‘So when they tried to extort me for the fifth time after killing me once more I planned ahead and made arrangement for vermin poison mixed with bread. Sadly, vermin poison wasn’t for sale but arsenic was. I got the idea from a story my great-grandmother had told me once when she visited the capital city. I’m pretty sure that she was a vampire or a witch to have lived so long but that’s another story. She did look extremely young for her age so magic was involved. I’m getting off track, side effect of dying sorry, so she ran her own bakery back in her own home city of Esing. Then one day she had enough of paying high taxes so she dumped a load of arsenic into her baked bread and made the local nobles sick. Sadly, they threw up the poison so she coopted the local pirates to burn and pillage their fancy palace to the ground. Yes, weird events always seem to happen to our family.’ said Estuko as she was walking next to the Sergeant who was trying his best to both listen to her and keep an eye out for potential dangers on the orders of the King Consort.

The group had made their way through the main gates of the capital city as those watching had their own fill of amusement and began to place bets on which ones would return dead, injured or badly corrupted.

The inclusion of the newest variable had drawn more than a little speculation on the fact that given her clear lack of combat ability she would be either injured and healed or sent back with a minor escort.

The King Consort had always been fair in his sorties to the nearby countryside of the capital city, over the years, the Light of the Goddess Aliza had pushed back the corruption magic from the stronghold of the Dark Lord but even so bandits, rogues, murderers and other elements used it either as a hiding place or worse.

Cultist rituals had been a regular occurrence but the worse of it had been eliminated over time. In truth, to properly mount a sortie against the final stronghold of the deceased Dark Lord would take three essentials, an equipped and trained army, supplies and the ability to carry them across the corrupted lands and lost abandoned battlefields.

The King Consort, despite having the full support of the Queen, in her role as both ruling monarch of Nurburg Kingdom and as Head of the Church of Light and Purity had never even given much thought towards such an endeavour.

After his own family had been killed in the final battle against the Dark Lord he had lost his appetite for glory and death in equal amounts. Mounting a weekly sortie had killed enough but he had quickly made it his immediate priority that all who attended would return alive or at least badly injured and able to be healed. The deaths had been few but hit him harder than he ever cared to mention or share.

‘Madam An’Yu. While I appreciate the fact that you might feel nervous we do need to keep quiet for a little longer. I was tasked by the King Consort to keep you safe and the best way to do so is stay with me and follow where I walk. Corruption magic can take many forms and despite this area being relatively clear there are other threats. Criminal groups forced out of the city often take refuge in the countryside, we simply don’t have enough soldiers to effectively stop them entirely. While you are here under my port-’ said the Sergeant before he was grabbed with one arm and pulled down to the floor as a crossbow bolt shot through the air above where he had been standing.

A chuckle came from behind him as the man fell straight onto the floor into the packed dirt path which had been leading out of the city. A slight lightly armoured hand held the crossbow bolt in one hand holding it mid-air a hand-span away from the face of the old noble accompanied by his two bodyguards.

‘A funny trick, you walk along this well-used path and the bandits, criminals or even heretic cultists place a few traps here and there to try and kill the unwary. Sergeant, I’d say in this case our lovely fresh out of the oven Baker Comrade saved you a flesh wound. No, the tip of it is the problem. They usually coat it in poison in my experience or something with a little more flavour. Compressed corruption at its finest.’ smiled the old noble as he ignored the point of the crossbow bolt so near his face.

One of his bodyguards snapped it in two with a single hand before she sniffed the point of the crossbow bolt and frowned before handing it to her sister and shook her head.

‘Ira. There’s no trace of poison on the bolt, and look at the fletching. This was freshly made, too fresh. Sir Richtson, something is clearly wrong. Even the corrupted usually use abandoned weaponry from the failed war, unless someone has worked out how to trade with the mad things I’d say that we have ourselves an issue. Any ideas Ira?’ said Tess.

The female bodyguard pulled out a weapon in response and simply gave a nod ahead as she raised an arm in the air and attracted the attention of the frontal guard and the King Consort. Then she shook her head at her sister and put the broken bolt away inside a pocket within her leather studded armour.

‘Shut up. We need silence. Immediately, you are here to guard Sir Richtson and the King-Consort. We can discuss this situation later. Good observation little sister, your eyes are keen as ever. Keep them watching for further traps.’ said Tessa.

Her raised arm was immediately picked up on by the old noble who raised his own arm in turn and the signal was carried along the column as each soldier, volunteer and fighter raised their own arm before dropping it and pulling out weapons at the ready.

The column of the sortie had halted as the King Consort at the front held up one hand and soldiers of his personal guard spread out to check and secure the surrounding area. The ones who served with him, both voluntary and involuntary had enough experience of the situation to understand and react accordingly.

The King Consort, turned his horse around and made his own personally designed hand gestures and his soldiers responded immediately. The Sergeant who had been pulled to the floor was lifted up by the young woman Etsuko as she pulled him up with more than a little strength.

‘My thanks Madam, you’re more aware and stronger than you look. And I’m the one meant to look out for you. I owe you a small favour.’ said the Sergeant as he turned and saw the hand gesture from the King Consort as he nodded and holding up one hand moved a few fingers in response.

Even this near the city there are threats? No. the corrupted know better than to approach this close. The magic of the Goddess Aliza would cause them pain. This is the work of bandits or requires further investigation. I need to let Arda know I’ll be late for dinner this time.

The city gates were a fair distance away but there was visible movement on the walls as Light Magic signals appeared on the walls. The main priestess in the column raised her own staff as a ball of light appeared and floated up into the air above her before gently dissipating.

The entire column of soldiers, volunteers and scattering of nobility with their bodyguards halted and weapons were drawn as Etsuko gave a massive sigh. There was further movement from the walls as several balls of light rose from the walls in response and the priestess took a firmer grip on her staff and robes as several of of the King’s own personal soldiers moved into guarding positions around her.

Over time, the King-Consort’s sortie had developed strategies and contingency plans. The number of armed and equipped individuals was enough to fight off a number of corrupted as long as they kept a relative distance. Most of the bandits around the countryside of the city had learn not to directly engage as they were killed, only the most desperate, dangerous or mad had survived.

There had become a truce of a type as bandits killed wandering corrupted and then threw their corpses into piles to be burnt, as long as they didn’t directly destroy farms or took more than a small amount from the farmers in the countryside leeway was given.

The King-Consort had learnt his lesson earlier on when he had been younger and far more enthusiastic, the war against the Dark Lord had ended in a failure for both sides. Monsters and creatures, trained soldiers had been killed and most of the nobility who had joined in the final fight had simply not returned or had been seen wandering as corrupted.

Protect what you can. Don’t try and protect everyone. Keep yourself alive and those under your command and come back home safe. Try your best.

The Queen had patiently explained to him that they simply didn’t have the soldiers or woman power in large enough numbers. to continue to protect farmers, keep the borders protected and continue to patrol the surrounding area and fight off corrupted who had survived and either hibernated or hidden themselves over the years.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The King-Consort, on his horse had more than one reason to ride in the front. He had a decent view, he could see those few scouts under his command also on their own horses and he would take full responsibility for anyone injured or killed.

The entire column had entered a state of silence aside from muttered prayers to the Goddess Aliza, the relative distance from the city wasn’t entirely enough to to stop all sounds but his troops knew enough to stay silent under he issued commands.

In an act of survival and comradeship, the group had largely bonded although there was always one or two who was new who didn’t know how to follow the rules. Not that it meant that they would be punished, the King-Consort had found that when an individual in a group found that everyone around them had suddenly become silent and drawn weapons with attention paid outwards they would follow suit.

With his viewpoint higher up on his horse he took note of the newcomer who had decided that she preferred talking to follow the rest. She would learn quickly, or she would be left behind during the next sortie. Even in his role as the husband of the ruling leader of the Kingdom, outside of the capital city they needed to rely on each other.

I’m not going to let my ego get the best of me. Best to have a quick chat and settle it down before we proceed. Safety first. Always safety first. I’m not going to have a brain-touched or one of suitable potential and power hurt this near the city. Besides, I’m not letting those who bet on her to win. I placed my own wagers after all.

After silently signalling to the scouts positioned on the front, rear and sides of the sortie column the King trotted his horse back to the position that he’d appointed the woman calling herself a technical immortal along with the Sergeant he’d tasked with keeping her safe. In case she was in fact an immortal or a sorceress he’d rather keep on her good side, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d recruited talented individuals to join his sortie.

As he drew closer, two of his personal guard flanked him on both sides and his personal soldiers down the column spread out a little further. After he nodded as his old comrade and ally Richtson and his two twin sister bodyguards he made a hand signal which was returned in like.

Good man Conrad. Getting a little old for this, but at this point I need to take any help I can get. The Council of Six are already questioning my expense for the sorties and Arda needs all the support of that band of vipers she can get.

When he was within talking distance, he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. His own golden armour hadn’t been activated but granted that if would do so of its own accord if a sufficient degree of corruption was encountered he was safe enough.

Obviously the newcomer wasn’t a cultist but her conversation remained odd. More than an a little but he’d appointed the Sergeant to her for a good reason. The man continued to hold a strong streak of paranoia in him after he’d been taken advantage of during previous sorties.

He drew in closer to hear her conversation before he pulled his own horse to a halt, kicking up reddish dust on the heavily worn path leading out of the city as his two personal guard took position next to him on their own mounts.

‘….this is closest to the furthest point I reached last time. There are minor differences with the fact that I saved you from being injured by the crossbow bolt wouldn’t have killed or poisoned you. It was designed to cause minor injuries and slow everyone down, there should be a bunch of other traps but sadly they keep being randomise. I have no clue why some parts stay the same while other change but….are you drawing a sword on me? I just saved you from a crossbow bolt and you’re drawing a sword on me?’ said Etsuko.

The Sergeant stood there silently, nodding to the King-Consort, as he drew a short sword from his scabbard and let it hang loosely at his side. His own hand briefly touched a pouch on his belt, a mixture which he’d purchased from alchemists in the city after being taken advantage of a few too many times.

He was widely known as a kind man, too kind to be a soldier but he’d tried to learn after the King-Consort had given him a little guidance and duly reminded him of his responsibility. He’d never been trained or joined the King Consort’s personal guard or soldiers but had chosen to remain a Sergeant out of old habits.

‘Yes and no. All you have to do is answer a few questions and we move on. I wouldn’t try to make a break for it past me though, the King-Consort is wearing his fancy armour and his two bodyguards are mounted and better armed and trained than me. Oh, and if you think you can make it back to the city gates and try and slip inside, they’ve got strict instructions to shoot anyone who isn’t with our band. I know they think we’re a joke inside the walls but experience had taught us a thing or two about dealing with cultists and bandits. Do you notice how long I’ve been talking for? I don’t do it because I feel nervous and need a good chat, any of your buddies hanging around will get a nice surprise when we pick them up. We’ve been down this road before it you’ll pardon my Miss An’Yu. Now, how would you like to carry on?’ said Sergeant Reinhard as he fingered the pouch on his belt.

The mixture within was nasty enough to even cause a corrupted to bleed from their eyes and he’d practised enough and treated his hands specially before the sortie.

Etsuko was tired of the same conversation, there were minor variances but it was basically the same situation over and over again. She wishes sometimes that she’d rejected the strange man who’d come to her stop dressed in his outlandish clothing and offered her a bowl of fresh noodles to cheer her up.

As far as she was concerned he was either a god, a nice person or a wandering wizard like her great-grandmother was and wanted pure entertainment. She hadn’t expected her wish to come true though as she nursed a bruised face and a broken nose. The criminals who had taken over the racket had hurt her and threatened worse if she didn’t give them more extortion payments.

‘So to clear this up. Hi there King-Consort Ulrich! I know the names of your bodyguards but you’re going to get suspicious so I’m just going to wave. No weapons see!’ said Etsuko as she raised her hands up and slowly turned around in a circle before she dropped to a single knee.

‘I appreciate your service Sergeant Reinhard and I’ve literally just arrived at your sortie for the first time...if you don’t count the last three where I nearly died. I think. As for the arrow, every single time I die and my personal day resets I get a little stronger physically and mentally. I noticed the trap with my eyes which are a whole let better than before. I would suggest that we carry on, there could be further traps ahead but I’ve learnt my lesson and will keep my mouth shut when everyone else stops talking. Sorry, I forgot that rule and I kinda like to talk. Stops me going mad. A little. Actual progress helps more. Would you prefer I surrender my weapons and you bind me with a rope and use me as an autonomous thing to detect for traps? Yeah, I don’t really know what the word means either but I met someone who tried explaining it to me. Give me a second….construct! Treat me like a disposable construct. Just please don’t send me back to the city under escort. Uh, please.’ said Etsuko as she continued to kneel one knee on the reddish soil of the path out of the city.

She’d tried her best to explain her actions but granted that she’d already got enough information regarding the sorties of the King-Consort she had a good handle of how they went. They either sent infiltrators back, used them as bait, or killed them but the latter was unlikely unless they were corrupted cultists.

As she was kneeling she heard a noise, a spluttering sort of sound came from the direction of the King-Consort. Etsuko was aware that he only put on his helmet in direct situations despite the risks, she was counting on a single fact which had taken her a good while to understand.

While the man was entirely devoted to his wife, the Queen ruler, his kingdom, his sortie troop and allies within he still held a single point of weakness which he was never able to overcome.

He had a strange sense of humour and particularly enjoyed interacting with those who were considered outside of normal status. His comradeship with the noble called Conrad Richter was one of those, the man was an oddity for a noble and spent most of his time wandering rougher areas and the merchant districts looking for thieves and cultists to try and harm him.

Got you. Finally. Progress at last. I just need to overcome the ambush and make myself look good while doing so.

The King-Consort’s face turned redder as he struggled to hold in his laughter before he got himself under control and spoke aloud to both the Sergeant and Etsuko.

‘As a newcomer, we have a single rule. Everyone moves together and stops talking together, when one of us spots danger we all stop. As long as you can follow these...I’m sorry Lady An’Yu but can you get off your knee now. We’re in close enough proximity to the city that those watching are going to think I’m either going to behead you or appoint you as a knight.’ said King Consort Ulrich with a bright smile on his face.

Sergeant Reinhard, on hearing the words of the King-Consort simply dropped his fingers from the pouch on his waist, sheathed his sword and walked over to Etsuko before pulling her up off her knee and slapping her on the back.

‘One of us. She’s going to be one of us. Sorry your majesty, I’ll teach her a little. You go back to your tasks. We’re going to get on fine.’ said Sergeant Reinhard as he grabbed on Etsuko’s hand and yanked her forwards with the other hand placing a finger on his lips.