As I rode to catch up with my family I slowed down as I saw a group of about a dozen riders coming toward me wearing Glasmore colors. A man in his early fifties shouted. “I am Half-Captain Garner. Halt and identify yourself.”

“My names Sam Warner. I own a farm near here and was just riding to catch up with my family.”

“Why aren’t you with them already?” Garner asks suspiciously.

“I went to get my parents.” When I did say any more Garner asked. “Well, where are they.”

I gritted my teeth as I hissed. “They are dead, Count Northridge’s men killed them.”

“You witnessed this?”

“Yes.”

“How did you get away then?”

“I got away because I killed them.”

That got a bunch of scoffs from the men, though Garner didn’t dismiss it out of hand and instead said softly. “Let me see your combat log.”

I shared the combat log with him, which only contained the fight with Northridge’s men.

I waited while Garner finished and then stared at me wide-eyed. “How did you kill someone with a bridge post of all things and then cause an avalanche that killed 15 men and their horses?”

The rest of the men were quite surprised at hearing that.

“I have an ability at max level, which allows me to enlarge objects. I used it to cause the cliff to collapse on the men. As to the bridge post, that is what happens when you are taking a turn at speed onto a bridge and suddenly your saddle it twice as big around as it should be.”

“Incredible. Well, I am glad we ran into you. There are a lot of refugees on the road and we were sent by Count Glasmore to try to slow them down. Everyone here is a skilled bowman, so we are hoping to get some good positions and rain down some arrows on them. We could use your help. Anyone with a Sage level ability would be helpful.”

“My ability is not a combat ability and I just want to catch up with my family.”

“Well let me put it into perspective for you then. Count Glasmore was called to send troops to Brisban. The city council there is trying to wipe out a group of bandits that have been plaguing the main trade route. As a result, we have very few men to protect Glasmore, which Northridge is no doubt counting on. So, your family is going to be in serious trouble if we don’t manage to at least delay Northridge. You can either fight here or at Glasmore when we are sieged.”

I haven’t had a need to curse much, but I certainly tried to make up for it after hearing what Garner had to say.

“Ok, I would guess it will take them an hour or so to clear the road near the cliff. I would suggest we head up the road back the way you came for about a mile to the to the Downer farmer. There is a small hill the road skirts around and there are some trees for cover. Your bowman can hit them there and I will see what I can do.”

Garner considered it and then with a command we all turned and headed for the farm. After we arrived Garner had the men dig in and they had a low dirt wall up in thirty minutes. They also dropped a sack full of metal caltrops on the road. Garner said he hated to do that to horses, but a lot of people’s lives were on the line.

We all waited in silence as a column of troops came into view. The lead elements were twenty men on Taravens, which is a large lizard that runs on all fours and masses about 3 times a good size horse. The Taravens had barding and their claws were shod in metal. There were about 150 troops following them in plain chainmail. Garner cursed when he saw them. “Well men we are not getting out of this, but we should try to take as many as we can.”

I looked at Garner and he replied to my unasked question. “Taravens can easily outrun a horse before they need a rest. We won’t be able to get away from them.”

I turned to really focus on them and asked. “I forgot to ask do you have any mana potions?”

“I have two if they will do you any good. They will each restore 200 mana, but there is a ten-minute cool down after drinking one.” He says as he hands them over. I put them in my inventory as I described what I would try to do.

He chuckled darkly and said. “We at least this should be entertaining. Alright, boys, Sam has an idea. When they get at 300 feet start peppering them with arrows. We want them to charge.”

At 300 feet the twelve archers including Garner started firing with a steady rhythm. I could see all of them were targeting the same rider. The System would allow larger parties to join for a war party, but you had to already be in a military unit, which is why Garner hadn’t invited me. It was obvious to see who he was targeting as all the archers hit that figure who raised his shield and charged. With a cry all twenty Taraven took off at a sprint. Thank Horth I had already targeted them before they started running. As they came into range I enlarge the breastplate on the Taraven’s chests, which was a thick steel plate about three feet high that was only about one foot off the ground at the bottom. You just can’t imagine the sight of a Taraven at full sprint when it’s breastplate doubles in height, plowing into the earth and slamming into their necks. Most of them flipped over crushing their riders.

I pulled out the mana potion and gulped it down, it was the first one I had ever had and it tastes like a cherry jam I was fond of. Less than 11 men survived and per my direction, the archers focused on those with the worse injuries. Several men started running up the hill holding their shields high. They must have the truly monstrous strength to run in plate mail. I targeted the 7 remaining as they got to the tree line and they all collapsed. I first enlarged their legs extending them so they all fell forward. As they fell I enlarged the rest of their armor, which left them with twice the weight and no leverage to turn over as their enlarged arms and legs joints no longer aligned with their elbows and knees. After that, it was easy to chop them down.

We now looked at the remaining troops, which were rapidly turning around. I looked at Garner as he started to laugh. “Look at your notifications.” He said and there it was, Northridge was apparently one of the Taraven riders and with his death, in such a spectacular way the rest of the army turned tail.

Sam looked up at the historian who had been avidly listening to the tale. “That’s about it. Of course, Northridge’s wife is much more reasonable and we haven’t had any trouble since.”

Harris looked curious as he asked. “I have heard that Glasmore offered you a commission and that several guilds were interested in you joining, but you turned them down. Can you tell me why?”

“Well, why would I want to join? For gold? I have everything I want here. For fame? I already have too many people stopping by as it is. No, I am very happy living my life right here.”

“Thank you so much for telling the tale first hand. I know you said you are not interested, but if any of your children or grandchildren are ever interested the King of Jorn would be happy to sponsor them. I know none of your children had an ability, but sometimes an ability will only surface after you have a vigil in a Starter Area Temple of Vera.”

As the Mayor and the historian left riding down the lane a small inquisitive figure could be seen peeking through the door. “Did you eavesdrop the whole time?” Sam said.

A small figure popped open the door and ran over to their favorite place and plopped in their grandfather’s lap saying. “I always like hearing the tale.”

“I thought you would be out in the barn practicing?”

“I was, but I got a new skill progression level and wanted to show you.”

Chuckling Sam made a dramatic gesture saying. “Your audience awaits.”

The young face no older than eight summers took on a serious focus much beyond their years as a small ball of light appeared in the air in front of them. Slowly the ball flattened and expanded into a small bird that began to flap its wings and flew down to the boy’s outstretched hand.

Sam laughed in delight. “You have outdone yourself this time Justin.”