The Old Continent was the first place where humanity managed to take control from the beasts and the evil spirits.

In reality, the Old Continent was divided vertically by a mountain chain, creating the smaller West and the bigger but less habitable East.

Because of these, even if human civilization started on both sides roughly at the same time, the bigger powers had all always considered themselves the center of the world an their half of the continent as a separate one.

Anyway, from the age of the big empires to the modern days, communication and trade between the two sides was inevitable, so a route on the southern side, where the mountain range was smallest, had long been established, called the Dragon road.

Here, still at the borded between the two semi-continents, just after the mountains on a steppe plateau, a trade convoy heading East was about to rest for the night on the side of the road.

Then, what appeared to be a group of soldiers on horseback approached the biggest tent of the temporary settlement.

Dismantling from their stocky horses, they stopped for a second to admire the taller and obviously much faster horses kept near the big tent before asking for an audience from the guards outside.

After waiting for a bit for their allowed entry, the pushed away the flaps and the five or so men entered. The cold biting into their exposed faces instantly went away and they tanked the heavens this contractor of theirs was wise enough to purchase the wool felt for his convoy's tents.

On the main seat in front of them, a Nicalua in his early twenties was waiting their arrival.

He was wearing an unpretentious all sheep's wool felt outfit without much padding or furs. In particular, a long red shirt with tiny white snowflakes as decoration, baggy dark brown trousers and light brown, almost yellow, leather boots.

In comparison, the men's wearing wasn't much different, but it was all covered by plates of strong hardened hide armor and the occasional piece of metal, plus a generous padding underneath the normal clothes.

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Upon entering they immediately unfastened their pointy hide helmets and kneeled on one leg.

"Greetings sir, may Tengri be with you."

Honestly, they didn't need to act with such respect as Nicalua was merely their contractor from the West and they just had to help him navigate the region and defend him with their superior knowledge of the terrain. But the man before them was so in sync with their tribal traditions and was so capable that they unconsciously started treating him like one of their chiefs.

And it seemed, this was exactly what Nicalua wanted.

"Tell me, why have you requested to speak with me?"

Head still slightly bowed, the center most warrior spoke for everyone.

"Yes. At our current pace, after two moons we will get to a little pass between two low mountains, often occupied by bandits. Even if we can go around, it's very likely that they are scouting the other sides of the twin mountains too."

"Surely my guards plus your subordinates are enough for such a paltry obstacle. Plus, I hired your group at such a price exactly because they told me I wouldn't find obstacles along the way with you at my side. Why did you feel the need to alert me in person?"

A slight grimace appeared on the leading figure's face.

"Well, it's true that we are renown in the region for our record, but that's exactly the problem. I heard that these bandits that have established themselves there recently are supported by the local kingdom.

We came here to ask to be allowed to stay back, as to not let ourselves be recognized and ostracized by the kingdom in the future."

To ask this was the same as ruining their hard earned reputation, but, even with all the respect they found for Nicalua, there really wasn't much of a choice for them.

Of course, that was all relative.

"I understand."

The atmosphere was a bit heavy, but they were prepared.

"It's decided. Men, give them a war horse each, from now on they are of these warriors.

So, what do you say? I say that, if you are to risk your future anyway, better do it for the one that will give you the most glory."

At first stunned, the steppe men unanimously bowed all the way.

If before it was respect, now it was reverence.

Consciously, he had hooked them with the prospect of glory every nomad hungered for.

Subconsciously, he gave them a bright future full of benefits.

They had seen how easily Nicalua had accrued so much gold in the brief time frame of half a year they had traveled together, and now that they knew they would also easily acquire a part of this wealth, nothing was left to worry about for them.

What kingdom, did it ever gift them war horses. Leaving with the master was clearly the superior option.