It took multiple long moments for Dion to settle down enough for him to stop jumping on Kenan excitedly. It took even longer to explain to him that he couldn't perch on the familiar shoulder. Even though he was still a pup, he was a dire-wolf pup. At the moment he was the size of a medium dog and way too large for his usual spot. Eventually he settled for staying at Kenan's heels.

Doco summed up the situation as another weird Kenan thing and didn’t ask any further questions. Instead he began to explore the room. Roshu had uneven and rotted wooden boards placed as a floor. There was a large bedroll, desk with multiple papers on it and a huge, iron chest. Doco immediately went towards the former. Kenan shrugged and went towards the chest. It, of course, was locked. Dion barked. Kenan turned to see the wolf had a large key in his maw. “What? How did you…?” The question was responded with another bark.

Kenan forced himself no to think about it. Noctis needed a minute to unlock the chest, just because the key was slippery with saliva. Immediately after it was opened, a smell of old paper and metal came to Noctis. To the left were three large sacks filled with coins. To the right, were two stacked books. One was red, another brown. Next to the books was a large, almost sword-like, sickly dagger. The edge was sharpened and jagged, it’s handle looked uncomfortable and wood rotten.

The first thing he pulled out were the sacks of coins. He simply set them to the side. Next he carefully took the blade out. Mana faintly vibrated out from it, as for what it did. Kenan had no idea. Then he took the two books out and shifted through them. Both of them are magical tomes. The red one was a mass produced fire tome, while the other one was more interesting. Blood magic. Kenan put the book to the side lest he get entranced. Nothing was left inside. “Didn’t find anything besides some coin, a dagger and two tomes.” He said out loud.

“Hmm. All of this is definitely correspondence. Some are with a person inside the village. Most is communication with one person asking about progress. No names are on it, however.” Doco responded, still sifting through the desk. Kenan noticed Dion putting his front paws on the edge of the chest to see in.

“What are we going to do with all of this?” Noctis asked, mainly talking about the gold.

“Better question. What are you going to do with it? Your spoils after all.” Doco half said over his shoulder. Dion barked.

“No it’s not.”

“Yeah it is, you beat the previous owner of the treasure. Under the tradition of war and duels, spoils go to the winner.” Docod rescinded. Dion barked louder.

“Fine. We will take a portion to give a bonus to the guard, and pay for their injuries. Another will go to the aiding of the captives. Food, medical, and a temporary place to stay. The rest will be divided among them equally and given to them when they get back to their feet.”

Doco took a moment to look at his nephew. “You are too mature for your age.” Dion barked once again.

“I-” Kenan stopped speaking as Dion decided to clamp his teeth together on Kenan’s hand. ”What!?” The wolf barked, then he put his nose on the bottom of the chest and pushed. It did nothing to move it though. Then he leapt to the edge of the chest. Barked. Then repeated the processes a few times.

Noctis cocked his head. He checked the inside, then the outside. There was a lot more chest than there was room in it. Carefully he traced the inside of it with his finger. Not long after he found a latch and pulled. The false cover opened. Only two things resided inside, one was a small pouch, another an opened letter. Kenan took the pouch out and to the side. Then began to read.

Roshu

Your blood oath is being called upon. You are to make your way towards the Zorian planes. In any way you want, soften the residents there. Domesticate them, slaughter them, make them praise you like a god, whatever you want.

This war between Shio and Gethen is the best thing that has happened to us since the binding of the clans. While they're at war, we shall wither away their defenses from the inside. Then, either when they finish the war, or weaken to the desired amount. We shall call upon the armies of Shrigor and rip the lands from them.

I do not need to say this, but I will. There is no room for failures. Much less for weaklings. If somehow, by any measure of the means, fail this task. You and your family will bear my full wrath. Do not fail me bloodzeker.

Sincerely, Tulgon. Overlord of Shrigor, White eye of the tempest.

“Uncle!” Kenan's synapses fired as he knew he found what they were looking for. These were dark words. Doco swiftly walked over and grasped the letter out of Noctis’ hand.

A moment of silence passed. “Gods.” He turned to Kenan. An emotion not desirable on his face. "We are in for hard times. Shrigor is the neighbor to both Shio and Gethen. Years before you were born, it was just an untamed mountain range filled with a hundred orc tribes. Then an orc under the name Tulgon bound them together. They had been pressuring both countries ever since. Right before you were born, we moved here. Far away from both the borders of Shio and Shrigor. If orcs have started to show here, it’s bad tidings.”

“What do we do now?” Kenan asked.

“First. We get to the village and get some rest. Then we think carefully of our next step. Whatever the verdict. You will have a lot to do.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Of course. Isn’t that your Job?” Doco smiled. “What was it again? The Vigilant Rogue. Kenan Noctis of the Sorrowful night. The blade in the dark who protects the light.”

It was Kenan's turn to smile. “You talked to Jorun.”

“No actually that was the guards. Jorun told them stories before we left.”

“Oh great. Umm. Uncle?”

“Yes?”

“How long are we going to stay here?”

“Two or three days. Depends on how much strength the captives have, and how fast we can stabilize the wounded. Why?”

“Because I need medical attention and I just ran out of mana.”

“What?”

Kenan's head fell on the floor with a thud. Doco would’ve been worried if Dion hadn’t immediately started sleeping on him, and Kenan's loud snore didn’t vibrate the floorboards.