image [https://imgur.com/a/jaiV1JE]image [https://imgur.com/a/jaiV1JE]image [
map]image [map]image [https://i.imgur.com/bD9cZnT.png]Today is a great day, the start of my first real job. My uncle arranged this for me, he is an ambassador himself. I start as a royal messenger, it's a splendid task because you get to travel and the state pays for it. My older brother is a carrier too and he told me lots of stories about visiting warm islands in the south. Hopefully I get to go there too. It's also an important job, they only use royal carriers for confidential information of high importance. My best friend Baldric will travel with me, he is older and works as a guard, so he will escort me. Our first task is to deliver a scroll to a representative of the Ocilon empire, about 2 weeks and a half travel from here. It will be exciting. I have never been outside of the northern lands, in fact I've barely even left the city ever since I moved here as a child. It was a difficult decision to make but it was necessary, although I'm sure my uncle would've been delighted to have me work with him, I desire to explore the world. I can always settle down later, when I'm old. First I should visit my uncle to say goodbye.
Kilian, good to see you my boy. I was most pleased hearing the news. It seems like only yesterday that you arrived in my house, you were just a small boy, and look at you now, you've grown so tall. It will be a lot quieter here without you and your friends around. But before you go I have prepared a gift, when your brother left I too gave him such a gift. Here, open it.
Kilian opens the long wooden box. Inside it is a large sword with a gem encrusted above the hilt.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
It's a frost enchanted sword, expertly crafted. Usually only noble warriors can afford these. For you, to protect you on your journey. You will need to get used to the enchantment, but it's fine for regular armed combat like you've been used to all your life. Your father would've been proud of you Kilian, and your mother too. They always spoke to me about how you were destined to do great things.
Wow. Thank you uncle! I will carry it with honor! Kilian hugs his uncle and then he leaves.
Time to pick up Baldric. He lives near me, but in a smaller wooden house. We've been friends for as long as I can remember. We both survived raids on our villages as children. Growing up we had a hard time fitting in because we were used to a different culture and we spoke with a different accent. That naturally drew us to each other. One of my earliest memories of our friendship is going ice-skating at a frozen lake as kids. It was the first ice of the winter and I was so excited I had gone early, Baldric hadn't arrived yet. Because it was the first ice it was quite thin and not most people avoided skating on it. Evidently a crack had formed and a larger group of kids had tried to push me into it but I managed to stabilise myself without falling in. But they were determined to get me into that pool so they started to chase me and when they caught me they tried to drag me into the water. It was 3 against one so I stood no chance although I tried my best to break free. Then I could feel the ice vibrate as Baldric started running at them, even then he was already quite built for his age, he picked up the largest kid and threw him right into the ice. The other 2 ran away, I will never forget that they didn't even help their friend get out of the water. Baldric had always been less well off so he couldn't afford proper ice-skates, but I had my uncle buy him a pair. We always helped each other out like that. He's such a close friend. My uncle called him a family member, we see each other pretty much daily. Baldric! Today is the day, let's get going! Look what I got from your uncle Kilian.
Baldric reveals a massive shield, in the center is a purple gem. It's a shield with anti magic properties! This will make guarding so much easier! Baldric's adoptive parents were never that well off, and Baldric often stayed with Kilian and his uncle, he was practically extended family. Well let's get going. I packed a ton of spirits for us!
Spirits?! We can't live on that, what about food! Sure, there's some food too! But we can get food anywhere, but the finest spirits only exist here! Baldric was never a particularly good planner, so Kilian makes sure to stock up on dried food for travel as well.
Then they leave, the kings delegates have given them 2 horses, they are strong and excellent runners. First they will travel by ship to the small port town of Pinehalt. From there they will travel by horse to the Ocilon empire, it should take about 2 weeks.