The light of day crept in ever so slowly, unnoticed. Patrons flowed in for breakfast, officially announcing the arrival of morning. Despite the long hours of doing precisely nothing but pacing, Nespolan’s guards remained vigilant throughout the evening.

I ordered four servings of food, two for me and one each for them, which finally brought them to rest at the table. Their eyes scanned the area as we ate. Up until now I had not taken note of their sense of duty and incredible discipline. I focused back on my food to finish eating as they inhaled their single serving faster than I had gotten through either of mine.

The guards stood, snapped to attention, and saluted with crisp precision. Nespolan entered the room, returning their salute, trailing a small entourage and my argenti.

My friends took seats at the table. They were, weren’t they? “My friends…” I had not thought of them as such until now. The attack had been resolved alone, but they each rushed to my aid.

I smiled fondly at the group. “Good morning.”

We exchanged pleasantries and I debriefed them on all that had happened after they left. I had finished more than a dozen drinks and pondered the universe along with my place in it. What I didn’t tell them about was how I wanted to finally write up a character sheet so I could track my experience, skills, and that sort of thing.

“Korolm’s guard captain and the baron poured through their records, finding no resident named Dokmir,” she said. “They were also not staying at either inn and had not been seen before the incident.”

“Morslon and I roused every caravan leader, pack master, and quartermaster in the entire march. We will have their registers and any other information before long.”

“My Marshal is going over our duty logs, rosters, and reports.” Nespolan put her hand on my shoulder, “We will figure this out, Sully. Together.”

“I appreciate all of your efforts. This morning has given me quite a bit of time to think about…” I said, stopping myself from gesturing broadly, “everything. It appears that I need to take my own safety more seriously.”

Whether it had been paranoia or caution had been part of the debate with me, myself, and I. We settled on the sensibility of caution because it was not paranoia if someone really was out to get us… Out to get me.

I could still hire guards and attendants. That brought the problem of vetting them as I couldn’t readily trust any random sellsword. Unfortunately, I had only one workable solution.

“Nespolan, are you willing to assign a guard detail until such a time as I am able to handle my own affairs?”

The three of them looked at one another, Dorstark sighing in relief, “We were worried you would decline such an offer, Lord Sully.”

“It is true. That discussion happened after we left,” she agreed. “I do not want to force you to accept more direct protection and do not want you to feel that you are not free.”

“I appreciate the consideration, but I need safety more than freedom right now even if that were not the case.”

“In that case, you will have a permanent detail of one hundred to…”

“A hundred? Do I really need that many?”

She cleared her throat, unaccustomed to interruptions. “... One hundred to command, chosen from among our best. They will set a guard rotation for both yourself and your… personal effects. But they are yours to command, Lord Sully.”

“That seems like a lot.”

“It will be adequate and should not be cumbersome,” Dorstark replied.

Morslon added, “Most nobles maintain at least a small guard detail at all times. Traveling with ten or more is fairly typical. Duke Morstaal would not take to the roads with less than that many; rare as his travels inland are.”

“You are a priceless treasure, Sully. And, as you have informed us, much of what you have is irreplaceable.” Nespolan thought for a moment, “Though the gods brought you to me, that cannot be inferred as their desire to watch over you.”

I tried my damndest not to think too much about any part of what she just said, only taking in her concern. “Alright, how will this work?”

“One of my officers is handling the selection of your unit. I will handle the field transfer, then we will officiate it in Videm.”

“Wait, this is a permanent change?”

Nespolan nodded, “Of course. You are now a lord and will need forces to secure your lands eventually.”

“Is it typical for the kingdom to provide forces to lords?”

“Lords usually have their own troops which they use to conquer or hold their lands,” Dorstark said. “If needed, they may be supplemented from the king’s armies.”

“It is in the best interest of the kingdom to ensure you are sufficiently empowered to succeed. Especially if my brother grants you lands along our borders, which I suspect he will.”

That was an entirely different line of discussion I hadn’t expected. The idea of city building has a certain appeal. Yet the concept is incredibly daunting considering the decidedly not game-like reality of this world. Being sent out to some new frontier could also be a mixed bag.

“Alright, all that seems like it will be well down the road. What do we do now?”

“We wait. Not much else we can do until the delegated tasks are completed,” she said.

It wasn’t long until the first of them arrived. Two officers arrived together, snapped to attention, and saluted. Military rankings had come up in my studies. I could tell that one of them was a mid-ranked officer and the other was a lower ranked officer. My translations for those were equivalent to a captain and lieutenant.

“Lieutenant Volk, reporting as ordered.”

“Stand at ease,” she ordered. “Lieutenant, I am sure you have already been briefed on this. To reaffirm your orders, you are hereby being assigned to Lord Sully and will follow his commands as if they were my own.”

“Yes sir.”

“Any questions?”

“None sir.”

“Sully? Do you have anything you wish to add presently?”

“Ugh… Dorstark?”

“Please have the new unit assembled for Sully’s review near our camp. We will be there shortly.”

Volk looked to me for confirmation, so I nodded. It sounded like a good plan to me anyway. We shared another round of ale before heading out. Knowing where they had set up camp this morning, we followed Dorstark.

Tents stood in orderly rows with multiple layers surrounding my own. There were now three large tents instead of two. The new addition is an operational tent for Volk, standing next to his smaller personal tent.

The formation stood tall, ready for inspection. As tall as they could with their average height of a hundred and sixty centimeters. In spite of their short stature, each of them appeared fierce.

There were four rows with five soldiers each, and five total units. Comprising individuals from numerous groups, their gear was mixed but showed a consistently high quality.

“Impressive,” I said with an approving nod. After a closer look, the group had both men and women among the ranks.

“Thank you my lord. We are glad to hear you are pleased,” Volk said.

“Have you already set a schedule?”

“Yes my lord. You will have four of our number accompanying you at all times. Another rotation will patrol our area of the camp and stand watch over your… supplies.”

I looked over the group again, deciding it may serve everyone to address them all as one to get it out of the way now. “I am Sully Indigo Romano, your new…” I stopped, already at a loss. Public speaking and lording weren’t exactly something I have experience with.

Volk leaned in, whispering, “Lord Commander.”

“Lord Commander. As we travel I will do my best to speak with all of you, but I first need to clear the air. Someone please step forward and tell me what you have heard of me.”

Three heartbeats later a woman two two steps out from her position at the head of the first squad. “Sergeant Katru,” Volk told me. I repeated her name in my head a dozen times to drill it in.

“My lord, I may only speak to what I have heard. You arrived by the will of the god Kuriy to be his champion. In the first of your grand acts you vanquished a great demon with a single blow, saving High Commander Nespolan and his argenti. Aside from your many mysterious and powerful abilities, you possess a trove of unique, mystical artifacts from your distant home lands.”

Katru paused, breaking her bearing to meet my eyes. “I am confident in speaking for all of us to say that we are honored to serve you, Lord Commander.”

The silence that followed was unexpected, by me at least. Given her epic speech I had expected a loud cheer or… something. I was moved, so to hell with everyone else. Cheering after awesome speeches will be one of many changes to come.

Hearing about myself in such an aggrandized manner is odd. While it is all remarkably flattering, much of it didn’t sit well with me. Perhaps I could at least shut down the idea that I was a deific pawn. That entire idea grated my nerves.

“My lord, it would be best that you not dispel any rumors unless they are overly negative,” Dorstark said in a barely audible whisper, inches from my ear. If I didn’t know better I might suspect he has telepathic abilities. I had even asked him multiple times, which he denied.

Big sigh. “That about covers it, actually. Thank you Sergeant Katru.” I wanted to say more. Not knowing what else to say, I turned to walk toward the command tent. “You may dismiss them lieutenant.”

We waited in the command tent talking about nothing important until the reports finally began arriving. The Marshal, town guard, pack masters, and quartermasters all arrived empty handed. Some claimed there were sightings of people who matched the descriptions of the would-be thieves, but none of it actually helped.

The most interesting of those reports was of the boss woman having entered the larger vicinity we camped in, among the nobles and other supposedly ‘very important people’. That could mean she was meeting with someone we travelled with. It could also mean that she was attempting to scout my tent.

Most of the caravaneers also had nothing to report until finally one entered the tent with information we could work with. Dokmir had been part of a group of six people that were supposed to travel with the caravan to Videm. He also had word that the remaining three people cleared out their tents and left during the night, heading into the woods.

It wasn’t much of a lead, but more than we had. I couldn’t help but be eager to find out who wanted to steal my grimoire. “We should try to follow them then, right?”

“There may not be tracks we can follow, but I will send scouts out immediately,” Nespolan said.

“Why not send a larger force? It is not like we lack the numbers.”

“Information is important Sully. Right now we have precious little.”

“I suppose we could take my personal guard and follow behind the scouts then.”

The assembled group looked at one another in turn. “You can not go with them. It will be dangerous.”

I scoffed, “I am not allowed to go? Should I remain here in camp or in a protective bubble forever?”

“If only we had such a protective bubble, Lord Sully.” Volk immediately looked abashed under my glare.

“I believe that High Commander Nespolan and Lieutenant Volk are saying that it would be unwise to put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation unnecessarily,” Dorstark said in an attempt to console me.

“Then I am free to go if I so choose?”

“Dorstark has the right of it. You are no prisoner and may do as you wish, Sully. I would prefer that you remain here in camp and let those who are well trained in skills specifically suited for this task,” she said.

“If I may do as I wish, then I will be going on this mission to find these three ass holes.” I wished I could just say ‘assholes’ anyway. In Norvosian it was closer to ‘butt openings’ because the words for butt and hole just didn’t roll off the tongue.

“As it is Lord Sully’s decision to make, I agree with and offer to join you,” Morslon chimed in.

“Of course, I will accompany you if you would like as well. However I must protest this course of action,” my mentor said with a sigh.

Having Dorstark along would be excellent and maybe I would get to see some badass fire magic. For real this time, not just a small show for my benefit, but actual destructive power.

I looked into Nespolan’s eyes, trying to put together why I was being resisted. She called me a ‘treasure’ earlier, which I didn’t like at all.

“Well, as I am not a caged bird, I will be going. Volk, ready a unit to accompany me.”

“Yes, Lord Commander.” The officer… My officer saluted and left to carry out my order.

“The scouts will be ready for us to follow out soon then.” Her eyes showed equal parts pride and fear, if I read them right.

There wasn’t anything else for me to prepare, so I waited for the others to gear up. Dorstark returned first having only grabbed a short staff, spear thing. A fancy flame carving sat at the top of the staff and the bottom looked like a spearhead. It was pretty cool actually.

Morslon returned wearing a sword on his side and a ringed leather gambeson that could have fit in at a bondage club. It was absolutely covered with leather straps woven through large metal rings, giving it the appearance that the entire piece of gear was made of buckles.

I stifled a laugh… a buckle chuckle. Correction, I tried to keep myself from losing it, and failed.

Nespolan, Volk, and forty others arrived. “Why so many?”

“Your twenty plus twenty of my scouts.”

“Seems excessive,” I said. I only intended to bring five or ten of mine, but I suppose a unit meant twenty.

“If five soldiers are sufficient for a fight, twenty will be more than sufficient.”

Couldn’t argue with that sound logic.

Scouts were sent out as we entered the forest. They surrounded us on all sides somewhere beyond where I could see them. The only ones that remained closer were those trailing us, presumably to ensure that our quarry of three people didn’t flank us.

We made slow progress through the dense foliage. Every now and then I spotted one of the forward scouts closer to us, about fifty meters out. They were remarkably stealthy. Volk quietly explained that beyond them were more distant scouts.

Hours passed as we made our way deeper into the wilderness. The scouts managed to sneak through the woods without disturbing many animals, while our larger group may as well have drums for all the noise we made.

Frankly, it was boring. The hot adrenaline and excitement I felt before setting out now smoldered to a cooled frustration. I was nearing a point where I wanted to whine about it when a pair of scouts returned.

They encountered and dispatched another scout. What this meant, as I was being informed, was our targets were likely part of another group and we were getting close. Thankfully.

More time passed when one of the scouts returned again to inform us that they found a camp of roughly two dozen people. There were no defenses and all their scouts had already been killed, so we should be able to surprise them.

Nespolan and Volk conferred, deciding to surround the camp to ensure they could not escape. If they had all been on foot it wouldn’t be a big threat, but there were ten horses in the camp. Four of my troops, my argenti, Nespolan, and Volk all remained near me as the others fanned out to encircle them.

Once in place the order was given.

My guards and Dorstark held me from charging forward with the others. I cursed up a storm, mostly not in Norvosian.

Arrows flew into the unsuspecting camp killing nearly twenty before my unit arrived. The entire chaos of the encounter lasted less than a minute. Significantly outnumbered, the group was forced to submit or die. Some chose the latter regardless.

It was a brief slaughter, not a fight.

Only after the all clear from Nespolan and Volk did we join them. I was more calm about it now. I didn’t know how to properly wield a sword and would have only had my gun to rely on. They were right and I knew it. Not that it meant I was happy about it.

Fourteen of them were forced to their knees and bound. The scout’s estimate had been off by quite a bit as he hadn’t gotten close enough to get a better count.

I wanted to come out here half cocked, with no plan, and few troops. Were I allowed to make that mistake it may not have been one I could have learned from. The dead learn nothing further and can’t go back to fix their fuck ups. Fortunately, I’m not dead and I will not forget this lesson any time soon.

“My lords,” a scout said with a sharp salute, “their trail runs parallel to the road, back toward Oyra. We could follow it back, but a group this size has likely been travelling outside our ranging efforts since we first began the march.”

“That would be more concerning if we had not dealt with them here and now,” Volk said with a gesture dismissing the scout.

“We need to search their camp and will interrogate the captives when we get back,” Nespolan said. “I would prefer if we safely return before dark.”

With military efficiency the entire camp was ransacked and broken down. Every piece of gear was packed up and loaded onto the horses. I wanted to sort through everything out here in hopes of finding clues. She was right though, again. Damnit.

Our prisoners were gagged and tied to one another, marching between two columns of soldiers. They looked broken, as if we were marching them toward a volcano to appease the gods of their enemies. Some sobbed into their gags. Others steadily put one foot in front of the other in silent resignation.

I knew that Norvos didn’t keep slaves. Imprisonment certainly wouldn’t be pleasant. Could it be that bad though? Laws and justice needed to be added to my reading list.

We arrived back at our camp before dusk and unloaded the pack horses. My argenti and I began the task of sorting through everything while the captives were questioned… intensely. Their intermittent screams made my stomach turn.

Travelling gear, supplies, and personal effects would help over the long-term I suppose. All of that chaff was sent to my quartermaster, which I now had within my small personal army. What remained was more interesting.

Dozens of coin pouches were combined to a pile along with any other jewelry and other valuables. Two chests of coins and gems were set aside as well. Morslon approached with two books, which he held out with a strange look on his face.

I flipped through them and knew almost immediately that they were not standard manuscript, but tomes of magic. Two of them. And they were now mine. I would have to review them tonight to figure out what I had, exactly.

A series of letters from an unknown sender were helpfully left in a bundle. Wax seals had been removed from all of them, leaving a single stamped signature mark which meant nothing to any of us. It was a round symbol similar to that of numerous orders within the Resolute.

The letters themselves were written in a language other than Norvosian. Dorstark could read parts of it, but he said they were coded somehow and would need to be deciphered. Which was just awesome, really. These could be the key to finding my enemies, or they could be letters with a lost lover somewhere. Maybe they were recipes.

It was discouraging. Also, I had to admit that the concept of having enemies is more than a little strange.

With little else to do until we figured out the next pieces of this puzzle, I did what every good gamer would in my shoes. I took stock of my new loot.