Rowan hesitated. It all sounded a bit too good to be true. Was the baron hoping to get his support and eventually reclaim the former Sutton lands? Or was this just a genuine offer to someone blessed by the god that the baron believed in?
“You’re not sure. This is a lot to take in all at once,” Kayden said as if he could read Rowan’s mind.
Rowan nodded.
The baron took a breath in as he looked around the room. His gaze paused on Kayla, who was engaged in a lively conversation with the old woman next to her.
“There, tell me, what did you make of everyone’s reaction to Hero Kayla back in the audience room?”
“It was different than Blake’s reception,” Rowan said. Even now, not a lot of nobles were approaching Kayla. Most opted instead squeeze among the crowd in front of Blake. “But it’s not her Heart Card. The Tower Master seemed happy to take her, and the king complimented the card. If it isn’t that, then it had to be her blessing.”
“Correct. The Goddess who sponsored your friend is… rather infamous. She’s one of the Greater Gods like Sarina, powerful and respected. But people hesitate to even utter her name. Goddess Ziraela is the Goddess of Secrets and Schemes. There’s a myth where those who say her name will find their secrets exposed soon after. So when Hero Kayla was blessed by the goddess, it made the nobles think twice before associating with her, not to mention that the fact that Goddess Ziraela isn’t the patron god of Rhys.”
Rowan noted the fact that the baron had used the goddess’ full name in the conversation. Either he didn’t believe that his secrets would come to light or he didn’t have secrets at all.
“I don’t think anyone has to worry about Kayla scheming or anything. The worst they can expect from her is a broken nose, and that happens right away.”
The baron simply offered up a smile. “The greatest followers of Goddess Ziraela often bear the most disarming of masks. Your friend seems to be doing quite well for herself despite everything. Having the support of the Mage Tower will offer her a lot of leeway, and her card is a powerful one.”
“You mentioned something about a patron god for the kingdom. Who is that? Just so that we’re clear,” Rowan asked.
“Goddess Sarina is the new patron god of the Rhys Kingdom,” Kayden responded. He paused for a fraction of a second before continuing, “The Rhys Kingdom previously believed in a different god. Aristaeus. Unfortunately, he was a Lesser God. And so when the kingdom had the opportunity to be blessed by a Greater God, we leaped at the chance. Sarina has been our patron for a little more than two decades now.”
“But you still follow Aristaeus,” Rowan said.
“I do. As does the House of Sutton. We’re devout followers of Aristaeus, which hasn’t made us many friends at court.” Kayden motioned at the other nobles, who kept sneaking glances at the two of them.
“So it was my blessing? The chaos in the audience room?” Rowan asked. He was starting to get comfortable talking with what seemed like the only normal noble in the whole place.
“It wasn’t just your blessing. Your card too. Aristaeus is the god of soldiers and rural crafts. He’s often seen as someone more practical,” Kayden said.
“And by practical, you mean common.”
The baron sighed. “Spears are a commoner’s weapon. They lack the promise of other weapons. A bow offers more range and safety, and better mobility to boot. Swords offer more damage, and the cards you can build around them are exceptional. Even daggers and axes have their place. Spear wielders are stuck in the middle. Not enough mobility to dance around your foes, not enough defense to bull through hits, and not enough damage to bury enemies quickly.”
“And there’s nothing I can do about it?”
“Usually, a spear pairs reasonably well with a shield, and many knight classes use the two in conjunction to cover both offense and defense. Your card, however…”
“It has a restriction that locks me out of wielding weapons,” Rowan finished the thought.
“Shields are off-hand weapons in the eyes of the system, but weapons nonetheless. This locks you out of options that would have made up for your shortcomings,” Baron Kayden said.
“And I can’t change my Heart Card into a new one?” Rowan asked.
“Gods no. It’s called your Heart Card because it can never be removed. It can grow stronger, sure. And in rare cases, it can be altered. But it cannot be changed,” Kayden said.
“What about spears? There’s never been a successful spear user? Ever?” Rowan asked.
“The best only ever climb to the Rare Tier. There was one such case where a man found a spear that was a powerful artifact, uncovered from the ruins of an old mage tower at the very edges of the frontier. That led him to advance until the upper edge of a Rare Class, level 58 or 59, I forget which. He was lost fighting against the demons. As a hero, you’re expected to rise above the Epic Tier, to reach at least level 60. But no one has ever seen an Epic classed spear user.”
“Okay, fine. But that just means I have a bad card. Life sucks. Boohoo,” Rowan said, venting his frustrations slightly. “The reaction was more than that.”
Instead of answering, the baron poured himself a drink, downed it, and then repeated the process for the second drink.
“Your blessing. Aristaeus isn’t welcome around here. Not anymore. Devout followers of Sarina will see you as a threat to the stability of the kingdom,” Kayden said. “They’d rather scrap your card, like they did all the other spear cards.”
“I’m not talking about that, the knights were —” Rowan paused as a thought occurred to him. Two thoughts, actually. The first was that this was probably not the right place to ask why the knights wanted to kill Blake and Kayla. The second thought was around the new piece of information from Kayden. “What happens when someone dies? Their Heart Card. What happens to it?”
“When something dies, a card in their deck drops at random. That applies to both demons as well as people like us. If you only have one card in your deck, then that card will drop,” Kayden said. He raised his head and looked into Rowan’s eyes. “I know there is much you still don’t understand about the system of our world, and I would be happy to fill you in on the details. But perhaps it’d be better to confirm our relationship before I get myself in trouble for saying too much.”
Rowan took a deep breath and shoved his list of questions down. “So what’s your offer of sponsorship?”
The baron’s smile was soft. “The House of Sutton offers Hero Rowan all the aid our house can give. Including, but not limited to, house cards, adventurers and soldiers under the Sutton banner, and Baron Kayden Sutton himself. In exchange, we ask that Hero Rowan will give us twenty-five percent of his loot.”
Rowan drummed his fingers on the table. “Okay, so one more question, what are my other options?”
“I don’t know if another house would be willing to offer terms like mine,” Kayden said. Rowan silently agreed, especially with the fact that the baron was the only person willing to sit next to him. “The king held a private session with the nobles earlier. He plans to send you out of the capital, one way or another. The alternative to my house sponsorship is to venture out on your own, with whatever title of nobility and a small plot of land our king sees fit to grace you with. Heroes in the past have done that, but only to varying degrees of success. I do not wish to force your hand, but that is the truth.”
Rowan swallowed and looked away from the man, scanning the crowds of nobles clustered around his friends.
Kayden seemed earnest. The baron didn’t need to admit that he’d fallen out of favor. He could have promised a lot more than he could actually offer. Instead, he’d been genuine, and Rowan appreciated that.
Rowan briefly considered haggling, but there wasn’t much more he could think to ask for. Kayden had already promised the full support of his house. As for loot percentages? None of that would matter if he was eaten by some demon. A higher percentage meant more incentive for the baron to train and help him.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“I, Rowan Clairfont, accept.”
—
Over the next few days, Rowan mostly stayed in his room. To say that the kingdom was mistreating him would have been a lie. His meals were delivered, the room itself was large and comfortable, and there was even a bathroom with running water. But when he tried to leave the room, the knights at his door escorted him to the garden and back. Any attempt to go explore the palace or even just find his friends was denied.
So when Rowan heard news that he was going to be sent to the Sutton Barony, he was excited. From stray conversations here and there, he learned more about his destination. For one, it was at the edge of the kingdom, about as far away from the palace as possible. It was also located next to the frontier, the first in line to get hit if demons crossed over.
With the message was also an update about Kayla and Blake, both of whom Rowan hadn’t seen since the feast. Apparently, both heroes would continue living inside the palace, under the direct attention and company of the king. Blake was already training with an Epic-classed paladin while Kayla made the trek to the Mage Tower for tutoring.
As soon as the message was delivered, Rowan found himself escorted with only the clothes on his back to a humble-looking carriage.
The bright spot in all of this was the baron, a smile lit up the man’s rugged features when he caught sight of Rowan.
“Ah, there you are,” Kayden said. “I thought I would be kept waiting much longer.”
That brought Rowan up short. “They only just told me you’re here for me.”
“Is that so?” Kayden’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but Rowan thought the baron looked more resigned than angry. “Well then, may I receive the official notice of the hero’s dispatch to my lands?”
The knight that the baron was addressing cleared his throat and stepped forward. “By leave of the king, the hero, Rowan Clairfont, is hereby to accompany Baron Kayden Sutton to his holdings, where the hero is to receive training and support in preparation for the demon wave.”
“I accept.” Kayden lowered his head. “And I confirm that Hero Rowan Clairfont is now in my charge. I vow on my life to protect him and help him grow in whatever way I can.”
As the two of them got into the carriage, Rowan expected a cramped, uncomfortable affair. The carriage’s exterior certainly inspired no confidence with its boxish look. But there was more than enough space for the two of them inside, and when he sat down, the seats were comfortably plush.
Some surprise must have shown on Rowan’s face. “I may no longer be a duke, but there are some comforts and indignities I refuse to suffer,” Kayden laughed. “I would rather ride on horseback all the way back to my barony than be forced to endure an uncomfortable carriage.”
“How long is the trip?” Rowan asked. “You mentioned that your home is all the way south?”
“If no unpleasantness happens to befall us, then it should take just over a week for us to reach our destination. Do not worry. I promise you won’t be bored,” Kayden said.
If Rowan was a more suspicious man, he would have found that comment alarming. But he got an early glimpse into his future after the baron rapped on the wood and the carriage surged forward. As Rowan sunk into his seat, the baron began a rather innocuous introduction on noble titles.
Barons were at the bottom of the nobility ladder. Above them were viscounts, earls, marquesses, and dukes. Only four dukes existed at any one time, all related to the king directly, and eight marquesses served under them. From there, the web of nobility only expanded, and that was before they ever got into individual noble houses and their connections.
As the sights whipped by outside the carriage, the baron relentlessly explained the nobility in the kingdom, their importance, and how many nobles could lay claim to each station. It was all a land-based system. The kingdom only had so much land, which meant that it could only support so many nobles.
Baron Sutton was one of the few nobles outside of the normal chain of command. Due to his past as a duke, he reported to the king instead of a viscount. And his barony was therefore only subject to the king’s tax.
Kayden would occasionally pause in his explanation and begin quizzing Rowan on what he had said a couple hours ago. The man was relentless. The only moments of peace Rowan got were when he went to sleep. And even then, the carriage never stopped moving. Somehow, the coachmen at the front never needed a break.
Rowan’s head was practically splitting in half when, halfway through the third day, they took a break and the baron urged him to join him outside.
“This isn’t a trap, right? You’re not going to start teaching me about some noble houses’ flower while we’re eating?” Though the forced cramming was unpleasant, Rowan had to admit that he was feeling a lot more comfortable around the baron.
Kayden laughed, shaking his head as he stretched. “No. No more of that. We’re finally far enough away from the capital to do something more interesting.”
Rowan had learned his lesson. He immediately backed up, trying to go back into the carriage. “Nope. No. Can’t make me. The last time you said something like that, you made me run alongside the carriage for an hour while shouting about nobility ranks.”
Unfortunately, Rowan’s attempts to flee were stopped by a firm grip on the back of his shirt. “And now we know that you desperately need to work on your stamina, lad. This is like that, so stop whining.”
“Wait, I have a serious question,” Rowan said. It was alarming how easily Kayden could pick him up. He seemed to have more strength in a single pinkie than Rowan did through his entire body. “The knights, they should have torn through us. There’s no reason why we should be alive right now. Why didn’t they?”
Before answering that question, the baron looked around. They were in the middle of miles and miles of grassy plains, with only two coachmen and a group of riders that were accompanying the carriage.
“Well, there are two reasons why,” Kayden said as he satisfied himself that no one else was around. “The first is that the king never meant for any of the heroes to get hurt, it was meant to scare you and nothing more.”
“Scare us by killing his own guards?”
“Something like that,” Kayden said softly. “The life of commoners isn’t valued in the kingdom. A single Uncommon class is the rival to dozens or even hundreds of Common classes. The second reason is that the palace is placed under a giant formation. One that disables the use of cards and forcibly reduces a person’s stats, the stronger you are, the weaker you become. The only exception to that rule is the king and those that he designates.”
“So our lives were never in danger? Even with the Trial of Blood?” Rowan asked.
“No, that was true danger. If you had failed the trial, you would have died.” Kayden looked into Rowan’s eyes for a second before breaking contact and glancing at the riders. He called over one of them.
“I think we’ve done enough on the mind side of things today. Two points in intelligence in just as many days is a pretty good accomplishment,” Kayden said, steering the conversation to a new topic. “Now, it’s time we start working on your body more. That single point in vitality you got is not good enough.”
“I’d be happy to help Hero Rowan with that.” The rider dismounted from his horse and joined the conversation. The man had a wide grin on his face and even though he looked nothing like the baron, Rowan got the sense that they were cut from the same cloth. “With your permission, of course, baron.”
“This here is Jacob,” Kayden explained. “He’s one of the best swordsmen in my barony. The sword and spear might be different weapons, the basic footwork between the two is the same. If you mess that up, you’ll find yourself on the ground, lad. And you don’t want to be on the ground.”
“Hero Rowan, pleased to meet you,” Jacob said.
Rowan looked at Jacob. Technically, heroes were automatically considered lesser nobility. And technically, Jacob didn’t need to grin so menacingly.
“So how are we going to —”
Like the baron, Jacob wasted no time with pleasantries. A wooden stick materialized in his hand as the lesson began immediately. Rowan was prodded, poked, and pushed into position over and over again. His instructor was exacting in the way Rowan was to bend his knees, how to brace himself, the exact shuffle-step he had to make to maintain a sense of balance regardless of whether he was advancing or retreating.
The lesson went on for days. Or at least it felt that way. Kayden later assured him that he only trained for a total of two hours, but Rowan refused to believe such obvious lies.
It was two days after that, on the fifth day of their journey, that another change took place.
For the second time during their trip, they set up camp. Apparently, even the seemingly indefatigable coachmen needed sleep. And Rowan was starting to get used to his new life. He didn’t need any help to set up his own tent and he’d even argue that it didn’t look crooked… if he tilted his head slightly.
As soon as that was done, Rowan shuffled his way over to the back of the carriage, where he knew Jacob was waiting for that day’s footwork lessons. He didn’t expect to spot the baron there too. Kayden normally watched from a distance by the fire, chuckling quietly with his men and occasionally motioning in the hero’s direction.
“You’re going to train me today? Kayden?” Rowan knew that he should be grateful to the baron. After talking with some of the men, he realized that Kayden was putting his whole house on the line. Nobility was hereditary. The king could downgrade the Kayden to a baron, but he couldn’t kick him out of the ranks of nobility without proper justification. But if anything happened to Rowan, Kayden could forever lose the Sutton name. Even so, the training the past few days, both physical and mental, strained any goodwill that Rowan might have felt.
“If only I were so fortunate. No. We have a good baseline for what you are capable of. The speed at which you can learn. How quickly your body adapts to training,” Kayden said. That was true. Rowan earned a couple points in all of his stats, from strength to dexterity to even wisdom. His body didn’t ache quite as much, and he was capable of enduring much more than before. “Now, it’s time to see just how useful that card of yours is. Give it to him.”
The baron motioned to Jacob, who opened one of the traveling trunks attached to the back of the carriage. He brought out a spear.
Rowan’s breath briefly caught in his throat. The last time he’d wielded a weapon, it was a matter of life and death. He almost flinched as the memory of metal parting skin came to his mind.
And yet, the sight of the spear awakened something in him. A part of him wanted to grab the spear. Badly. He wanted to replicate the feeling of confidence he had with a spear in hand. His mind had cleared. His body had obeyed. Neither had become more, but they both worked better. Like a machine that had just been cleaned of rust and cobwebs.
The baron took the spear and shoved the blunt end into Rowan’s chest. “Take it, lad.”
With shaky hands, Rowan did.
Keen Spear prerequisites met.