While Lucas talked with the Yellow Prince, Thomas was getting fired up. “We know what side we are on and so does he. This is a trick of some sort.”

“It’s fine.” Richard put a hand on our healer’s shoulder and I was glad to see it. Normally, Alan kept Thomas in check, but with him recovering from his wounds, it seemed that Richard was willing to play the role of peacemaker. “There’s no point in starting a fight right now. We might be able to get out of a confrontation down the line, but right now we would starting something that must suit the Yellow Prince or he wouldn’t be here.”

“Right, we need to keep out of the crosshairs for now and wait for our moment.” I agreed wholeheartedly. “It’s frustrating, but we aren’t able to go wild until we get what’s available to us here: the new gear and professions we badly need.” I had no doubt we could fight our way out of here at full power, but then the gear and skills and future professions would be out the window. “Let’s endure the politics for a bit longer.” I said to everyone.

Lucas continued with the Yellow Prince for a dozen minutes before the rival faction leader stood up and left. The entire time I watched him his facial expression didn’t change, but the feeling I got from him did. It was clear the initial friendly greeting was only because we weren’t yet closed off. It seemed Lucas thoroughly rejected him, and the Yellow Prince when he left ¾ without any farewells ¾ his face was stern.

“Hopefully that’s the first and only meeting we have with that guy.” Lucas wiped the sweat from his brow and let his actual feelings show through. “He’s dangerous, much more so than the Red Prince. He nearly trapped me with his words a dozen times.”

“He is a politician after all.” Glenn laughed. “You made it out without starting a civil war.”

“Barely. It felt like I was talking to a snake ready to strike.”

“If there’s nothing else I’m going to get a shower and nap.” Mark said, and Richard suggested the same shortly after.

“Go; we aren’t doing anything without Alan.” I said. Alan was still losing HP slowly over time, which meant his wound was still bleeding internally. Our main tank being fully functional was our biggest concern.

The next day we received news back from the Red Prince. He had gotten the go ahead to allow us access to the armory, as well as recruited over a dozen crafters to assist us in any profession we wanted to learn. I didn’t know how that process worked, but Lucas was convinced it was possible to do so. The Red Prince had also sent the miracle medicine, which to my surprise worked as he had promised it would. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Red Prince had made more of an effort to keep us sweet after learning of the visit of his rival, the Yellow Prince. In any case, this help was what we needed and I appreciated that.

The internal wound that Alan seemed to not be able to heal disappeared just a few hours after we gave him the medicine. His HP finally stopped dropping and a rosy complexion covered his cheeks. We let the Red Prince know we would be prepared to set out again the following morning, giving Alan ample time to rest. I had an early night in the hopes of removing the fatigue in my bones—the next mission was all or nothing.

I didn’t wake normally the following morning, but instead to rabid commotion. We didn’t even make it out of the garrison before the news reached us. The gnolls had temporarily retreated into the forest and showed signs of leaving. When we met him, Rhugar was all smiles. “It seems whatever you accomplished has put them on pause temporarily. The gnoll warrior you fought first was someone of importance. Rumors say he was the son of the current gnoll chief, and others just say he was a nephew or distant relative. Regardless, good work.” He didn’t come empty handed either, passing a pouch that had a dozen MP potions at the very least as well as thirty or forty rations. “It was all I could get on such short notice, but it’s not enough to repay you.”

“What’s going to happen now?” Anna asked him.

“We are sending for food supplies from a nearby kingdom immediately. It’s risky, but if we can bring in some grain, we may buy ourselves valuable time.”

A guard approached just as he finished speaking, “The Red Prince is here.” He addressed Rhugar, which got a chuckle out of him.

“He’s not here for me. I suppose you all have some business?” He was clearly curious but didn’t push for an answer. I had been cautious of Rhugar at first, as was he to us, but slowly he had become someone that left me feeling comfortable. He was a straight-forward and honest man, and I realized that I trusted him whole heartedly.

“We are going to the palace today,” Maria said, barely holding back her excitement. She had returned in the night after Alan’s turnaround. She had needed a good night’s rest, too.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“We’re being supplied,” I could see that Lucas had cut her off before she spoke too much. “Then we’ll make another attempt to ambush the gnolls.”

“Well, you’ve bought valuable time for yourselves and all the citizens of Rigar. I truly respect you.” Rhugar’s eyes scanned each and every one of us. “I won’t keep you any longer. If there is more that I can assist you with, don’t hesitate.” He disappeared around the garrison wall and headed for the southern gate with haste.

“Shall we?” I looked at everyone while beckoning with my arms. We had to stop and pickup Alan, and then we would take a carriage to the palace. I was bubbling with excitement, not only for the loot and possible professions, but the experience.

We shadowed Rhugar for two blocks before he fully disappeared, leaving us in a medical area. Tents were strewn about that housed the majority of those injured; Alan had been put in his own room on the far side and had a full-time nurse watching over him.

The guard outside his room gave a nod as we approached. “Visitors!” He yelled towards the opening of the tent before moving aside and allowing us entry. Alan was awake and sitting up in bed already waiting for us. “Took you long enough.” He laughed before gripping at his lower abdomen.

We crowded around him, “How’re you doing?”

“Never better.” He joked while holding up his clothes. There were now several holes the size of quarters where he was pierced by the gnoll elite’s claws. “Came to take me away?”

“We’re taking you shopping.” Richard joked. “We have a hot date at the capital.”

“The Red Prince has gotten us access to the royal armory, we’re going to gear up and see what benefits we can get.”

“Finally,” Alan said while leaning up, letting out a slight groan.

“Careful,” Maria supported him as he stood up, showing a rare affectionate side.

“When do we leave?” Alan asked after finding his footing. He slipped on his tattered clothes and followed us out with Maria and Richard hovering closely. “I’m fine guys,” he said. “It just aches, I can walk on my own.”

“We leave now,” I said. “The carriage is here already. Make sure you thank the Red Prince thoroughly; he provided the medicine that took care of your wound.” Alan nodded in understanding.

The carriage in question was clearly a show of goodwill, and I questioned whether it might even be the prince’s own personal transportation. The body of the cart was made entirely out of metal and not wood, perfectly polished and shining in the early light. The encasement was a beautiful wood embroidered with red intricate engravings that screamed wealth.

Even the horses were extravagant. The two draft horses were tall and wore body armor. A metal spike extended from their skulls that would clearly impale a man if needed. They alone were weapons of war and gave off an intimidating presence.

“Thank God,” Alan let out a sigh, “if I had to bounce up and down in a cart I might die.” He groaned while holding his wounds.

Both chauffeurs stepped down and elegantly opened the side doors, carefully assisting the women in first before allowing the rest of us to enter. I was honestly blown away. I’d have considered myself hard to surprise after all I’d seen, but I couldn’t distinguish the inside of the carriage from what a beautiful car would look like.

The seats were covered in a blood-red silk material. Fluffy pillows, lightly embroidered with gold and red, covered every seat. There were even windows that could open, albeit with a handle. Overall, though, it was more luxurious than I could image, and it was much cooler than the outside.

“Where has this been the past week? I’ll have a word for Lazemus when I see him…” Maria moaned while the rest of us marveled.

“Feel this material.” Anna said while running her hands along the seat cushion, “I’d like to sleep in this just once.” I couldn’t tell if it was silk or not, but it was incredibly similar and insanely comfortable to rest on.

“I feel like I’m going to slip off.” Richard joked while melting into the floor like a puddle. This action inadvertently helped him discover a compartment full of casks of liquor. He gave one look at everyone and decided to not even bother asking, popping the top and chugging several gulps. “It’s safe to drink,” he said. Only Glenn decided to join him.

“Excuse me, whose cart is this?” Lucas called out towards the front.

“This is the prince’s personal carriage.” That was a nice sign of goodwill, and I felt a little bit less nervous about the consequences of Richard and Glenn cleaning out his alcohol. Money wasn’t something he lacked.

“Maybe we should just ask him for it.” Anna joked.

I felt even more amazed when the carriage started moving. It wasn’t perfectly smooth, but the softness of the cushions absorbed any bumpiness we would normally be feeling. Alan was the most grateful of us all for that.

The royal palace was located dead center of Rigar. We were in for a luxurious trip to say the least, and both Richard and Glenn fell asleep with a soft red pillow scrunched in their chest. They had emptied two bottles of an amber liquid together, and were now lightly mumbling in their sleep.

As we moved more towards the palace, the signs of closed businesses and empty streets I had experienced in the southern part of the city dwindled. Shops were open and people bustled through the streets. It was clear most of them were wealthy individuals shielded from the problems of the poor.

Nearly two hours passed before we spotted our destination. Towering was an apt term to describe the dome-shaped palace when it came into view. It was hard to believe such a medieval looking city could have structures that looked so magnificent. Lazemus’s palace could not compare in size or grandiose nature to the tower.

“It has to be constructed with magic.” Lucas said, “I refuse to believe this is manmade.” If it had just been a question of size, I’d have disagreed with him, but the entire palace sparkled like a gemstone under the sun.

It appeared to be made out of glass, but not interconnected pieces. It appeared as one continuous structure, as if a giant took up glass blowing and formed and molded the dome himself.

The surrounding garden was vibrant with hundreds of flowering plants and majestically carved bushes shaped like any number of animals. The entire aesthetic screamed rich beyond belief, and any guilt I may have had over taking gear from the royal family vanished at that moment.