CHAPTER 2

The journey from the Western Front to the capital city, Bloedath, was a long journey, especially on foot. Sami would have to travel over Jebel Roan to get to the village of Rodath.

Rodath Village was a prominent military village and many men that wish to participate in the war would come to be trained there. Then they would be sent over the Jebel to the Western Front. Rodathians are also known for their ability of horse breeding and training. The finest warhorses come from this village in the mountains. This is where Sami would acquire a horse for his travels.

It was still early when Sami made it to Jebel Roan, so he took a small break to eat some dried meat & have a little water. He soon started his ascent of Jebel Roan. He made a quick pace up the Jebel, stopping only for a few water breaks. During these breaks Sami enjoyed the sounds of nature and watched the birds fly far above him. He would stare out at the scene before him. The lower parts of this Jebel were full of wildlife with many colorful plants. However, the higher he climbed the colder it would get, and his path would become slick and steep. He was well aware of this and did not look forward to it, but it was his duty, and he would carry it out to the best of his abilities.

As Sami reached the halfway point of the jebel, he noticed that the sun was starting to set. He started to prepare his temporary camp for the night, but he heard movement in some of the underbrush close to his camp. As soon as he heard the movement, he knew he was no longer alone on the jebel. Sami unsheathed his sword and twisted his body 180 degrees and caught another blade mid-swing. In front of him stood a man a head shorter than Sami in a pitch-black outfit with a hood covering his face.

The man was smaller in both height and build, but once Sami had made this observation, the hooded man backstepped back towards the underbrush. The man was fast, but Sami was faster. Blades connected again and the hooded man grunted from the power behind Sami’s strike. Sami did not let up; he started to swing his sword with precise and efficient ease. Having fought numerous battles against numerous deadly foes, Sami was not a man to be trifled with, especially in martial combat of all things. The hooded man fell holding stomach, trying to staunch the bleeding, but the man knew his fate all too well.

“Tell me, what is your name lad?” Sami said while holding his sword to the man’s chest.

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“Oskar” said the hooded man. “I don’t assume I can get your name. A dyin man’s last wish heh?

“Samuel Bryant of the Bryant House. Why were you up here?”

“I was deserting the war trying to make it up this jebel. Who knew I’d run into an heir to one of the Cardinal Families? Just my luck.” Oskar said as he took off his hood. “Would you do something for me? Or rather for my little girl?”

Sami looked at the man and waited for Oskar to speak.

“Would you take this to the Guild Hall in Rodath and give it to a lady named Kiska. She is my sister who is currently watching my daughter till I return.” Oskar holds out a letter.

Sami looked down at the man and observed that it wouldn’t be long before he was dead. Sami nodded and grabbed the letter. “What is your daughter’s name?”

Oskar looked at Sami begrudgingly and said, “Lysa.”

“I will deliver it to Kiska for your daughter, Lysa. I have no sympathies for a man who would desert the war, but I can sympathize with a man who holds his family in deep regard to his dying breath.” Sami put the letter in his sling bag.

“I understand Sir Samuel Bryant, do what you must, and thank you.”

Sami flicked his wrist and Oskar was no more. Sami moved his body down the jebel about 40 meters or so, then went back to his camp to rest.

The next morning, he awoke before the sun rose and packed up and resumed his ascent of Jebel Roan.

Still early into the day Sami reached a point in his climb where he had to slow down at a considerable pace, as each step he took carried the risk of falling. By late afternoon Sami was close to reaching the peak of the jebel when he heard what sounded like a sheep. Sami went towards the source of the sound. After a few minutes of traversing the narrow path on the jebel he spotted a herd of bighorn sheep. He spotted a nice sized sheep and cast a simple mana bolt towards the creature and his aim was true. It struck the creature right into its heart. Sami grabbed the sheep by its back legs and hoisted it upon his shoulders. Once he got back to camp, he butchered it and cooked the lamb into a tasty stew called Skause. While his stew was cooking, he skinned the sheep and cut off its horns. After everything was prepared, he ate and settled down for the night.

Next morning Sami woke up and packed his belongings. Today he would be descending from the peak of Jebel Roan. Something Sami intended to be a quick descent as the other side of the Jebel had been well pathed unlike the side he came up. The Rodath Village hunters used their side of Jebel for their hunts, so the path was cut and clear, unlike the side leading to the Western Front. Since so many soldiers came down their side, there were multiple paths, and it was hard to tell which was which and where it would lead.

By midday he got to the base of the mountain and started on the road that would lead him to Rodath Village.