“Whoa,” Adam whispered, staring at Deadwood.

The town was huge, surrounded by large black trees, which stood like statues, each spaced twenty metres apart. They were a second wall in front of the stone wall which surrounded the town. Near the side of the town, towards where it met the hills, was a large tree, one which could be seen even from where they stood.

“Those are the Deadwood,” Paul said. “When the town is threatened, they can be called to defend it.”

“That’s even cooler than I thought. I thought it would be like Red Oak, but to think that the Deadwood can be awakened…” Adam whistled.

“They do possess wood from the Deadwood, but it is extremely rare,” Jurot said. “Red Oak can be grown well over the generations, but there is only a single Deadwood tree, which is unlike those guardians. When the branches and twigs fall, they are able to procure the wood. If someone were to forcibly remove a branch, it would never grow again.”

‘This fantasy world is so cool,’ Adam thought. “This world is way cooler than last time. Now that I think about it, was there Deadwood last time?” Adam squinted, thinking deeply. ‘No, hold on, the entire world is different.’

The others had tuned him out, unsure of whether he was crazy, sick, or both.

The Iyrmen, on the other hand, paid closer attention to him, especially Aizaban and Lanban, purely because Jurot seemed to believe his words. Jurot wasn’t known for his intelligence, but he was still an Iyrman, and it would have been difficult for Adam to convince him of such madness. There was also the fact that Adam had been welcomed as a Nephew of the family, which meant there was a level of trust between he and the family.

As they approached the gates, the Guards held out a hand for them to stop. They wore chain mail, with black tabards over their armour. The sigil of Deadwood, a long, thin tree with no leaves, was printed into the cloth. They wielded spears in hand, and there was a shield which was half tied to their side.

“Halt,” a Guard said, their eyes scanning the group, before they noted a peculiar form. It was a man who wore breast plate, stamped with the sigil of Red Oak, their ancient rivals.

Sir Merrick, noting that they had noticed his sigil, raised his voice. “Sir Merrick Crimsonwood, Seventh Branch of the Oakguard!” he declared. “Accompanying Sir Harvey, High Alchemist of Red Oak!”

The pair of Guard glanced between one another, understanding that this situation was above their pay grade. “Do you have your papers?”

Sir Merrick stepped forward, producing the papers, and revealed two identity plates too, which the Guards took around back to double check.

“They’re quite thorough,” Adam said. He had recalled the time when they had to go past South Fort, and it was about as thorough as this.

“They’re claiming to be an Oakguard and a High Alchemist so they must show proof,” Paul said.

“What about you?” Adam asked. “Aren’t you the Vice Master?”

“Yes, and I’m sure they’ve recognised me, but I am not here as Vice Master Paul, but Paul, the Silver Rank Adventurer.”

“Thank you for waiting, good Sirs,” the Guards said as they returned, bringing with them four more of their companions. “An escort to guide you to the manor in which you’ll be staying.”

Sir Merrick nodded.

The four Guards noted the pair of Iyrmen, and remained on full alert as they marched through the main road of the town. Many of the buildings were made of wood, most of them small shacks stacked two or three high, though Adam noted a few buildings which were stacked four or five high, though they were sprinkled through the town.

The bustling streets very quickly gave way to the Guards and the group which had arrived, causing all sorts to point and gossip between one another, whereas young urchins slipped away into the shadows, going to inform their various masters of the newcomers.

They slipped away from the main road, and were led to a different district, where there was an inner wall separating it away from the riff raff. The Guards quickly chatted, before the group were led into a district where the buildings were built sparsely apart, with their own walls, forming estates.

The Guards walked up to an estate with its own pair of Guards, each who wore a single breast plate, and carried with them a spear, and a blade at their side.

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“Sir Harvey, High Alchemist of Red Oak,” a Guard stated, introducing their charge.

The estate Guards stamped their boots and raised their spears, before slamming their spears down. With that, the four Guards led them into the estate, which included a small yard upfront, and a single building, which hid the buildings where the help lived behind it.

The building was built three stories high, and easily held fifty or sixty of the shacks he had seen previously. As they entered, a Manservant approached them, quickly taking the cloak from the High Alchemist, before leading him away. Another dozen Servants appeared, each ready to assist their new guests.

“We get to stay here?” Adam asked, glancing all around the building. The room they were in had a large staircase ahead of them, and was spacious enough for at least fifty people to relax in quite comfortably.

“The High Alchemist of Red Oak is always welcome in Deadwood,” a Servant said.

Adam whistled as the Servant tried to assist him, but he placed a hand up. “I like my stuff with me,” he said. “If I was an Alchemist, would I be treated just as well if I came to this town?”

“If you were a High Alchemist,” the Servant said, stepping back a respectful distance, staring at the man in puthral armour.

“Well, I’m only a blunt away,” Adam said.

The Servant blinked at him. “We don’t allow drugs within the estate.”

“How else is a Half Elf meant to have fun?” Adam asked, removing his helmet, revealing his pointed ears to the Servants.

Most of them avoided looking at him, and even the Servant who had been so eager to assist, glanced away.

‘I’m not that ugly, am I?’

Adam and the rest of Fate’s Golden were led to their own rooms, some way away from Sir Merrick and the High Alchemist. Once he was in his room, he slipped out of his armour, before partaking in the one thing he truly wished to do when he had arrived into town.

He sighed, feeling the hot water all over his body as he slipped into the bath. “Oh yeah,” he said, grabbing some soap from the Servant beside him, before rubbing his chest. He jerked, the water splashing all about as he stared at the Servant who had followed him in. “What are you doing?” Adam cried.

“I am here to assist you with your bath,” the Servant said.

“No! No thank you!” Adam stared up at the Servant, full of shock. He hadn’t noticed the Servant, as though they didn’t exist. “Out!”

The Servant bowed his head and quickly slipped away, leaving the towel and a fresh pair of clothing for him near the bath on a cabinet.

‘Was he there the entire time?’ Adam wondered. He sunk into the bath. ‘My innocence!’

Once he was done, with the fatigue of travel having left his muscles, he made his way into his room, wearing his new set of clothing. He kept a close eye on the Servant. “Hey, I don’t need you around, so you can just leave.”

“I am here to assist you with whatever you need,” the Servant said.

“I need you to get the fuck outta my room,” Adam said, staring at the Servant, who bowed his head, and left. It was weird for someone to attend to him, especially someone who was probably gleaning information about him to send to his master.

Eventually, dinner was served, with Sir Merrick and Sir Harvey eating with the Commoners. The Servants had prepared elaborate meals for the pair of Nobles, as well as Dunes, though the meals for the Commoners wasn’t so bad.

‘Traitor,’ Adam thought, looking at how well Dunes was being treated. ‘I should have expected the Priest to be one of them.’

Adam ate his food slowly, tasting each different flavour of the various fruits and vegetables, as well as the meat. He also noticed how Paul had cut part of the meat served to him and had placed it at the far edge of his plate, which Aizaban quickly swiped to eat. ‘Look at those two, flirting in public. An utter disgrace.’

“We will remain here for three days,” Sir Harvey said, once most of the food had been eaten. “I will be assisting the Countess with some matters.”

“As long as we get paid,” Adam said, smirking up at him as the Servants began to replace the dishes with dessert. “What do you guys think? It’s not so bad, is it?” He smirked to the rest of his party.

“You were going to go without us to a place like this?” Dunes asked, dabbing his lips with a fresh handkerchief. “You pretend to care about us just so you can have fun.”

“You can say that after the greatest Knight in the North attacks you,” Adam asid.

“Ah, right,” Dunes replied, trying to not break a smile.

“Since we have two Iyrmen from the Ban family, I’m not worried,” Adam said. “Though the dragon might pose an issue.” Adam noted the Servants nearby, who were pretending to not listen to their conversation.

“How do you know there will be a dragon?” Dunes asked, taking a sip of his wine.

“I don’t know if there will be a dragon,” Adam admitted. “That’s not up to me, really.”

“Why do you think there will be a dragon?” Dunes asked.

Adam smiled, wondering how he should respond. “Well, why wouldn’t there be a dragon?”

“Dragons don’t appear randomly, Adam,” Dunes said. “How many dragons have you come across so far that it’s a common occurrence for you?”

Adam threw a look to Jurot, trying to hide his smile. “Well, let’s say I have met more than zero dragons in my time.”

Dunes blinked at Adam, unable to sip any more of his wine. “You’ve met a dragon?”

“At least one,” Adam said, winking at the Priest.

Dunes looked to Jurot, then back to Adam. “Who was it?”

“Are dragons so common that you know them by name?” Adam asked.

“There are many dragons who are active around this region. There are a few within Aswadasad, and I know that Queen Silvari rules the Drakken Kingdom to the north of Aldland.”

“Well, I’m not sure I should be giving out names of the dragons I know so willy nilly, but let’s say I’ve met at least one.”

“It’s very convenient for you to say that. I could say that I have met a dragon and not mention their name.”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Jurot,” Adam said.

Dunes looked to Jurot again, who nodded. ‘Do I have to get used to this too?’ He cleared his throat. “So why do you know that a dragon might show up?”

“Fate,” Adam replied.

Dunes stared at Adam for a long moment. “I need some more wine.”