Master Of None

The threat from Clara had kept everyone in line. It was the only way she saw that would immediately keep the soldiers and adventurers from talking themselves in to needless fears. This was not anything that she could completely avoid but during this trip, they needed focus. Their goal was to get through the hard build road to Genesis city as fast as possible. The roads were not patrolled and it was dangerous. 

"Eventful morning I would say." Walker did not recognize the guard that had come up to him but when a clear view of the mans' face came to view it sent Walker in to a spiral. 

"You-"

"Shh, keep it down. I don't do this often if that's what you're worried about" The man had clamped a hand over Walker's mouth quickly and released it after Walker's surprise had faded. 

"You should be safely in the carriage. You are in a guard's armor, no one will know if you are hurt. You're the king!" The king had equipped a guards' armor and was walking around pretending to be a guard. It was ridiculous and dangerous. 

"Oh shush it. I am the king and I can do as I wish. It's also the only way to safely speak with you without drawing attention. I could have made Markus do this but he doesn't fit the guard armor well. It would have been like a child wearing their fathers' clothing." While this was true, Walker still felt this was too dangerous. 

"You still should be safely inside a carriage. But I won't force you…" There was a small tone of pride in the way Walker spoke. It was a smart way to disguise himself. The king wouldn't stand out while relaying what he desired to say. "What is so important that the king we are protecting has to leave the safety of the carriages?" It was also clear that the king was telling him something extremely important. 

"Well, as you know the roads have only been dug and cleared. They are safe for travel in the sense that carriages shouldn't get stuck before the stone is placed in the warmer months. But that does not mean monsters and other troubles don't roam the area still. I received a worrying letter from the demi-human kingdoms' king Rorik before we left the castle." 

Upon hearing that the demi-human kingdom had sent a letter, Walker had begun to realize that this may be a little worse than he expected. "They had a certain demi-human that opposed the summit and alliance with the other kingdoms. This was fine since everyone had a choice to support or deny. The problem was that this individual raised a pack of wolves to fight for control. They were beaten but managed to escape with some of their pack. The problem is that they fled through the newly built roads and promised to slay the weak human king before they ever arrive in Genesis." 

Walker drew a sharp breath. He knew that not everyone in every single kingdom would accept the alliance but this was a little too much. To attack for power may be normal for the demi-human kingdom, it was a huge insult to the human kingdom. Having someone forcefully exiled from the demi-human kingdom trying to slay the king of humans was nothing ti take lightly. 

"The glacial wolves that they have with them are powerful. But the guards and adventurers can handle them safely. The problem that arises is the man that was forced out. The demi-human with glacial wold traits. In more common terms, a werewolf. They are rare even for the demi-human kingdom. This werewolf is the reason I want you to take the night watch tonight. Last night they found our trail and started their fear mongering. Tonight I am sure they will attack. I will be passing out potions to everyone tonight when we set camp in an adequate place." 

The plan had already been made and the king had already met with his guard captain and Clara. He knew that the threat was real since the werewolves were respected warriors even in the demi-human kingdom where there were many more powerful existences. "I will prepare my party. Ideally, we will trap the werewolf and send it back to go on trial. If worse comes to worst…I will do what's needed." Walker did not want to condemn someone to death, but knew that in the face of death he would do what was needed. He was guarding these people and it would be a failure to lose a single life. 

"Thank you. I will remain in safety until then. I hope that the other guards need not act." The king glanced at a few carriages making Walker realize there were more guards hidden still. But that was the last resort, most likely when all hope was lost they would act as a final shield for the king to escape. 

As the king walked away toward the other guards, he saw them shift slightly to allow him toward a carriage. The next moment the armor had disappeared inside and no one was the wiser. Walker headed to his party members and explained the plan and that they would be in for a fight tonight. They decided to get some food in their stomach now to have the energy they needed. Gil began to check the arrows he had and was deciding to use some of the light elemental arrows he had. "I will be blinding them. If I add too much mana to the arrows the arrow head will explode releasing the elemental mana inside. That will be the trick to blinding and beating them." 

Walker worried that Gil was getting too cunning now that he had so many options for his arrows. "You are sneaky but I think that is the perfect opening we need." It was a swift plan but one that would work on anyone. Walker couldn't be more impressed. 

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