The day was cloudless and windy and my hair whipped about my face when I climbed aboard the ship, Eagle’s Talon, with Brother Bernabo and the other Novices. I felt especially buoyed by the sea air. I was often able to catch its scent even high upon the tor. It was hard to tamp down my excitement.
“Brother Bernabo,” I asked the elder monk as he watched several crates being loaded onto the ship with a critical eye. “Why do no other senior monks accompany us? This ship is surely large enough to carry several more of our brothers?
“Quite so, my boy. Yet, I am tasked first with making contact with the Archbishop of Light’s Bastion. Accommodations and sundry matters will need to be sorted out. It will not only be monks from Saint Caradan’s who will aid in this Crusade, but holy brothers from all across Aramyr. Thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, will sail for Light’s Bastion over the next several months.”
“I can scarcely fathom it,” I breathed. It all seemed so grandiose and terrible at the same time. A tremendous push against the Elves not seen in centuries. “So many risking death for the liberation of Ord’s most holy places and sacred relics. I shall pray I am up to the task, Brother.”
“We all will, Kenric.” Brother Bernabo tensed as a crate stamped with the symbol of Ord leaned precariously over the railing before a group of sailors got it under control and safely lowered into the cargo hold. “We must also hope that those who do not sail with holy purpose, but with a mind towards their own enrichment, will remember Great Ord always values the lives of others over material possessions.”
“And he thus spoke to the King of the Frostmounts, ‘Thou mayest proclaim the lives of men are fleeting compared to the lives of the Deep Lords and hold no more value than a seam of metal to be harvested and beaten into the shape most desired by their masters. Cans’t thou not consider that each life is uniquely forged in the heart-fires of the Gods, as are the Deep Lords? Each one lost shall be a treasure never to be replicated again.’”
“You shall make a fine Priest, Kenric. Certainly a more scholarly one than I!” Brother Bernabo laughed and walked up the gangplank onto Eagle’s Talon.
The wharf was swarming with activity. Ours was not the only ship being sent across the ocean. Mixed in with the scents of fish, whale oil and hemp was a cacophony of sounds mostly emitted by dockworkers, heavy metal cargo loaders and the creak and groan of ships at dry dock. It was an assault on all my senses, but exciting nonetheless.
I turned to look at those who had come to see me off. My Father wasn’t there. He had given me a few parting words, but I was accustomed to him giving them sparingly. I was touched the Duke had given the ones he had however, which had been filled with his expectations and an undercurrent of kindness. Alaric had only touched me on the shoulder and told me to bring glory to our family. He was still working on his own plans to convince our parents to let him join the Crusade as well, but I doubted Mother would relent.
Tanis had hugged me and said ‘Bye-bye’ until his maid had led him away. I was struck by how much I would miss him. It was easy to sometimes forget he was older than me. None of his maladies are his fault, I mused, as I watched him walk away in his awkward manner. It isn’t spoken of, but Tanis’ issues are a result of when my Mother was attacked by a would-be Mage Assassin’s spell while she was pregnant with him.
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Why it happened the Duke likely has had his suspicions, but he has ever obtained any proof to confirm those suspicions. The Assassin killed himself rather than be taken prisoner. At the time, my parents likely thought the baby would die in the womb, but he lived. However, when Tanis was born he was different, for lack of a better explanation. It is the reason why my father despises Mages. Still, Tanis seems happy in his own way just playing with his toys and his cats. Powerful priests have tried to help him, but they always say the same thing. There wasn’t anything wrong with him they could fix. Could I one day help him? It was another goal to work towards.
My sister, Gwyneth, hugged me and told me she was jealous I got to have an adventure. Errol? Well, he told me not to die to some weak elf, so I suppose that was decent of him. My Mother cried, and her ladies-in-waiting had to lead her away or she may not have let me go. No, the only one who had gone to the dock with me, now watching me from her carriage window, was my Aunt Elsbeth. I still pondered her parting words.
“Whatever you do, do not take the Bishop Class even if it is offered. You will be mired in politics the rest of your life in the Capital. I would avoid the Templar and Paladin orders as well, although they are a path to glory. The problem is their current leadership are all self indulgent peacocks and idiots. They will get you killed.” My Aunt sighed. “If Gurn were here, he would have his own advice for you, and you may yet meet him. I have little doubt he will be swept up in this nonsense too.”
“What class does Uncle Gurn have, Aunt Elsbeth?” I asked. I had been curious about this mysterious Uncle I had never met ever since that night at dinner. She hesitated to answer.
“Let’s just say he is in danger more often than not. No, choose a common class for yourself. Halo Cleric, Chanter or if you absolutely have to hit something Friar might suit you. Ultimately the choice is yours, but I think your mother would like to see you again in one piece. And for love of the Light mind what you say and to whom! Do not forget you are of the noble line of Ordheim with blood ties to the Imperial throne.”
“I shall do nothing to shame myself or my family, Aunt Elsbeth,” I said rather stiffly. It wasn’t like I was a fool or anything. I knew when to keep quiet and listen, but this woman seemed to think I needed my hand held every step of the way. She waved a hand before her face and shook her head.
“No, I’m aware you’re not a fool, Kenric. It’s actually a shame you aren’t the oldest. Now, now! Don’t look at me like that. Alaric is learning. No, I am speaking of what it means to be a part of an organization, to be mindful of more than just what you want for yourself. It’s something I know a bit about.” She leaned back in the carriage’s cushioned seat and gazed out the window for moment the continued speaking without looking at me.
“There may come opportunities to learn spells and skills outside the purview of what the Gods grant you. Abilities one might even purchase from vendors. Skills can be rewarded from Dungeon drops or from defeating high level beasts.” She turned her head to regard me without blinking. “Don’t believe for a moment that you know what someone might use against you just because you know what Class they have or what you have seen them do in a fight. The powerful hold their cards close and do not tell boastful tales.”
I nodded my head in agreement. I also managed to steal a look at the enigmatic woman with my recently leveled, Tier II Lore Sight.
Name: Elsbeth Ordheim
Class: Court Spy
Level: 46
Lore: Elsbeth Ordheim, the youngest daughter of Duke Tostig Ordheim, was brought up to be a Lady-in-Waiting or suitable companion for an Empress. Defying conventions, she slowly built her own network of spies and informants to better serve her family and protect the Empire.
“I understand.” I did. Seeing who my Aunt really was also opened up a whole new slew of questions, but the ship’s mate called for everyone to come aboard and it was time for me to go.
As the ship cast off and slowly sailed out of Ordheim harbor, I thought of Ord’s First Psalm of Light: He who stands fast in the face of great peril, who does not turn his gaze from suffering and offers his soul to the progress of all, shall know glory. I hoped that my exposure to great peril would be limited, but I would be a healer. I would offer succor to others and bring the light to the heathen, demon worshipping Elves in the Great Liberation, now being called the Fourth Crusade of Light.
