"You must be Belus?" The figure across the desk inquired as we entered the room. "You have a child with you?" He added, eyebrows raised.

"My apprentice and ward." I answered sternly. It was the cover story I had worked out with Ren.

Lord Exador, Mage of Turelane seemed to ponder the idea, before shaking his head. "Very well then, shall we get started?" He gestured for the both of us to sit.

We did so and I assured beforehand that Ren was on his best behaviour. Despite that, the boy was looking around the room like a gawking tourist. I gave him a quick fatherly glare and he straightened.

"You were refereed by my current employee. He informed me you are a competent necromancer, yes?" Exador inquired, dubiously.

He was likely sceptical of my abilities, since unlike my associate who currently works for him, I was a relative unknown.

"I am very skilled necromancy, I am capable of raising skeletons, zombies, incorporeal and non-corporeal undead." I sold myself like I was in a job interview, which I kind of was.

Lord Exador was a more free-thinking wizard, he had been recruiting for his army for some time now. One of my associates came to work for him a while ago and found the job pretty decent.

However, he did mention Lord Exador was a bit of a tyrannical iron-fisted ruler. But when you're a necromancer, you try not to judge and take what you can get.

"Okay then, you seem pretty qualified on that front, we can always test your abilities in the field. I just have a few questions." He stated and I nodded for him to continue. "Perfect, do you have any connection to Nysegard or the Storm Lords?" He questioned with narrowed eyes.

I blinked, confounded by the question. "No, but I hope to one day travel there and meet such illustrious figures." I replied honestly, a little giddy.

"Okay, next question. Do you have the ability or intention to become a lich?"

I frowned slightly, wondering where these questions were coming from. "I don't have the ability yet, but immortality is one of my aspirations." I glanced at Ren, realising I hadn't revealed this news to the kid yet.

I should have probably not brought him, but who could babysit him? It's not like he can go to school. I pondered that thought, maybe he could attend a wizard's school.

Exador frowned and I wondered why. Perhaps bringing a child to a job interview was a bad idea? I screwed up there, but I couldn't find a babysitter. Most of my associates were untrustworthy slimeballs I wouldn't trust with a puppy.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush Belus. I don't think you're the right fit for my army. Maybe your apprentice should apply when he comes of age." The flat-out refusal struck me like a lightning bolt.

It was very quick and immediate. I had no clue what I did wrong as he had us removed from his office. The pair of us were on the streets within minutes and I was still shocked.

My friend said this job was a sure thing. Exador was looking for necromancers, yet he turned me down, why? I shook my head, wondering if I should just stay freelance and look elsewhere, maybe out east.

"Dad, did I do something wrong?" Ren asked, on the verge of tears.

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"No my boy, daddy just didn't get the job. But nothing for you to worry about, daddy just wasn't a good fit." My words seemed to mollify the boy.

"I'm sure you will get the next job dad." He said with childlike assurance.

I rubbed his hair and he tried to stop me. It was cute and I just kept doing it. Once I had my fill, we decided to head into town.

I pondered my idea of sending Ren to school and passed the idea on to him. "Ren, do you want to attend a wizards school?" I asked.

The moment the question parsed through the mind of a child, his eyes grew wide. "Really? Can I dad?" He asked, excitedly.

"Sure, just need to find the right one. Perhaps we should head to Freehold and find you a good school. Maybe Exadors rival has one. I heard the man is his equal in conjury." I wondered aloud and the boy brightened.

I had heard of Lenamare the Great but hadn't considered visiting him. Since he was part of the council states. I mean Exador was on the council as well. But he was notoriously known for bending the rules. I'm pretty sure Lenamare published some scathing stuff about him and got Exador censored.

It seemed a petty little revenge to enrol my son into his rival school. But then again, I was a black-hearted necromancer. I looked down at the smiling youth and thought. Well, most of the time.

It took a while to reach Freehold. The place was still pretty distant from Turelane. But we made good time considering we took a flying carpet part of the way. Ren whooped the whole ride, much to the driver's dismay.

But he should of been used to it by now. We soared through the air, the wind in our hair and the pure excitement on my son's face. It quickly became a memory I wouldn't forget.

Getting to Freehold was just a long and tedious carriage ride and soon we were at the gates of the city. The place was grand and strong, with thick walls and probably heavily warded by the council. I wondered casually what would happen if they were switched on.

"Woah, this is Freehold?" Ren excitedly looked around at all the people trying to enter, and the massive walls themselves.

"Yes, it is my boy, Freehold the city of wizards. I haven't been here in a while, so it's good to be back." I nodded, it was.

I mean back then I wasn't a necromancer, just a young dabbling wizard with specific interests.

"How did wizards build a city?" Ren asked, tilting his head.

"Did you forget your history lessons?" I leaned over in the carriage and tickled the boy. He laughed and tried to get away from the tickle monster.

"Sorry dad, I forget. Can you tell me again?" He was probably lying and just wanted me to tell him the story again.

I obliged, I mean why not? "Alright but if you forget again, the tickle monster will be raised from the dead to tickle you from beyond the grave." I loomed over him like a tickle ghost.

"I swear dad."

"Alright, well the wizard's didn't build the city. Although they probably heavily fortified it after they rebelled against the Vargosite Empire." I explained and he nodded.

Recalling the histories and trying to make the story a bit more entertaining than it was, I delivered a thrilling tale.

"Long ago, before the fall of the Vargosite Empire. Their was a city named Yer An, the wizard's their opposed the harsh regulations on Wizardry by the Empire. So much so they rebelled against the mighty empire and renamed the city Freehold." Ren listened, enraptured.

"Then what happened?" He asked.

"Well, as you can imagine the Empire was none to pleased and sent the Rod of Tiernon to march on them." Mentioning them, Ren's eyes went wide.

"Those crazy people!" He exclaimed and I just recalled I may have ranted about them too much, and probably should temper that perspective.

"Yes son, but daddy will admit they aren't all crazy people." I corrected. "The Rod was convinced by the Emperor that Freehold was a stepping stone for a demonic invasion. As you can imagine once the city came under siege and Freehold resisted, the two sides went to negotiations."

"What happened then?" He asked, riveted.

"Well, Freehold managed to convince the Rod that they weren't a bunch of demon worshippers and even established a temple to Tiernon. The emperor immediately got excommunicated and even tried to impose harsh taxes laws on the church, what a fool!" I barked laughter.

"Excommunicated?" Ren wondered aloud.

"It's when a religion deprives or suspends membership of a person in their religion. This conflict eventually lead to the Emperor getting deposed and the Church of Ilania becoming the main religion." I explained. "Funnily enough, by the end of this whole debacle, Freehold gained independence as the Council States and ended up with the largest temple to Tiernon on Norelon."

"So there is a temple in their?" He pointed to the city.

"Yes their is, but it has grown out of favour as of late. Freehold has always been and always will be, a place for wizards." I stated with finality.