At Least if Asser does not show up it is probably for his death” Edmure said.

The two youths were in the yard surrounding the old man's tower which stood separately but surrounded by the castle. Eathelred had given it to the Medicus so that he had enough room for his various experiments, and because there were enough buildings unused.

Halfway to the tower Eathel, heard fluttering above him looking up he saw a black dove flying from the window, surely to one of Assers colleagues across the green Mountains. “It seems, he will not waste our time”

They entered the tower, the ground floor was nothing out of the ordinary but the higher they ascended the more foreign and strange the contraptions and the various artifacts from around the nine Islands.

The two boys arrived before a wooden door which barred them entry into the fifth floor and into Assers most private sanctum. “Come In” came the old man's voice from the inside. “the door is open”

Eathel got a tiny static shock after he touched the door handle and the air around him smelled ionized afterwards. The boy endured it and opened the door still holding the zapping door handle. He already got annoyed again by the games his teachers were playing with him on this day.

Inside sat the old man at a large table shaking his head, but eathel saw some respect in his eyes. Looking around the room he saw strange contraptions: a tube looking into the heavens, a shield not much larger than a closed fist, swords curved, daggers woven around themself, tools for mathematical measurements he had not seen before.

“Come sit” said Asser while gesturing towards two stools at his table. Both boys followed the invitation. On the table was an intricate map of the nine Islands. The old man started to tell them about the political system of the Empire.

Each island is a kingdom in its own right. The kings were ruled by an emperor voted from their midst although for several hundred years the emperor was always from the falkcastle family.

Their rule was so absolut that it was unimaginable for anyone else to take it away from them, they had the largest army as well as the largest fleet, over the time the security which that brought had also made their kingdom the most prosperous.

Eathel was bored, his thoughts swirling around, he thought about grand adventures, slaying dragons, merfolk and other mythical beasts. He did not voice his complaint for the sake of Edmure who might not know the political landscape as thourough.

His friend was also bored, knowing more about politics than most anyone in the Last, with his father, the lord, and maybe Asser as exceptions.

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“Our Island is ruled by good King William.” Asser said he finally noticed the bored Eathel staring out of the window. “This is important not only because he is your king but also because he is your direct Liege once you Inherit”

“I do already know all of this, his crests are two blue lions on yellow ground, his house's words are We will conquer. Do you need me to tell you about all his ancestors so that you may tell us something interesting” normally eathel did not have outbursts like this, but the day was not halfway over and he was already thoroughly annoyed.

“Oh you would rather hear of dragons, beasts which lust after noble blood who would prefer nothing more than to eat you until only bones are left, or about kraken who attack lonely ships dragging them to the depths, with only one tentacle, to feed on the unfortunate souls.” the old man looked at Eathel with an unknown fury in his eyes. “Or about the Merfolk who would drag defenseless children and virgin women to their black altars beneath the waves to sacrifice them to their dark gods”.

Edmure rolled his eyes while the old man's attention was fixated on his friend. Eathel was not as quick to dismiss the tales of the medicus.

“Have you also heard about men cloaked in leaves, and their heads crowned with antlers?” he asked with a quiet voice.

“Just because there are depictions of demons in your religious book does not mean that every monster is real,” said Asser.

“It is not because of the book,” said Eathel in an effort to defend himself.

The medicus looked into the eyes of the young boy for half an eternity.

“Every person your age has their secrets” the old man said and let out a sigh. He stood up from his chair, closed the window lids and returned to his sitting place.

After seeing the perplexed looks of the teenagers he said “You can not be too careful in matters the disciples have deemed sacrilegious” after a long pause where Eathel thought the medicus had fallen asleep, the old man began to tell them.

“The Horned men are like any other creature of myth long extinct, they were exterminated during the fourth human invasion of the Isles. There are some preposterous rumors that they hide in the deep parts of the last primordial forests. With them gone their magic, for which your ancestors paid a terrible price, just to have a fighting chance against the disciples and mageknights rampaging, disappeared. Our people only survived in the remote parts of the Island. “

“What was the price?”Asked Edmure.

“mageflour: the bones of the magically inclined, ground to fine grain” Asser said with a smile “this is also the reason they were going after the first with such viscousness, many of their families were processed and sold to uncaring demons” seeing the boys both disturbed. “Is that more interesting to you”

They sat in the dark room which was only illuminated by a few candles, the shadows they cast were dancing on their faces. After a while of silence Asser started talking, sure that he would not be interrupted again. “This barony, huge as it is, has only two neighbors, your uncle across the mountains, who got his county gifted to him after saving Richards the duke of Wardes life.”

Eathel started to ignore the old man again, contemplating if he should still seek the dream messenger out.