likely to turn a profit. On our way back, however, that ought to change, depending on the prices you offer, of course. Lucan felt something in his face twitch. How hadnt he thought of this? The Saltners caravan wasing from the northwest, so it had every likelihood of heading east next, and selling salt there would be like selling water at a river town. On their way back, however, the merchants might see use in buying salt from a closer source if its cheap enough, saving themselves wagonfulls of goods and a reasonable distance. Thankfully, other tradesmen would be happy to take their stockpile of salt. Thomas can apprise you of our prices, which are fair by testimony of your fellow merchants. Very good, Master Saltner said. As for the silver, we will take as much of it as there is. And I will be happy to speak with Lord Ardens representative. We also ought to speak of what we can provide you. We have brought a fair bit of goods with us. Rations, honey, dried fruit, and some exotic goods from the Heaven Isles. Ah, and we have some raw copper and iron. He let out a sardonic chuckle. And as it so happens, some silver too. Lucan reciprocated the merchants mirth then hummed for a moment and nodded. We might be in need of iron. He nced at Thomas who stood behind his father. The old man gave him a subtle nod, so Lucan continued, As for how much, you may speak to Thomas along with our smith afterwards. Of course, Master Saltner said. Lucan let a brief pause separate their previous discussion and the one he wished to broach. Lucan didnt know if he had a talent for persuasion or not, but he would have to eke it out of himself now. Master Saltner, he said slowly. Please, the merchant said. As I told you before, no need for titles. Were to be family not too long from now, hopefully. He nced at Lilian with a smile. She had been silent so far. Lucan didnt know how she truly felt about this whole affair. No one had asked her what she wanted which, he assumed, might have irked her. A little worry crept into him when he wondered if she even wanted him. The young mage only presented a polite smile for now. Lucan pushed down the anxious part of him. They would surely get to speak before the caravan leaves. Hopefully, then, he would get to know what she thought. He brought his mind back to the conversation. Thank you, he said, not certain what to call the merchant now. It didnt feel right to call a man as old as his father with his bare name, particrly because he could be hiswfather soon. He also wasnt as familiar with him as he was with Thomas who hed trained himself to call without title over the recent period. Im certain you have noticed the expansion proceeding in our estate, yes? Maris Saltner nodded. A new wall will soon encircle more preciousnd that can be built upon, Lucan said. We could perhaps include a parcel ofnd for housing of considerable size? The merchant tilted his head. Im not certain what you mean. He knew what he meant, but the merchant was leading him on, perhaps pressing his advantage in a most bothersome way. Lucan entertained the merchants fancy regardless. He was the party in need after all. Perhaps you would find it of benefit to have a house built here? We haveborers that may be hired and an engineer already working on other structures. Ah, Maris Saltner sighed. But such a thingit would be too hasty and you must understand, I have ties and obligations in Eldham. To spurn them is to bring ruin to my family. Now you wouldnt want that, would you, Lucan? No, Lucan said, sighing internally. Certainly not. But a house here wouldnt need to be inhabited for every single day. You can be certain of its safety under our oversight. You already leave the capital on trading expeditions such as this, for months at a time, I reckon, yes? Indeed, indeed. But Stolen novel; please report. Lucans father chose to interject at this time, something Lucan would be grateful forter. He cleared his throat and said, Perhaps a summer house for your family? Maris Saltner turned to his father, raising a quizzical brow. The weather is quite cool here at the zenith of summer, Sir Gn said. No matter how much ice you put in your drink, nothing beats a good southern breeze. Maris Saltner hummed nomittally, as though considering the matter. Lucan chose to cut in before the merchant could conjure an excuse to extend the conversation and strengthen his hand. Your wealth and possessions shall find no safer ce. As you said, we are to be family, after all. The merchant continued to hum, but nodded sagely at his words. Of course, for you, therell be no rent or homestead tax, Lucan continued. A privilege we would extend to no other. A smile split Maris Saltners face and he finally spoke, I suppose a small residence here for the family would do no harm. You said there wereborers at hand? Yes, Lucan returned the smile. And building materials are abundant as there are ventures already underway. Very well, the merchant said. I shall speak with your steward about this too. He then turned to Lucans father again. I reckon we should speak of familial matters now? And perhaps young Lucan here can show Lilian around the fief? Sir Gn nodded, and Lucan smiled, ncing at Lilian. It would be my pleasure. If I may ask a question of you though he paused, uncertain what to call the man, Uncle Saltner? The merchant nodded agreeably. You may, of course. I understand that not all the wagons in your caravan belong to you; there are other merchants of smaller means apanying, yes? The merchant nodded again and Lucan continued. Must they pay for their ce in the caravan? Maris smiled knowingly. He must have caught a hint of genuine curiosity in his question. Some do pay for the privilege, though many simply contribute in their own way. Services, favors, more guards for the caravan. Its a rather intricate affair. I see, Lucan said. Thank you. It wasnt long before he found himself walking a quiet Lilian through their bailey. She was keeping a polite demeanor that he still didnt know how to judge. And he was just realizing that he had nothing of note to show her in their estate. It has been some time since west met, Lucan said, attempting to fill the odd silence. Yes, she said softly. You were smacking Thorley about, if memory serves me well. He deserved it, Lucan replied tersely. Lilian had enough acknowledgement of it to look abashed, but she still spoke on behalf of the princess''s retainer. Thorley has sharp edges to him, but he is loyal. I would imagine for those of noble birth, that would be the quality of a good man. It isnt for you? Lucan said. Lilian shook her head. I dont believe Im of enough wisdom or knowledge to pass judgment on the matter. Lucan thought better of his roughspeak and decided to attempt to smooth it over. I apologize for my outburst back then. He put my men in dangerand I was livid. Nothing to apologize for, Master Lucan, Lilian said. It is understandable, but I hope you also understand that any man, noble ormon, would be astounded at the sight of a bit of mythril. That, I can understand, he smiled. And please, Lucan is enough. Thank you, Lilian said, panning her eyes over their surroundings. Its so scenic. Back in Eldham, everything is so cramped as though stuck with Isle glue. Here, every building has a lot of leeway. And the hintends on the way here, they were very pretty. Lucan was pleasantly surprised. Thank you, he said. Im d you find our estate appealing. Hopefully, you will find it appropriate for prolonged residence someday. Lilian blushed and gave a slight nod, casting her eyes in another direction. I would be happy to show you more of our estate, if youd tell me what you wish to see the most, Lucan said, hoping to change the matter of discussion and avoid worsening her flush. That seemed to get her attention. I believe I heard livestock before. Lucan winced. That was one of the ces hed been avoiding while walking with her. They had an enclosure inside the bailey that housed some cows, birds, and sheep. Hed hoped to avoid painting their familys estate as a backwater, though he had no illusions about the truth of it. Lilian surprised him further, however. I would like to see them, she said wistfully. I have only seen such things on rare asions. Lucan was struck speechless for only a brief moment before he spread a wide smile on his face and led her towards the enclosure. It would be my pleasure. For the rest of the day, Lucan showed his soon-to-be betrothed around the estate. She wasnt satisfied with seeing the bailey, though, and requested to be shown around the outlying farms. He was happy to amodate her. During their ventures, he stole a few scrutinizing nces at her. He had been so concerned about whether she truly found him eptable when he hadnt thought if he found her to be an appropriate bride. If one were to judge oneliness, then Lilian would be very appropriate. Her features were delicate, with a nose and mouth that were both slight in an appetizing rather than a mousy way. Her charcoal ck hair was long, a bit higher than the small of her back, with a singr small braid mingling with loose, silk-like strands. Yet, it wasnt appearance that decided such things, orely people would have all been wed to each other. There were other, more important things to consider. But touching upon what Lilian herself had said, Lucan didnt feel that he had neither the wisdom nor the knowledge needed to pass judgment on such matters. Their walk was ending by sunset and they were approaching the baileys gate when he spied a familiar figure on the horizon. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Lucan walked Lilian back to the keep before returning to the bailey to wee his favorite merchant, Ainsley. The young man wasnt the wealthiest in his trade, but he returned to their estate more than any other tradesman. Lucan had gotten familiar with him and had even bid him farewell when hed left before winter. He was now a wee sight, particrly because Lucan saw him as his next quarry after Maris Saltner. He received him at the baileys gate, d that the young merchant felt at ease entering their walls instead of being wary of some rogue tax falling on his head. Master Lucan! the young man said. His dark hair had grown slightly longer but was still swept back like it had beenst time. A pleasure to see you again. Yes, it is a pleasure, Ainsley, Lucan said. Wee back to our estate. Comee. He gestured inside. The young merchant guided the mule pulling his cart into the bailey proper, gazing at his surroundings with wonder. I see much has changed already. Yes, hopefully for the better, Lucan said. Im certain it is so, Ainsley said. Your ventures are cause for pride, Master Lucan. Thats too high a praise, Lucan smiled. Ive been fortunate, and Ive had the aid of men with more wisdom than I. Ainsley nodded smoothly, tying his mule to a post as they came to a stop. He looked at theborers working on the new palisade once more. There will be plenty ofnd after this, I reckon. Indeed, Lucan said, d that the young man broached the matter himself. There might even be some opportunities for friends of our estate Oh? Ainsley looked at him quizzically. Is it so? What kind of opportunities? Well, one could perhaps be granted a piece ofnd to build a modest house on, Lucan said, speaking slowly. Laborers and building materials are present, and even our engineer would be happy to aid you. Ah the young merchant winced. That would be I believe that would be beyond my means. To own more than one home would be too wasteful. Im still putting my first foot on the road, Master Lucan. Your invitation is much appreciated, though. Lucan kept his smile, not yet surrendering the fight. It wouldnt need to be a big house. He gestured towards the expanding part of the bailey, deciding to make use of their earlier conversation with Maris Saltner. Something of humble size for the summer would be a boon to you andyour family. Lucan realized that he didnt know whether the young man had family or not. Hed spoken to him more than once, but the matter had never been broached. Ainsley gave him a rueful smile. Im not yet wed, Master Lucan. But perhaps someday. It would be an honor to be given leave to live in your estate, but the costs he shook his head. Lucan nodded regretfully. I see. Thats unfortunate. Though, you wouldnt have been alone in taking this opportunity. Master Saltner will soon be building his summer house here in the new bailey. I was hoping that youd find goodpany here with him and perhaps even with more merchants like yourself in the years toe. The young mans eyes widened, and Lucan could see the incredulity of disbelief in them. Master SaltnerMaster Maris Saltner? Yes, that would be him. That Ainsley stuttered. Truly? He will? He is here. You may ask him yourself, Lucan said, gesturing towards the keep. Yes, Ainsley said. Right. I saw the caravan. I had nned to ask among them who it belonged to. To think that Master Saltner himself is here. That is quite Lucan found the speechlessness of the young merchant amusing, but he wanted to strike the iron while it was hot. I believe the opportunity to be Master Saltners neighbor is a rare thing. Even after the bailey is expanded, the distance between your dwellings would be of no significance. That is, if you were to change your mind on the matter. Speechless again, Ainsley opened his mouth like a fish, as though wanting to take back his refusal of Lucans offer. What would this entail? Lucan couldnt help but grin. You are free to choose an appropriate piece ofnd within the new walls. You shall buy your own building materials. Youll find acquiring them easy. Master Sawyer, our engineer, would be happy to aid you in the undertaking, for fairpensation of course, and so will theborers. We will demand no coin from you until a year is past. Then, you will have to pay rent for thend and nothing more. Your property and wealth will be safe even from us so long as you follow the Kingsw. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the vition. Ainsley pressed his lips, ncing fitfully at the keep, perhaps still unsure. Fortunately, Lucans father and Maris Saltner emerged from the walkway at this time. Lucan thought it a pleasant twist of fate and gestured towards them. Perhaps youd like to meet Master Saltner? Ainsley nodded mutely and vigorously. They approached the two older men before Maris Saltner spoke with a wide smile, but Lucan didnt miss his quick scrutiny of Ainsley. Ah, Lucan. I was just asking after you. You must take care of my Lilian. I entrust you with much and expect that you honor that trust. He pretended to see Ainsley just then. Who is yourpanion there? Ainsley bowed slightly but then fumbled it when he realized that he had to bow to Lucans father first, turning and bowing deeply to the knight then bowing again to the merchant. Master Saltner, my name is Ainsley Rooklet, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Lucan chuckled. Ainsley is a traveling merchant and a friend. He intends to build a small dwelling here too. Lucan could swear that Maris Saltner looked surprised for a moment before leveling an admiring gaze at him. I see. Such a privilege to neighbor you, good master, Ainsley said. I suppose the pleasure is mine, Maris Saltner said. Who do you speak to in the Alley? It would be Master Risse, Ainsley said. Not a native to Eldham then, Maris Saltner nodded, continuing the conversation that was already beyond Lucans understanding. He assumed it had something to do with their trade, but he didnt know what the Alley was. Aye, Master Saltner, Ainsley said. I mostly visit the Tower for my dues. Ah, Arpague then, Maris Saltner said. Master Vilton I presume? Aye, Ainsley said with apliant nod. Maris Saltner hummed for a moment nodding approvingly. Approving of what? Lucan didnt know. The merchant spoke without regard for his confusion, however. Well, young man, now we must speak of familiar matters. The older merchant gestured to Lucan and his father. You may find your footing with the caravaneers. Ill be out shortly to pat the horses. Of course, Master Saltner. Ainsley bowed to them all once more before hurrying towards the baileys gate, no doubt anxious to speak to Maris Saltner outside. Lucan turned to the two older men, an unspoken question on his face. The merchant turned to the knight, deferring to him. You and Lilian are now formally betrothed, his father said, wearing a serious countenance. Ive assured Maris that you will bear this responsibility well and behave as befits this bestowal of trust. Indeed, Maris Saltner said. You must look after my Lilian while Im away, young Lucan. Then he turned to Sir Gn. She will be in your care. At the knights firm nod, the merchant continued, If I may be excused, I must go and pat the horses. He gestured towards the baileys gate Lucans father nodded again and the merchant left to check on his caravan. Lucan was fixing his father with an incredulous stare. While hes away? Hes leaving his daughter in our care. He doesnt want to expose her to the coarseness of long travels, or so he says. I suspect it was his intention since before he left Eldham. Why? Lucan said, his incredulity only increasing. ItI dont understand. I believe he is conducting himself how he expects nobles to, his father said. Except, he doesnt realize how humble our estate is. Perhaps he doesnt see our estate as humble, Lucan said, ncing at the keep and remembering how the merchant had looked at it when hed arrived this morning. Perhaps, his father said. But theres no political obligation for him to leave his daughter here as some nobles might, Lucan said. I suspect this is more about his aspirations than about what is true, his father said. And if we must entertain his fantasy, then so be it. He promised quite a considerable dowry, perhaps even enough for you to cut one of your channels all the way to the Vincemare. Lucan couldnt help but huff in amusement. So where will she be staying? Thomas has surrendered his chamber for the cause, his father said with some mirth. I hope his old bones can endure the humid chamber by the cer. That could barely contain a privy! Lucan said. His father shrugged. Cant have your bride-to-be curling up in a he looked at him thoughtfully, privy, I suppose, can we? Lucan raised his brows in disbelief then shook his head. Regardless, she is in my care and our guest, his father said, giving him a meaningful look. And she will be treated as is proper. Lucan shrugged. Have you known me to conduct myself improperly, Father? He wanted to keep a guard with her, his father said severely. I refused, of course, and told him that it would be an insult to me if he insisted. She will have her maid with her and a butlerwhose vocation I heavily doubt. Lucan gave him an understanding nod. At least it will be an opportunity to be more familiar with her. Yes, his father said. She is not uneasy on the eyes, so I imagine it wont be difficult for you to grow sweet on each other. Indeed, she wasnt, Lucan thought. Onto other matters, his father said. Thomas has discreetly told me that we need to speak to him today. Theres been something concerning going on with the refugees. Lucan winced. Every time something went wrong with the refugees, part of the me would beid on him. He hoped it was a trivial matter, for his own sake and theirs. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Lucan and his father entered the study, weed by a waiting Thomas. The steward was seated in front of his fathers desk, and as he made to stand up for them, his father gestured for him to stay seated before going to his own seat behind the desk. Lucan soon joined them, sitting opposite the steward, who, while not looking severe, had a hardness to his features that often meant something unfortunate had happened. Go on then, the knight spoke first. Very well, the estates hunter has brought to light a rather concerning revtion, Thomas said. It appears that our residing refugees have been epting a trickle of their kind through the forest without our knowledge. His fathers eyes narrowed at the words, and Thomass countenance was already mirroring his severity. Lucan found it fortunate, even if a bit concerning. He did need moreborers after all. And hed soon have a lot of arablend which would need farmers. He said as much to the two older men. Its not the benefits of their arrival that should concern you the most, its them undermining our authority, his father said. And with the even more concerning ongoings in the eastern forest, its not unlikely that those doing this have ties to the brigands that have been waying the passing merchants, Thomas said. If they wish to bring more of their own into our estate, his father continued, then they muste to me for leave to do so. Now they might think they can only sneak some of their rtives into the fold. Later they might believe they can do even more, if they are not already, as Thomas has said. Lucan gave his father an understanding nod. His father snorted. Something Lucan rarely heard from him. He must have been truly affronted by the refugees conduct. I will go and talk some sense into their elders and perhaps knock some sense into their youngsters, the knight said, standing up. No, Lucan surprised himself with his response. And his father leveled a quizzical look at him. I brought them here. The burden is mine. He stood up too, meeting his fathers eyes. After a brief standoff during which Lucan didnt feel tested as hed expected, his father sat down then gave him an acknowledging nod. Lucan nodded back and marched out of the study. Hale was rightly anxious. A jitter was working its way up his skinny arm as he sat on a rock protruding from the grassy earth. Here, he was close enough to both the forest and the fishermens vige to watch the approach of anyone who may ruin their venture. One of the many things theyd had to watch out for as ofte was the fishermen. Apparently, theyd begun turning more and more towards hunting since this fishing season wasnt up to par. The lordor knightwho ruled over thesends had given leave to anyone to hunt in the forest, at first it was all the dangerous predators, which had left some of his fellows too injured or too terrified to venture it again, butter theyd been allowed to hunt for fine game too. Such circumstances were why he and his aplices were now able to sneak so many of their own through the forest unnoticed. After all, with hunting allowed, it wasnt suspicious for them to be seening and going through the woods. Initially, theyd only had to look out for the hunter and his sons, lest they be exposed by the mans years of experience and familiarity with the forest. He was a sharp one, but one man could only watch for so much, even with the aid of his sons. With their numbers, theyd been able to elude his keen eyes and slip in a considerable number of their extended families, and even some friends. Today, he was waiting for Younes, apatriot and an aplice, and hopefully, apetent one, since Hale had been getting a bad feeling about this whole venture for nearly a fortnight. He was keeping the treeline within his sight at all times, waiting for the other man to break through it and bring him word of theirtest venture. Hales mother had persuaded him to send for a third cousin, and hed been foolish enough to agree after shed kept at him for long enough. Three whole families rted to them hadnt been enough. Now they were even calling for those they knew only by thin blood. Hale didnt even know if hed recognize his third cousin. He hoped thered be enough resemnce to make it easy at least. His thoughts were interrupted by several figuresing out of the woods. He recognized Younes immediately, the young mans xen hair blowing in the wind. He did not recognize those following him, however. I suppose looking for resemnce was too wishful. Hale was assured that it was his third cousin when he saw that the man was followed by his family. Soon, however, two more men emerged after them. And now that Hale was looking carefully, Younes and the family looked a little haggard and harried. Before he could make sense of what he saw, a voice from behind him made him jump. I suppose it wasnt enough that we let you live on ournd Hale twisted in the air with agility that he wouldnt have believed he had a moment ago. ...you thought you were owed more, the young son of their benefactor knight continued. He and another man had snuck up on Hale even though his sole purpose in sitting there had been spotting people. Pray tell, how do you profit from this? Do the families pay you for safe passage? Or do you work with the brigands who now inhabit the forest? Hale stuttered for a moment nearly falling over in fright. Then he finally mustered the courage to put together proper words. My lord, I-I swear, we did no such thing. Im no lord, the young masters voice was sharp and even. And I must be dreaming then, if youve done no such thing. Perhaps you think me deluded? Hale shook his head so hard that his neck hurt. The young master, Master Lucan, was rxed in his posture, though his face was stoney and his tone ice. But the one next to him had his hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed sword that seemed too wide and too short for him to recognize. Sir. Master Lucan, I swear it, I swear, there was no coin to be made from this. These are our families and our friends. We know no brigands and we treat with no such people. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Master Lucan stepped closer to him. You know no brigands or you know of no brigands? Hale lost his words again, the breath stuck in his throat. He was standing in the open, yet he felt as though he was backed against an imprable wall. What if he lied? What if he told the truth? Would they execute him? Would he get to intimately know that sword that was too wide and too short? When his words treacherously refused toe to his aide, the young masters voice came harsh and loud. Speak! Hale nearly choked on his words as he spat them out. Ther-theres someone. Its not me, by the Elders, its not me. He bought some things from them. He isnt one of them though. The young master nodded to one of the two men following Younes and his third cousins family. Then he gestured towards Hale with his head. Clifton. Go with him. Bring me the one who trades with the lowlives, and fetch Reeve while youre at it. The man who approached Hale didnt look much older than him. He had dark cropped hair and his face came to a point both at his nose and at his chin. His eyes were sharp enough to pierce him, and any dishonesty was forgone since he could tell that the man was suspicious of him before hed even spoken. Ryder, the young master continued, and Hale saw the man beside him perk up at being called. Go back to the keep. Bring the others and apprise Sir Zesh of all this. Being dragged through his peoples camp was a blur. In truth, Hale was the one leading their venture through the crowded residences, but the eyes trained on his back made it all but voluntary in his heart. At times, he found himself marching faster than he thought he could, at others he found himself slowing down so that the suspicious pair of eyes wouldnt use him of attempting to escape. The man-at-arms, Clifton, didnt speak much, and by the Elders, he didnt need to. Hale felt that he had a thousand eyes on him instead of two. They found Elder Reeve first, whose countenance turned grim at what he heard. The old man only gave Hale an uncharacteristically murderous look, which was the least of his fears today. It only took a little more time for them to find Neved. The fool tried to run at the sight of them, and Hale was made familiar with what the rest of the man-at-arms could do. By the time the former trapper had turned around, this Clifton had eaten up half the distance between them, and Hale could swear that he had moved before Neved had even decided to flee. Before the trapper could pick up the pace, the man-at-arms was on his backwith all his weight, riding the man down into the ground to the astonishment of all those around them. The man-at-arms pulled his axe out of its loop on his belt and Hale feared the worst, only for him to ram the blunt end of it into Neveds brow. Blood cascaded down one half of the trappers face, though he only looked dazed. Hale realized that the blood was diminishing the mans sight as the man-at-arms pulled him up onto his feet by the scruff of the neck. He then pushed him towards them and gestured for them to walk ahead of him and Neved. The march back was another blur, full of Elder Reeve ncing back with not a little dread. A crowd was gathering around their path out of the encampment, watching curiously but silently. None of them dared follow them out, however, for they wanted nothing to do with what rightly seemed to be a bloody strike of misfortune. They eventually returned to where the young master was waiting for them, having apparently been questioning Younes, who looked fairly terrified. Hale liked to think that he appeared moreposed than hispanion, but he doubted it. Clifton, the man-at-arms, brought Neved in front of Master Lucan then kicked the back of his knee, forcing him to kneel. His face and tunic were bloody, bloodier than a small bump with a blunt end would suggest. Master Lucan looked at the kneeling Neved with a raised brow then at Clifton quizzically. The man-at-arms shrugged. He tried to run. Elder Reeve was brought forward to the young master, and he bore the onught of words that followed with aposed if defeated countenance. My father in all his grace has seen it fit to give you and your brethren a haven here. Youve found work, youve been fed, and some of you have even found their fortune. Yet, you appear to have found such treatment inadequate. And youve gone on to remedy that wrong in your own way. Resettling those we did not grant passage into ournd. He nced at Younes and then at him. Hale could only avoid the young nobles eyes and keep his own fixed on the ground. Trading in illicit goods, he continued, nodding at the kneeling Neved. Master Lucan, Elder Reeve spoke hurriedly. That is notwe dont treat with the bandits. This one, he gestured at Neved, acted on his lonesome. He does not act on our behalf. And-and. The old man nced at Hale with gritted teeth. These boys have behaved foolishly, Master Lucan. But they meant no harm. They have let no criminal into our midst, Im certain. If Id known what they were doing, I would have brought it to a halt So you did not take note of any unfamiliar faces in your encampment, Master Lucan said. One would think youre living in a city of thousands. II might have noticed some oddities, Master Lucan, Elder Reeve said, and Hale knew the man was honest, for he had known him a long time. But in my negligence, I had not recognized what was being done. The young master nodded slowly, walking back and forth. Then Hale saw the man-at-arms thatd been sent back to the keep return on horseback, apanied by four others. Master Lucan saw them too then walked towards Neved, crouching down to his level. He whispered to the trapper but Hale couldnt hear what they were talking about. Soon, the trapper broke down into sobs and nodded as the young noble continued whispering to him. Neved whispered something back with repeating bobs of his head. Then the young master nodded slowly and patted Neved on the head as one would a dog. The men-at-arms whod just arrived dismounted, the oldest of them approaching Master Lucan first. We know where the bandits are? he said. Master Lucan nodded. There arent too many. They seem to prowl in pairs or threes at most. Theyll be easy pickings. The old man-at-arms nodded, ncing at the kneeling trapper with undisguised disdain. We hunt them down then? Yes, Master Lucan said. Leave me only Clifton. Wellb through the encampment to ascertain that none of the ill sorts have nested here. Takemand of the rest and take this one. He pointed at Neved. Hell guide you to where you need to go. He has done more than trade with them, it seems. He turned to nce at Elder Reeve who paled a shade or two at the words. What of the soldiers? one of the other men-at-arms said. He was middle-aged and with inky hair and a spear too thick and heavy for any ordinary man to carry withfort. The deserters that have supposedly made the forest their home? Those seem to be nesting in Sir Wolfesnd, Master Lucan said. Well send word. Hell be happy to paint the forest with their innards. He turned back to the older men-at-arms. Scout first. If youre outnumbered, fall back, even if it appears youre better armed. The old man-at-arms nodded and gestured for the others to gather. At the same time, Clifton and the young master gestured for Elder Reeve and the rest of them to follow as they marched towards the encampment. Hale couldnt help but wonder how theyd been outed. Unfortunately, his treacherous mouth seemed intent on arranging for his murder today, for it released the question along with his breath. And the young masters ears were sharper than he wouldve hoped. Hmm? he turned towards him. Hale felt the sweat beading on his forehead and feigned innocence. What was it you said? the young master said, seemingly insistent on knowing what hed muttered. Hale surrendered a breath and answered as politely as he could. I was wondering, Master Lucan, how you found us. Was it the hunter? Did he spy us after all? The hunter? Master Lucan chuckled. I suppose that wouldve been more fitting. Then he shook his head. No. No. It was the ratcatcher from the bailey. Has a sharp pair of eyes, that one. Realized there were too many unfamiliar faces as he repeated on your encampment. I did warn your elders about the vermin. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 After the affair with the refugees had been handled, a few of them whipped and a certain bandit-whisperer hanged, Lucan and his father spent more time acquainting Maris Saltner and Lilian with the territory and its resources. Though their men-at-arms continued cleaning up the forest. The merchant was happy to gather more knowledge about their state of affairs, and Lilian seemed genuinely curious about everything. Once two days had passed, Maris Saltner bade them farewell to rmence his caravans journey to the Union. He, again, urged Lucan to take care of Lilian while implicitly aiming that insistence at his father. The caravan left them content, since its traders had bought an abundance of the local goods and sold some of their goods too. What they didnt buy would bepped up by the merchants flowing in with the turn of the season. The caravans presence for those two days had even raised the prices of some goods due to fiercepetition. Lucan was happy to reap the benefits, though the jump in food prices was somewhat harmful to their estate at this time. A new spring day soon came, and after a brief bout of training with his father, he was to be apanied by Lilian once more. Today, they would ride out to see the hintend of their estate. He met her outside of the keep. The pleasant appearance of Lilian in her riding attire surprised him. She wore a short, white tunic that was tucked into riding trousers the same shade of brown as the horse provided for her. Her hair was tied into a long tail except for a single strand that swirled down the side of her face. She was giving him a beaming smile that made him think. May I so boldly assume that this isnt your first time riding? Lucan said with a bit of mirth. Yes, Lilian said, her smile even wider. I love riding. Even more so when its out in the wideness instead of inside a boring enclosure. I see, Lucan said. I suppose Im d to be of service. Thank you, she said, her tone clipped with a mirth of her own, then she lowered her head in a mock bow that he wouldve normally found insulting. Lucan sighed and led her down the walkway into the bailey. There, he was surprised to catch sight of Ainsley wrapping up his goods. He approached the young merchant quickly. Ainsley, my friend, leaving already? Ah, Master Lucan and, he nced at Lilian uncertainly. Mistress Lilian, Lucan said. Master Saltners daughter and my betrothed. Ainsley bowed smoothly and smiled. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mistress. The pleasure is mine, Master Ainsley, Lilian said. Ainsley gave her a polite nod and turned back to him with a helpless smile. Indeed, Master Lucan, I must be on my way today. Im still at the beginning of my route, and while theres ample opportunity here, Im afraid Ive used it all up for now. I see, Lucan said and mirrored his smile. I apologize for my absence during your visit, but as you know, there were matters to attend to. Make no apologies, Master Lucan, Ainsley said. Such things are to be expected when its someone of your stature. Im certain opportunities will be abundant in theing seasons. Indeed, Lucan said. However, I have something to ponder with you. Ah, of course! Ainsley said, gesturing an invitation with his hand. Please. What may one do if they wish for those who make the coin to take this ce for a home? Ainsley looked perplexed for a moment before a hint of understanding appeared on his face. That would be quite the difficult venture, Im afraid, Master Lucan. I dont mean to offend, but the settlement is modest. He nced around the expanding bailey. And, well, while theres much to attract those like me toe and trade here, theres little to attract them to live here. Except He nced at Lilian hesitantly. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition. Except a merchant of great status being here, Lucan continued for him. It was the truth. Hed only managed to persuade Ainsley to build a small home here because Maris Saltner would be building his own, and the young merchant would be a fool to miss this opportunity. But that wouldnt be enough for Lucan. He had to find a way to host the merchants here for life. And a chance of Maris Saltner being here in summer wasnt enough for his ns, so he kept an expectant stare leveled at the young merchant. Ainsley seemed at a loss for a moment. Well, with trade already bing stronger and stronger here, there are only two other things a tradesman might look for. Lucan nodded for him to continue, noting that Lilian was showing interest in what was being said. The presence of other merchants that they may findpany and opportunity with, Ainsley said with a rueful smile. Lucan returned the smile. He already knew that and, maddeningly, it was a full circle. And finally, Ainsley continued. Theres safety, as one might imagine. Knowing that our wealth and person are safe from injustice and avarice is a foremost concern for those in my profession. The wealthier, the more concerned. Lucan nodded along. And how may one assure you of such safety? Ainsley went silent, seemingly deep in thought. Even his eyes which had respectfully not left them since theyd arrived now wandered to look in a random direction. Suddenly he perked up. Its reasonable to believe that none would ept any assurances given by those who they fear most, yes? Lucan nodded. The only one who could break a promise was the one who made it, and the merchants feared nobles the most. Ainsley continued upon seeing his agreement, But, in the past, there used to be guilds in both Eldham and Arpague, as you know. They stood for the safety and prosperity of the resident merchants, and even some of those not inhabiting those cities. Lucan deted and shook his head. The guilds were disbanded by the throne. No vassal may breach a royal decree. Of course, Ainsley said with a helpless shrug. Lucan fell deep in thought. There was no way to bring back the guilds without the kings blessing, but perhaps there were ways around it. First and foremost, whatever he may put together must not be called a guild. Second, it must not appear to be a guild. And this far from the capital, it would hopefully not be too noticeable. Well, he began. What if there were to be a merchant house here? A ce where those of your trade coulde together to converse about the difficulties of their profession, trade routes and such. Perhaps I would also visit such a ce tomune with those who might need someone to hear them, and so that they may be privy to the circumstances that govern this corner of the kingdom when needed. Ainsley went quiet again, his eyes wandering off once more. Then he came back with slow, increasingly firm nods. He was smiling by the end of it. I believe my fellows would find that quite appealing. Very well, Lucan said. Would your fellows be willing to bear the expenses of building their merchant house? Lucan could swear that Ainsley held back a chuckle before he forced himself to speak politely. Master Lucan, it would certainly undermine the purpose of appealing to tradesmen if you were to force them to bear the expenses. And in all appearances, it would not be a guild, yes? Gradually and slowly, the fellows of my trade would have to be introduced to the merchant house privileges without knowing for certain what it is. Lucan shook his head with a bit of mirth. It was wishful thinking to believe the merchants would part with coin when someone else could. Rather, he would have to bear these expenses since he was the one pursuing this matter. Still, if it fulfilled its purpose, then it would be coin well-spent. Youve given me much to think about, Ainsley, Lucan said. Thank you for your counsel. A pleasure to be of service, Master Lucan, Ainsley said. Lucan gave him a nod. Let us not dy you much longer then. Farewell, my friend. Farewell, Master Lucan, Ainsley said, bowing his head slightly to him then to Lilian. Mistress. Master Ainsley, Lilian nodded to him amicably. They parted ways then, as Lucan and Lilian continued on their way out of the bailey where their mounts were waiting. The stableman was waiting for them with the horses outside. He greeted them with a bow and settled their steeds for them as Lucan helped his betrothed onto her steed then moved to his own. Normally, one of the men-at-arms wouldve apanied them, but they were still busy with the brigands in the woods. While the former peasants were no threat, they were scattered all over the forest, making it difficult to end them in one fell swoop. As they prepared to begin their ride, Lilian ventured a question. Why are you of such interest in bringing merchants to live in the estate, if I may ask. You may, Lucan said then went on to answer her. Perhaps its wishful of me, but I believe that if merchantse to our territory, then their coin wille with them, and that should certainly contribute to the prosperity of the fief. In the end, even a merchant must spend at least some of their hard-earned coin somewhere. Not only so, but trade will certainly be strengthened if what I wishes to pass. You cant have dozens of merchants or more living in a settlement without them partaking in their beloved craft. Lilian seemed thoughtful for a moment then slowly nodded causing the swirl of hair framing her face to bob with the movement. Wise. Lucan gave her a grateful smile and urged his horse onward. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Mosse arranged his most attention-grabbing goods on the counter. The inside of the shop was still a ripe mess, but hed closed it off entirely with the counter until he had it in good order. His wife was still back in Epiza with her mother. Hed only bring her over when the ce was ready, for she was with child. He was owed gratitude by the master of a small caravan that would ascertain her safe arrival when it was time. For now, he had to make certain that this venture of his didnt go to waste and ruin their family. The house hadnt cost him too much. Hed bought it from a widower whose fortunes had provided him a new home and arge inn at that. The man had a hardworking young son, and Mosse wished him well. Finding this readily-built establishment was his own fortune. As it already had a front that had been used as a make-do drinking corner, he hadnt had to do a lot of work, and though the home was a small one, he wouldnt need too much for only himself, his wife, and theiring child. The knight who lorded over this fief didnt seem to be the overbearing sort. Hed spoken with his steward, and they seemed to be keeping to the Kings established taxes for the South, which would further soften any pains Mosse had to suffer through this venture. Hed burned through most of his coin for this, and his wife had nagged him about the peril that threatened their family should he fail, but he had been insistent. It was a better life for them, and theiring child. Epiza was a fine town, but the opportunities there had all been eaten and shat out decades ago. He wouldnt ve in another mans establishment for pittance anymore. He had the skills and the knowledge to seed, and he would use them, may the Elders help him and the gods be blind to him. The settlement was thankfully walled, even if said walls were now being rebuilt to amodate new buildings. Word of Wildermen raids had flooded the trade routes, including the ones that passed by Epiza, and Mosse had been concerned about the danger of moving closer to the border. But with walls to at least give him and his family the promise of safety and a knight to fulfill it, he was content. The Wildermen often went for small viges and unwalled settlements if what hed heard was true. A walled and well-defended settlement like this one would waste too much of their time. Mosse felt for the people in the outlying viges of this estate should the Wildermen make it so far into the kingdom. Regardless, he had work to do and a reputation to build. All he had to aplish now was attracting the attention of the folk who lived here. Household items for the women, trinkets and toys for the children, and tools for the men. A bit of everything would be on disy, but not too much lest it look like clutter. Soon enough, hed see his first customer. That was his first concern. Thenter he could think of the traveling merchants and the rtionships hed have to make to maintain a tight grip on his prices. As though the Elders had heard his thoughts, he saw a finely dressed young man approaching his shop. He was the same height as him but more wiry while Mosse was a bit pudgy. The young man had his chestnut hair swept back and seemed inquisitive rather than interested in the goods on disy. He didnt mind entertaining the first one to approach his shop. It was good luck to sell to the first soul into your shop in the morning, even if you had to cut down on your prices just for that one. The wily patrons back in Epiza knew to always visit the shops early, though it was difficult to be the first one. May I interest you in some of my goods, young man? Mosse said, gesturing at the goods on his counter. This is only a small offering of what I have inside. Whatever you may need, I dare im that I have it. The young man presented him with a reserved smile. Oh, I dont mean to disappoint you but Im not here to buy any of your goods. Mosse deted but didnt give in just yet. Surely I can find something to pique your interest? Eying the young mans neat attire, he ventured a suggestion. Perhaps a dagger with a beautifully crafted hilt to go with your belt? While I wouldnt dislike an ornate dagger to wear on my belt, I must disappoint you again. I have my own. Mosses face couldnt help but twitch. To fail to fulfill his calling at first light and on his first day herethat was cause for worry. He rapped on the wood of his counter twice, praying for protection from the gods. Perhaps he should go to the temples for a simple ward. No, there were no temples here. Damnation. I was wondering what your name was, the young man said. Thomas didnt tell me. Or to be more fair, he didnt get a chance to tell me. My curiosity got the better of me and I came here right away. Mosse leaned back in surprise at the mention of the estates steward. Who was thisd? And how didMosse nearly choked as he spat out his words. You must be the son of the Master Knight! Wee to my humble shop, Sir. Damnation, what was his name? Had he even asked the steward that? He knew that the knight who ruled in the kings name here had a son, and he was indeed the same age as the one who stood before him, but hed known no more than that. Well, the young man said. That is the first time Ive heard my father being called that, or any knight for that matter. Mosse couldnt help but flush slightly at the young mans humorous tone. And its prudent to say that Im no knight myself. Not yet at least, and so you ought not call me Sir. Now, would you be so kind as to answer my question? Of course, Master, Mosse said. Im Mosse of Epiza. No surname? My family was not granted the honor, Mosse said with a regretful shake of his head, hoping that that would change one day. One step at a time, though, one step at a time. I see, the young man said. Well, Im Lucan Zesh. I wanted to wee you to our estate. Im certain you will thrive in our burgeoning town. Thank you, Master Lucan, Mosse said quickly. As am I. He hesitated for a moment. It was unlikely that he was here only to wee him. Could it be? Master, Ive spoken with Master Thomas about the taxes and such. Wevee to an agreement, I believe. Is it perhaps not to Sir Zeshs liking? Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Ah, nothing of the sort, Master Lucan said with a chuckle. I wanted to see your shop up close myself. It seems to being into its own. Im d. Thank you, Master Lucan. Nothing to thank me for yet, but perhaps in the days toe. If you face any difficulties,e to me. I wouldnt want to waste your time, Master Lucan. Do you intend toe to me with trivial matters? Of course not, Mosse was quick to say. Then you will not be wasting my time. Mosse stared open-mouthed for a bit then gulped and nodded quickly. Yes, Master Lucan. You have my gratitude. The young man nodded and turned around to leave after sparing onest look at the inside of his shop. Mosse was determined to hold his tongue, but his throat betrayed him. Uh-hem. The young master stopped and turned back to him. Something the matter? Mosse hemmed and hawed for a bit before finally mustering the nerve to say it. Its bad luck for the first customer of the day not to buy something from ones shop. He gave him an apologetic smile. I see, Master Lucan said, approaching his counter again. Well, do you have any books? Lucan marched out of the baileys gate to the prepared horses with his father and Thomas already mounted. Hed insisted on taking a look at the new shop opening up in the bailey. It had been a pleasant surprise amidst the foreboding signs of drought that they were seeingtely. He hadnt needed to beseech this Mosse to make their estate his home, which made it all the more sweet. It appeared that the man had found their estate promising all on his own. Lucan felt as though all his efforts were not for naught. Hed bought a book about the trade goods of Pontis to mollify the anxiety of the man and had had it sent to the keep. Hopefully, the first shop to establish itself in their territory would thrive. His father and Thomas were talking as he mounted his horse. ...severe concern among the Houses, Thomas said. Already, its bordering on panic. Theres word that the king has charged the Academys ritualists and nature mages with looking into the matter. It stands to reason, his father nodded. We must also prepare ourselves. Stockpile food from now. The granary is nearly built. Make certain its full by the end of spring. Thomas shook his head. Unfortunately, were not the only ones thinking of that. Lords anddies across the kingdom are stockpiling and even reaching for any resources they can get their hands on. Prices are already rising. If thises to be a severe drought, everyone will suffer. And with most of the refugees still relying on the estate for food, it will be worse than a lean year if we cant muster a grain harvest next spring. Lucan heard his father mutter a rare curse under his breath. We will wait for the kings word on the matter. Until then, do what you can. Thomas nodded. Lucan cleared his throat and they looked at him. Shall we? They trotted together around the bailey to take the road northeast. Are you not concerned? his father asked. I am, Father, Lucan said. But after tossing and turning in bed for the fifth night, I determined that I cannot conjure water from nothing. And neither can Lilian for that matter, I asked. At his fathers unamused re, Lucan shrugged and continued, Coin is the remedy for all problems. We have some of it now, Father. If ites to it, we use it, all of it if we must. I believe we can survive if matterse to a head. His father seemed surprised but then nodded while eying him carefully. Perhaps we can. But if its a drought for the ages, not all of us will survive. He nced in the direction of the refugee encampment. Lucan reciprocated the nod of agreement. I know, Father. Hed been anxious about it for a fortnight already, so much that hed stopped finding joy in anything. Hed been so spent by his sleepless nights that even Lilian had noticed and showed an appropriate amount of concern. In the end, hed settled on focusing on what he had on hand, though the worry was still a distant voice in his mind, nagging him about what may or may not be. There was only one thing that was immediately unfortunate. He couldnt continue with his ns for fresh refugees. Hed wanted to allow more folk into their territory for when the irrigation channels were ready. Theyd need more farmers andborers than what they had now when the waterworks were built. But with the drought, such ns would be senseless. They rode to the fishermens vige in the northeast where they met one of its unfortunate inhabitants. The fishermen were the earliest to have it hard, since there were fewer fish with the water receding. It would get worse and worse with time. After the matter with the smuggled refugees, Lucan had prohibited hunting in the forest except for the fishermen, so that it could alleviate their aches. The refugees had lost the privilege with the usurpation of their authority, and it had been enough to justify reserving the hunting for the fishermen and the huntsman only. There was no longer a shortage of food, and the refugees were not threatened by starvation, which would hopefully continue. The guide took them down the northern branch of the canal. The water they walked alongside appeared nearly still, but Lucan knew that it moved ever so slightly under the surface. After following it for a short amount of time, they reached theke. Lucan knew it was not a natural one. The Empire had dug it for some unknown reason, and he suspected that they were about to see part of the reason why. He could see something thin breaking the surface right at its center. A boat had been prepared for them to see it up close. Their guide along with another fisherman beckoned them onto the boat and began using their wooden paddles. Soon, they were cutting through the side of theke, drawing closer and closer to whatever was piercing out of it. Lucan began to make out what it was as they slowed down. It seemed to be the tip of a spire, so thin that one might have suspected its very end to be as thin as a needle if they didnt know better. It was made from a kind of light gray stone that Lucan couldnt recognize. What could this be? his father said. I dont know, Thomas said. We know this is a floodedke. But why would anyone flood a structure whole? Why would the Empire flood a structure whole, Lucan amended. Thomass eyes snapped to him. You meanthe temples? Must be, Lucan said. The temples had been considered dangerous cults by the Empire back in the day, and it had been imed that the Empire had destroyed several sites that theyd attributed to ult worshipers. That wouldnt be unlikely if the structure underwater was of some significance to the temples, Thomas said. And it would bring us no end of trouble if they heard of it now, his father added from the side. He nced at the two fishermen as sharply as Lucan knew he could. No one hears of this. No one. We came here. We saw it. We left. The two fishermen nodded so hard that their heads threatened to fall off. Lucan intended to have Thomas look after themter and make certain that they needed for nothing. Desperate men would sell anything. If this was indeed something rted to the temples, theyd overrun their estate as soon as they heard of it. Hopefully, this drought would end before whatever this was resurfaced, though Lucan couldnt stop the curious part of him from wondering. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 By the beginning of summer, things had gotten worse. Two months had passed by with the Walis receding further and further. Now, there was no doubt that the hay harvest was ruined, unless the sky decided to loose a flood on their heads. Unfortunately, that wasnt thest of their ill tidings. A merchant hade crying foul after Sir Wardd imposed a ruinous toll on him. Thomas was now telling him and his father of another suchint. It seemed that all the merchants thatd used their road to the northeast in the past fortnight had suffered from this toll to some extent. They were seated around his fathers desk in the study and the knight sighed at Thomass words. So Ward summons trouble again. What should we do, Father? Lucan said. This will hurt our eastward trade. The merchants need toe and go to the Union smoothly if were to maintain our measure of trade. And with the drought, the harm he is bringing us is twofold. Hes grasping for whatever he can, his father said. Everyone is at times like these. Can we talk reason to him? Lucan said. His father snorted. Ward isnt one for reason except when it serves him. Can we do something then? Lucan said. His father shook his head. He has more men, and weve only begun to be ofparable wealthtely. He also has many more friends than we do. If Im not wrong, hes recently gotten closer to Arpague. Perhaps we may persuade him to lower the toll to something reasonable, Thomas said. We only need it to be something bearable for the merchants. Theres no harm in trying, Sir Gn shrugged. We need to do it today, Father, Lucan said. Every day he keeps imposing that senseless expense on the merchants is a strike to a reputation we have only just begun to build. His father nodded. Let us ride to his estate now then. They hastily donned proper clothing and no armor, since riding there in thetter would carry meaning. Going like this would assure Sir Ward that they were there to make amicable conversation. They sent for their horses to be prepared, and while marching down the hallways of the keep, they met Lilian who simply curtsied to his father and favored him with a smile, though she couldnt hide the inquiring look on her face. Wont be long, he whispered to her as they passed. The ride to Sir Wards estate was mostly uneventful, except for what they saw once they reached the end of the road Lucan had built beyond the bridge. There, they saw that Sir Ward had extended it with his own road into his territory. It was more shoddily made, but it was t and solid enough to support heavy wagons. Thisplicates matters, Thomas said. Yes, his father said. Why? Lucan asked. Before they could answer him, they saw two ridersing towards them. It seemed that they had been expected. The two riders were armored men-at-arms who hailed them. His father came to a stop, and Lucan and Thomas followed him. The men-at-arms trotted towards them and made to talk but his father spoke over them and they grew quiet at his heavy voice. Im here to speak to your sire, not you. Go fetch him. The two men didnt seem happy with his words, but one of them turned around and rode away nheless. They waited a considerable amount of time before they saw the knight approaching on the horizon. He wore clothes as they did, and he was apanied by the man-at-arms sent to fetch him and a softer-looking man that Lucan assumed was his steward. When the knight arrived, he began with a jab instead of a greeting. I had a feeling the winds would blow mongrels my way this spring. Its good that I posted sentries, eh? He nodded meaningfully at his father as he mouthed the insult, then he nodded at his men with thest word. Need their protection, do you? his father returned the jab momentarily, nodding at the two men-at-arms that still nked Sir Ward, then ncing back at Lucan and Thomas who were obviously unarmed. Lucan was beginning to think that there was more to this than what he knew. Sir Wards face darkened and he gestured angrily with his head. The men-at-arms heeded his unspokenmand and left them, riding into the distance, though Lucan knew they wouldnt be too far to call back. Word has reached me that youve imposed a toll on all tradesmen passing by? Sir Gn said. As is my right, Sir Ward said. If youe across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Sir Wards steward decided to speak then, and Lucan noticed that he was older than hed appeared from a distance, though he was still younger than Thomas. As per the kingsw, should a proper road range over a vassals fief, then the vassal may impose a toll of passage if they have borne the expense of the roads establishment or if otherwise permitted by the king. Thomas was quick to respond to his counterpart. Thats not all there is to it. One must also apprise the king of their imposition of a toll should the throne not be aware. With how fast youve imposed this one, I doubt the king has been apprised of it yet. The missive is already inked, and a courier will be riding to Eldham today, the steward said. All inevitable tolls, bynd or water, must be permitted by the king before being imposed, Thomas insisted. Merchants may use the kings road should they wish to avoid passing through Sir Wards territory, the steward said. Sir Zeshs fief is reachable by the road due west. Our road is certainly not an inevitable one. Thomas grew quiet only for a moment then said, Per the kings right to all tolls and passages, any toll imposed through the aforementionedw must be taxed for the thrones benefit. The steward showed them a faint smile within which even a child could see malice. Of course a tribute is being tallied from this toll to be presented to the king. He nced at his sire who grit his teeth. Enough of this nonsense, Sir Ward said, quieting both of them. A toll is imposed on mynd. That is of no concern to you, Zesh. Dont y the fool, Lucans father said. You know it is of much concern to my estate. I will not yield it, Sir Ward said. Dont tire yourself out for nothing. Then lower it to something reasonable, Sir Gn said. Dont ruin the whole route for yourself and us. There was a pause, during which one might imagine that the concerned parties were thinking, but for some reason, Lucan couldnt see contemtion on Sir Wards face, only contempt. After the meandering quiet, one word echoed in their ears. No. Sir Wards eyes were meeting his fathers, and an unseen battle seemed to be taking ce there. Then, as abruptly as the word had been spoken, his father turned his steed around and began riding back to their estate. Lucan and Thomas had no choice but to follow. After theyd gained some distance, Lucan spoke. Father, is that all? He wont change his mind, his father said. Hes all too d to spite me. That Lucan said. Why is that, Father? His father nced at him and stayed silent as they rode. What grudge is there between you, Lucan persisted. A sigh that might as well have been growl escaped his father. Years ago, my father betrothed me to his sister without my knowledge. She was a sweet girl, but I had not chosen her and it was not to be. I broke the betrothal, perhaps a little rashly instead of properly. This was before you met Mother? Lucan asked. I was not too happy with Father nor with the betrothal after I was told of it, his father said. But I only broke it after I met your mother. Lucan nodded slowly. Ward challenged me to a duel. He felt his sister and their family were slighted by what I did. Lucan gazed patiently at his father. He lost. And not a very dignifying loss, Thomas added from the side. His father looked at Thomas as though betrayed then he sighed and nced at Lucan. I might have been provoked by Wards taunts and insults that day. As youve seen, hes not very well-mannered. And at that age, I was not very patient. I see, Lucan said. We will have to bear with it, his father said. At least for now. Or we might seek royal arbitration, Thomas said. That would take too much time to matter, his father said. The merchants will be avoiding Wards estate by then. Lilians father will be returning from the east sometime this summer, Lucan said. If hes not told of this, his caravan could suffer a significant loss. His father nced at Thomas. The steward took a breath, giving himself room to think. We may be able to send someone to warn him. And making every merchant going east a messenger for this matter would be wise too. Word already spreads among them like a hay fire, Lucan said. We wont need to charge them with passing it on. His father nodded. Then the matter with Maris is handled. As for the rest of it, like I said, we bear with it. We might not have to, Lucan said, gazing at the distant hills to the west. They were north of the canal branch outside of their territory, but they also didnt border Sir Wards territory. Perhaps the venture in his mind would work, perhaps not. But there would be no harm in trying, considering their circumstances. His father was looking at him quizzically. Im not certain yet. His father hummed his eptance. The knight was anything but impatient. With his fathers leave, Lucan split up with them after they crossed the bridge. He followed the northern canal to the fishermenske once more. There, he saw that more of the spire could be seen, muchrger than the slight part theyd seen before. Other parts of the structure were even peeking out of the water separately around the spire. Lucan was growing less and less certain that they could keep this quiet. He turned his steed around and rode home. Even with this bit of trouble on the horizon, he had other pressing matters to attend to. So? Lucan said. He and Sawyer were on their horses, now watching the hills north of the estate. Theyd discreetly crossed the northern canal branch and followed it west until they drew close to the hills. I believe I can. But It will be costly, Lucan continued for him. Even I can tell as much. Sawyer gave him a rueful smile and nodded. It wont be an easy venture, but I can have it done soon if all workers are spared. You will have them, Lucan said. At least most of them. Anything may be dyed, except for the granary. The rest will do, Sawyer affirmed. Then he smiled and gazed at the distance. A winding road through the hills. Something to truly test my skills. Lucan looked askance at him. Sawyer raised a mollifying hand. Im confident in said skills. Lucan snorted and shook his head. Build the road, no matter what. I will, Sawyer said, his tone aggrieved. Why must you doubt me now? I am not, Lucan said. Im simply charging you with making this road, no matter the circumstances. I wont ept failure. Chapter 64: The World Marches Chapter 64: The World Marches THE WORLD MARCHES More than a fortnight after Sawyer began building the road, he barged into Lucans study in righteous anger. They tore it up! He shouted in Lucans surprised face. Hed been sampling the book hed bought from the shopkeep. He closed it slowly, keeping his eyes on the fuming Sawyer, then settled back into his chair. Before he could tell the engineer to borate, the young man opened the floodgates all on his own. The work weve done on the northern road is ruined, Sawyer grated out. The building materials we left there have been removed as well. Were set back more than weve worked. Lucan found himself on his feet without feeling it. Are you certain? The materials are not there, Sawyer fixed him with a t stare. And neither is what little of the road weve paved. Lucan stormed out of his study, ignoring the engineer shouting after him. He headed to his fathers study. The knight had been happy to hear that Lucan had found a way around Sir Wards tolls when he had told him, and Lucan imagined he would be as furious as him to hear this. He arrived, knocking on his fathers door, whose firm voice allowed him in. The knight was seated behind his desk and Thomas happened to be present too. Lucan didnt mince words. He has torn up the road were building, Father, and all building materials left there were taken. His fathers eyes rested on him for a moment as he absorbed the words. Then he stood up, his eyes shifting to Thomas. Have the stableman prepare our horses. All of us. He marched out of the study, gesturing for Lucan to follow him. Don your armor. The ride to Sir Wards territory was more ominous this time. All their men-at-arms were with them. Two of them had been on watch near the eastern forest, but theyd collected them on the way there. Thomas apanied them, but he was riding at the tail of their procession lest he be caught in the fighting should this affaire to conflict. They crossed the bridge, and after a while were riding into Sir Wards territory. Eerie breezes tickled Lucans ears for the rest of the ride. That was, until they saw the riders on the horizon. They were expected ahead of time. Again. Lucan found that unsettling. Sir Ward approached them armed and armored with his men-at-arms. Ten to their seven. But that wasnt all. Lucan saw two young men who bore a strong resemnce to the knight. He assumed they were his sons. There was also another manor knight ording to his appearancein the livery of Duke Elmere, apanied by his own two men-at-arms. Whove you gone to hide behind now, Ward, Lucans father rang out as both parties came to a stop a distance from each other. I dont need to hide behind anyone from you, Sir Ward shouted, his horse sensing his agitation and stepping forward. His two sons urged their horses forward beside their fathers too. Peace, the dukes knight said, his strong voice overshadowing the agitation of his allies. I believe you know whose colors I wear, Sir Zesh. What interest does the duke have in our affairs? Sir Gn said, his sharp eyes now fixed on the third knight. Nothing but seeking harmony among all the good warriors of the realm, the knight said. I am Sir Eli Vicks, my title bestowed upon me by his grace, Duke Elmere, and Im here to see to that. Still, it is my privilege to meet a knight as renowned as yourself, Sir Zesh. Lucans father only acknowledged his words with a silent nod. This story has been uwfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I understand that there has been a dispute over the toll Sir Ward is imposing? Sir Vicks continued, gesturing at the road under them. Lucan noted that he was the youngest of the present knights, perhaps only a decade older than him, but he carried himself with confidence that matched his older peers. Unreasonable tolls, his father amended. Theyre driving the merchants away. All those whove had to bear the excessive cost are crying foul. Well, Sir Vicks said. You must admit, Sir Zesh, that by the authority granted to him by the king, Sir Ward has a right to impose tolls for passage through his territory. Yes, he does, his father said. But he has no right to tear up a road that we are building and take what he does not own. It did not encroach upon hisnds. Ive done no such thing, Sir Ward said. using me of this fiction is low, Zesh. Lucan couldnt hold his silence and spoke. No one has the men and the reach to do such a thing except for you. Sir Ward nced at him sharply. Teach your whelp to be quiet while his elders speak, Zesh. Mind your tongue when you speak of my son, his father said, his gaze piercing the knight. Good Sirs, please Sir Vicks interjected, turning his head between them. Sir Zesh, as I understand it, this road was being built in the hills west of here. That is royal territory. You have no right to build on it, and so no im forpensation or justice should what you build there be lost. Lucan raised a brow and interrupted them again. And how do you know where the road is? Sir Vicks turned to stare at him incredulously. He Lucan pointed with his head at Sir Wardtold you, yes? You knew we would be here because of the destroyed road, because he told you of it. Then Lucan turned fully towards Sir Ward. How did Sir Ward know we woulde because of the road if he did not indeed destroy it? Sir Vicks cleared his throat and eyed Lucan carefully. Perhaps Sir Ward spoke sense when he advised those too young to stay quiet. Perhaps the king should know that Duke Elmere is meddling with his knights, Lucan said, then turned to Sir Ward again. Knights whose allegiance should belong to him alone. Sir Ward seemed flustered for a moment before he flushed with fury and was about to growl something. Sir Vicks beat him to the retort, however. Everyone here owes allegiance to the king. My presence is not one for meddling, but one for avoiding grievances that might bring injury to either side. The duke cares for the wellbeing of all the kings men. He gestured at Lucans father too. Then perhaps the duke should not take sides, his father said. We Sir Vicks paused as one of his men whispered something to him. Then he turned towards the horizon, and Lucan saw there that a rider was galloping recklessly towards them. He was as lightly d as his horse without arms or armor and he rode like the wind. Sir Vicks trotted forward to meet him and the man brought his steed to a halt. A missive, Sir, for a matter most pressing. He handed a sealed letter to the knight. Sir Vicks opened it calmly, but as he began to read, the signs of agitation increased on his face. By the end of it, his lips were pressed, and he seemed anxious about something other than their quarrel. Sir Vicks? Sir Ward inquired. The dukes knight turned towards them and spoke solemnly. Im summoned back to Arpague. I propose that you both return to your estates as well. Soon, you ought to be receiving word of this. What is it? Lucans father asked. The kings ritualists, with the affirmation of rangers, have determined that the Waliss recession is not caused by drought. The Wildermen are somehow holding back the river. His Majesty has named Crown Prince Dane Baroun as Marshal of the Realm. And his highness has called for all vassals to raise their levies and rally to their closest camping grounds, Sir Vicks grew silent for a moment, as though giving them room to breathe, then he finally said it. We are going to war. There was silence as everyone took in what the knight had said. Lucan heard one of their men-at-arms swallowing loudly, likely Ryder. Even Sir Ward seemed subdued at the news. But to raise the levy to march south at a time like this, his father said solemnly. What about the Vincemare? Ah, you must not have heard yet, Sir Vicks said. Theyve entangled themselves in yet another war with the Liberferians. Hamodeus will be happy to use the Principality to deplete the fishfuckers in another war. We need not worry about them for a while yet. I see, Lucans father said. I suppose this affair may be resolvedter, Sir Vicks added. There are more pressing matters to concern ourselves with now. Lucan had no intention of waiting untilter. If Sir Ward was intent on hindering their attempts at circumventing him, then he would tell Sawyer to begin building the road again, this time while they were on campaign. The knight coulde back to an already usable road. He was wee to attempt to destroy it while they were on watch then. Everyone acquiesced to Sir Vickss advice, and they soon scattered, each party riding back to their estate with due haste. And so, two winters after his Blessing, Lucan would march to war. END OF BOOK 1 Announcement: Book 1 is out on Amazon and KU Announcement: Book 1 is out on Amazon and KU Hey there, I''d like to announce that book 1 of The Elder Lands is finally out on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. If you''re feeling like rereading the book(which has been edited thoroughly), then hop on there and give it a read. A lot of readerints have been addressed in the kindle version, and I hope you find it a step up from the draft posted here. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Don''t forget to rate or review it! Amazon Link: : The Elder Lands: A Kingdom Building LitRPG eBook : Salem, B.: Kindle Store Thank you all for your moral support, and a special thanks to all those who hunted for mistakes and alerted me of them, and also all those who gave honest feedback which has made the story better over time. Wish me luck! B2 Chapter 1 B2 Chapter 1 Lucan walked into the training yard and paused as his foot squelched in mud. A sense of foreboding came over him as he looked around the yard, finding that nowhere was dry. It hadnt rained. Youve been fortunate to fight in favorable conditions so far, his fathers voice came from behind, the knight passing him by and marching out into the yard. It wont always be so. In battle, you may not even rely on the ground to be your ally. That Skill of yours, for instance, how well do you think it will do in wet conditions? Lucan, still frozen mid-step, gaped at his father before mustering a reply. I dont know. Then let us find out, the knight said, gesturing at the muddy yard around them. Lucan allowed himself to continue walking, squelching his way to the middle. His father had raised the intensity and duration of their training since word arrived of the princes campaign. It had been only a few days, but Lucan had been thrashed during them more than hed been thrashed for a year. Lilian was walking around the rim of the training yard, where it was reasonably dry. Still, she was raising the hem of her dress and eying the ground with distaste. It wasnt the first time shede to watch them. Lucan doubted the beatings he was suffering were doing well for his image, but he couldnt very well tell her not toe. He also had to admit that she observed most of the customs when it came to her presence as a betrothed. She pped politely whenever he did something of note, and she carried a handkerchief to hand to him once he was done training. Lucan took up a training sword that he was growing more familiar with than his real one. His father stood in front of him with a simr weapon. They both wore leather armor to dull any hits they may receive, though his father rarely needed it. Begin, his fathermanded. Lucan kept his eyes on the knight as he circled and sought a weakness. A dy in his fathers turn announced an opening which he suspected was a ruse. Regardless, he would try. Lucan lowered his body and ate the ground forwardand ended up quite literally eating the ground. The mud had been too thick and wet between them and hed ended up slipping and diving into the muck. He pushed himself up, spitting out some mud. His father was giving him a familiar look. I didnt say that everywhere was equally wet. Mind the terrain. As he climbed back to his feet, Lucan grimaced at the taste of muck and nodded at his father with some exasperation. The knight gestured for him to return to his beginning position and Lucan obeyed. They began anew, circling each other. This time, Lucan eyed the ground cautiously, scrutinizing every bit of it, and that was how he got pped in the face by the t of a sword. His cheek exploded with pain and his neck snapped to the side as the knights weapon swung by. Lucan couldnt help but yell in response. They say its good to keep track of your enemy, his father said, circling him with a leisurely gait. Lucan held his cheek and gave his father an incredulous look. Do they? The knight responded with an easy nod. And who are they? Lucan ground out as he circled in the opposite direction. Folk who dont make getting a sword to the face habit, his father said. Was he goading him? It was uncanny, but in a way, it was working. He wasnt about to charge into his father. He knew better than that. But he was feeling irritable, that was for certain. He feinted to the right then used his Star to move to his fathers left instead. The Skill took him the distance as was intended, but he hadnt ounted for hisnding and the Skill didnt aid him in that. He slid through the mud, creating a wave of it that bathed a nearby dummy; then he was on his side, hugging the ground. When he tried to get up quickly, he found his fathers sword already at his throat. He cursed, raising his hand in surrender and climbing to his feet to continue with the unpleasant affair. The rest of it wasnt all that different. Eventually, though, he learned that he needed to find purchase on deeper ground when the mud was thin and to stay on the defensive in thicker mud if he couldnt avoid it altogether. In the end, his fathers purpose had been fulfilled. Lucan learned how to fight should he ever find himself in a pigs pen. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When he finally walked out of the training yard, every part of him was covered in mud, some of it wet and some of it already drying. Lilian met him as he marched out, and with barely contained mirth, she handed him a handkerchief, gesturing towards his body. Youve got a smudge. Lucan tried to appear unamused, but he couldnt stop a chuckle from escaping him. Thank you. Without this, he raised the cloth, I dont know what I wouldve done. Then he went on to wipe his face with it, but even that little ended up ruining the poor piece of cloth before it could fulfill its purpose. As Lucan made to take his leave and go wash himself, he saw one of their men-at-arms approaching his fatherwho was spotless save for his bootsand whisper something. They exchanged a few hushed words, then Lucan saw his father pointing at him and nodding. Lucan, his father called, gesturing for him to approach. Yes, Father? Lucan said as he came up to them. Cordell says that we have two brothers evading the levy, camping somewhere in the western forest. Take ke and go pull them back by the scruffs of their necks. Yes, Father, but Lucan looked meaningfully at his mucked-up armor. Wash up first, of course, his father said. And, Lucan, he stopped him as he turned to enter the keep. Yes? Since theyve chosen to defy awful levy, then instead of one, both of them are to be pressed into service. Lucan turned to his father with wide eyes. But We cant have every wayward fool running into the wild to avoid the levy. Examples must be made. Either theyre both levied or one of them pays for this wrong here. Today. Lucan pressed his lips and nodded. Once theyd affirmed that indeed a campaign was beginning, his father had told him that when a levy began, even the mostpliant families could turn stubborn. Whenever a levy was raised, some attempted to avoid it or even resist it. Three days ago, Lucan had had to attend to a resisting family with his father. In the end, theyd dragged the familys third son out of their home by force, thankfully without hurting the family too much. Lucan hadnt enjoyed dragging the son who was as old as him away from his family. He was in no way young for war, but it had still felt like they were nabbing a child from the embrace of his mother; only so they could throw him into what all historical ounts agreed to be a grinder of human life. Lucan wasnt foolish enough to think tales of war entwined with glory were of any truth. What little hed seen of violent conflict had cast light on how much worse a wider sh could be. Perhaps to princes who wielded their politics andmanded their armies, war could be glory, war could be opportunity; but it wouldnt be so for those who knew little ofbat and were still obligated to fight. And even for those who knew how to fight, it seldom was, as experience had proven. Unsurprisingly, Lucan spent the rest of his day on a wild chase through the western forest. Even when their hideout was found, the two brothers werent keen on giving in. But when they chose not to split up as they fled, they sealed their fate. The tracking party caught up to them eventually. Lucan was forced once again to drag someones sons into the growing troop that was being raised, though one of them was quite a bit older than him. An expanding camp had been formed outside of the bailey, and their men-at-arms were hard at work training and preparing their levied troops. They would march out perhaps twenty days from now, meeting the princes army in Epiza. Before then, their raised troops had to be trained and equipped. Men were expected to bring their own armor if they wanted any, while their estate provided the arms, mostly shields and spears for those without experience with another weapon. One good thing through all this was that the new buildings in the bailey were all but finished, including the granary; which if they didnt seed in this campaign would be filled with nothing but dust. Lucan had had Sawyer also begin building the structure that wouldter be the Merchant House with which he could hopefully lure more merchants into making the estate their home. But work was still beginning on that building. His day ended in his fathers study, where the knight and his steward were discussing theing campaign, and Lucan was attempting to give his head a rest. It was never so simple with his mind though, and it always ended up wandering. How long do you think it will be? Thomas was saying. Two months at most, the knight said. Only fools bog themselves down in a prolonged war with the Wildermen, and the king knows that. Still not without its risk, Thomas said. Naturally, Sir Gn nodded. Then he grew silent. When the silence stretched, Lucan realized that the knight was staring at him. Youre oddly quiet today. Lucan shrugged. What are you thinking then? Lucan sighed. It was a worthless thought butI was wondering why Master Saltner chose me. Were not the onlynded knights in the realm. Were not the richest or the most powerful. Why was he all too happy to tie himself to us when I havent even been knighted yet? His father and Thomas looked at him as if he was the vige idiot and then his father guffawed. Lucan looked askance at him, but the knight kept chuckling and nodded at Thomas. The steward went on to exin. Youre not just the son of anded knight, Lucan. Youre the son of anded knight from a family already ennobled. Theyre not only marrying into this estate, theyre marrying into House Zesh. If nothing else, ites with its own prestige. There are other considerations to keep in mind too. To raise a knight to lordship is an affair worthy of the realms attention. Its of less note and difficulty when said knight is of prominent noble lineage. Master Saltner knows what he is doing, I can assure you. Lucans father nodded along with said words. I see, Lucan said. So its nothing of note about me. You have not done anything of note yet, Son, his father said. But perhaps soon. Very soon. B2 Chapter 2 B2 Chapter 2 The time came faster than Lucan could have imagined. One day they were overseeing the levy and the next they were preparing to march them out. He and his father were seen off by Thomas, Lilian, and Cordell, thetter being casten in their absence, while Lee would march out with them. An anxious current went through Lucan as they gave their farewells even as he epted their well wishes. Thomas patted him on the back. Cordell exchanged firm nods with him. And Lilian said some pleasant words. He didnt know whether they were uttered out of heart or obligation, but he epted them nheless. She also gave him a clean, embroidered handkerchief, as was traditional when ady was seeing off a favored suitor or a betrothed to War. He mulled over the word and its meaning, and he hoped that what he would experience through it wouldn''t be too much worse than what had happened in the raids. But the cynic in him knew better. Before he left, though, Lucan made certain to impress upon Sawyer how important it was that he builds the road in their absence. They and Sir Ward were to return to an already usable road. The hostile knight would have to reckon with that surprise however he wished, but their estate wouldnt be blindsided again, that was for certain. Theyd taken some of the engineersbor away in their levy but not all of it. Most families had to give only a single able-bodied man to the levy, unless they had only one son, in which case they were normally spared the levy except when circumstances were dire. During prolonged campaigns, thews changed depending on how many times a single family had been levied and their overall contribution to the war. In general, an overlord or a ruling knight would avoid cutting off a family line. After the goodbyes, they marched northwest, taking his road all the way to the High Road which they would follow west until they reached the fork in the river where Epiza stood. They rode ahead of three hundred men marching on foot. A respectable number. Even the refugees had provided a levy. While they were a war-weary lot, a fair levy was far better for them than having every able-bodied man pressed into service by the eastern warlords. There had been some resistance, but it hadnt been much more different than what Lucan had seen from their other subjects. The journey was a slow one. A distance that wouldve taken them at most a fortnight on horseback took them a month due to the line of men marching on foot behind them. But eventually, Epizas walls came into sight. They were made of stone, but it was nothing as magnificent as Arpague or Eldham. The wall was not only lesser in height, but it also encircled a much smaller town, and it certainly didnt look as awe-inspiring as the ones protecting the two great cities. Its sandstone was obviously aging, and even from this distance, Lucan could see the decay of some of the crentions. It wasnt being provided enough care, it seemed. With the sight of the wall came the sight of an encampment. All the vassals that were this far south were gathering their troops here. Looking among the raised banners, Lucan didnt see the royal one, so the prince hadnt arrived just yet. Good. It would give them time to settle in. Tents spread out on the northern side of the walls with the ground torn up in ces and simply dirty in others. It fit what Lucan imagined a war camp would look like, though he was unpleasantly surprised by the smell as they drew closer. It was a mixture of chamberpot, sweat, rot, and vinegar, however odd thetter smell was. As they approached the threshold of the camp, a man rode out to meet them. It turned out to be one of Lord Seryss men-at-arms. Lord Serys was the overlord of Epiza and a somewhat wealthy noble ording to Thomas. The man-at-arms greeted them and weed them into the encampment, arranging for them to take over a strip of emptynd to set up their tents. Lucans father was also invited to join the lords and knights in Lord Seryss pavilion, where they were discussing the campaign and had word of the time of the princes arrival. After Lord Seryss man-at-arms left them, their own men-at-arms began barking orders at the troops to begin setting up camp. His fathers tent was the first andrgest to be set up. The knight invited him in before leaving for Lord Seryss assembly. Lucan stepped inside, epting his fathers gesture for him to be seated, and they sat across from each other on the ground, a low table between them. As you know, weve lost one of our number in thest Wildermen raids, his father began. Lucan nodded. I imagine that ought to be remedied? Yes, his father said. You must now bear a responsibility which has been much dyed. Choosing your retainers is a matter of utmost importance, particrly when said retainers are the ones you expect to stand by you against an enemy charge. Lucan nodded again. We might yet lose more men on this campaign, though Elders know I hope we dont, and I will endeavor to see it so. But we must keep our eyes open for good prospects. At times of war, youll meet quite the assortment of men. Levied troops. Volunteers. Mercenaries, bad and good. And even some hopefuls who dont know better. Beneath all that dirt, you must find your gold. Lucan raised a brow. Volunteers? Men had fought, fled, and even risked their rulers wrath to avoid the levy; and there were others who volunteered for the campaign? Preposterous. Hmm. His father nodded. There are those who are too poor to feed themselves and see this as an opportunity. Those not levied are paid good coin for their service. And any marshal would do good to feed his men if he wants to still have men by the end of the day. And among those desperate souls, you expect me to find a good prospect for recruitment? Lucan asked incredulously. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Its rare, but you cant buy instinct and talent, his father said. You could find a gem in the rough among the rabble. Not that you must only seek those of the desperate sort. Among the mercenaries, youll find those who have had enough of the life and would like to settle down. Most of them will want to put their des behind them, but some will be all too happy to ept your offer if you build trust with them. There are also freeriders and such who are already looking for a House to serve, but they often have their eyes onrger estates, and more often than not, theyre less capable than they might believe. Should I seek one man to rece Henry then? Lucan asked. His father chuckled and shook his head. Seek as many as you can get, but only those worthy of trust. I doubt youll find that many. You ought to be careful, particrly with the sellswords. Theyre the least loyal of the lot. Under the leadership of Lee, their men-at-arms were all busy getting their camp in order, so Lucan decided to wander the encampment on his own, hoping to build some familiarity with the troops and the factions around them. Sun-baked dirt crunched under his foot as he marched deeper into the sea of tents. There were thousands of men here, and the sight and noise did it justice. At any moment, dozens of men hurrying from one ce to another, heedless of each others presence except to avoid bumping into each other. Yells and conversations drowned out each other so much that Lucan couldnt make out a single word, yet he could feel the intent of some of the more passionately voiced shouts. As he skirted a muddy patch, Lucan took note of the men hard at work digging dozens oftrines. Some of them nced at him, but most were busy cursing their luck. He crossed a tiny stream that crawled through the encampment, likely feeding into the river. The city was in the nook between the two branches of the Walis, and the encampment was made as close to the main vein flowing north as possible to ease getting rid of the waste that couldnt go into thetrines. He kept wandering through the camp, his nose already used to the smell of the ce, though slight changes depending on his nearness totrines, animal pens, and workbenches kept him reminded of the unpleasantness of it all. He spotted several men in a muddy patch struggling to help up a fallen bull. Lucan headed towards them. If he had to find trustworthy men, hed have to earn some trust himself first. Perhaps by making nice with the soldiery. He hurried to the mens side, lending them his hands. Told you not to lead the damn livestock through the mud, you fuckwit, a man beside Lucan yelled at the younger one next to him. Youre the one who hoisted all your work on me and went to roll in the hay with a camp wench! Shut your cunt mouth, the older one ground out. Would you two stop bickering and push the damn animal up? a young man not much older than Lucan said. This one had a shortsword and a mace on his hip and leather armor that seemed to have seen a fight or two. The bull was attempting to gain purchase on the ground with its hooves, but without help, it slipped over and over again The older worker huffed, and they all put their backs into it, grunts of effort escaping them as they forced the animal up. After they were certain that it could keep its feet, those who were there to help, including Lucan, stepped back and let the two workers handle leading it away. Thank you, my lord, the armed young man from before said to him. Lucan nced at him incredulously but noticed him ncing at his armor. Lucan looked down at his muddied steel te and understood. Im not a lord. Ah, the young man nodded with pursed lips. But you are a noble, right? Lucan shrugged. One might say so, yes. Names Joel Ironshod, the young man said. An honor to make your acquaintance. Lucan Zesh, Lucan gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Its a pleasure. Joel eyed the color Lucan wore then nced in the direction of their camp. I was told the host that just arrived was a knights. Might you be the son of Sir Zesh? He seemed uncertain about his presumption. Lucan chuckled and nodded again. Yes. My father is Sir Gn Zesh. I dont mean to offend, Joel said. But that is quite therge host for a knight. Lucan smiled, noting that the crowd had scattered and only the two of them remained. By the grace of His Majesty, my father is anded knight. Our host might be as big as some lords. Indeed, Joel said. It is worthy of pride. Lucan nced at the rest of the encampment. I must continue gaining familiarity with the grounds. Then he looked at Joel appraisingly. Youre wee to apany me. You must know more than I do about this ce. Joel smiled and nodded. Their round through the grounds took most of what remained of daylight. While getting familiar with the encampment and its upants, Lucan also got to know more about his guide. Joel was a freede volunteering in the campaign in hopes of being recruited by a lord. He didnt let on any of the particrs, but Lucan found him to be a good prospect who could be worth his time. They separated a whiff before sunset, Lucan returning to his camp and the young man going to a more haphazard group of tents that housed volunteers and sellswords. Lucan found his father already back from the assembly and waiting in his tent, so he stepped inside. Father. The knight nodded. Im told you left to go on rounds through the encampment. Yes. Lucan told him about the stroll hed taken through the grounds and the freede hed met. Good, his father said. You went alone though. Yes. The men were upied getting our camp in order. And theyre as foreign to this ce as I am. Yes, his father shook his head even as he said the word. But, they have skills that you might not. Lee has more experience than all of the othersbined. That boy, Ryder, seems to make friends with ease. And Clifton, that one is sharp. I wager he has a good eye for people. Make use of what you have, and dont pass quick judgment. Such matters require careful thought. Yes, Father, Lucan said. Was there something of importance discussed at the assembly with Lord Serys? His father nodded. All the levies, including ours, are to be merged into infantry units. The princesmands preceded his arrival by missive. Were to expect our Marshals arrival in the next two days. Lucan hummed. It wasnt umon for a Marshal to reorder their army so thatmand was not splintered between dozens of vassals, but the prince seemed to be in a hurry. Lucan could imagine that the rest of the realm was facing even more peril from the drought than their estate. At least that means our men-at-arms wont be as upied tomorrow. His father nodded. Make the best of it. B2 Chapter 3 B2 Chapter 3 The next day began with Lucan along with the men-at-arms gathered around the firepit whose me had long since died. His father had told him that he would need to apprise their men of their aims himself. The knight had once again busied himself with the other noblemen, leaving their camp at first light. With all their levies put under themand of Lord Serys, there was not much for the men-at-arms to do except aid Lucan with the duty his father had burdened him with, and he was happy to share it. Once thest of the six sat down on one of the logs, Lucan began, ¡°A good morn to you all.¡± He nced between them with a small smile. ¡°And an easy one, I may say.¡± A few chuckles answered his remark. With no troops for them to put to order, the six men looked both bored and sleepy. Since they¡¯d begun raising the levy, every man-at-arms had been drowned in work. Today, they only had to wake up with the sun and care for their equipment. ¡°As you all well know,¡± Lucan continued. ¡°We lost a good manst year. And we remember him for the courage he has shown against the savages of the wild. But we must now shore up our numbers. I¡¯ve been charged with this duty by my father. I want you to spread out and make nice with all manner of folk. Find me good prospects. It doesn¡¯t matter if they¡¯re dashing heroes or unfortunate young men pressed into service. We¡¯re seeking those in possession of appropriate uprightness and skill. And we have the whole campaign to find them.¡± A smattering of nods answered him. Lucan saw no reason to dy and gestured for them to get up. ¡°Have at it then.¡± The men quickly got up and scattered, all except for Lee who would look over the camp. When only he and the old man-at-arms remained, Lucan spoke. ¡°Will you look over any prospects they find and tell me your thoughts when the timees?¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± Lee said, his voice reminding Lucan of Thomas in its mellowness. ¡°I advise patience regardless. No amount of wisdom can judge a man without adequate time.¡± Lucan nodded. ¡°I imagined as much. But sooner orter, a judgment will have to be made.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the man-at-arms agreed. ¡°I¡¯m off then,¡± Lucan said, getting up and following the others¡¯ example. Though he had someone in mind as he left. ¡°Good hunting.¡± Lee¡¯s voice followed him and he epted the well-wish with a chuckle. Lucan passed by the disorderly camp of the irregrs and mercenaries, hoping to catch sight of his quarry, but he didn¡¯t have much luck. He circled around and walked through it this time, still not finding him. After several rounds through the muddy paths between tents, he gave up and marched out of the haphazard mess. Ironically, he ended up finding Joel then. The young man was returning from the direction of the vassal camps. He waved at him and Lucan returned the gesture. ¡°Good day to you, Master Lucan,¡± the young man said as they met. ¡°And to you, Joel,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Already up and about, eh?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Joel said. ¡°That I am.¡± ¡°I was thinking you¡¯re an exemry guide and I¡¯d like to see to it that we continue what we began yesterday,¡± The freede seemed taken aback by his enthusiasm but after a brief pause, he nodded. ¡°Of course! It would be my pleasure.¡± He turned to walk alongside him. ¡°Quite the mess you have to bear with there,¡± Lucan said, pointing with his thumb back at the camp. ¡°And worse,¡± Jorel chortled. ¡°I have to leave my possessions in the care of a friend while I¡¯m away if I want to find them when I¡¯m back.¡± Lucan guffawed, finding it incredulous. But now that he thought about it, it was no wonder. All manner of men made that disorderly camp their home. Freedes, mercenaries, hopefuls, and vagrants with nothing to lose. One could never tell who was honest and who was not within such a mixed pot. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. They walked on in silence until they came upon clusters of tents he hadn¡¯t seen yesterday, and Joel began familiarizing him with them. After pouring forth all he knew about what they saw and answering a dozen of Lucan¡¯s questions, Joel seemed to think he had earned leave to ask a question of his own. ¡°Do you think there will be much merit to be earned through this campaign?¡± Lucan couldn¡¯t help but snort. He knew as little about military campaigns as the freede if one didn¡¯t ount for the books he¡¯d read. And he¡¯d learned not to rely on books for experience. They hadn¡¯t prepared him for the terror of battle, and they hadn¡¯t told him what it would feel like to kill a man and watch as life fled his body. ¡°Have you shed blood?¡± Joel shrugged as they walked to the side of a trodden path to let a wagon through. ¡°A little.¡± At Lucan¡¯s questioning look, he continued, ¡°Subjugating marauders at the three borders.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Lucan said. ¡°Fighting some rabid herdsmen is unlike facing the Wildermen, I should warn you. Many among their number are battle-hardened and those who are not make up for it with pure brutality. But I¡¯m not the one to ask, if I were to be honest. There¡¯s many a man with more experience than I. If I¡¯ve learned one thing though, it is that glory should be the least of your concerns.¡± Joel nodded, chastened. He scrutinized the ground for a few moments as the wagon passed by and as they made to move on, he perked up, his eyes ranging far. ¡°Neers.¡± Lucan followed his eyes and saw riders leading a trail of levies. One of the men-at-arms leading them carried a banner with colors Lucan was intimately familiar with. A cloud-piercing gray tower on blue cloth. House Arden. ¡°A child?¡± The incredulity in Joel¡¯s voice was clear. Lucan was surprised to see Lord Arden¡¯s grandson at the head of the approaching host with the lord nowhere to be seen. Curious, he headed to the point where they ought to join the camp. He saw one of Lord Serys¡¯s men-at-arms meeting the young heir first before the procession continued to an empty plot ofnd where they would no doubt settle to camp. Lucan changed directions to meet them there and realized that he¡¯d forgotten about Joel. When he looked behind him, he saw the freede trailing him with curiosity of his own. ¡°Do you know which lord that is?¡± Joel asked ¡°Yes,¡± Lucan said, holding back another snort. Naturally, he knew well every banner in the realm, though he knew this one better than most. He gestured with his head towards the column of men. ¡°House Arden. Our neighbors.¡± They made haste to the camping grounds. Surprisingly, the boy¨CLucan dug through his mind for the name, Ren, was it?¨Ccame out to greet him, apanied by yet another familiar face, Sir Sarin, Lord Arden¡¯s foremost knight. They met them on foot as tents began to sprout up behind them in a mimicry of what Lucan had seen in their own camp yesterday. The boy approached gingerly, his bangs shading his eyes and bouncing with his movement. ¡°Greetings, Master Lucan,¡± he said with rigid dutifulness, attempting to thicken his voice beyond that which was attainable for his age. And if his age wasn¡¯t enough to show that he was not ready for the burdens of leadership, then his apparent anxiety did. ¡°Greetings, Master Ren,¡± Lucan said. He was supposed to lower his head slightly for they were of different stations, but he was loath to bow his head to a child. He nodded to the knight who followed the boy. ¡°Sir Sarin.¡± The knight nodded back without word. ¡°Is Lord Arden well?¡± Lucan continued. He swept his eyes over the budding camp as though looking for the old lord. ¡°I would¡¯ve thought his lordship would be leading the host.¡± Ren attempted to hide a grimace, but he didn¡¯t seem learned in the ways of deceit, not yet at least. ¡°My grandfather is¡­well. And he sends his regards. He is upied with matters of the fief and I¡¯ve been given leave by His Highness to lead our host in his stead.¡± ¡°I see, I see,¡± Lucan said. Only those who did not know how weak the old man was would believe that. And those gullible enough to believe Ren¡¯s pretense. The border lords were expected to keep some of their men at their territories for in reasons, but that didn¡¯t exempt them from the duty of attending the campaign in the flesh. ¡°Ah, I nearly forgot,¡± Lucan said, turning to gesture at hispanion. ¡°This is an acquaintance of mine, Joel, a freede and a volunteer in the campaign.¡± Joel eagerly bowed as the boy¡¯s eyes shifted to him. ¡°An honor to make your acquaintance, my lord.¡± Ren acknowledged him with a nod and a faint smile. ¡°We won¡¯t dy you further, then,¡± Lucan said. ¡°I¡¯m certain there¡¯s much to be done.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master Lucan,¡± Ren said. ¡°Please deliver to Sir Zesh our regards.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Lucan said before leaving. After leaving the Ardens¡¯ camp, Joel had to return to the irregrs¡¯ camp to take over watch from his friend and Lucan found himself returning to his own camp as well. He found two of the men-at-arms awaiting his arrival. Clifton and Heath. Had they found someone already? As the two rose to meet him, a horn was blown, its sound reverberating through the encampment. They looked at each other before his father burst out of his tent and looked up as if he could see a hidden missive in the sky. Well, whoever his men-at-arms had found, they¡¯d have to wait. Because unless the Wildermen had flown over the border territories and waded into the kingdom, that had been the signal for the prince¡¯s arrival. B2 Chapter 4 B2 Chapter 4 Lucan waited behind his father who stood in one of two rows of nobles forming a path for the prince¡¯s expected passage. From here, Lucan could see the column of armed men snaking over the hills, deluding those who witnessed them into thinking that they were endless. One might even find the sight more intimidating than seeing them in formation. Thousands upon thousands of men marching in a narrow column could extend farther than one could see, particrly because of all the dust riled up by their passage. Naturally, the prince rode at the head of this endless column. Gleaming armor out of bedtime stories covered him from head to toe, its golden sheen prominent under the retiring sun. That must be the goldsteel armor the princess had told him about. The king had had it made for his chosen heir. If memory didn¡¯t betray him, Lucan believed the king had already had a set of goldsteel armor, passed down from his predecessors. The only reason he could¡¯ve had this one made was that Prince Dane¡¯s build was too different from his. All the literature agreed that goldsteel couldn¡¯t be reworked. It was what it was made to be, no more and no less. Or perhaps he was wrong, and the king intended to pass on his armor to his eldest son even though he wouldn¡¯t be passing the throne on to him. The prince and his retinue broke off from the marching column and headed for the waiting peers of the realm. He stopped at the head of the path formed by the noblemen and dismounted, his guards following him. The lords and knights bowed, the former with a slight lowering of their shoulders and thetter with proper bows at the waist. ¡°Rise,¡± Prince Dane¡¯s even voice rang over their heads. ¡°Thank you, lords.¡± He marched down the path between the vassals as they rose. Lucan saw two of the Royal Guard in bronze nking him as he passed. At the end of the long path of noblemeny a pavilion tent set up for their marshal. The prince soon disappeared into it and nobles began following him in, each in turn. Those of higher standing were to see the prince first, of course. While all lords were nominally equal, Lord Serys had the highest status south of Arpague, and so he was invited inside first. Duke Elmere and his host had been collected by the prince on his way here. Lucan had seen Arpague¡¯s colors among the marching troops, that and many others. As they stood in waiting, Lucan¡¯s boredom got the best of him and he found his mind wandering. He whispered to his father. ¡°How many Skill slots do you reckon the prince has, Father?¡± Surprisingly, his father responded. ¡°Aside from the royal family, few are likely to know that. But regardless, he must have had quite a ritual.¡± ¡°Like mine?¡± Lucan asked, his eyes tracking the endless snake of troops as they poured into the encampment, expanding it at the northern edge. His father let out a faint huff. ¡°Only with the best ritualists in Eldham instead.¡±A thought urred to Lucan then. His father had four slots, which were considered a lot, even for a noble, but he¡¯d never heard of his ritual. ¡°Father, have you had a ritual?¡± The knight nced back at him with some exasperation then answered, ¡°No.¡± Lucan cocked his head, knowing well that his father could discern his movements from the corner of his eye. ¡°Why not? Grandfather wasn¡¯t a poor man.¡± For a moment, Lucan witnessed something rarer than Labyrinth Breaks, his father flustered. After a quick nce at him, the knight looked ahead and said, ¡°Not the time, Lucan.¡± Lucan tilted his head further, looking askance at his father who ignored him. Well, that certainly wouldn¡¯t be the end of that. Their wait continued. And it was only as the sun began to set that they were let into the prince¡¯s tent. Many knights whom his father was senior to had been let inside before them, which was its own message¨Cand quite foretelling. Their turn soon came and one of the guards outside the tent called for Sir Gn Zesh to enter. The knightplied and Lucan followed his father into the pavilion. Knights of the Royal Guard lined the walls of the tent, doing their utmost to appear as though they were part of the fabric, even as they kept hawkish eyes fixed on their visitors. The prince was seated on several cushions stacked on top of each other, and a low table was ced in front of him. He¡¯d taken off his armor and was wearing a gold-embroidered set of clothes that would have been fit for a pce assembly. His short, caramel hair was swept to one side which made him an even sight notcking in regality. The prince gave them a stately smile and gestured at the two seats across from him. Two single cushions. This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Lucan and his father gave him quick bows before taking their seats. With his higher seating, the prince loomed over them. ¡°We meet again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our pleasure, Your Highness,¡± Sir Gn said. ¡°I must wonder if it is,¡± the prince said, ncing between them. Lucan met the prince¡¯s gaze and felt it assessing him with swift efficiency. The royal was neither smiling nor frowning now, and while he affected a rxed posture, Lucan could see that his sharp jaw was set. For a moment, his father seemed to be at a loss for words but he quickly recovered. ¡°We are here to fulfill our duties to the realm. There¡¯s nothing to ponder, Your Highness.¡± His father¡¯s strong words took Lucan aback but he wasn¡¯t the only one affected by them. Prince Dane raised his chin to hide a surprised face. ¡°Well, no one would question the candor of Sir Gn Zesh on the field. But one should indeed wonder if such candor is better kept away from halls of marble and gold.¡± Father nodded. ¡°Then we are in agreement, Your Highness. For I have ascertained that I have no love for politicking.¡± The prince didn¡¯t look truly convinced, but he went on, ¡°I suppose that is for the best. Now onto other matters. I have procured equipment for those not possessed of enough means to bring their own. Some light armors and such. The quartermaster ought to apprise you of the particrs. The troops will still be unified inmand, but I¡¯ve judged that this matter is better administered by their lieges to prevent any theft of royal resources.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sir Gn said. Lucan nodded along. It was clever. Among other methods, it wasn¡¯t unlikely for some of the men to wear a pretense of extreme poverty to receive goods they didn¡¯t deserve, and ascertaining that none could return to the quartermaster more than once to receive more than their due was necessary. Almost every member of their levied troops came with some form or another of armor. It wasn¡¯t difficult to fashion some padding in any household that wasn¡¯t starving. But that didn¡¯t mean that it would be proper armor. Some of the levies dide with proper gambesons or leather sets of armor bought for them by well-off families, but many others came in tattered padding sewn together by desperately hasty wives or mothers. The prince¡¯s gift was thoughtful if not unheard of. Many men would benefit from better armor. And perhaps it would be needed more than one would think. Lucan¡¯s father had promised him prolonged attrition and harassment by the Wildermen tribes in the south, as was the norm whenever a northern king had attempted a campaign through their territories. Thankfully, word was that the prince had no intention of invasion or subjugation, but rather he was only interested in restoring the flow of the Walis by way of a swift victory. They left their marshal¡¯s tent with many questions on their minds. Lucan hadn¡¯t expected a weing veneer from the royal and the uncertainties they left with were of no surprise to him, not that they would leave him or his father untroubled. Campaigns were the worst ce for debts to be settled. Hopefully, the prince was wise enough to know that sabotaging them while they were in his service would only breed distrust and contempt for him among his vassals. They returned to their camp, where their men-at-arms were waiting. His father called for Lee to follow him into his tent, no doubt to charge him with the matter of equipment; while Lucan called for the two who appeared to have found good prospects for him. Heath and Clifton both spoke at the same time as they met him. ¡°I¡¯ve found¨C¡± ¡°There¡¯s an old¨C¡± They nced at each other then at him. Lucan sighed and said, ¡°Who came back first?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Heath said. Lucan gestured for him to speak. ¡°An old friend of mine happens to be among the levy from the north,¡± the blonde man-at-arms said. ¡°Hees from my home vige, Ayza.¡± ¡°And he has some skill?¡± Lucan asked. Heath gave him an apologetic smile. ¡°Not much of it, unfortunately. But when ites to trust, I can ascertain his honesty with my life. I know him very well. He doesn¡¯tck for courage, and he¡¯s never broken faith with those who trust him. This campaign ought to shore him up where he¡¯s mostcking¡­if he¡¯s blooded inbat.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t dispute the importance of trust, but we¡¯ll have to wait and see if hisposure weathers the heat of war,¡± Lucan said, wondering how his ownposure would weather it. He turned to Clifton next. ¡°I havee across a newly minted band of mercenaries, six men,¡± Clifton said before raising a hand to forestall any concerns. ¡°They¡¯re yet untainted by the nature of their profession. And they have enough capability between them to show promise.¡± Lucan nodded, though the thought of trusting mercenaries was already tainted in his mind. ¡°Very well. Both are worthy prospects for the time being. But the sun is already setting. I will see them on the morrow.¡± He nced at his other men-at-arms, hoping that there were more toe. Update Update Hello everyone. So as I''ve mentioned before, I''ve been suffering from piracy, specifically on book 1, which is out there on trantion websites. Unfortunately, even after sending out DMCA takedowns, all I''ve achieved is removing some search results from google, getting the story removed from a certain URL only for it toe up again on the same website on a different URL. Book 1 and what I''ve written in book 2 so far is unfortunately everywhere at the moment. And it seems it might be the same person scrapping the chapters off RR and putting them up on these websites, because they''re using one specific cover art for it everywhere they upload it. Stolen story; please report. The issue for me here isn''t that people get to read it for free, the issue is that it stands to hurt me, and here''s how: Amazon could either use me of not owning the story, because it''s out there. Or it could use me of breaking the terms of KDP Select(Kindle Unlimited), per which I have to keep the book exclusive to their library. In both cases, I face, at best getting my book taken down, and at worst, getting banned and losing all my previous earnings. I can''t take this same risk with book 2. And while I have an audiobook publisher, I don''t have a big ebook publisher to back me up if Amazon decides to take action(I''m publishing on my own).n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om I have decided to pause releasing chapters on RR until I have found a definitive solution for this issue. I know that any book can be pirated, and it''s nearly impossible for you to guarantee that yours won''t be, but what I''m looking for is assurances that I won''t get in trouble with my Amazon releases. Once I have that, I will return to publishing here again. Sorry to bring you this bad news, and thank you for your support throughout this journey, which I hope to resume with you again in the future. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!