Bryan sat at the desk in his room, looking through reports from his spies.
The reports are not too useful until I know where to send them.
A loud knock on his door interrupted him.
Bryan sighed, then spoke, “Come in”
The servant girl walked in carrying a tray and said, “Sire, I brought a glass of milk and an ale; I was unsure which you would want”
Bryan leaned over and took the ale and said, “Thanks”
That was good. I was getting thirsty.
She bowed and exited the room quickly.
As he began sipping his drink, there was another knock on his door.
Fredrich entered holding papers in his arms.
“Sire, I brought the maps you requested.”
He then laid them out in front of Bryan.
Time to figure out the area.
Fredrich began pointing at the map and speaking, “As you know, this is us, Silvergate, the independent trade city”
“I’m aware it’s a large port city… What about neighbouring kingdoms?”
Moving his finger Fredrich continued, “Our two closest are the Greenvale Kingdom and the Vaelmar Kingdom.”
Fredrich paused for a moment, then continued, “There is also the Northridge kingdom and the Stoneford Duchy. They do not border us but are likely to support those who do.”
Running his finger across the map, Bryan spoke, “There are a lot of other kingdoms?”
Fredrich nodded, “Yes, but since any goods need to go through those closer, we don’t deal with any others directly.”
Ok, they are not relevant then.
Fredrich stepped back and spoke, “I also have some reports to deliver, Sire.”
Bryan tilted his head at him silently; so Fredrich handed them to him and spoke.
“Several noble families seem to have fled in the night, taking their wealth and slaves with them.”
Bryan shrugged and then spoke, “Well, better they leave than cause problems later”
Taken aback a bit, Fredrick then pulled out another paper.
“We also have reports that merchant caravans are having issues, though we are unsure what they currently are”
Good, something to deal with personally.
Standing up, Bryan began putting on his armour.
Fredrich furrowed his brow and spoke, “Erm, Sire, what are you doing?”
Bryan, nearly dressed, now responded, “I’m going to the trade routes to see what the issue is”
Taking a deep inhale Fredrich scratched his head and then responded.
“Sire, we have adventurers or guards to handle that?”
Bryan tilted his head after putting on the last of his armour and his bag over his shoulder.
“Yes, but I am an adventurer, and it would be quicker if I handled it”
Fredrich’s mouth was agape as Bryan waved and walked out of the room.
After he left the room, two guards immediately followed him.
If I don’t lose these guys, they’ll slow me down.
Bryan walked until he found a window looking down on the courtyard.
He stretched, punched the window and dove out in one quick manoeuvre.
The floor rapidly approached him as he fell. Above him, he could see the guards at the broken window with shocked looks on their faces.
Air bolt.
Blasts of air from both hands slowed his fall, allowing him to land on his feet.
Physical Enhancement
Before the guards in the courtyard had time to react, Bryan dashed away through the streets, heading out of the noble district.
Ok, head straight for the city gates and slip out.
While rushing down the streets, he could hear the palace bells begin ringing.
He passed the gate into the market district, swerving through the crowds of people like moving obstacles.
Those he passed tried to see what had just rushed by, but he went too quickly.
Bryan, while running, spotted a gap between the gate guards, so he ducked under a spear and into the forest, where he stopped.
Panting, he dispelled Physical Enhancement.
At that speed, it burns a lot of Mana.
Out of his bag, he pulled out a Mana Potion and chugged it.
Travelling for several hours, he walked calmly down a dirt path with trees lining either side.
Eventually, he spotted a caravan on its side, contents spilt on the road, three men staying very still on the top of the cart.
Those holes in the ground…I know what this is.
Enhance Senses
Bryan walked slowly towards them and spoke, “I am Bryan, an adventurer here to help”
He can hear the men quietly talking, “Bryan… Wait, isn’t that the new king?”
“Shit, yeah, I think it is”
Louder one spoke, “Lord, please be careful, it’s some burrowing creature that seems to respond to movement or noise”
Bryan bent over, picked up a rock, and threw it to the left of the road.
Within a few moments, a giant worm with rows of teeth burst out of the ground, swallowing the rock.
Yes, looks the right sort of size.
Walking in the middle of the path, he began stomping hard with each step while unsheathing his sword.
“Sire, please don’t” Before they could speak again, the ground below Bryan burst open.
Air bolt Bryan launched into the air above the creature for a moment.
Time this correctly.
The creature catching up with its mouth full of teeth, wide open.
Now. Dispell Air bolt.
The creature caught up, and he dropped past the teeth inside the creature.
Inside, squishy and moist, and a crushing force from all sides.
Need a good amount of strength to move, but it can’t surprise me.
He prepared himself and, using all his force, began dragging his sword through the creature’s flesh.
The violent shakes around him, and a visceral screech could be heard.
After the hole was cut, he drove his sword upward to the top of the creature, and it collapsed to the ground.
Bryan climbed out, covered in a green blood-like slime.
Good, it was easy enough.
“The creature has been dealt with”, he said to the men staring at him.
After taking a moment to collect themselves, they got down from the cart and one spoke.
“My Lord, that was genius. How did you know it would be weaker on the inside?” The man sounded sincere.
Bryan scratched his head and replied, “Don’t be dumb, it’s not weaker inside… that would make no sense, it just couldn’t hide or surprise me if I’m inside.”
It attacks with surprise mainly… I removed that.
The men shared concerned looks and almost spoke a few times, but stopped themselves until one stepped forward.
“Thank you very much for saving us, my king, but this kind of thing will keep happening if we keep getting turned away from Greenvale”
Bryan sighed, “I’ll lift your cart back up, then you can tell me what that means”
The man, looking confused, replied, “Ok, but the cart weighs a lot”
Stepping forward, Bryan grabbed two sturdy points on the cart and lifted it upright.
“So, what was this about being turned away?” Bryan said.
The man with eyes wide open composed himself and spoke.
“My lord, all caravans travelling to Greenvale are being turned back. They are not telling us why, though”
Not helpful… I will ask Fredrich.
The men began putting the strewn boxes back onto the cart, and once they were done, they walked back to the city with Bryan.
As they approached the city gates, the guards noticed Bryan and ran over to him.
“My king, are you ok?... We were on alert after you jumped out of a window and disappeared”
Bryan sighed and replied, “Yes, I’m fine. I will head back to the palace”
They walked through the streets with people staring intensely and whispering amongst themselves.
At one of the shops, the cart stopped, and the merchants thanked Bryan and waved as he continued walking with the guards.
Continuing, they got back to the palace, and more guards joined as he went to the throne room.
Bryan pushed open the doors to see a panicked Fredrich rushing around directing guards.
“What is the emergency?” Bryan asked.
Fredrich spun around, his eyes wide and red.
“Sire, may I speak plainly?” Fredrich asked
Does he not always?
Bryan shrugged then responded, “Well, I did tell you to be honest”
Fredrich took in a deep breath, “Sire, you dove out of a window, ran off and fought a monster alone… This is not how a king behaves”
Bryan tilted his head and spoke, “It was the quickest way to solve the problem”
Fredrich rubbed his head before speaking, “I know you feel that way, Sire, but optics matter, and what would we do if you died? We can’t lose two kings in such a short timeframe”
“I wouldn’t have died; inefficiency causes death. I am efficient and calculate risks”
Fredrich paused, rubbed his forehead a moment, then replied.
“I don’t think we will see eye to eye on this matter currently. While you were out, we received a courier with two missives”
His point seems illogical.
Bryan interjects, “I discovered our merchants are being turned away from Greenvale.”
“That was the nature of the letters. They stated both Greenvale and Vaelmar are barring us from trade while we have an illegitimate ruler”, Fredrich said.
Squinting at Fredrich, Bryan then spoke, “What do they mean illegitimate exactly?”
Fredrich, looking more reserved, responded, “Sire, my guess is they are taking advantage of you not taking power via traditional means”
So, attempted extortion.
“How does this affect the city?” He asked plainly.
Fredrich fumbled through some papers, then replied, “Sire, it would mean rationing and price rises will be needed very soon if we can’t trade goods”
Seems obvious…
Bryan thought for a moment, then spoke, “This is a port city, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Sire, it is”, Fredrich said.
“Look into the possibility of increasing trade with others using the port, while I go and wash this stuff off”
“By the way, Sire, the local leader of the church wishes to speak with you,” Fredrich quickly added.
Bryan shrugged and said, “Nope, don’t have time today”
Fredrich bowed and ran out of the room.
Bryan made his way up towards his room.
Upon getting there, the servant girl was waiting.
She asked him, “Sire, is there anything you need?”
“Yes, a bath drawn,” He said while still dripping green slime from his body.
Bryan waited, leaning against the wall until she returned twenty minutes later.
“The bath is ready, do you need me to wash you, sire?” she said.
That is an odd request, highly inefficient.
“No, much quicker if I do it,” he said, heading towards the room the bath is in. She bowed as he passed.
Bryan relaxed in the bath, washed himself, got dressed and made his way back to the throne room.
He sat on the throne and looked around the room at the servants and guards.
Will need to have Fredrich check if we need so many workers.
After a while Fredrich came into the room holding a stack of documents and rushed over to Bryan’s side.
“Sire, I looked into what you asked. It may be possible to expand trade at the port”
Bryan rested his head on his hand and replied, “Ok, then do it”
Looking a bit flustered Fredrich replied, “Sire, the reason it hasn’t been done before is that it would anger Greenvale and Vaelmar”
Bryan began tapping his foot on the floor and spoke, “They are already mad, closed their borders to our trade, right?”
“Well, yes. Sire, But…” Fredrich said before being interrupted.
“Good, then we will direct all of our trade overseas and import the food we need, for now, though we will begin a rationing policy,” Bryan said in a matter-of-fact way.
A moment of silence passed, then Fredrich replied, “Yes, Sire”
“I want you to look into whether we need this many workers here,” Bryan said as he leaned back into the throne.
“It will be done, by the way, Sire, ambassadors from Greenvale and Vaelmar will be arriving tomorrow,” Fredrich said while rifling through the documents.
“That is tomorrow’s problem. For now, is there a library in this palace?” Bryan inquired.
Fredrich nodded and then spoke, “I will have the guards escort you there, Sire”
Bryan stood up and walked to the door where the guards led him down several corridors and up a set of stairs.
They reached a large set of oak doors where a guard spoke, “The royal library, my liege”
He pushed the door open and entered the room.
Two floors, rows and rows of shelves... Must be thousands of books.
Bryan looked around the room. The floor was white marble, and the shelves were a light oak colour.
Walking through the stacks, he picked up various books and examined them.
The nobility and the king seem to have hoarded all of the advanced magical knowledge.
He sat down in a chair with several books he had laid open.
It would surely be more efficient if this information was available to the whole city.