The next one and half years passed by in muscle pain, Father had not been joking when he told me he could get me into shape before my fifteenth birthday. So now with just a little more than four months left. I was starting to get my gear in order and sometime around my birthday I was going to set out on my own. Thorgrim and Helga would teleport back to the dwarven mountains and I would travel there by ship and horse. I knew it was not such a big thing, but for me it was a great adventure. Helga was worried about me, but Thorgrim told her it would be okay, and that there were lots of guard patrols between the capital and the closest dwarven trading post.

A Lot of our stuff would leave before us and father had made a deal with my uncle and two more mages from his house. Aldrin had promised me to show me the spell. One of the reasons they were moving back was that I was going to become a big brother. Helga was still in the beginning of her pregnancy and they both were really worried. Everything just had to be perfect, I think Helga had asked me what name the child should have a thousand times by now. My answer had been Alrik if it were a boy and Yrsa if it were a girl.

But a week later she asked what names they should have if it was twins. So with a deep sigh I answered Alrik and Ulrik. And if it were girls Yrsa and Inga. But if there were even more children she was on her own.

The days slowly dragged on and I made sure that Midnight and Daylight's saddle and equipment was in good condition. Midnight was my black warhorse and daylight was a light palomino coloured riding horse that also served as my pack horse. Thorgrim with his great experience had made me a list of things to get when I arrived at the capital.

Tent

Bedroll

Flint and steel

At least 50 ft long rope

Spices for cooking

A good bag

A keg of mead (the bigger the better)

The last one he swore on his beard was essential for a successful career as an adventurer.

The weapons was well maintained, and I had a dagger, my magical longsword and a new longbow with 20 arrows. There was also a small hand axe for wood strapped to one of the saddlebags.

We were just about finished with the armor, the only thing left was fitting it, that would be done after I turned fifteen and got my class. Thorgrim had informed me that everyone got five attribute points to distribute after they had chosen a class.

If I were to put my points into strength and constitution I would likely gain some mass.

That was why we were waiting. Anyway my armor was a thing of beauty, it was a mix of chainmail and leather reinforced with steel. First I pulled on one of my two arming jackets, then my chain mail and then came greaves and braces made in leather, and lastly the leather armor with the chest piece reinforced with steel plates on the inside. Everything together weighed around 22kg and I was really proud of it. Thorgrim said it came out okay, but nothing to write home about. Still I could see he was proud of my work even though it was he who more or less told me what to do. The leather was dark brown to help with stealth in the forest, it made some sound but was relatively quiet armor.

Aldrin had given Belinda an enchanted collar that would cast an illusion on her so she would appear as a young wolf. Luckily she was still quite small, only 3ft long head to tail, and with a height of 2 ft at the shoulders. The enchantment would not hold up to any big identify spells, but should protect her from most low level spells. He also gave me one spell and a cantrip that I should learn before setting out. The spell was Identify and if you cast it on an item you would get information about it. The cantrip was nothing special but would create water and could save my lift, it would create around a litre of water. I felt that I was as ready as I could possibly be.

I was in the training field with Belinda who was looking on while I was training in my chainmail. Thorgrim in all his wisdom and with an evil grin had told me to do all the usual training but with my chainmail on. This was to get accustomed to the weight and restriction of moving in armor. And me the young fool that I am, had loved the idea of a chance to wear it. I had even thrown in a few suggestions that he had accepted with a grave nod before heading into the smithy. After fifteen minutes of training I started to curse my own foolishness and the gods for allowing the dwarven race to exist.

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It was at the end of my training that I heard Thorgrim roaring in anger so loud I first thought a bear had made its way into the smithy.

"THAT FUCKING PALADIN!"

I looked over at Belinda in surprise, then I ran over to the smithy. Totally forgetting the weight I was carrying. When I came around the side of our house I saw three horses with two guards in royal tabards nervously shooting glances at the door leading to the smithy. Even though Thorgrim was no longer roaring I could hear angry voices coming from there. I made my way over and glanced inside. A man in a arming jacket with the rank of captain in royal army displayed on it stood inside facing father who held his smithing hammer as if to strike him down.

" Uh… is everything alright in here?"

Both men turned to look at me, and their steely gazes fell on me. It felt like two wild animals were about to hunt me down and then fight over my corpse.

"Well don't mind me, I'm obviously interrupting something important. I will just get some water or something for the guards outside."

I turned around as fast as I could, and was just about to run away.

"Lad get in here!"

I froze in mid step.

"Damn"

I whispered, before turning and walking inside.

The warmth from inside the smithy hit me in the face, but I barely registered the heat. I was in another kind of hell with these two eying me.

"Father, sir?"

I nodded to Thorgrim then held out my hand in greeting to the captain. He smiled and shook it.

"Captain Anders of the royal army my Lord."

"No sorry sir, what I meant to say is I'm no Lord."

The Captain was not a small man standing at

6.1ft still I was surprised that I was looking down on him. He had short cropped brown hair and a ducktail beard. He was lean and fit that told more of a life in the field than in ballrooms.

"You are Elric Silveraxe right?"

"Oh sorry, yes I am."

He took two scrolls that lay on the table and gave them to me. I had missed them before, and with a questioning look at my at took them. One was of obvius higher quality then the other so I unfurled that one first and started to read. It was a contract and the deed to the lands of mistwoods. The contract stated that Thorgrim Silveraxe, King of the Dwarfs had bought the rights to grant the newly created barony to his foster son Elric Silveraxe if he swore to serve the kingdom of Astrana's interest and also swore fealty to the crown. The price was that my father had to provide five hundred sets of heavy Infantry armor with one sword and shield to each set. The total value of one set could not be lower than three hundred gold.

I gaped at Thorgrim in disbelief, one hundred and fifty thousand gold. He was giving me a gift I would never be able to repay.

"Don't stare at me like a fool, you are worth it and more. Take the deed if you want it, it was going to be your birthday gift anyway when you made it to the mountains."

"But father, I heard your anger and I understand why, this is a lot of money. This will ruin you!"

He just shook his head and smiled.

"Elric, I could probably do the five hundred sets myself in a year or two. And that is just one grandmaster working, there are a bunch of us up in the mountains and at least half would help me if I asked. Not to say anything about the workplaces, the equipment we have here is really basic and I only bought it for you to have a place to learn the profession. And the bonuses you get as a master and grandmaster in any skill is no joking matter. The reason for my anger to boilover was the second scroll."

I looked down at the second scroll and unfurled it after carefully placing the first one on the table.

As I read it, I could see why he was angry. And I started to wonder if the king and his son had gone mad. It read as following.

Hail Lord Elric

Good health to you and I hope Shyann smiles upon you. I'm sorry to bring you ill tidings of a threat to our realm. The Empire to the east is stirring up and is making treats. Our spies reported an increase in soldiers and supplies going to the two legions stationed outside the provincial capital Breva. We don't know if they are planning on fighting with the ever growing number of orcs and goblins to the north or if it is the elfs to the south of Astrana that will feel the wrath of the empire. But our fear is that we are the target.

As you might know by now, the western island is without a leader since Count Osvald of house Kevin the last of his line, died a few years back.

You are as of now the only landowning noble on the island. So I hear by order you to take over the seat in Kevin's Castle and from there rule the western island until a governor or some nobel can be found to replace you. You are also to secure the city and it's harbour so no empire brigands can easily take over the island. Since it is a big city we also want you to get the city guard roster strengthened so it at least have two hundred guards armed and ready. And last but by no means the least you are to rise two companies ready to be shipped over to the capital if the empire were to attack.

I know you are young and untested so to help you I have sent captain Anders to help you and train the soldiers. The steward at Kevin's castle has taken care of all the finances since Osvald's death. He should be able to help you with internal matters and get you the founds.

I wish you good luck on this task.

With warm regards Prince Alexander.

" They can't be serious, I can barely command my own horse."

I looked at the captain who was just smiling. Thorgrim nodded in agreement.

"No, prince Alexander was most serious when he handed me my orders. Trust me, I asked him several times."