Victory!

XP Gained: +300

XP: 11 100 -> 11 400

Quest Complete: Noble Problems

XP Gained: +100

XP: 11 400 -> 11 700

The third body dropped while Adam sheathed his axe, placing Wraith at his side. He glanced towards the Baron, resting his elbow between his axe and himself, and raised his brows.

Jurot had defeated Charles with little effort, and considering the old man was an Expert, it was quite a feat. Kitool fought next, facing against a pair of opponents who were quite tough, not quite Experts, but decent. With Tigerstaff in hand, she was unstoppable, dropping the pair before they could even cut her clothing.

Jaygak fought after the unarmoured Iyrmen, facing a mercenary who was taller and wider than her. He was adorned in thick chains, and wielded a giant axe, one which could have sliced a boar as though he were slicing an onion. Against his giant axe, her armour had some trouble to deal with his blows, but Jaygak, too, was an Iyrman. Though the axe had forced her back, with Great Moon in hand, Jaygak managed to defeat the mercenary with some effort.

‘I should have used my shield,’ the Iyrman had thought, though she also wanted to show off.

Adam had fought next, facing against three individuals who were all weaker than the others who had fought, but had already long finished with basic training. They had barely a chance to defend themselves when the storm known as Adam had come upon them. He knocked one away with a mighty swing, side stepped another’s blow before beating him unconscious, finally spinning and striking the last with the back of his axe.

The baron clapped his hands, flashing the widest smile towards the four newcomers. If it was them, then there was no doubt he could finally extend his reach. “Wonderful! How wonderful! With such great warriors in my employ, those wicked fiends stand no chance!” Kegan Rockcastle laughed with glee.

‘I guess we passed,’ Adam thought.

“Wonderful!” The baron nodded to his knights. “I believe all those who have arrived are great enough to form an army. You will all be paid a gold for each day, doubled for those who have shown themselves to be skilled.”

One gold a day? Two gold for those who were skilled? Some of the eager youth smiled, for a gold per day was stellar pay. However, those who were not quite so young understood that they were being robbed.

Baron Kegan raised a finger upwards, catching everyone’s attention. “I will receive one tenth of all the spoils, but the rest will be split equally among everyone else, with the greatest mercenaries receiving a double share.”

Suddenly, the mercenaries straightened up, flashing greedy smiles. This was completely different from what they had originally expected. It was more than typical for the lord to claim at least half the loot, but only one tenth? That meant their share had essentially doubled. No, not quite. Typically some of the better mercenaries would share more between themselves, but if the difference was only up to double, then that meant there would be more spoils for them, and they wouldn’t be hyenas who would lick across the scraps on the bone.

‘Will he give us a letter if we do well?’ Adam thought, not interested in the spoils one bit.

“With your assistance, surely the people of my land will be able to thrive. They will remember you always as great heroes, those who came in times of darkness as their light, to wash away the shadows with hope!” Baron Kegan grinned wide, all the while wondering how lovely the title of count would be.

The mercenaries swiftly gathered within their groups, each discussing loudly how to split everything between themselves. The eager youths weren’t sure why everyone was so excited, not yet understanding the worth of loot in comparison to gold.

Baron Kegan circled around from group to group, informing of them of their rate of pay, while also praising them for their wisdom in joining him. He approached Adam’s group, eyeing them up as they stretched out their bodies and yawned. One of them, a Volar like them all, though handsome and with pointy ears, was deep in thought.

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‘Our armour should be fine, right? They wouldn’t try to steal it, would they? If we wore our armour, we’d get into trouble, but without it we should be able to get into less fights? Jurot threatened them, but maybe they thought he was bluffing?’

“You all seem so powerful,” Kegan Rockcastle stated, still flashing a charming smile. “I hope that two gold to each of you each day, and a double share, is good enough for such fine warriors.”

“It seems fine, though we’re also interested in a letter of recommendation,” Adam replied, unable to control his mouth.

“If you work well, a letter is a small issue,” the baron assured, smiling towards the keys of his success. “I have noticed that your weapons are great.”

“Sure, though the last time a-,”

Jaygak elbowed Adam, trying to get him to stop talking. She gave him a look, the look that had stated he was meant to be quiet, and yet somehow he kept on talking?

“Are you the leader of the party?” the baron asked, noticing how Jaygak was trying to keep him in line.

“I was, though my big mouth kept getting us into trouble,” Adam replied, chuckling lightly as his cheeks filled with heat.

“May I?” Baron Kegan held out his hand.

Adam pulled up Wraith, noting how the knights tensed up, before he spun the axe and offered the baron the handle. His eyes fell towards the knights, his lips forming the gentlest of smirks. He had no doubt that they could probably deal with the knights, and the baron, even though they weren’t at their best, and while wearing such little armour.

The baron clasped the axe, almost dropping it as the magic filled through his hand, flashing up his arm, causing him to tingle. His heart thundered within his chest, and his eyes widened slightly. There was no doubt that this axe, like all the other weapons they wielded, were artefacts.

“How did you come across such fine weapons?”

“Fortune,” Jurot swiftly stated.

The baron held the weapon for a few moments, before he returned the axe back to Adam. He continued to hold the other magical weapons one by one.

“We will be leaving tomorrow, so prepare yourselves appropriately,” the baron said once he had managed to clam himself, though his heart continued to pound heavily. “We will clear out the local area of the beasts and monsters which have plagued the land. If you are able to do so well, we may be able to conquer the crypt.”

“Crypt?” Adam asked, his leaf shaped ears twitching slightly.

“An ancient tomb to some ancient hero or horror,” Baron Kegan said. “If it is an ancient hero, then it is a shame, but the world requires such great treasures to keep it safe. If it is an ancient horror, then it is all the better.”

Adam wondered if the loot would be split in the same way for the ancient crypt too, but he decided against asking. “Is there a contract we have to sign?”

“A verbal agreement with a noble is enough,” the baron stated, flashing a charming smile. “I am certain you will not break such a deal.”

‘It’s not about us…’ Adam looked towards Jaygak, smiling towards her. His eyes were beaming like a boy.

Jaygak slowly nodded her head, glad that he had held back from getting them killed. Adam had grown cocky since they hadn’t come across anything which had proved to be a great threat, and he had forgotten the Iyr’s warning.

“We have had some issues with nobles not keeping their promises,” Jurot said.

Adam glanced towards Jurot in shock, surprised he was the one to mention it. ‘Jurot, are you trying to get us killed?’

Jaygak and Kitool exchanged looks, before their eyes fell back to the knights beside the noble.

“Who do you think you are?” one of the knights growled, shifting his stance towards the Iyrman.

“I am Jurot.”

“And who gave you permission to belittle the baron?” the knight asked, standing straighter, a menacing aura emanating from the warrior in full plate.

Jurot tilted his head slightly, cracking his neck. “I am not given permission. I take it, by blood and steel.”

‘What is this crazy bastard saying?’ The knight reached for his blade. “Your words against the baron are-,”

“I’ll warn you the same as I warned the other noble,” Adam said. “Your knight draws his blade, and you’ll need to find another knight.”

The baron raised a hand towards his knight. “Now, now. It would not be good for misunderstandings to arise while we’re about to rid the land of great evils. Whatever petty, mortal, issues we have, they are but small before the greater evils, those of the night.”

Baron Kegan wasn’t sure why his knight was trying to start a bother with those who carried such artefacts. They were the keys to his plan, those who were going to lead the charge into making him a count, and perhaps, a true king. Not just one of those little brats, the petty kings that were barons but pretended to be more. No, he would have influence over so many others with their help.

‘They must be the children of nobles from another land. No doubt they’re from a land which had pushed back the darkness and have formed greater nobility. Are they exploring these lands to gain fame and fortune, or are they the undisciplined lot to be punished? Sun Father, help me.’

He hoped they were the former, so he could ask them for advice on rallying the realm together. He wouldn’t mind their assistance in helping him to become a king, even if it meant bending the knee. Once he had established his realm, he could work on rallying the land against the outside threat for their independence.