“lord Arius, I’m here with your report on the progress of your roads.” said a servant named Marsik. Arius took it and dismissed him, the roads through the city were too small but they would serve their purpose until they could be expanded. The roads connecting the farm lands and the city were about half way completed. Arius was not pleased, his construction master had promised him they would be three fourths finished by now. “I will lose revenue from this.” Arius thought angrily. “Workers wages and the lack of efficiently the roads would have provided will hurt. This must be dealt with promptly, he must know that he can not miss deadlines like that.” He then wrote a note that explained were something like this to happen again the construction master would be demoted to a mere peasant. He then summoned his servant again and had him send a messenger to deliver the reply. “The situation with those crawlers to the east is only getting worse, I need that money for troops, supplies and training. Soon that king of ours will request my whole force here and I need at least the means to replace some of them.” Brooded Arius worrisomely.
Next on Arius’ agenda was a meeting with his high guard. The high guard was responsible for the defense of his city, the troop of elites which protected Arius personally, any foreign military matters and the soldiers in general. He was a tall, sturdy man, his dark skin weathered and his toned muscles large from his years of training. he was not a campaign veteran but the sword on his back had been dented or notched then repaired more times then he could probably remember. It was an excellent sword, unlike most of the swords his underlings possessed, which were wooden sticks with a copper blade attached, this large weapon was solid metal. It seemed more like an additional appendage than an object on his back. He glanced at his lord with hardened brown eyes and asked, “What do you need of me sir?” “there is going to be a war.” said Arius. “Mark my words, it might be in five months or it might be in five years but it’s flying at this city on the east wind. I want the troops prepared to fight and come back alive, as many as possible, I want them trained with all the time you can spare.” “With pleasure, lord.” The guard commander replied. Arius dismissed him and with a bow he left.
The rest of the day passed without a significant occurrence, a trip out riding, an argument with his horrendous wife, which he didn’t sleep in the same room with, and he was in bed. At about two in the morning a young servant girl came into her lord’s room and woke him up. This happened once every week or so because he need to “take a midnight walk” sometimes to “calm his nerves”. After she left Arius dawned his black hooded robe and walked to the secret tunnel which came out behind the castle. A brisk five minute stroll through the woods later he arrived at the meeting place. For some reason the darkness seemed suffocating here, larger and deeper than the rest of the wood. It was a small clearing with a little fire pit and stumps for chairs, there were no paths leading into the glade. Most of the attendees were already gathered, their shadows seemed alive the way they danced in the flickering fire light. Everyone of them had a determined look on their dark faces dimmed by the black hoods they wore.
