While in most places fiergen fruits are reserved only for the upper echelons of society, it is different in Ord. From what numbers I could gather from the locals it seems that there is one fruit per seventy five people, unlike other places in which the numbers vary between one per hundred fifty to one per a thousand.
“a grimoire for anything ord”
Cyenlēod watched the remainder of the raiding force running away.
it smelled of wet grass, and burned soil. First team got sent to guard the parameter, half of the second team were sent to help fix the burned houses. Trag and Gar were sent to loot whatever gear they could find, the only injury was daruman, no losses.
“Lēod” Comprand gave a quick salute.
Comprand was a tall guy with a slim build. With a foreigner’s appearance; lacking the bronze tint of the locals.
Most importantly, he was their one and only fruit user.
Cyenlēod saluted back
“Parameter checks are done, the medics said Daruman should be back in two weeks.”
Every piece of clothing above his legs disappeared leaving his upper body riddled with ashes, burns, and revealing his scars.
“That is great Comprand, go get some clothes on and relax, and if you could, please tell Darious to come here”.
Comprand nodded and turned to walk away, then remembering the proper etiquette, he turned back and saluted.
Cyenlēod watched Comorand leave, so far he has been making great progress in learning the common tongue. It was also noticeable that he was recovering from the shock of his first kill, successfully standing his ground in combat, and even scoring a few more kills.
Cyenlēod moved out to check on Gar’s and Trag’s progress. It doesn't take that much time to take a few weapons off some charred corpses.
especially since both corps are burned, so no there is no armour to salvage.
“Trag, Gar, what's taking you so long?” They both quickly Turned around with a hurried salute.
“i think we found a sige” said Gar with a hint of excitement
“You think?” Cyenlēod quickly took the weapon from Trag.
Cyenlēod inspected the weapon, the spear-like sige was probably picked up in corpse looting after one of the major battles on Ariq’s lands. After a bit more inspection he found Athel Franca’s insignia on it.
a good bit of information.
“So? What’cha reckon?” Gar said his eyes glued to the sige
“You are probably right, seems to be one of Athel Franca’s siges’ ”
Trag grabbed the weapon out of Cyenlēod’s hand. And Cyenlēod let him have it. “Don't be reckless, and do not try to use it. At tonight's meeting we will discuss what we will do with this.” Cyenlēod then went to meet with Darious.
Darious is an unusual character, Cyenlēod knew him for two years.
They met on the shores of Riga. It was a very weird meeting, while getting off the boat Darious approached him.
a man with silver white hair and eyes the colours of royalty and betrayal
“Greetings combatant, curious to meet” Darious said leaning
“Um,” Cyenlēod was taken aback, “It’s curious to meet you too sir”
Darious nodded at the response, “It indeed is, tell me, are you hungry by chance?”
Cyenlēod was confused but he knew better than to say no to a free meal, “Yes, I am hungry”
Darious’s face lit up with a huge smile “Great, I know a great place for some dining. What is your name?...”
“Lēod, what are you looking at?”
Cyenlēod came back to reality, “Nothing important.”
It always felt like Darious’s mind seemed to move faster than reality even when speaking to him he only seemed to be giving you a fraction of his attention.
From their very first meeting, Cyenlēod had gotten a sense that Darious was only giving him a fraction of his attention, His mind always on bigger things.
“What brought you here?” Darious asked while leading the way through Rigas market, with Rigas’ Fiergen-tree visible far in the distance.
“I finished my mercenary work in Dragonasta.” Cyenlēod responded
“Hmm, you got recruited? Didn't know they have recruiters in Ord,”
The questions seemed rhetorical to Cyenlēod , he was pretty sure from Darious’s behavior that he already knew the answer.
“No, after Ariq’s war we lost a third of our soldiers, so we had to mobilize to easier fronts, to regain our footing, power and numbers”
Darious chuckled, “Aren't you disrespecting the whole second continent with that remark?”
Cyenlēod chuckled, “Perhaps, but this day is too lovely to talk about dim subjects.” Taking a deep breath Cyenlēod couldn’t help but appreciate the weather that day, it was around midday, and the sun was emitting the perfect amount of heat, as the ocean breeze balanced it out.
“I am inclined to agree with you” Darious led him into a small cabin while greeting the people inside.
Cyenlēod followed in the greeting, getting comfortable inside. It was humid and warm, but somehow the atmosphere only elevated Cyenlēods’ mood.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“I’ll get some of your Wrid stew” then turning around to Cyenlēod he asked, waving the menu,” anything particular you would like to get?”
Cyenlēod shook his head, “No I’ll have the same”
while eating Darious did not stop communicating’ he barraged Cyenlēod with questions, the whole time it seemed like Darious was having fun but also deliberately and carefully choosing his words. the more they spoke the more Cyenlēod let his defenses down, like a moth drawn to a flame.
it was as if Cyenlēod didn't have a chance of refusing from the beginning, and when Darious offered him to be his second hand
Well.
Cyenlēod couldn't refuse.
“So, what did you call me for?” Darious’s hair had got significantly longer since that first meeting, his clothes tattered and dirty.
“We need to talk about what we are going to do, you said there is a tree somewhere around here. but we are losing manpower while they are bringing in more, we need help, or we need to run. But staying here is asking for death” Cyenlēod stretched his feet, waiting for a response.
“Let me ask you a question please.” Darious took a moment to consider his next few words for a few seconds before continuing.
“How fast can we run?”
“If we start now, fast enough”
“And how fast can the raiders run?”
“Faster than us”
“Then what is the difference if we run or stay?”
Cyenlēod took a deep breath taking his time to think before answering,
“While on the move we are unpredictable, we have the capacity to take care of most threats that might be coming our way, good enough to take care of any rogue groups feeling greedy.” Cyenlēod held his breath, hoping that that was enough to convince Darious.
“And how many people are you expecting to die per day?”
Cyenlēod tensed up
“In my worst evaluation, a person every other day”
“And you think we can get to safety before thos statistics become worse?”
Cyenlēod looked up at Darious “I would like to believe so”
Darious took a second to contemplate Cyenlēods words.
“I will comply with your request in a month, if in a month we cannot find a tree or external support, we will move.”
Cyenlēod relaxed, getting a sense of accomplishment.
Darious stayed quiet, seemingly considering his future. A hint of despair plastered all across his face.
Seeing the despair, Cyenlēod decided not to wait, telling Darious about the sige.
“No need to be so down, I have some good news as well”
Darious focused back on Cyenlēod, “And what are they?” The despair in his face vanishing as if it were never there.
Cyenlēod couldn't help but smile, “We found a sige.” It took Darious a second to internalize what Cyenlēod said, all his internal doomsaying disappeared.
Darious’s smile filled Cyenlēod with relief, “Why didn't you start with that? It changes everything!” Darious seemed to zone out again.
Letting Darious do his thing, Cyenlēod walked back to their commuun.
A few kids ran up to Cyenlēod, competing on who would be faster.
breathing heavily, Flan presented his crafted bow to Cyenlēod. “is this good enough for me to fight thos bandits?” Cyenlēod smiled to Flan while the other ragtag kids came up.
“I already told you Flan, not until you are sixteen, you can help with manual jobs but I will not let you get onto the battlefield”.
Jira Punched Fran and mockingly said, “And you said your bow will convince him.” while the kids bickered, Cyenlēod took a better look at Fran’s bow.
It was very well made, with beautiful carvings and a powerful string Cyenlēod could not help but be impressed, “You know Fran, you might not be able to fight, but I think Forger will be happy for some help.”
Fran’s face lit up. “You see idiots? I'll be the first to help. So go suck yourselves” Cyenlēod shook his head in amusement.
“know you should not spea-”
“HEY, CYEN, COME AND JOIN US”
The howls of Cyenlēod’s drunken comrades could be heard all across the commuun.
“Sorry kids, it seems I have to go’'' The kids didn't seem to hear him, they were too occupied arguing if helping Forger counts as a war effort.
Cyenlēod chuckling walked up to his soldiers.
“What a fight we had today, what you say Leader?”
Gethun stood on one of the tables, holding sige in one hand while the other was wielding a beer mug.
Smaewita walked up to Cyenlēod offering him a mug of his own.
“thank you Wita” Cyenlēod took the mug and sat down at his reserved spot at the head of the table.
Gethun stood up at the table. Waved the sige around and yelled “QUIET DOWN EVERYONE” the people at the dining house all quiet down, Staring straight at him.
“Let our one of a kind leader speak!”
Cyenlēod extended his hand out to Gethun, shortly after receiving the sige.
“Today, we sit here in Triumph. with a new sige in our hands, we are stronger than ever,” Cyenlēod felt a sting of guilt. As the falsehood let his mouth.
“And so tonight we will have a meeting regarding our sige, so we can decide who should wield it to battle” The cheers could be heard all the way to the other side of the commuun.
They spent the rest of the evening relaxing. They decided that the sige was safest with Cyenlēod carrying it.