There is no good reason for Tyrin and Zamora to be enemies. Zamora is a long-time ally of Amisos. Assuming everything Count Olsen said is true, he was coerced into supporting traitors of the kingdom. They have to share information and resources with the Royal Council traitors while forsaking their neighbors to the east and west of here. Zamora’s main army is on its way here and it will definitely be able to break Tyrin’s castle in half if it comes down to a battle. It’s a position that anyone with common sense would want to escape.

However, this is only according to a logical analysis. Dealing with people and especially foreign powers is rarely that simple. People tend to make decisions based on temporary emotion and impulses instead of reason and logic. Politics, economics, religion, ethnic identity, emotions like pride, hate, fear and envy, any number of things could trigger a conflict. This was my biggest worry when I thought to push Tyrin and Zamora into making peace. I haven’t forgotten how I was stabbed in the back, metaphorically, the last time I tried to do the right thing in Delfoi. Fortunately, it seems that fear was unfounded this time around. I overstepped my bounds as a soldier of Bloodmoon and acted on my own, but the gamble worked out beautifully. This could not have happened if Asher and the other officers didn’t cooperate.

In order to ensure that there aren’t misunderstandings, all 1500 Zamorians were told the key points of the agreement that was reached. Respecting the local laws, not stealing from the locals and such, under normal circumstances this would be common sense. Things change drastically during war however. Pillaging entire cities is accepted as the normal way of treating enemies. Thankfully the discipline among the troops is good. There is little chance that anyone will disobey the rules and anyone who does can expect to be imprisoned if not executed.

Over the course of the next few days, the abandoned villages on the outside of Tyrin were repopulated with their original inhabitants. It seems they evacuated people who lived as far as 15 kilometers away, about a day of travel, in preparation for what they thought would be an attack on the city. Unlike that scum from Delfoi, it seems Olsen Faustina actually cares for his people. It remains to be seen to what extent he will cooperate.

Bloodmoon members are among the first to be allowed inside the walls. Eventually, most if not all of the Zamorians will be allowed in, but this must be done in a gradual manner so as not to alarm the local people. Acting like we’re invading is the opposite of what we need.

“We will be staying in Tyrin until we determine what our next course of action will be. You are free to do as you wish until further notice” is what Asher told me. I am given a greater degree of freedom than before as a reward for my efforts I would assume. This could be a sign that I’ve earned his trust, though he won’t say that outright.

I separate from the rest of our group and take a walk around the area, familiarizing myself with our new location along with Nashira who is riding her horse beside me.

“This settlement is flourishing well despite the difficult weather in these parts” she comments while looking around. Merchants are setting up their stalls and putting food, clothing and other goods on display.

“True enough. I noticed yesterday that it’s a rather large town. Typically a town has a population between 1000 and 20000, but I think Tyrin may be over the 20000 mark if you include the nearby villages. They should start calling it a city.”

Tyrin is one of the top 10 most populated settlements in Amisos and is rich enough to sustain a castle and its own military force. It started out as just a castle that protected the countryside during times of war. Over time, more buildings were added and the population increased, which means the borders kept expanding as well. Partial rows of walls can be seen in several areas of the city, showing how Tyrin grew over time.

Aside from the castle itself, the buildings and architecture are small and not very impressive. Instead they spread over a large portion of the countryside. Most are built out of wood since it’s cheaper and easier to work with than stone bricks. Tyrin can’t compare to the elaborate architecture and majesty of Delos.

“Ah!”

Nashira dismounts and walks briskly to a nearby merchant stall where some colourful gems and minerals are being displayed. She says something to the merchant, who just nods his head with a bewildered face. She then picks up a conspicuous piece of semi-transparent orange stone from the stall and starts admiring it with a delighted expression.

“Is that amber?” I inquire.

“Indeed, sir. It’s freshly dug. We at Larkin Mining Company guarantee its quality” the merchant replies. I intended the question for Nashira but she’s distracted by the shiny orange object.

Amber is a type of rare stone. If I remember correctly, it forms when tree resin is subjected to high pressure and high temperature. It occurs naturally all over the world and is widely admired for its beauty as a precious stone. Rich people tend to use it for jewelry and decorations. Mages like us can put it to practical use as a magic catalyst, so it has intrinsic value.

“It’s my first time seeing one so large…” she whispers to herself.

The stone is indeed quite big. Most precious stones are no larger than the size of a tight fist, but this one is roughly three times more voluminous. It has a long, irregular shape which confirms what the merchant said about it being freshly extracted. There must be mines around this area. It explains where Tyrin is getting the money to sustain its own military force. The purity of this piece of amber is also high. There are usually insect parts, foreign substances and other impurities, which this particular piece has very few of. This raises its value significantly.

On the other hand, I don’t think it’s all that impressive. I saw a chunk of raw diamond the size of my head in Nashira’s laboratory, not to mention the 100 meter-long pillars in that chasm under Mount Olympus. An unusually big piece of amber is a child’s toy by comparison. Maybe it’s just curiosity because she didn’t have any amber in her stockpile.

“Would it be possible to purchase this stone?” she asks the merchant with an expectant look that she rarely shows.

“Yes, my Lady. Would you like anything else I have on display?”

The merchant jumps at the occasion and begins to offer more of his goods. Unfortunately for him, Nashira is only interested in the chunk of amber. She already has plenty of diamonds, sapphires, rubies and topaz. There’s no need for more. There is no bloodstone for sale but that’s expected because of how difficult it is to handle. A normal person risks his life simply by being near it.

She returns to the horse which is loaded with her belongings and starts looking through them. Seeing this, I interrupt.

“Don’t trade any of your personal items. I’ll go talk to Asher. Wait here for a bit.”

Bloodmoon has a high amount of support due to its ties with King Hamal and as such we can afford a lot of things that ordinary soldiers can’t. All I need to do is contact a short, twitchy-looking man named Ujarak whom Asher introduced me to after our first mission. He supplies us money for larger expenses. Carrying heavy bags of coins is a burden for a soldier, which is why Ujarak handles these things for us. This is the first time I actually need his services because I spent very little until now. Nashira has magic catalysts made out of precious gems and ores which could be used as currency, but I’m not about to let her waste such expensive objects on something like this.

I return shortly after and drop a small pouch full of gold and silver coins in front of the merchant. This money would probably be enough to sustain an average person for several years. The merchant looks dumbfounded at the excessive amount.

“Would this be enough?”

We ended up buying every piece of amber the merchant had available. I spent a pretty sum on them but I can always earn the money back. It’s fine since Nashira seems happy as she looks over her new collection.

In the afternoon, we visited one of the better-looking inns to find a place to stay the night. The lobby functions as a restaurant of sorts where the guests receive food. The tables are packed with unfamiliar faces. Most of them are locals but there’s also a Zamorian commander, without his armor, who is attended by a handful of squires. A cheerful atmosphere is floating around. People don’t seem to be worried about Zamora’s presence.

Sitting at a smaller table beside the commander and his squires, I see Asher along with two Bloodmoon soldiers I don’t know and also Inaya. I haven’t seen her since she tried to follow me during my mission in Tyrin castle. Gamo and the rest of the team aren’t here. They may have their own tasks to attend. Inaya doesn’t seem concerned about me anymore. Rather, she’s intentionally ignoring me. Avoiding eye contact so blatantly makes it obvious.

“Oh, you and the lady there, come sit with us.”

The commander takes notice of our arrival and beckons to join him at the table. He is relaxing while eating dinner and means to be friendly, but the way he said it sounds almost like an order. Since I’m a member of Bloodmoon, he doesn’t have any direct authority over me, but if I refuse his offer that could cause unexpected problems. A lot of eyes are watching from every direction. Asher has an amused look on his face. Is there something funny I’m missing here? Well, it should be fine to go along. Nashira looks hesitant so I’ll ask her first.

“I’m going with them for a bit. If you’re tired, the receptionist over there will help you find a room.”

“It is alright, I will join you as well” she replies. I shrug and walk toward the commander’s table. He gets up from his seat and extends a hand toward me. It’s the rough hand of an experienced warrior.

Good to know that I’m not dealing with some annoying noble. Now that I think about it, none of Zamora’s commanders look inexperienced.

“I don’t think we’ve met before. I am Galal Pavo. You may know my brother, Gamonias.” He has a mild accent when speaking, though I can’t say where from.

I take his hand and shake it calmly. “Yes, he and I are acquainted. I am Rigel Artemia, a new member of the team. Nice to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Gamonias is very impressed with the accomplishments of one so young. I as well.”

The activities of Bloodmoon are kept secret, but he likely knows a lot due to his position in the army. Gamo, as everyone calls him, is an important member of the unit so he may have shared some stories with his brother, Galal. Two brothers, one from an elite unit and the other an army commander, they’re doing quite well for themselves.

“I appreciate the compliment. The lady beside me is…”

“Nashira Malik. I am pleased to meet you” she introduces herself with a polite bow.

“The pleasure’s all mine” Galal answers with a deep bow. The squires around him mimic their commander’s motion. “Please, come and sit. There is room for everyone.” He’s very polite and calmer than Gamo when he met her. I supress a chuckle from the memory of their awkward encounter.

We kept the commander company until evening. Unlike Gamo, he is very talkative. He recounted entertaining stories from his days as a young lieutenant in King Hamal’s army. He started from humble beginnings and it took him a decade with much effort to rise to the position of army commander. As expected, he took care not to mention any sensitive information but it was still interesting to listen. I learned a bit about Zamora’s history, culture and geography.

Apparently there’s a massive region at the southern edge of Zamora known as Akhan Desert or the Great Desert as it’s more commonly called. It’s an inhospitable place full of sand dunes, poisonous scorpions, and angry vultures. It stretches for hundreds of kilometers and only a handful of people have managed to cross it successfully, including someone named Akhan for whom the desert was named.

“There are tales of great sandworms that swim through the ocean of sand like a fish through water, swallowing whole anything that dares to cross their path.”

“Oh my, that is very frightening” Nashira remarks. She seems to be enjoying the stories as well.

“Quite so. Criminals were sent into the Great Desert as capital punishment. None ever returned alive.”

“That doesn’t happen anymore?” I question.

“King Hamal stopped the practice about 30 years ago along with the elimination of other inhumane forms of execution. I believe he was following the example of King Leo III of Amisos. No one has done more to eliminate the barbaric practices of the past.”

I smile with elation. It makes me happy that others recognize father’s efforts. If only the rest of the nobility followed his example…

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Several days go by peacefully and there is no sign that we’re leaving Tyrin. The city resumed its normal activities and tension among the populace has died down. Merchant caravans enter and leave through the gates on a regular basis, heading in all directions. The farming villages are occupied with their daily labour. You wouldn’t think that we were on the brink of battle just a week ago.

This was aided by the fact that a significant number of Zamora’s soldiers are now helping local people with their work in the fields and in workshops. The commanders decided to make a show of support and gathered a couple hundred soldiers which were then sent to whoever needed help. They took to it quite easily. Working the farm fields is not the first task one would give to a soldier, but the effect it had on our relationship with Tyrin cannot be denied. Putting down the sword and picking up a plow instead is a great way to bridge the gap. My opinion of Gamo’s brother and the other commander has improved. The idea that we’re here to conquer Amisos is looking further and further from the truth. I’m starting to think that King Hamal selected these people for this reason. They know what they’re doing.

“Although there hasn’t been any word from above yet, we must be waiting for King Hamal to arrive. That’s the only conclusion I can think of for this delay.”

“Perhaps we will meet the ruler of Zamora very soon.”

“Indeed.”

I share my thoughts with Nashira while eating lunch one day. It’s nice to get away from the diet of dry bread and meat every day. The inn is serving delicious chicken soup today. Vegetables and fruit are expensive right now due to the poor harvests this year. On the bright side, Tyrin’s food problems will be alleviated now that trade with the south, east and west has been re-established.

“The cooks did an admirable job with the soup considering the circumstances” I add.

“The taste is remarkably rich” Nashira agrees.

It turns out that she is fine with regular human food. Having lived among humans in the past, not much has changed in this regard in 300 years. People back then ate the same meat, fruits and vegetables that we do now. The difference is that Nashira has an alternative source of nourishment: mana. When we left Mount Olympus, she mentioned being able to assimilate mana and convert it into energy for the body, something that neither I nor any other human can do. As a direct result, she can survive for entire years with no food whatsoever, provided that she has a rich source of mana available. There was plenty of that in her underground facility. It is a very useful ability for a mage who wants to conduct research in solitude for extended periods of time.

With all this time on my hands, I went out to buy a couple of new mage robes, one blue and one dark grey. They’re not as resilient as the white one I made from mana-absorbing fiber. That’s fine since I just need them for everyday use, not for battle.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

“I need your help with something. The lady can come as well.”

Captain Asher found us on the way back to the inn. He is accompanied by Inaya and Gamo, the other two mages on the team. There is concern in his eyes.

“Is it an enemy attack?”

“It’s not something that serious. A few of the townsfolk have just been extracted from the mines outside of town with severe injuries. It seems an underground tunnel caved-in and a dozen or so people were caught in it.”

“So you need healers then. That’s why you’re asking mages, right?”

“Yes, but it’s not just that. Some of them are bleeding and unable to move despite having only minor injuries. We’re not sure what the problem is.”

“Gamo and Inaya couldn’t figure it out?”

“I can heal mere wounds but I’m not a miracle worker.” Inaya scoffs. “You know a lot about magic, right? Come and prove it!” She still sounds bitter about something.

“I will do what I can.”

Asher leads us to the grassy plain outside of Tyrin. Nashira decided to come as well. She knows more about magic than me so her presence is welcome. We arrive at a somewhat crowded area where the wounded are being tended to. They groan in pain while lying on their backs on some cloth sheets. Their clothes are bloody and full of dirt. A makeshift camp was set up here. Bandages, medicine and other supplies were brought by hand from the city. A number of mages and some priests are chanting healing magic while nurses are bandaging the open wounds.

The average healer can manipulate water in the body and accelerate its natural healing ability, similar to the way the ‘Fortify’ spell can strengthen muscles. This process is draining on the body’s resources, meaning that an incompetent mage can exhaust the patient to death. Even when you know what you’re doing, there are some wounds that won’t heal properly, such as damage to the heart and brain. It is possible to bypass these limitations with alchemic potions like the one I gave to Selene, the young woman with red hair from Lapithos. However, these require rare ingredients that I don’t have on hand right now.

I ask Asher where we should start and he points to a place on the edge of the camp.

“This man here has been showing the worst symptoms. The two over there are in a life-threatening condition as well. Casting magic on them only made it worse” Gamo explains.

“Alright, I’ll check the two over there. Nashira, please take a look at this man if you don’t mind.”

“We must diagnose the problem before applying treatment” she adds.

“Agreed.”

We split up and begin examining the patients. I can’t call myself a master on human physiology but I know a few tricks from my years of studies and research. Because of that I was able to survive this long in good condition. Nashira, on the other hand, could be worthy of the term “miracle-worker”. The extent of her abilities escapes me.

“Hmm… Dilated pupils, fast heart rate, uneven breaths, bleeding from the ears and blood clots forming underneath the skin on the back. There’s probably some internal bleeding as well. This doesn’t look like a typical wound or illness. Is it the same on your side, Nashira?”

“Yes, the symptoms are similar but more severe. The patient is catatonic. The cause is likely the same.”

I turn to Asher. “The mana inside their bodies is out of control, damaging their internal organs over time. Even high-tier spells like ‘Blessing of the Ancients’ won’t do anything to stop it.”

A look of understanding appears on Inaya and Gamo’s faces. I’m surprised they didn’t realize it earlier. Although rare, this is a condition that mages should be well aware of. Asher looks puzzled.

“Do you know what is causing it?”

“I’ll let Nashira explain since she is the expert on this subject.”

“Ah, certainly.” She approaches and begins the explanation. “These symptoms are most likely caused by excessive contact with the composite mineral known as bloodstone. In other words, it is bloodstone poisoning.”