Lindum, City of Kingdom of Ederath- Early Summer 14 years AR

“Danielle! Good luck today!”

“Thank you Ser!” Danielle or just Dani ran through the streets of the city of Lindum. It wasn’t the greatest city in the isles, it was far behind the other cities in Ederath even. It didn’t have much going for it at all actually. It was prosperous, safe, and clean-ish. The little fame it had was from being furthest northern city built by the Utinum Empire hundreds of years before. Besides that it was just there. There were no spires reaching high like Duratan to the southwest or massive walls like the great fortress city Jorvik built atop a plateau to the east, no waterfall city like Vanheim or great lighthouse like Everlight in the south, no Citadel such as in Wolfheim; even Saena, which was roughly the same size as Lindum had it’s Academy and arena.

Saena, that’s the city Dani dreamed about, she hoped that today she’d be able to earn her place in Saena’s academy. She’d wanted to go there since she was little, it was one of the greatest mage schools in the world. It was one of the only ones too but that’s besides the point. She picked up her pace and ran through the city, they’d lock her out if she was but a moment late.

Her mother and father weren’t too thrilled about the idea of her going to Saena due to the debt she’d accrue from getting accepted, it was only five years with the legions but a very long lifetime after that. All she had to do was prove she was smart enough and dedicated enough and the kingdom would pay her tuition to the academy and even a monthly stipend! She couldn’t wait! Legionnaire-Magus Danielle Yelhanna, it had a nice ring to it. Who knew, maybe she’d like it and one day she’d go home to visit her parents as a Centurion-Magus.

Dani darted through the courtyard of the Jarl’s villa after showing her invitation to the watchmen standing at the entrance. She soon arrived at her destination and came to a full stop just outside the open door. She checked her fiery red hair up in a neat braided bun, she straightened her dress and walked into the room with her head held high.

Inside she found only around a dozen people, a testament to her current ability as the original applicants numbered in the hundreds. Of the twelve of them, only up to four would be offered a place at the academy or as little as none. They were a mix of Elvanni, human, and a solitary Lycan, she glanced over her competition and noted the one thing they all had in common, means. To get this far you had to be able to already cast magic and not just the brutal combat spells like FIREBOLT and BOLT, no you had to be able to manipulate magic by more than just brute force. To get that far you needed access to a quality spellbook, one that can only be obtained by considerable amount of coin.

Everyone here was the son or daughter of the wealthy elite of the city, more here for the prestige than the free tuition their families could probably already afford. Well not her and perhaps not the lycan. Lycans, even knights, tended to be poor. A strange phenomenon in a kingdom ruled by their kind. It was mainly because most of them didn’t care all that much for material things. Even the Knights of Ederath were often poorer than most magistrates down south, mainly because they were soldiers first, nobles second.

As for the lycan his clothing was a little worn so she assumed he was here due to the same luck as she, inheritance. Her spellbook was a family heirloom since before her people moved to Ederath. There were dozens of spells she could learn, to date she had learned if not mastered FLAMEJET, CONCEAL, LESSER WARD, ATTRACT and REPEL. Her goal was one day learn all of the spells in the book but she’d have to see if she could get that far, her understanding of magic was self taught.

“Alright! Shut it!” a man came in and shut the door behind him, a lycan knight. “I am Ser Afgheir! Don’t bother learning it, after these next couple days I’ll never see most of you again! I’m of the Order and hold a rank of Centurion of the Harpy legion! While we go through this, you WILL NOT!” He charged up to a whispering aristocratic boy and stood directly in front of him. “I repeat WILL NOT talk while I’m talking! If I see you’re lips flap one more time I will throw you through that fucking window, do you understand me?” Spit flew onto the boys face while the knight pointed at a window high up in the air of the tall room.

The boy looked and nodded quickly. Everyone else, Dani included clamped their mouth shut.

“You WILL NOT discuss this examination with ANYONE after this. I don’t care if it’s your grams, if I find out I’ll-” He pointed at the boy he had just yelled at. “I’ll do what?”

“Umm… Throw us through a window?”

“Not just any window! I will drag your ass back here and throw you through THAT window and when I’m done I’ll toss your grams out after you!” He finished his threat, Dani wasn’t sure if he meant it but would rather not find out, “Once this is started you WILL NOT quit! You WILL do your best in the examination, completing all task to the best of your ability! If any of you do not you’re wasting MY time! If any of you try to quit-” he swept a pointed finger across the group.

“You’ll throw us through that window” Everyone said with a little variation.

“Fucking right I will! This isn’t just a chance to learn magic! Any selected WILL become a Mage of the Legions! You WILL be expected to FIGHT and KILL those mangy fucks tearing apart the mainland! We do NOT need a bunch of cravens, cowards, agitators, delinquents or idiots! Is that understood?!”

“YES!” this time it came in almost unison, though only a few actually yelled it.

“This is your one chance to quit, walk out now and never look back because once we start your fucking mine!” Everyone gulped and a crying rich girl and the whisperer both walked out the door. Dani couldn’t help but feel elated at the sudden increase in odds she’d be selected. As soon as it closed he continued.

“Congratulations, you just passed the first part of the test! It’s only going to get fucking harder from here,” He walked to a set of crates in the room and lifted a plain tunic from one, a pair of pants from another, and a pair of boots with socks stuffed in them from the third., “Get over here, find something that fits and change. Boys there and girls there!” After a few seconds without anyone moving forward he just pointed at the window and they all ran over and started digging in the crate for something that fit.

‘What in Hel’s name kind of test is this?’

**********

“Congratulations are in order once again! You have just completed your final phase of testing! Remember, when you leave here where will you go if you talk!?”

“Through that window, Ser!” this time it was in perfect sync. All 10 of them lined up in a straight line at attention.

“Exactly, come back in two days, at 8 bells to see if you made it. You lot did good.” he stood there a moment, “Now get back into that shit you wore here and fuck off!”

Ten minutes later Dani was walking out of the Jarl’s villa. She was tired and sore but she felt good. She’d gotten the answer to her question directly from Ser Afgheir because she had decided to raise her hand to ask a question. Her question was how running around the villa’s walls was supposed to help pick the best mages… bad idea. She thought of his answer with a smile.

‘GOOD! If you have a question ask it! I’d rather have to answer a stupid question than have a dead mage in battle because they didn’t understand simple common. The reason is simple, we’re not looking for the best mages we’re looking for the best Legionnaire-Mages. You could be a fucking talent like none has ever seen before but if you can’t follow a simple order then you’re fucking worthless!’ It wasn’t a simple mage test at all.

The past few days were full of yelling, physical exercise that pushed all of them to their limit. Even the lycan was made to wear a heavy sack full of rocks to strain him during every movement. They took written tests, demonstrated their magic, took an oral test, and were made to study, recite, and follow basic movement commands of the legion. It was interesting because the past few days was some sick sample of Hel but she felt good going through it, learned to respect her competition, and no one was thrown through that window. She glanced back and could still make it out in the distance. She turned and made her way to her first stop, the bath house! Three days of running, jumping, and lifting but no bath!

**********

Two days later Dani arrived at the Villa just before 8 bells. She wasn’t the only one, 9 of the 10 stood there while one decided not to take the offer if they gave it to her. They stood quietly, some pacing some just standing, Dani was bouncing on the balls of her feet with nerves. She spotted Ser Afgheir walking out of one of the side rooms of the villa, parchment in hand. He walked up and counted when he got to 9 he shrugged. He either didn’t care or realized the missing one didn’t make the cut anyways.

“Ahem! If I read your name off you follow me. If I don’t fuck off and try again next summer. Arn Karson, Danielle Yelhana, Freyja Alrickson, Stoki Bjornson.” Without another word he turned around and started walking. The four very excited young mages ran and fell into a 2x2 formation behind him, falling into a lockstep. She could hear the grumble of the other five behind her as the chosen marched across the courtyard and led them into a small office. As they walked in they saw a series of things on top his desk each stacked in identical piles. Legion uniforms, leather armor, boots, helmet, a legion knapsack, sleeping roll, and on top of it all was a spellbook. He called out their names and pointed to a stack, each of them moving to stand in front of it.

“The term at the academy won’t start till autumn, but you will be wearing this in 2 days time as we leave. You will remain in Saena until the term starts. You will not get in trouble and you will not fuck up during that time. I will not be accompanying you. I’ve got my orders. We’ll be marching toward Vanheim to meet up with 300 knights and a detachment of Elvanni rangers from Jorvik. They’re leaving soon but they’ll be on foot so we’ll catch up. Pick their brains and learn from them but don’t ask any of them about their mission. If any of them reveal their mission and you blab…”

“Through the window!” They chanted but he shook his head.

“It’ll be the headmans block or a prison cell. I cannot go into details but I know you’ll likely hear things that the general populace does not. Keep your fucking mouths SHUT!” They nodded, “good, take your shit, and kiss your mothers goodbye. Main gate in 2 days at 6 bells. Do NOT make me come find you because you’re late.”

Dani picked up her gear and with full arms turned to march out the door, she went across the courtyard, through the villa gates, through the streets and when she entered her families modest home she set down her stuff and squealed in delight! SHE WAS GOING TO SAENA!

**********

Jon awoke the following morning in his tent. They’d found the bandit camp and decided to stay there that night and just go straight past Habernack. It wasn’t their goal for this leg of the trip anyways, they were headed for Saena. They’d had a discussion the night before and it was agreed that one, what they did what was necessary and two, they wouldn’t mention it to a soul. Before they left they looted the bodies and the camp. The bandits they let lie in the woods, while burying the child and his likewise deceased family. Inspection of the bodies showed they were all slaves bound to be sent to the legion, it had been the reason for the long sleeves. They needed to cover up their brands. They had found multiple wagons in the bandits camp meaning they had plenty of supplies and they had ambushed others. Jon still felt strange about the fact that he’d killed people...

They at least learned a few things about werewolves and that the instincts that drove them could be denied from Jaesmin’s account of the story. They also learned that whatever it was could help in dangerous situations but they’d have to learn how to control it rather than the other way around. Jon couldn’t help but feel that was what the lycans taught their children and bitten. They set forth on the road to Saena with three wagons. After a quick stop at Habernack to sell the extra wagons, the horses, and pass off info on the bandit camp.

Three days later they were approaching the Lanner River. Just beyond was the city of Sentia.

“So how far is this from Saena?” Andrew asked as they spotted the distant towers built along the ancient walls of the city.

“Eh… not sure,” Aethred shrugged. Jon couldn’t help but wonder why even speak if you didn’t know. Not that Jon knew either.

“We’ll just ask when we get there but on the map it looks like its around halfway between Everton and Saena… and Saena is about halfway between Everton and Vanheim,” Erin said studying the crude map, “but whoever made this shit needs to lay off the art and just make it readable.”

“So almost a quarter of the way there in what? Four days? That’s not bad.” Cara looked up from the spellbook “I thought it would take nearly a month to get to Vanheim?”

“It will… the road between Saena and Vanheim cuts through a forest and from what the merchant back in Everton said it’s not well maintained by Stilyra,” Leo said from his horse.

“No shit, that’d just help trade with heathens,” Aethred laughed as did Jaesmin.

“Temple wouldn’t like that,” she said, “Plus we’re stopping Saena for a day or two, right?”

“Yes. Saena’s the center of Stilyra, it’s the best place to get information. Plus it may be better to take a riverboat to Wolfheim than the highway to Vanheim.” Leo said, “I’m not sure how often boats run between the two or how much it costs.”

“Riverboat?” Andrew asked scootching over to look at the map.

“The Varna river runs right next to Saena and where it meets the Ousta is where Wolfheim is located. There should be plenty of boats because the Ousta meets the see and Novaria.” She said tracing the line on the map.

“Two good options but there’s a third,” Jon said the others looked up at him, “Saena’s a big city that connects to Ederath by road or river… there could be Lycans in the city and we don’t have to go anywhere.”

“Good point, hey can we stop? Gotta go,” Aethred asked.

“What no? Just go over the back, no ones going to look,” Erin said and turned so she faced the front, Cara and Jaesmin followed suit. Aethred just shrugged as he started to pull down his pants to squat over the edge.

“Aethred! Jon stop,” Leo called out seeing Aethred about to shit on the side of the wagon. Jon stopped the wagon. It was too bad there wasn’t a way they could have an outhouse or even a small room with a chamber pot on the wagon. Hel, why stop there throw in a bedroom of…

A vision hit Jon as he sat at the front of the wagon, strange white metal wagons to more recognizable bright colorful wagons with rounded tops to similarly colorful wagons with flat tops. Jon came back and looked around, Leo was staring at him.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Jon answered back.

“What happened?” Aethred asked standing behind the wagon, his business concluded.

“I don’t know, Jon… was it another urge?” Leo asked he was obviously referring to the part of them they only realized they had at the Green River. “Your face just suddenly went blank and your eyebrows shot up…”

“Oh a vision. What’d you get this time?” Aethred asked as Jon and Erin turned to stare at him, “What? You trust us to keep the bite thing a secret from everyone but Jon’s visions are a no? Next you’re going to tell me that none of us can know your a witch? Jon told me that by the way.”

“WOAH, WOAH!” Leofrith yelled out holding his hands up before more bickering could start,”The witch thing I knew but what visions?” He looked at Erin, “the fact you can’t learn magic from a spellsheet.”

“Wait! That’s why you had me learn HEAL instead of Erin?” Jaesmin said. Jon was glad for the reaction, witches may have been threatened with death or exile but they were a known entity. Jon had no idea if other people had visions.

“Shut up Jaes, no one cares bout Erin. Jon’s visions tell him how to make stuff. Where do you think he got the ideas for all the things he’s come up with?” Aethred jumped in excitedly dashing Jon’s hopes the everyone would somehow forget, “So what’d you learn now?” The rest looked at him expectantly.

“Ummm a wagon that works like a mobile house. Places to cook, sit, and sleep…” Jon said after a moment. ‘fuck you Aethred!’

The original four explained Jon’s visions to the others. How he could get them, they types of things he’s seen, and admitted to a lot of inventions from the crossbow to clear glass being made based on what he learned from them. That opened up a bunch of questions that Erin and Andrew tried to quell as they sent Jon into multiple visions, one right after another.

“STOP!” Erin called out after the 5th one, “Just let him be, no more questions!” The other’s looked at him, he had a headache and was tired but he’d just learned a little bit about boat making, road construction, military strategy that didn’t make sense, a little about taming animals, and sex toys. The last one was Aethred of course, he knew the rule but had decided to throw out a question of his own to see if it triggered one. Jon just closed his eyes and rubbed the middle of his brow. “you okay Jon?”

“Yeah I’m fine, head hurts but I’m okay,” he said jumping off the wagon, he pointed to Aethred and then to the seat. If his friend wanted to be an ass and give him a headache, then he could stare at a horses ass all day.

“Fine, fine,” Aethred reluctantly agreed when Leo repeated Jon’s motion, “Hey Jon, sorry…. Also do you know anything about leadership? We could use a bit.” Jon’s face went slack as his 6th vision in 10 minutes hit him. Apparently he knew quite a bit about leadership.

*********

“Ready to march darling?” Ser Erik walked up next to Kyanna and gave her a peck on the cheek. She glared at him but her features soften and she kissed him on the lips.

“Please don’t call me that on the march, makes me sound like some damsel from stories,” She said giving him another kiss.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, that’s why I’m getting it in now,” He smirked at her and held her close, “Who knows when we’ll be alone again. There’ll be 500 of us marching and who knows if the southerners will join.”

“Ah please don’t remind me… 300 Lycans in the Dain for what’s probably going to be at least a year without a proper bath…” She said rolling her eyes at the idea.

“Oh come off it, it wont be that bad. Besides that talk makes you sound like some spoiled damsel,” His smirk turned into a wide smile, “wouldn’t want people to think that now would we? Plus your forgetting squires, something like 150 of them.”

“Everyone is assembled your highnesses,” Chamberlain Elmon peaked his head in the room. Erik and Kyanna turned and walked out of the room, in the courtyard was an assembly of 650 warriors of the two most powerful nations on the isles standing ready. Both in neat rows, their two leaders didn’t give any speeches and there was no celebration, they just gave the signal to move out. Both formations turned and a moment later started to march. Erik and Kyanna quickly donning their packs before running up to the front where they fell in step with the small army marching behind them. As they marched through the square the Lycan knights shifted into their bestial forms. Their enchanted armor automatically shifting to their wearers new form. There wasn’t time for speeches but that didn’t mean they couldn’t show off.

********

At the back of the formation a group of young squires led pack mules laden with supplies while older one’s drove the wagons. A young boy of 14 looked at the girl next him, she looked young for even a squire but looks could be deceiving, he couldn’t tell much about her because of her armor and helmet anyways. When they made it a little way away from the formation relaxed a bit, not even Rangers wanted to walk hundreds of miles maintaining perfect posture, distance, and step. The boy looked over at the squire next to him.

“Guess we’ll be walking next to each other for a while. I’m Ragnar.” He gave her a polite bow of the head.

“Astrid.”