Davros and the others would have to wait on more dungeon delving, for when the three of them returned to the Inn a grinning Valka informed them that the forward scouts from the Graf’s army had finally emerged from Fanghoof Pass and begun to establish the Winter Camp. The Glorious Army for the Reclamation of the Kingdom of Czakovey and its capital city of Bludgard had finally arrived.

  “We will all ride out to meet them. I’ve secured us some horses. I want to deliver the loot and the signed Mercenary contracts I’ve acquired to General Torlack as soon as possible.” Valka said, knocking back a glass of vodka.

  “We should also inform him about Friedrich’s Ambassador,” added Anya. Valka grunted.

  “The little Mephit avoided me whenever I was meeting with the Burgomeister. He’s as subtle as a Goblin’s cleaver when it comes to the rumors he’s been spreading!” Valka spat and looked at Davros.

  “And he’s apparently been raising a foul wind about the Awakened Pyromancer waltzing about Bruhle too. Demanding to know if he’s been Level Blocked.”

  I didn’t respond, but mulled over the situation. I had already been told that even the Graf couldn’t stop the Acolytes from performing this strange “Level Block” ritual upon me. Regardless, I wanted nothing to stop my growth. I had very little chance of succeeding in the Dungeons or in completing Imbolc’s quests if I could no longer level.

  “When do we leave?” I asked. Picking up on the seriousness of my tone, Valka nodded.

  “Immediately, if you are all prepared. I’ll settle our bill and meet you at the Stables around back.” Valka stood and the rest of us mimicked the movement and dispersed. I had everything I needed upon me already thanks to the Three-Pack Ring and while I couldn’t say for certain, I suspected Igvild possessed a similar spatial bag item somewhere on his person too. He was subtle about it, but he would often pull out of nowhere a knife, a wineskin, a hat, or one of a dozen other mundane items one didn’t pay much attention to.

  “It will be my first time on a horse,” I spoke aloud after Valka left us. Anya smiled, but Igvild snorted.

  “Horrible beasts. Always full of themselves.” The dwarf shook his head and I sensed he wasn’t pleased about having to ride a horse despite the convenience.

  “A Czak warrior without a horse is unheard of,” Anya said. “The bulk of the Graf’s army is Calvary and they are very fine riders. A Czak can charge with a lance or fire a bow while at full gallop. A true Horse master may command their horse with naught but their own legs if need be.”

  Anya sounded proud of her countrymen’s skills. She rarely mentioned anything about her Elvish roots, but I considered she might be sensitive about such questions and so kept them to myself.

  We exited the Inn for the final time and walked around to the back side of the building to where the stables were located. Guests of means would stable their horses here to be cared for by a group of stable boys and a single stable girl. It was the girl who approached me first when I entered the stable to the sounds of whinnying horses and the smell of fresh hay and…other less pleasant scents.

  “You really a Wizard? You can do magic?” the girl asked me. I shied away at first, not used to being so accosted by anyone, child or otherwise.

  “I am a Mage, yes,” I answered tentatively. I had my hood up and my scarf pulled up to hide my face, so the girl couldn’t see my features, but she was leaning forward and looking up into my hood.

  She would not have been so quick to approach me if I wasn’t covered, I don’t doubt.

  “Can you make those Goat Men disappear for good? They scared my Arbreyelle when she smelled their stink outside the other night!” The girl pointed at one of the horses, a pretty red colored horse, who looked back at me impassively. I turned back to the stable girl.

  “What’s your name?” Taking a closer look at her, I saw that she had a strange way of standing, as if her hips were disjointed or she was off balance. Then, when she walked forward, I saw she had a lurch in her step. She was club footed.

  “Rose,” she answered. I smiled from beneath my scarf.

  “You must really care about your horses? Did the Slynt, those Goat Men I mean, harm any of them?” I asked. Rose shook her head.

  “No, we lock the barn up tight each night and I sleep in the kitchens. I heard those…Slynt things try to get in, but I screamed at them from a window and they ran away. I just wish I’d had some magic to make them run away even faster!” I tried imagining Rose shouting at a pack of Slynt and it made me chuckle.

  “You did well, Rose. I promise you that if I encounter any more Slynt I’ll make sure they run away very fast indeed.”

  Or more likely I’ll burn them alive where they stand.

  “That is good.” Rose answered and she turned to point at a set of four horses already saddled and awaiting riders. “Those four are for you. Their owners couldn’t settle their bills, so they were confiscated. It’s why they were cheap, but don’t you go thinking that means they aren’t good horses and don’t deserve fair treatment!”

  Rose wagged a finger at us all, which made Anya raise an eyebrow and I thought she was about to say something in retort, but I spoke up first.

  “I can promise you, Madame Rose, that we shall treat these horses as family for as long as they may bear us.” Rose crossed her arms and seemed to consider my words, but I witnessed Anya roll her eyes and walk to take the reins of two of the horses.

  “I suppose that’s okay then, you bein’ a Wizard and as likely able to talk to horses and all.” Rose finally answered. I bowed low to her, which seemed to please her and I went to take the reins of another of the horses. Igvild reluctantly took the reins of the final horse.

  Wouldn’t that be an interesting skill to acquire? Horse Speaking. I wonder if it exists?

  The horse I had chosen was white with brown spots and seemed willing to let me lead her. I hadn’t thought to ask Rose the horse’s name, but perhaps she hadn’t known? The horses had been seized to pay debts, after all. I doubted their former owners cared enough to name them, perhaps. I decided to name her Bean, because her brown spots reminded me of the beans the women in the Inn had ground up to make the coffee.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Come along, Bean. We’re going to see the Graf von Kohlblud. He’s a very important man.”

  “Bean? Ye named that nag already?” Igvild blurted out and I jumped. I had been whispering, but dwarven ears were very keen it seemed.

  “Yes, what’s wrong with that?” I answered defensively.

  “There is nothing at all wrong with it, Davros.” Anya said and I saw a twinkle in her eye when she looked at me that made my heart skip a beat. “However, a Czak would give his horse a much more, how shall I say it? A more aggressive sounding name.”

  “What will you name your horse, Anya?” I asked curiously. She seemed surprised by the question.

  “I wasn’t going to name it,” she said. “Valka and I both have horses that will have been brought through the Pass with the rest of the supplies. This one will likely be hitched to a wagon. These are not warhorses.”

  “A living creature should have a name, shouldn’t it?” I asked. “It’s no good just calling it “Horse” or pretending it won’t be offended if you don’t give it a name?”

  “Druvik.” Igvild suddenly said. Anya and I both looked up at him. The dwarf had seated himself uneasily upon the horse’s back. I looked around, confused that I hadn’t seen anyone fetch him a stool. How had he mounted so fast? “Good name for a horse. Druvik.”

  “Good. Druvik it is.” I said with a nod. Anya sighed.

  “I suppose I could call this one Windshear for the brief amount of time I’m going to be riding her.” Anya mounted her horse in one swift movement. I patted Bean and tried to mimic Anya’s movements, but nearly fell on my back. It took me three tries until Igvild told me to put one foot in a stirrup and use a hand to grab hold of the saddle horn to pull myself up. Finally, I was mounted and decided immediately that I liked horses.

  “We’ll take it slow at first, Bean. Then we shall see how fast you can go!”

  “Well said, Davros!” Valka called out as he walked up and took the reins of the remaining horse, this one all black save for a line of white along one leg. “We’ll make a Czak of you yet! Hai, Charger!” Valka bellowed and he expertly guided his new horse to the road. I laughed and Anya snorted. Valka, it seemed, had known what to name his new horse the moment he mounted it.

  It took longer than expected to navigate to Bruhle’s Gate. The only tense part was when we exited underneath the Gatehouse several of the guardsman on duty were wide-eyed when a grinning dwarf tipped his hat to them.

  “I hope they don’t give us any trouble when we try to get back in,” I remarked to my friend. Igvild shrugged.

  “Like I told you before, Human-made walls are just for show.”

  I would need to return soon to enter the Forsaken Garden Dungeon. On my own. Which meant my friends had no need to accompany me back, but I had a feeling they might. That made me smile. Having others to rely upon and having them rely upon you was a good feeling.

  The journey to the Graf’s camp didn’t take long. After all, the army would be wintering in Bruhle and was therefore encamped as close as it could get and the Ulcite river was long and had plenty of space along its banks where even an army could camp. The ride was a little over two hours before we reached the pickets and sentries. It was an additional ride up a good sized hill and then we were again amongst the Czaks. We were never stopped, as Valka and Anya were recognized and warmly hailed. To my surprise some of the soldiers even nodded my way as well. Did they still recognize me as the awkward, out of his element boy who had spent several weeks just trying to stay out of everyone’s way? Or did they now view me as one of them?

  “Dismount here,” Valka ordered and all of us did so. I somehow managed without falling on my rear. I discovered then that one’s legs, after several hours of being astride a horse, are sore and tight. I hobbled my way after my companions. In no time at all, we stood outside a large, familiar tent. We were ushered in immediately.

  “Lieutenants Valka and Anya reporting, General Torlack, Sir!” Valka and Anya both stood at attention and saluted the massive figure of General Torlack by clenching their fists to their hearts. The General was wearing his black plated armor and standing alone beside the large map I remembered from before. He seemed pleased to see us.

  “Stand at ease and report, Lieutenant Valka.” Valka took a deep breath.

  “General, there is much to report…”

  Lieutenant Valka brought the General up to speed on all that had happened since the day he had ordered us to the Dungeon. He listened attentively. Grunted, when Valka mentioned the night we were attacked by the Slynt. His eyes widened slightly when Valka told him about how Igvild and I had handled ourselves in the Dungeon and he nodded in approval when Valka emptied his spatial sack of every coin and loot drop he carried. Even I was impressed by its size!

  “Well done,” General Torlack said and his grin looked both genuine and intimidating with his Orc tusks gleaming in the tent’s candlelight. “This is more than I or the Graf could have expected. The mercenary captains will be contacted in due time and after the men are settled, we will begin to plan our Spring Campaign against Bludgard!”

  “There is…one more thing, General.” Valka hesitatingly added. He was loathe to spoil the General’s good mood, but some things had to be said.

  “Speak.”

  “Davros has…well, I was given the option of becoming his Follower and I accepted it.” Valka swallowed when he saw General Torlack grin slowly tilt downwards. “Only because it granted bonuses that will make my contributions to the Graf all the greater!” Valka quickly added.

  “I…see. Davros, step forward!”

  I did as the General asked and I had to tilt my head upward to look up into the Brute’s appraising, thoughtful face. After a moment, the General spoke.

  “You impress me, Davros. Only just Awakened, yet you have already gained levels and grown in strength. You have even gained a Follower, it seems!” The General placed a massive hand on my shoulder and I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded my head. “You have also acquired some interesting equipment as well,” Torlack eyed my robe and glanced at Valka who forced an uneasy grin onto his face.

  “It was a Class specific drop,” Valka rasped, his throat suddenly very dry. General Torlack grunted in acknowledgment again.

  “Good. Very good. I will have to rethink how best it will be to use you all during the assault, especially our Pyromancer here. Who can say how strong you will be by Winter’s end? Perhaps I shall leave the Lady Alexandria to you, eh Davros?”

  I wasn’t sure if the General was being serious, but Igvild shifted his feet nervously and I felt Lieutenant Anya stiffen beside me. Then, the General burst out laughing and nervously, I joined him. I was the only one. Then, the Graf swept into the tent.

  “Well now! What is the source of all this merriment, Torlack? Ah! Our Lieutenants have returned with our Pyromancer and Dwarf all in one piece! Excellent! Let us take wine to celebrate this!”

  All of us bowed, even General Torlack and I let out a sigh of relief when Torlack removed his hand from my shoulder. It was like having a heavy stone removed! When I thought about what those hands could do to me if I ever displeased him…I shook my head and accepted a goblet of wine from a servant who had appeared from nowhere.

  The Graf had been out riding with his men. He was a leader who preferred to lead from the front. It was part of what made him so popular with the Czaks. He removed his sword, the cursed one, and delicately hung it on its stand. I moved away from it. Its call to me was even greater than before! I ignored it and pulled down my scarf and cast back my hood to sip the wine.

  Not bad.

  “Well then. A toast!” The graf raised his golden goblet set with multiple gemstones and the rest of us mimicked him. I realized I wasn’t supposed to drink yet and quickly swallowed what I had tasted and hoped nobody had noticed? Igvild winked up at me. “We drink to a quick Winter so that we might begin our march to glory! This Spring shall the Usurper Friedrich remember the promise I made as the Gates of Bludgard were slammed shut behind me. That I would return and reclaim what is mine by right!”

  “To Victory, my Prince!” said General Torlack, raising his goblet higher.

  “To Victory!” Valka and Anya shouted.

  “To Victory!” I said.

  “Aye, to Victory, hehe,” Igvild said and downed his wine in a single gulp. The dwarf directed a subtle glance at the Graf’s sword and then looked back at me with a grin then mouthed the word Nutter. I sipped more wine and ignored him.

  “I also see the spoils of a Dungeon here! My, what interesting drops? Fortune has favored, eh Valka?”

  “Y..Yes, my Prince! The Dungeon yielded us a good haul. All for the glory of Czakovey!” The General eyed Valka’s reddening face from over his wine goblet, but he said nothing. Valka held out his goblet for the servant to refill it and didn’t look in the General’s direction.

  Does the General not know about my high Fortune attribute? Did Valka not tell him?

  I finished my wine, but didn’t ask for more. This was well, as we were dismissed shortly after. The Graf and General Torlack wanted to inventory the Dungeon loot and count what coins remained after purchasing the Mercenary contracts. Gold would be needed for the Winter in Bruhle and I doubted the Graf, given the option, would want to spend cold nights in a tent when he could stay in a warm Inn or stay as the guest of a wealthy Bruhle Merchant.

  It mattered little to me. I wasn’t cold. Igvild and I found a fire to ourselves while Anya and Valka went off somewhere. They had other duties besides shepherding two Awakened, or so Valka had gruffly stated.

  “Igvild?”

  “Yeah?”

  “After the Graf is done with us, where do you think we should go?” I asked. Igvild took a swig from a canteen of vodka he had acquired and seemed to consider the question.

  “Depends. If Bludgard really does fall by the end of the Spring, early Summer, we should head to Kravlov. If we can beat the Orc Horde to its walls, we can get in and find this Trainer of yours. If the Bludgard siege takes longer and the Orcs are likewise laying siege to Kravlov, we will likely have to seek the other Trainer in the Scarred Wastes instead.”

  “What if we reach Kravlov before the Orcs, but then get stuck inside when they arrive?” Igvild nodded, acknowledging my logic.

  “I don’t have a way into Kravlov, save through the Main Gate. Those walls ain’t joke Human made. There is, however, a way one might escape Kravlov without the Orcs knowing. I’ve been there before, ye ken? It’s just an expensive option, is all. Save some coin, aye?”

  I nodded my head. It was as good a plan as any and I trusted Igvild’s experience. I turned my thoughts to other matters.

  “I should head back to Bruhle sooner than later. Get Madame Krait’s Dungeon item.” Igvild snorted and leaned back on his bedroll.

  “Old Madame Krait, aye. You know, I’ve met a few Awakened in my day, lad. She is by far one of the most terrifying. I regret ever needing her help years ago.”

  I leaned forward and regarded Igvild through the flames of our campfire. Igvild was not one who opened up, but I wanted to know more about him and his travels, so I tentatively asked a question.

  “What did she help you with that you regret asking her for?”

  Igvild didn’t answer me at first, only sipped at his canteen. I was about to lean back onto my own bedroll and drop the question, but then he began to speak.

  “I asked her to save a life that wasn’t worth saving.”