The carriage had been driving for almost an hour now, 2 horseback guards accompanied it. The road to Taldera city was long as it was situated in the north's mountains meaning that getting there wasn't as easy as travelling in a straight line.

"Have you ever been to Taldera?" Asked Ivan looking out the window.

"No sir," replied Adolphus.

"Neither have I to be honest, it shall be an experience for both of us."

"I've heard many tales about it though," Adolphus stated.

"As have I, it is the second largest city in Atheron and is built into a valley in the mountains, the poor live at the bottom whilst the rich live at the top. Quite befitting a nation such as Atheron, would you not agree?"

The carriage continued to drive on until it came to a stop. They couldn't be at Taldera already, it would take a lot longer until the city was in sight. All of a sudden the guards began shouting at the top of their voices.

"Get out of the road!" They bellowed.

"I wonder what all the fuss is about?" Wondered Adolphus.

"Have a look," ordered Ivan.

The mage opened the carriage door and poked his head out. A man with quite long brown hair and spectacles was on his knees in the middle of the dirt road. He appeared to be begging.

"I beseech you, please help me. The guards of this town won't because they're all corrupt!"

"I said, out of the way!" One guard unsheathed his sword and looked about ready to gut the poor man open.

"Stop!"

"Adolphus? Wait what on earth are you...?"

Adolphus rushed to the man's aid telling the guard to calm down. He helped the man to his feet, despite him being several inches taller.

Ivan arrived also as murmurs and whispers filled the streets of bystanders.

"Adolphus, what are you doing?" A rather annoyed face has appeared.

"I was simply saving this man."

"Goodness, what does it matter, sir please move out of the road and we shall be on our way."

"Y...you're Prince Ivan aren't you. Please your highness, help me!"

The man's face was in the dirt now and any fool could tell he was desperate.

"In what way would it benefit me at all?"

"Uh...well you see...um"

"As I thought, now move out of the road."

The man sulked and wiped the dirt off his glasses and began wandering off to somewhere unknown.

"Say Adolphus, I am actually quite parched...Adolphus?"

*snore*

"Why do you keep falling asleep!?"

"What is it Prince Ivan?"

"I was going to say that we shall be resting in this town for a bit because I am in need of food," said Ivan raising a finger.

"Very well then, there should be a tavern somewhere in this town. Let's ask someone."

Ivan first told the carriage driver of their plans then they asked a resident of the town who pointed them in the direction of a tavern.

"Taverns, how repulsive."

"Gah come on Prince Ivan, it's not that bad."

The pair sat in the further most corner from everyone, away from prying eyes and belligerent drunks. The tavern was quite dark with a few chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the floor and walls were made of wood and were full of holes. Ivan ordered a nice glass of white wine whilst Adolphus ordered a tankard of ale and some food for the two of them.

"Why do I feel like we are being looked at," said Ivan.

"Probably are."

"How reassuring and you had best not vomit or do something stupid because of the drink."

"Of course not...my *hic* prince."

"It is most likely worthless trying to communicate with you but I wonder how are healing potions made and what do they do?"

"They heal you."

"I asked how not what."

"Oh sorry...healing potions heal you cause...they're made of magical fairy armpit fish."

"And you are drunk, wonderful."

"Eh? Wha...didja sah...I'll 'ave you know I am...*hic* Prince Adolphus of..." the so-called prince's head hit the table and he fell asleep immediately.

"Good grief, your tolerance is low."

Ivan noticed the man from before sitting down at another table in the tavern. A woman in a green village dress came up to him and started talking, it was loud enough for Ivan to eavesdrop.

"Oh what am I to do? I've got nothing left, absolutely nothing."

"I imagine you asked the guards for help already Mr Fence," replied the lady.

"I have but those scummy dogs are only interested in coin and nothing more."

"I saw you beg Prince Ivan for help, still can't believe he is here in town. Lousy royals don't care about us common folk."

"It's not his fault, he was busy I suppose."

"He could've at least heard you out."

Ivan knew that popular opinion of himself amongst the peasants was essential to becoming king and he knew that this tiny town would make no difference if he decided to leave it be but still, he disliked being hated upon. Also he had nothing to do considering his only companion was snoozing. Once the lady left Ivan stood up and went over to the man.

"Good day sir, my apologies for earlier."

"P...Prince Ivan, what are you doing here?" The man appeared to have had a couple glasses of alcohol, most likely to drown his sorrow from whatever his problem was.

"I may have come off as impolite earlier, I was in a rush, you understand right?"

"Oh right, yeah."

"Anyhow I would like to hear your proposition."

"Ah yes, well you see, I was coming into town to sell some things, I'm a merchant. I was on my wagon just minding my business and as I approached the town's outskirts I was stopped by a group of bandits. That villanous bunch robbed me of everything I had and left me in the dirt. I went to the town guard for assistance but they said told me to sod off, I bet you anything that they're being bribed by the bandits."

Ivan really didn't want to get involved and was certainly inclined to walk away so he did just that.

"Sorry but I have no interest in helping..."

"We shall help you!"

"A...Adolphus!?" A drunk old hobbit came out of nowhere offering help to the stranger at the disagreement of his master.

"Y...you would?!" The man seemed filled with joy.

"Would you please excuse us for a moment sir."

Ivan shoved his companion away for a moment and bent down to speak to him in private

"Listen you foul-smelling, intoxicated, bovine, ancient halfling. We shall not help that man and you will sober up or God forbid I smack you right here right now for your moronic antics."

"That's a lotta big words, do you royals just make this stuff up or do you all get taught a different language to us on which case I must say it doesn't do well for the country if we speak different *hic* languages. Really aught to change that, in fact do you have another word for cheese? I'd love to hear it."

"Shut up you fool."

"You know *hic* we don't actually have *hic* any money for the drinks."

"Eh?"

Ivan checked his pockets and sure enough he had no money on him whatsoever.

"What the hell?"

"Yeah."

"What the hell?"

"Heh you already said that."

"What...the...hell?"

"Something wrong?"

"I'm a prince, how do I not have money on me?"

Trying to figure out how he forgot the most important thing in the world, Ivan deduced that in all that had happened recently he just never took his money pouch with him.

"Wait, surely you must have money."

"Nope I'm poor."

"Great. Absolutely great. Explains the smell."

Ivan walked back over to the man.

"We shall help you in exchange for a share of your profit."

"Oh of course. I was going to pay you handsomely if you agreed to help me. But seeing as you're a prince I would figure you're actually very rich."

"Indeed I am but it never hurts to have a bit more," sarcastically said Ivan.

"That's the merchant's spirit!" Proclaimed the man standing up, "so how will we retrieve my items?"

"It would be best to begin with how many bandits there are. How many were there when they robbed you?"

"About 6 I think but I doubt that is all of them."

"Agreed there is probably more and however many more, we do not know."

"So we require a force greater than 6 but I'd go as high as 10."

"Yes. The more the merrier."

"The only problem is how will we obtain this force," said the man.

"I have 2 guards accompanying me and Adolphus will not be much use."

"I can fight! Sort of."

"I am trained in using a sword so I may be of use but I would never lower myself to participate in such trivialities."

"So we still don't have enough."

"You said the town guards wont help but perhaps they can be persuaded by someone such as myself."

"I guess it's worth a shot."

"Go fetch the captain of the guard here for me."

"Um, wouldn't it be best if we went to go see him together," wondered the man.

"I would much prefer it if he came to me. Just go tell him that Prince Ivan wishes to speak with him."

"Very well."

The man wandered off for a few minutes before returning with the captain of the town's guard. He was a brutish man who, despite his looks, donned well polished armour which was in pristine condition. Any silliness halted as soon as the captain entered through the doors. The man stood behind him looking rather imitated and afraid.

"You must be Prince Ivan."

"Indeed I am captain."

The pair's glares were equally strong and terrifying, it was almost like they were having a staring contest.

"Why did you call for me?" He questioned in his coarse tone.

"The man behind you is a merchant that was attacked by bandits recently and had all his possession stolen. I wanted to ask you whether you would aid him in driving away the bandits so that which is his may be returned."

The whole room was silent.

"This again? Look I'll tell you what I told him. We don't have the manpower to face off against them, I wont send my men to die for nothing."

"So you know how many there are, what equipment they have and where their camp is."

"Oh uh, yes we do," the captain seemed to stumble on his words.

"Then do you mind if you tell me these 3 things?"

"Oh right, not at all. Uh let me think, there's about 30 men there, they have a good set of bows, swords, spears and armour. They also have horses and are held up just northeast of the town in a cave."

"I see, well then it seems that there is no way you could possibly fight but you are in luck."

"Luck?"

"Yes because I have come here with a mage who is equivalent to at least 10 ordinary men and I have brought quite a large contingent of soldiers as guards. At least 10. I ask you how many guards are in this town currently?"

The captain began to sweat a lot more and his eyes began to avert from Ivan's, breaking his glare, "I can spare at least 5 men."

"Damn what a shame that we don't have more men to fight but with careful tactics I believe we can win. So captain order your men to be ready and meet on the northern part of town and we shall bring justice to these vermin," Ivan found it hard to maintain his glare and not break into a smile. Against his wits, the captain was but an ant.

"Ah um well some men are off on another mission and the rest are in training so currently I can't spare any men, we will have to wait until later for us to make our move."

"I see, then we shall meet later, I will remain here until that happens."

"Uh yes, now I must go, important business to attend to."

The captain quickly hurried out of the tavern like a rat running from a fire.

"What an idiot. You were right sir, he most definitely is in league with the bandits," stated Ivan, cross armed.

"So what do we do now?"

"I have an idea but it depends on you. How much money do you have in your wagon?"

"About 120 silver coins."

"Let us say that for any towns-person that helps us fight the bandits, we give them 5 silver coins."

"That seems fair but I wonder if the people will have the courage to fight, none of them did before when I tried begging them."

"All they need is a rousing speech and I shall be happy to oblige."

Taking a stand atop a table, Ivan cleared his throat and lightly tapped a glass.

"If I may have your attention please."

All eyes were on Ivan now.

"Many of you may know who I am but those who may not, I am Prince Ivan Ikhaust. A kind-hearted merchant here was recently robbed by a local bandit group and had all his belongings stolen. He has nothing left, no home to go to, no money to feed himself, he cannot even retrieve his belongings because the guards of this town are corrupt and spineless and refuse to aid him! They work with the bandits! A man who is completely innocent and has done no wrong against you or anyone else in this entire world was unjustly treated all because he was slightly wealthier than the foxes who lurk in the darkness and feast off of the gain of others! I ask on behalf of I as royalty and this man's generous heart, that you take up arms and fight these fiends and reclaim the stolen goods. Of course there will be rewards for those who fight. At minimum 5 silver coins but perhaps more depending on the number who join and with my power as a member of the royal family I will do my best to ensure prosperity for this town. So come and join us in fighting for our righteous cause. But before you do ask yourself, how long will it be until these bandits come for you and your belongings!"

The room was silent for a while until a bit until a few men rose from their seats and shouted "Ay I'll help!"

Many more began to join in, some of them knew the merchant as their friend, others saw the corruption of the authorities and wanted justice whilst others were only interested in money.

They all went home and collected wooden axes and such and set out in a group of at least 20. The 2 guards that accompanied Ivan joined in also and so did the merchant himself.

"I guess I must make good on my promises. Give me a blade and I will fight too," lied Ivan, " hey Adolphus, sober up you buffoon."

*snore*

"This sword is going straight in your abdomen if you don't wake up!"

"Wait...wha...argh my head."

"Utter buffoon. Now then, let us set out and press forward like Feidhlim the great!"

"Gah, not so loud Prince Ivan."

They all headed northeast, to reclaim the merchant's stolen items and mostly so they could pay for their meal.

"Thank you again for this," said the man.

"You're most welcome, by the way, I never caught your name."

"My name, oh, it's Fenston Fence."