Politics huh, the bane of my existence. What a stupid, stupid thing. I might have smiled and waved it away, but I really hated the possibility of being used as a pawn in someone's political game. On the one hand, I really want to just excuse myself from this and accompany the two them, but not really help them, on the other hand, I do want to help them out of friendship, if nothing else. I guess they would rightly feel betrayed if I just decided to not help them at all. I hate politics so much.

I started hating it as a little kid. Like most dwarven nobility from Tharaz Eron, I spent a good part of my childhood learning in the basic education division of the capital's university. There, I made a friendship with a lovely dwarf girl. Unfortunately, I was soon made to break off that friendship, as she was the youngest daughter of the Paremy family, bitter rivals of the Therynia family. From that day, I resented the very concept and tried my best to follow a path that would keep me as far away from it as possible.

Now, even though I am so far away from my whole family, I find myself involved at least indirectly with the political machinations of someone. What a hateful thing. I would shake Alexius' uncle if I could, but the best I can do is swallow my discomfort and help Alexius however I can. So I shut my mouth and follow him when instead of heading to the mountainous region that marks the border between Meridia and the region of Nemiria, Alexius turns to the east and starts leading us toward Ravensguard.

“You sure you're not going to regret this?”

I cannot help asking that one question. Alexius and Helena look back at me, looking slightly surprised. I guess I really can't hide my misgivings all that well after all, eh? He smiled back at me reassuringly.

“I can't say I am all that certain, to be honest, but there is little I can do besides following my destiny and hoping that I have chosen the correct path. Regardless, I know that Virtue will not let me take the lowest path. Whatever it is that I have chosen, I know that I did not make the worst choice.”

How foolish of me. As bad as I may have felt, in the end, he was the one being directly used, and yet, he seems to have accepted it. I wonder if it's that capacity to accept and do the best of what the above has given us that makes humans the closest race to divinity, despite them being the weakest.

I just silently nod my head and show my respect. I feel like I can't come up with good words to respond to his. I find myself fervently hoping that he is right. So we walk towards Ravensguard, mostly in silence.

A day later, we camped for the night earlier than usual. Alexius said the reason was that we were already quite near Ravensguard and he wanted to talk among ourselves before we finally had to meet Lord Ravenscall and confront the problem that the town was dealing with.

“So, do you have any idea what the problem might be? It is something that your uncle thinks the two of us can deal with, after all.”

Oh, right, there is no way that Alexius' uncle knows that I am traveling with them, so of course, there is no way that he is counting on my involvement. A part of me hoped that this whole thing might then end without me getting involved, but that was probably just wishful thinking.

“I have a few ideas about what might be the problem, but first, I want to ask for Kardenon to make some of that energy potion he's so fond of. You said it's really helpful for thinking about things, right?”

I was immediately energized. Of course! If we are going to discuss things, what else would be good to accompany as a drink? Nothing else! This was a simple way in which I could really help. Good!

“I would be honored to! Shall I prepare some for you too?”

Of course I would also offer to make some for Helena. She looked at me then at Alexius, not looking all that happy. She seemed torn between saying no and accepting it. I guess she really doesn't like the taste of it, but I know that she also wouldn't like to be the one perso not having it. Alexius said nothing but looked like he would be really happy if she accepted. After a few moments she sighed and said, sounding slightly defeated.

“I'll have some. Just, don't fill a mug, please, I can't drink that much of it.”

I nodded and started working on it. The two of them sat in silence as I went through the steps. Once the potion was ready, I poured it for everyone. While I used my favorite mug, both Alexius and Helena would drink it from small cups, probably meant for tea, that he took out of the Treasury Sack. That thing really was useful, huh.

“So, here's my hypotheses.” Alexius took sips of the potion in between talking. “First, and I think this is the most probable, is that Lord Ravenscall has a problem with monster that he needs eliminated. I'm sure my uncle knows that I have prepared the entirety of my late father's monster hunting gear in the Treasury, so he might think it's something we can deal with. Second, he might want to make use of me to transfer something to or from Lord Ravenscall, probably through the Treasury. Third, he might want to make use of me as a messenger of some kind.”

All of these seemed reasonable.

“Perhaps the important part is that it's probably not widely known that you're traveling, and if it is, the conditions of your departure are not necessarily known. For all we know, your uncle might be playing up the fact that you left with Helena and that perhaps the two of you might not be on the best of terms. Thus, he might be able to fool some people into thinking that if you're doing something for Ravenscall, then it has nothing to do with your uncle.”

I never said I was bad at politics. Alexius and Helena seemed slightly surprised at hearing my opinion.

“Huh, so that's how it could be. So, maybe the second and third options are more likely than I thought?”

“Not necessarily, I would think. Regardless, it is to you uncle's advantage that people don't think that you're your uncle's agent until the moment that it is directly beneficial for him to be directly related to you.”

Or at least that's usually how it works in Tharaz Eron's court, nobody is really anyone's friend in public until it serves a purpose. We spent a good portion of that night discussing what exactly might be waiting for us at Ravensguard. That was perhaps the first time in my life that I enjoyed talking about politics.